Crayon, a SoftwareOne company, recognised for innovation, diversity, and future leadership at 2026 GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards

(Australia) — Crayon, a SoftwareOne company and global leader in IT services and innovation, has been named a finalist in three categories at the 2026 GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards, marking a strong debut for the company at the awards.

Crayon is a finalist for the Innovative Distributor Award and Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Award, while AI Business Solutions Specialist Ksenia Turner and Solution Sales Specialist Nathan Chau have been recognised individually as finalists for the Future Leader Award.

The GTIA Spotlight Awards recognise active leadership, outstanding contributions, and innovation that have a positive impact on the association and the technology channel. For Crayon, the three finalist recognitions reflect its long-standing commitment to building a stronger channel by investing in its partners, its people, and the communities in which it operates.

The recognition comes at an important point in Crayon’s journey as it continues its transition into SoftwareOne. Together, the organisations are bringing Crayon’s partner-first approach into a larger global organisation, combining their expertise and resources while maintaining a shared focus on helping partners strengthen their capabilities and deliver better outcomes for customers.

At the heart of Crayon’s Innovative Distributor Award recognition is its Distribution Done Differently approach. The services-led model goes beyond software procurement to give partners the licensing expertise, technical knowledge, enablement, and ongoing support they need to take on more complex opportunities with confidence. Now strengthened by SoftwareOne’s global scale, the model gives partners access to deeper expertise and delivery capabilities while they retain ownership of their customer relationships.

Underpinning Distribution Done Differently is a culture where diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging shape Crayon’s people programs and how it works with the wider community, reflected in its Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Award recognition. Initiatives range from its Female Leadership Program and Tech for Good to supporting women in technology through Both Brains and Queenstown Women in Tech, while partnerships with First Nations leaders help create space for Indigenous voices within the technology channel.

That focus on helping people grow is also reflected in Future Leader Award finalists Ksenia Turner and Nathan Chau. Turner helps partners and customers build their AI capabilities through workshops, coaching, adoption programs, and practical resources, guided by her belief that knowledge should be shared, not guarded. Chau turns technologies such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI, and Copilot into commercial opportunities for partners. Together, their recognition reflects Crayon’s focus on helping its people deepen their expertise and giving them opportunities to share it with partners, customers, colleagues, and the wider channel.

“Being recognised in these categories makes this especially meaningful for us because it reflects the kind of company we’ve worked hard to build,” said Mathew Howard, General Manager, ANZ Channel. “Distribution Done Differently has always been about putting partners first, but that starts with our people and the culture behind them. We invest in their expertise, create opportunities for different voices to contribute and lead, and encourage them to share what they know with our partners. As we come together with SoftwareOne, we’re excited to carry that approach forward with even greater scale and capability.”

The 2026 GTIA ANZ Spotlight Award winners will be announced on 17 September 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Sydney.

This year also marks an Australian industry first, with GTIA and CRN Australia bringing the GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards and CRN Channel Awards Australia together for one awards ceremony celebrating the people and organisations shaping the ANZ technology channel.

For more information, please visit: www.softwareone.com 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Karen Cheng
ANZ Marketing Director
karen.cheng@softwareone.com

About SoftwareOne:

SoftwareOne is a global software and cloud solutions provider. With a presence in over 70 countries and a team of around 13,000 professionals, we combine global scale and local expertise to help clients optimize costs, accelerate growth, and navigate complex IT environments with confidence. Leveraging deep capabilities in cloud, software, and data and AI, the company empowers organizations to modernize, innovate, and unlock the full value of their technology investments. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Euronext Oslo Børs under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com