The VIPs and beating heart of Navy – Australia’s skilled sailors took centre stage at the Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference with the 2025 Sailors Forum celebrating their grit and conviction.

Four sailors took the stage to share stories of overcoming adversity, while a panel discussion with senior enlisted sailors from seven nations showed the strength of our collective service.

A highlight was Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond presenting the inaugural Teddy Sheean awards to the 2025 and 2024 Sailors of the Year, in honour of the 18-year-old Ordinary Seaman and Victoria Cross winner who kept firing as his ship went down under Japanese attack in World War 2. 

Guest speaker at the Sailors Forum was retired Corporal Mark Donaldson, who won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan in 2008. 

The decorated soldier gave an inspirational talk about resilience and challenged the audience to practise courage every day and never underestimate their contributions.

“Do something every day that forces you to use your courage,” Corporal Donaldson said. 

“It will make you a better person.

“You don’t have to have done 15 years to contribute. It may be your third day at sea. Be at peace with that, everyone has something to contribute.”

Petty Officer Stephanie Horswood, 2025 Sailor of the Year, shared how a back injury requiring surgery changed her from a confident and capable technician to having to learn to walk again.

“I learned that resilience is not about being unbreakable, but about rebuilding every time you are tested,” Petty Officer Horswood said.

'Do something every day that forces you to use your courage. It will make you a better person.'

Chief Petty Officer Eliza Buzza recalled trying to prove her worth at recruit school and then, at 20, learning she was pregnant to her leading seaman partner.

“Being a 20-year-old pregnant woman on base wasn’t exactly how I saw my career progressing,” Chief Petty Officer Buzza said.

“I was scared about what it meant for my future in the Navy. But I didn’t give up and learned to balance nappies with night watches.”

The might of Navy’s partnerships with allied navies was on display, with a panel of seven senior enlisted sailors from the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan.

The panel spoke warmly of the boldness, discipline and professionalism of the Australian sailor, as well as Australia's openness to recognise its Indigenous cultures across the ADF.

Several leaders praised Australia’s Sailor of the Year program, with Warrant Officer of the Royal Navy Simon Hanson confessing he planned to take it back to the UK service.

Warrant Officer of the Navy Andrew Bertoncin heaped praise on his skilled sailors, saying while Navy continued to embrace rapid technological advances, sailors would always animate the fleet.

“Our sailors are people with conviction, with grit, not just doing tough work but training to be tougher,” Warrant Officer Bertoncin said.

“What the Navy does happens in your hands; the hands of sailors.”