9X5 Consulting and Education360 Recognised at the Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026

9X5 Consulting | Awards & Recognition

Matthew Willie has been named Most Innovative Education Data Analytics CEO of the Year 2026, with 9X5 Consulting and Education360 also receiving the APAC Insider School Data Governance Excellence Award 2026.

Innovation is most meaningful when it creates practical change. At 9X5 Consulting, this belief has shaped the way we approach technology from the beginning: not as an end in itself, but as a tool to solve real problems, strengthen organisations, and help people achieve better outcomes.

We are proud to share that our Founder and CEO, Matthew Willie, has been recognised as Most Innovative Education Data Analytics CEO of the Year 2026, alongside recognition for 9X5 Consulting and Education360 through the APAC Insider School Data Governance Excellence Award 2026.

The two honours form part of APAC Insider's Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026, which celebrates leaders contributing to innovation, resilience, and meaningful progress across the Australian business landscape.

Leadership Grounded in Practical Outcomes

Matthew's career in technology began with an early interest in computing and developed across more than 25 years of experience in programming, management, partnerships, sales, and strategy. After beginning his professional career with Hewlett-Packard, he went on to work across a range of technology-focused roles before establishing 9X5 Consulting.

The goal was clear: to combine strong technical capability with a practical understanding of what organisations genuinely need.

As Matthew shared with APAC Insider, “I believed there was an opportunity to build a company that combined strong technical capability with a practical, client outcome-focused approach.”

That principle continues to guide 9X5 today. As a 100% Australian-owned business, 9X5 Consulting brings together technology, people, and process to help organisations turn complex challenges into clear, scalable, and effective solutions. Its work spans software, hardware, IT support, project management, digital architecture, strategy, and advisory services, always with a focus on outcomes rather than technology for technology's sake.

Matthew remains closely involved in both the strategic direction of the business and the development of new solutions. This hands-on approach ensures that innovation stays connected to real client needs and that every new initiative has a clear purpose.

A Shared Vision Across 9X5 Consulting and Education360

The same outcome-focused philosophy led to the creation of Education360, an education technology platform built specifically for Australian schools and powered by 9X5 Consulting.

Schools generate and manage significant volumes of information across learning, wellbeing, administration, finance, compliance, and school operations. However, this information is often distributed across disconnected systems, making it difficult for leaders and educators to build a complete view of what is happening across their school.

Education360 was created to bridge those gaps. By connecting existing systems and bringing fragmented information into a more consistent environment, the platform helps schools move from isolated reports towards clearer, data-informed decision-making.

The purpose is not simply to give schools more data. It is to make that data easier to understand, govern, and act upon, allowing educators to spend less time navigating administrative complexity and more time supporting students and improving school outcomes.

Why School Data Governance Matters

The School Data Governance Excellence Award is particularly meaningful at a time when schools are facing increasing expectations around data quality, privacy, compliance, and accountability.

Effective data governance goes far beyond storing information securely. It requires clear processes, consistent definitions, reliable evidence, and confidence that the right information is available to the right people when important decisions need to be made.

This is especially relevant in areas such as NCCD preparation and compliance, where schools must be able to demonstrate the adjustments, consultation, and evidence supporting their decisions. Through the continued development of Education360 and its NCCD360 pillar, our team has focused on helping schools create greater consistency, visibility, and confidence throughout this process.

Recognition in this category reflects a broader commitment: helping schools build stronger foundations for using data responsibly and purposefully, not only for compliance, but as part of better long-term decision-making.

Recognition Shared Across the Team

While these awards recognise Matthew's leadership, they also reflect the collective work behind both 9X5 Consulting and Education360.

Every solution we deliver is shaped by the knowledge, care, and practical experience of a team committed to understanding our clients, improving our platforms, and producing high-quality outcomes. The continued growth of Education360, including the development of new features and stronger support for Australian schools, has only been possible because of that shared effort.

For Matthew, this recognition represents both a milestone and a reminder of what matters most: staying close to the problems clients are trying to solve, continuing to evolve alongside technology, and ensuring innovation leads to measurable results.

As 9X5 Consulting and Education360 continue to grow, the vision remains ambitious but practical: to build technology that reduces complexity, strengthens decision-making, and creates lasting value for the organisations and communities it serves.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and grateful to our team, clients, and partners who continue to be part of the journey.