After 12 months of recognising outstanding contributions across Northern Stevedoring Services, our 12 monthly Employee Excellence Awards have now been decided.
Each recipient has been recognised for making a meaningful contribution to NSS, whether through leadership, initiative, innovation, teamwork, exceptional performance or stepping up when it mattered most.
In October, our monthly winners will come together at the annual NSS Employee Excellence Awards Night, where we will celebrate their achievements over the past year. On the night, one recipient will be named NSS Employee of the Year, taking home the coveted title and a $5,000 grand prize.
Ahead of the celebration, we’re taking a look back at the people recognised over the past 12 months and what earned them their place among this year’s finalists.
September 2025 — Warren Baird
Warren was recognised for his exceptional work ethic, initiative and commitment to supporting both his team and the wider operation. Drawing on his extensive experience, he consistently went above and beyond without being asked and made a positive contribution to the performance of every shift.
October 2025 — Timothy Struthers
Tim was recognised for his outstanding contribution across both transport and molasses operations. Throughout the molasses season, he regularly stepped up to cover additional shifts and days, received positive feedback from the mills and consistently delivered an exceptional level of efficiency and reliability.
November 2025 — Andrew Mackee
With more than 20 years of service as an NSS stevedore, Andrew was recognised for his consistently high performance, leadership and work ethic. His reliability, dependability and standards as a Team Leader continue to set a strong example for those around him.
January 2026 — Alex Gleeson
Alex was recognised for his consistently strong work ethic, attention to detail and willingness to take on whatever is required. His positive attitude and ability to keep morale high also make him a valued presence within the team.
February 2026 — Jamie Windust
Jamie received recognition following an extraordinary act of courage while working night shift in Mackay. After hearing a woman calling for help from the water, he entered crocodile-inhabited waters without hesitation and remained beside her for around an hour in the early hours of the morning, keeping her supported until further assistance arrived. His actions played a critical role in saving her life.
March 2026 — Joshua Thompson
Josh was recognised for his performance during a challenging train-loading operation involving multiple complications and the rollout of new software. He remained composed under pressure while also providing practical feedback and improvement ideas that helped make the new system more efficient and user-friendly for the wider team.
April 2026 — Ashley Rickman
Ashley was recognised for stepping into greater responsibility within his Team Leader role and demonstrating strong ownership of day-to-day operations. His proactive approach, support of newer operators and commitment to maintaining safe and efficient work standards have established him as a developing leader within NSS.
May 2026 — Michael McDonald
Michael was recognised for his significant contribution to developing and implementing digital improvements across NSS. His work on initiatives including the Container Packing App, customised train-loading applications and the NSS Employee App has improved visibility, reduced administrative burden and helped streamline processes across the business.
June 2026 — Penny Skipper
Penny was recognised for her expertise, professionalism and commitment to AQIS and biosecurity requirements within the Logistics team. Her extensive knowledge, proactive approach and strong communication with customers and DAFF help ensure complex requirements are handled efficiently while delivering positive outcomes for all involved.
July 2026 — Mark Bacon
In just eight months with NSS, Mark established himself as a highly dependable and proactive member of the team. His detailed forward planning, focus on preventing issues before they arise and willingness to stay beyond rostered hours to support operations and other shifts demonstrated an exceptional commitment to safety, productivity and operational excellence.
August 2026 — Sandy Day & Peter Muscat
Sandy and Peter were jointly recognised for their outstanding commitment during a major cargo-cleaning project requiring strict adherence to biosecurity standards. Over two and a half months, they worked extensive overtime, maintained consistently high standards through challenging conditions and independently managed issues and maintenance requirements to keep the project moving.
September 2026 — Aaron Bathe
Aaron was recognised for stepping beyond his Team Leader position to take on the Relief Ship Planner role, often at short notice, while continuing to support the wider Townsville operation. His flexibility, reliability and ability to manage long and demanding shifts while maintaining thorough and efficient vessel planning demonstrated an outstanding commitment to both his team and NSS.
One More Award to Come
Each of this year’s recipients represents the qualities the Employee Excellence Awards were created to recognise people who take ownership, support those around them and contribute to making NSS stronger.
We look forward to bringing this group together in October to celebrate their achievements and recognise the contribution they have made across our operations.
The only question left is: who will be named the 2026 NSS Employee of the Year?
