Awards and recognition
Nominated for Young Australian of the Year 2027
Byron has been nominated for Young Australian of the Year 2027, the national honour that recognises outstanding service to the community. The nomination cites the round the world flight, the founding of the Teen Pilot Foundation, and the Patient to Pilot mission carried out for the young people on the other side of the ward door.
Recreational Pilot of the Year
At 16, Byron Waller took out Recreational Pilot of the Year at the 2026 Australian Aviation Awards, the national industry awards presented in partnership with UNSW Aviation. The award recognises the round the world flight and the Patient to Pilot mission behind it.
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.
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
Wins and honours received
- Australian Aviation AwardsWinner, Recreational Pilot of the Year, 2026→ Read source
- Australian GeographicAdventurer of the Year, 2026, Young Adventurer category→ Read source
- Industry keynotePlenary speaker, 2026 RAAA Convention (Regional Aviation Association of Australia)→ Read source
- SchoolsGuest speaker, Student Aviation Careers Expo, Ballina, 2026→ Read source
- Air CadetsCommanding Officer's Commendation and Flying Award, 2024
- Premier of QueenslandRecognised by Premier David Crisafulli for making aviation history→ Read source
- Prime Minister of AustraliaLetter of recognition from the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
- Prime Minister of New ZealandLetter of recognition from the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Deputy Prime Minister of AustraliaLetter of support from the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
- Qld Education and the ArtsLetter of support from the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP, Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts
- NZ GovernmentLetter of support from the Hon James Meager MP, New Zealand Minister for the South Island and Associate Minister of Transport
- Queensland YouthLetter of support from the Hon Sam O'Connor MP, Queensland Minister for Youth→ Read source
- Youth MinisterMet with Hon Sam O'Connor MP in preparation for the world flight→ Read source
- Federal leadersBriefings with former PM Malcolm Turnbull and DFAT advisors ahead of the circumnavigation
- IndustrySullivan Nicolaides Pathology staff tour, 11 July 2025
- Press featureThe Senior, teen pilot's global flying ambition→ Read source
- BroadcastChannel 7 feature on Byron's mission→ Read source
Queensland Children's Hospital, gastroenterology ward opening
Queensland Children's Hospital, media features
Nominations and finalist places
- National honourNominated: Young Australian of the Year, 2027
- National awardFinalist, 2026 Australian Aviation Awards (won Recreational Pilot of the Year)
- National awardFinalist for three national Australian Aviation Awards, 2024→ Read source
- National awardNominated: Recreational Pilot of the Year, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
- National awardNominated: Young Pilot of the Year, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
- National awardNominated: Rising Star, SME, Australian Aviation Awards 2025
- National honourNominated: Young Australian of the Year, 2025
- National honourNominated: 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