CELEBRATING OUR FUTURE ICON AWARD WINNERS: 2026

WORDS BY THE NFC TEAM

We are proud to officially announce the recipients of the 2026 NFC Future Icon Awards!

Presented at our graduation ceremonies across Sydney and Melbourne, these awards recognise the next generation of fashion industry leaders, celebrating innovation, creativity, and outstanding achievement across all areas of the industry.

A special thank you to our incredible industry partners whose support makes these opportunities possible.

2026 NFC Future Icon Award Winners:

• Stylist of the Year — Kaylyn Pauling

• Creator of the Year (presented by Bassike) — Chloe Hincks

• Editor of the Year (presented by RUSSH Magazine) — Bella Barlow

• Communications Innovator of the Year (presented by ELLIATT) — Rachel Fong

• Creative Innovator of the Year (presented by KSUBI) — Gemma Desmond

• Fashion Operations Innovator of the Year (presented by Kookai) — Clarice Nguyen

• NFC Community Award (presented by Peta + Jain) — Amelia Crilly

• Entrepreneur of the Year (presented by Ultra Violette) — Laura Jones

• Networking Visionary of the Year (presented by Three By One) — Sienna Edwards

• Digital Creator of the Year (presented by LMS The Brand) — Jessica Phillips

These graduates have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication and vision, already making their mark on the future of fashion.

Congratulations to all of our winners. We look forward to seeing where your careers take you next.