Each year Hospitality Group Training formally recognises it’s top apprentices, trainees and employers at an annual awards presentation followed by a cocktail function. The event pays tribute to young people making a difference in the hospitality and tourism industries through their pursuit of career excellence while working and training on the job as apprentices and trainees. The awards are attended by hospitality employers, apprentices, trainees and sponsors.
HGT Awards 2026
MOST OUTSTANDING 1st YEAR APPRENTICESponsored by Get Fresh Merchants |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Isabelle Bullivant Sporting Globe Mandurah
Elijah Dimalanta ALH Belmont Zack Ditching Gate Bar & Bistro Charlotte Mascall-Browne ALH Queens Lewis Wilkins Emily Taylor’s / Garde Josh Marshall Novotel Langley Mitchell Cartwright Landing 7 Ashley Nelson The Grosvenor
|
| RUNNER UP | Zack Ditching- Gate Bar & Bistro. |
| WINNER | Lewis Wilkins – Emily Taylor’s / Garde. |
MOST OUTSTANDING 2ND YEAR APPRENTICESponsored by Don Hancey, WA Food Ambassador |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Jade Conley Woodvale Tavern
Bradley Austin The Ritz Carlton Austin Gentry IHG Sam Northcott The Ritz Carlton Peter Kettle ALH Balmoral Connor Sadler The Stirling Arms Bailey Gauci The Stirling Arms
|
| RUNNER UP | Peter Kettle ALH Balmoral |
| WINNER | Sam Northcott The Ritz Carlton |
MOST OUTSTANDING FINAL YEAR APPRENTICESponsored by AHA |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Elsie Mbenjele ALH Wanneroo Tavern
Chloe Dal Passo Emily Taylor’s / Garde Thomas Dunstan Hillarys Beach Club Louise Padilla Pan Pacific Selina Brown Gate Bar & Bistro Richard Kirk Four Points Jack Midgley Darlington Estate |
| WINNER | Chloe Dal Passo – Garde |
SCHOOL APPRENTICE OF THE YEARPFD Food Services |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Siya Shah Emily Taylor’s Garde Hotel
William Mitchell ALH Gosnells Jacinta Puar ALH Brooklands Tavern Charlie Hedley Sporting Globe Rockingham / Garde Hotel Lianna Mohsenin White Horse Tavern |
| WINNER | Charlie Hedley Sporting Globe Rockingham / Garde Hotel |
SCHOOL TRAINEE OF THE YEARSponsored by Bars and More |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Elizabeth Wheldon – Avocados Bar & Café, Bao Tran – Aloft Perth, Charlotte Mascall – Brown – Social Manna, Sam Northcott – The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill Belmont |
| WINNER | Sam Northcott – The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill Belmont |
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP AWARDSponsored by Lilydale Free Range Chicken |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Butler College
Woodvale Secondary College Kelmscott Senior High School South Coast Baptist College Girrawheen Senior High School Rockingham ESC |
| WINNER |
Woodvale Secondary College |
| MARGARET JOHNSON QUIET ACHIEVER AWARD | Austin Gentry – InterContinental Hotel |
|---|
MENTOR CHEF OF THE YEARSponsored by ALH Group |
|
|---|---|
| FINALISTS | Danny Feng Garde Hotel
Catherine Lees Gate Bar & Bistro Russell Lees Gate Bar & Bistro Josh Vears The Stirling Arms Lachlan Wright White Horse Tavern Alasdair Thompson Optus Stadium Shaine Thomson Sporting Globe Rockingham Rachel Sullivan ALH Balmoral Andrew McGie Intercontinental Hotel Group Shane McKay ALH Belmont Tavern Paolo Del Monte Print Hall |
| WINNER | Russell Lees – The Gate Bar & Bistro |
| EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by AHA) | InterContinental Perth City Centre by IHG |
|---|
John Cox Memorial Trophy for Most Outstanding Overall Apprentice 2026
| Year | Name | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026
2023/24 |
Ehlana Reubens
Bailey Toy |
InterContinental Perth City Centre by IHG
Warders Hotel |
| 2022/23 | Courtney Short | Garum |
| 2022/23 | Glenn Walters | Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges |
| 2021/22 | Naomi Velterop | The Reveley |
| 2020/21 | Naomi Velterop | Oggi Bar & Eats |
| 2019/20 | Simon Fathy | Young George |
| 2018/19 | Zach Tholen | Shorehouse |
| 2017/18 | Lara Kirby | Sandalford Wines |
| 2016/17 | Lara Kirby | Sandalford Wines |
| 2015/16 | Isabelle Servaas | The Heritage Perth |
| 2014/15 | Alexis Watson | C Restaurant |
| 2013/14 | Gerrit Jansen van Rensberg | The Royal on the Waterfront |
| 2012/13 | Kate Corkhill | Matilda Bay Restaurant |
| 2011/12 | Rebecca Wilson | X-Wray |
| 2010/11 | Ryan Larsen | Boulevard Hotel |
| 2009/10 | Sarah Brickwood | Matilda Bay Restaurant |
| 2008/09 | Gavin Chin | Matilda Bay Restaurant |
| 2007/08 | Justin Mason | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 2006/07 | Royston Clark | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 2005/06 | Emma Whetnall | Royal Perth Yacht Club |
| 2004/05 | Robyn Whittaker | Burswood Casino |
| 2003/04 | Colin Van Haeften | Matilda Bay Restaurant |
| 2002/03 | Stacey Miller | Rydges Hotel |
| 2001/02 | Patrick Carlin | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 2000/01 | Patrick Carlin | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 1999/00 | Iain Grealish | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 1998/99 | Natalie Moore | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 1997/98 | Emma Paling | – |
| 1996/97 | Tracey Paull | Rendezvous Ob City |
| 1995 | Allison Doedee-Nixon | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 1994 | Janet Bonser | Sunnys |
| 1993 | Robert DoCarmo | Hyatt Regency Perth |
| 1992 | Jody Gentle | Observation City |
| 1991 | Timothy Atwood | – |
