Panop founder Rhys Kissell has been awarded the AOC ANZ Information Warfare Essay Award for the second time, announced at the Awards Gala Dinner on 12 March 2026 during the EW ANZ 2026 convention at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.
The award, presented by the Association of Old Crows Australia–New Zealand (AOC ANZ), recognises the most insightful and original essay submitted to the organisation's annual essay competition. This year's gala coincided with the 60th anniversary of the Association of Old Crows, making the second win particularly significant.
His 2026 essay, Electromagnetic Mass, is available here.
In addition to receiving the essay award, Rhys presented at the EW ANZ 2026 convention on Friday 13 March. His presentation drew on Panop's own research and lessons from Ukraine, where Panop has been engaging directly with the defence ecosystem to validate its technical approach.
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