The Australian Hair Industry Awards (Creative) celebrated the best in Australian and New Zealand hairdressing at a glittering gala on June 30, closing Hair Festival 2025 in spectacular style at The Star, Sydney. This year, New Zealand’s leading stylists took centre stage, with multiple Kiwi artists recognised for their exceptional creativity and skill.

The highlight of the evening for Aotearoa was the crowning of Sara Allsop of Dharma Salon as AHIA Creative New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year 2025 (view her winning collection below). Renowned for her bold, innovative work, Sara’s win cements her status as one of New Zealand’s most visionary hair artists. AHIA Creative Australian Hairdresser of the Year 2025 went to Bernadette Beswick of Beswick Education Services.

Other standout New Zealand winners included Tenielle Gillies of Flyger, awarded North Island Hairdresser of the Year, and Sarah McGuigan of Savvy Hair, who took home South Island Hairdresser of the Year. These honours spotlight the incredible talent thriving across the country.

This year’s awards saw a huge uplift in entries, underscoring the growing stature of the AHIA Creative platform across Australasia.

“We launched the AHIA Creative Awards to provide a platform where visionary talent could be recognised, supported, and celebrated. To witness this year’s incredible standard of work, with entries rising by 40 per cent and growing participation across both Australia and New Zealand, is truly inspiring. As Mocha Group celebrates 20 years at the heart of this industry, I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come and of the extraordinary individuals shaping what’s next. Congratulations to all our winners,” shared Linda Woodhead, Founder of Mocha Group.

The winners were chosen by an esteemed international judging panel, including industry legends Errol Douglas, Mark Leeson, Candy Shaw, and Vivienne Mackinder, who evaluated the entrants across legacy and new categories such as Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year, Editorial Hairstylist of the Year, and Make Over Artist of the Year.

The evening dazzled attendees with breathtaking stage shows, including the 20/20 Vision collection honouring two decades of Mocha Group and a Masters & Mavericks showcase that brought together icons such as multi-award-winning Kiwi legend Danny Pato, Sharon Blain, and Joey Scandizzo. Kiwi talent was front and centre, with former AHIA Creative NZ Hairdresser of the Year Andrew Cobeldick co-leading the 20/20 Vision performance.

Beyond the awards, the night was a celebration of community and creativity, featuring a three-course dinner, charity fundraising for the Tarrant Foundation, and an after-party buzzing with energy, sponsored by TONI&GUY and Label.M.

The 2025 AHIA Creative Awards were sponsored by Dyson, CPR and Amazing Hair, and supported by Angel Extensions, Cloud Nine, Dateline Imports, Expo4Barbers, Goddess, Goldwell, Hair Candy, Kin Cosmetics, L’Oréal Professionnel, Matrix, Matsui Hair, Redken, Rogue Beauty, Schwarzkopf, Something Beauty House, Hair Festival and Wella, with additional support from communications specialists Lily Blue.

Congratulations to all the winners!

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Matrix
Caprice De Sanctis, Abracadabra Hair

EMERGING STYLIST OF THE YEAR
Presented by Rogue Beauty
Holly Evans, Respekt Your Hair

NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR
Presented by Dateline Imports
Natasha Tsangaris, Rokstar Salon

AI COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
Presented by mocha hair
Geoffrey Herberg

BRAND CONTENT OF THE YEAR
Presented by Hair Candy
Evo Hair

MAKE OVER ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Presented by Cloud Nine
Domi Cherie, Tsiknaris Hair

AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Amazing Hair
Stephanie Bellairs, Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Presented by Expo4Barbers
Matt Clarke, Esq. Male Grooming

COLLECTIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Presented by Kin Cosmetics
Kristie and Dee – Kristie Kesic and Dee Parker-Attwood

SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR
Presented by Schwarzkopf Professional
Tsiknaris Hair

EDITORIAL HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR
Presented by Angel Extensions
Anthony Nader

HAIR MASTERPIECE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Goddess
Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon

HOT SHOTS Team
Sponsored by Joico, Matsui, EVY Professional, Amazing Hair and DP Exogrow
Alyssia Pearson, TONI&GUY Broadbeach
Emma Boyle, Steph Meyer and Co
Georgia Maguire, Pierrot’s Hair & Brow Studio
Natasha Tsangaris, Rokstar Salon

MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Matsui Hair
Harrison Sansom, A.H Salon

MASTER COLOURIST OF THE YEAR
Presented by CPR
Kristie Kesic, Cobelle Creative

NORTH ISLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Hair Festival
Tenielle Gillies, Flyger

SOUTH ISLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Something Beauty House
Sarah McGuigan, Savvy Hair

NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Wella
Harrison Sansom, A.H Salon

QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Redken
Domi Cherie, Tsiknaris Hair

VIC/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by Goldwell
Danielle Blakeley, Yoshiko Hair

WA/SA HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by L’Oreal Professionnel
Johnny Georgiou, Parlour Hair

BTS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR
Presented by mocha group
Photographer: Andrew O’Toole. MUA: Kylie O’Toole. Stylist: Catherine V.
For Kristie Kesic Master Colourist of the Year Collection

DENNIS LANGFORD HALL OF FAME
Presented by mocha group
Bill Tsiknaris

MEDAL OF HONOUR
Presented by mocha group
Shae Tsiknaris (3X Master Cutter of the Year)

INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by dyson
Marlon Hawkins, Brooks & Brooks, UK

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by mocha group
Sara Allsop, Dharma Salon

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Presented by mocha group
Bernadette Beswick, Beswick Education Services

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