A few weeks ago I headed to Nottingham, UK for the Ideagen awards night, having been shortlisted for the Inspiring Leader award for 2026. I came home with the award, and I’ve been quietly processing what that means ever since.
“Inspiring leader” is a weighty label, one I hold more as an aspiration than a badge. So the first thing I want to say is thank you. To the people I get to work with at Ideagen every day, leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it happens through the people around you who trust you, push back on you, and make the work worth caring about.
What makes this one feel different
The timing of this award matters to me. We’re in a moment of extraordinary change — AI is reshaping how engineering teams work and, more broadly, how entire organisations operate. The challenge of leading well through that kind of disruption is genuinely different from leading in steady state. It requires helping people stay grounded and curious and motivated even when the ground keeps shifting beneath them. My approach to that challenge has resonating with people means a lot.
It’s also a meaningful time to be at Ideagen. The company was recently announced as the Official AI Technology Principal Partner of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, which is exciting in its own right, but it is also leading the way in AI investment throughout the business and in the products we build. The pace of the business is greater than I have ever experienced.
The night itself
The awards were held at Ideagen HQ in Nottingham, and it was a genuinely great evening. Getting to celebrate in person with colleagues from across the business was worth the trip from Sydney alone. There’s something different about recognising people face-to-face rather than via a Teams call, and nights like that remind you why culture and community matter.
A note on leadership
I’ve been thinking about what “inspiring” actually means in a practical sense. I don’t think it’s about grand speeches or visionary proclamations. For me it comes down to a few simple things: Being genuinely curious about the work, people and process; Being honest with people even when it’s uncomfortable; Being reflective and constantly looking to improve yourself, others and processes; Providing clarity to those around you; Empowering others to grow and perform at their best.
I’m still learning. But if people leave our interactions feeling a little more capable or a little more clear-headed, that’s the thing I’m trying to do. Winning this award is a reminder to keep showing up that way. Thank you again to Ideagen and to everyone who has been a part of this journey.
Cameron Dwyer 
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