Awards & Recognition, Byron Waller

● CIRCUMNAVIGATION COMPLETE · 9 AUG to 15 OCT 2025● YOUNGEST PERSON IN HISTORY TO PILOT 'ROUND THE WORLD● PATIENT TO PILOT● TEEN PILOT FOUNDATION · REGISTERED CHARITY · ACN 700 252 562● NEXT MISSION · AUSTRALIA & USA FOR CHARITY● CIRCUMNAVIGATION COMPLETE · 9 AUG to 15 OCT 2025● YOUNGEST PERSON IN HISTORY TO PILOT 'ROUND THE WORLD● PATIENT TO PILOT● TEEN PILOT FOUNDATION · REGISTERED CHARITY · ACN 700 252 562● NEXT MISSION · AUSTRALIA & USA FOR CHARITY● CIRCUMNAVIGATION COMPLETE · 9 AUG to 15 OCT 2025● YOUNGEST PERSON IN HISTORY TO PILOT 'ROUND THE WORLD● PATIENT TO PILOT● TEEN PILOT FOUNDATION · REGISTERED CHARITY · ACN 700 252 562● NEXT MISSION · AUSTRALIA & USA FOR CHARITY● CIRCUMNAVIGATION COMPLETE · 9 AUG to 15 OCT 2025● YOUNGEST PERSON IN HISTORY TO PILOT 'ROUND THE WORLD● PATIENT TO PILOT● TEEN PILOT FOUNDATION · REGISTERED CHARITY · ACN 700 252 562● NEXT MISSION · AUSTRALIA & USA FOR CHARITY

Featured honour · 2026

Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year

Byron was named a 2026 Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year, recognised in the Young Adventurer category for the round-the-world flight. Watch the ceremony moment below.

What adventure looks like →Read the announcement ↗Open on Google Drive ↗

Video: Australian Geographic Society Awards, 2026

A§ Awards

Awards, letters and official honours

From national magazine honours to letters of support from prime ministers and ministers, this is the proof that the mission resonated far beyond the cockpit

← Back to press coverage Partner with Byron →

Wins and honours received

Australian Geographic
Adventurer of the Year, 2026, Young Adventurer category
→ Read source
Air Cadets
Commanding Officer's Commendation and Flying Award, 2024
Premier of Queensland
Recognised by Premier David Crisafulli for making aviation history
→ Read source
Prime Minister of Australia
Letter of recognition from the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Letter of recognition from the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Letter of support from the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
Qld Education and the Arts
Letter of support from the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP, Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts
NZ Government
Letter of support from the Hon James Meager MP, New Zealand Minister for the South Island and Associate Minister of Transport
Queensland Youth
Letter of support from the Hon Sam O'Connor MP, Queensland Minister for Youth
→ Read source
Youth Minister
Met with Hon Sam O'Connor MP in preparation for the world flight
→ Read source
Federal leaders
Briefings with former PM Malcolm Turnbull and DFAT advisors ahead of the circumnavigation
Industry
Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology staff tour, 11 July 2025
Press feature
The Senior, teen pilot's global flying ambition
→ Read source
Broadcast
Channel 7 feature on Byron's mission
→ Read source

Queensland Children's Hospital, gastroenterology ward opening

Queensland Health
Opened the new gastroenterology ward at Queensland Children's Hospital alongside the Health Minister
→ Read source

Queensland Children's Hospital, media features

Nominations and finalist places

National award
Finalist for 2026 Australian Aviation Awards
National award
Finalist for three national Australian Aviation Awards, 2024
→ Read source
National award
Nominated: Recreational Pilot of the Year, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
National award
Nominated: Young Pilot of the Year, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
National award
Nominated: Rising Star, SME, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
National honour
Nominated: Young Australian of the Year, 2025
National honour
Nominated: Australian of the Year, 2025

More letters and citations are available on request. For verified source links, click the entries that show "Read source". For media enquiries, contact ops@byronwaller.com

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Awards and recognition