Kristyn E. Jones is Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Air Force. She is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, comprised of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, to include organizing, training, and equipping Air and Space Forces and for the welfare of approximately 700,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families serving around the world. As the Under Secretary, she oversees the Department’s annual budget of more than $205 billion and directs strategy and policy development, risk management, weapons acquisition, technology investments and human resource management across a global enterprise.
Ms. Jones serves as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. In this role, she serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations on all financial matters. She is
responsible for providing financial management and analytical services necessary for the effective and efficient use of the Department of the Air Force resources. This includes directing the development of the Air Force program and budget, overseeing the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's acquisition and operational cost analysis, providing analytical services and conducting Air Force accounting and finance operations.
Prior to her current governmental service, Jones was a Managing Director in KPMG’s Federal Advisory practice, where she supported the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and other federal clients. Previously, Jones served in a variety of government positions. She entered the Senior Executive Service in June 2008 serving as Director, then Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Information Management until 2014. From 2007 to 2008, Jones was assigned as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management and Comptroller for Cost Management Transformation. Prior to this role, Jones was the Director of Enterprise Transition Planning at the Department of Defense Business Transformation Agency and served as a Financial Manager at the Office of Naval Research. Earlier in her career, Jones held management positions at two Fortune 500 companies, Capital One and Advanced Micro Devices. Jones also served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army, where she held a variety of leadership positions.
Major General Novak graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1995 to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Early in his career he filled a range of regimental and staff appointments with highlights including Squadron Commander and Operations Officer at the 3rd Combat Signal Regiment, Staff Officer Grade 1 for battlefield digitisation at Army Headquarters, and Commanding Officer of the 1st Combat Signal Regiment.
Post his Regimental command, Major General Novak spent two years seconded to the Office of National Intelligence as a strategic analyst. In this role, he prepared reports covering a range of issues relevant to Australia’s strategic security interests for the Prime Minister, other Government Ministers, and senior Departmental officials. After this secondment, Major General Novak returned to Army Headquarters as Military Assistant to the Chief of Army.
Major General Novak was promoted to Colonel in December 2016 and posted to the United States as the Australian Liaison Officer to United States Strategic Command. Representing Australia’s Defence interests with United States Strategic Command, Major General Novak gained unique insights on strategic deterrence, space as an operational domain, and integrated global operations. He was awarded a United States Legion of Merit for his contributions to these important components of the Australia – United States military to military relationship.
Upon return to Australia in 2019, Major General Novak served as Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force. This appointment remains a career highlight for Major General Novak as he worked closely with Defence’s most senior leaders and was constantly exposed to the highest level workings of the Department. He was promoted to Brigadier in January 2020 and appointed Commander Defence Strategic Communications in the Chief Information Officer Group, responsible for delivering strategic communications to deployed ADF elements and Defence establishments domestically, regionally and globally.
In December 2021, Major General Novak was appointed Commander of the Australian Army’s 6th Brigade where he led some of Defence’s most capable intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare, cyber, battlespace control, and force-level engineering units. He was promoted to Major General in October 2023 and assumed his current appointment as Commander Defence Space Command in December 2023.
Operationally, Major General Novak has deployed to Bougainville, Afghanistan, the broader Middle East Area of Operations, and twice to East Timor. Through these deployments, he has served regionally and globally in coalition settings, commanded deployed forces at sub- unit and unit level, and experienced contingency operations as well as scheduled force rotations.
Major General Novak holds a Masters of Science in Information Technology and a Masters of Arts in Strategy and Policy. He held the appointment of Head of Corps for Army’s Royal Australian Corps of Signals from January 2020 to December 2023 and was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2023 Australia Day Honours for exceptional service in ADF command and liaison appointments.
Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir is the Commander, United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam, Hawaii. The unit plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives.
Brig. Gen. Mastalir earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Northwestern University Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He is a credentialed Guardian having completed a series of operational, staff and command assignments in spacelift and range operations, satellite command and control, space electronic warfare, space policy, space security and defense, legislative affairs, and joint operations. He has commanded at the Air Force squadron, group, and wing level and at the Space Force delta level and has deployed in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s sentinel, Spartan Shield, and Allies Refuge.
Prior to his current assignment he served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Commander, Space Operations Command, Vandenberg SFB, CA.
Loredana Santo is full professor of Manufacturing processes at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. She is the head of the Department of Industrial Engineering and head of the Space Sustainability Center. She has been principal Investigator of experiments on board of the International Space Station, keynote speaker in many international conferences, organizer of several international symposia and involved in international activities and projects. Her scientific activity has been mainly focused on the following topics: innovative materials and manufacturing processes, industrial and Space sustainability. She is author of over 180 manuscripts accepted in international journals, books and conferences proceedings.
Dr Paul Scully-Power is an integrator, strategist and orthogonal thinker and is Australia’s first astronaut. He has a unique international background in Industry, Government and Academia in the US, UK, Australia, and NZ, and is well known for his network of people and institutions around the world. A leader in applying technology, he has broad expertise in defence, national security & intelligence, aviation & aerospace, cybersecurity, remote sensing, and systems analysis & ICT. He is currently engaged in artificial intelligence (national iAward for innovation), UAVs, microsatellites, smart sensors, nanotechnology and big data analytics.
Dr Joni Sytsma is an aerospace engineer hailing from the USA who, as a recent citizen of Australia, is committed to building innovative technologies within our country. Dr Sytsma has over 16 years’ experience in the research, development and commercialisation of extremely complex aerospace systems where combined interactions of hardware, software and physics are the defining value-add.
As the Chief Technology Officer (iLAuNCH), Dr Sytsma leads the program’s research portfolio in space, satellites, rockets, hypersonics and advanced manufacturing and materials.
Joni was most recently Chief Technology Officer at Department 13 in the counter unmanned aerial systems field. Joni began her career with a decade of developing cutting edge aerospace systems at the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In her time at AFRL, Dr Sytsma led research and development teams to design and optimise aerospace technologies and develop academic concepts into fully tested systems.
Dr Sytsma moved to Australia to join the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experiment (HIFiRE) program with Defence Science and Technology (DST) group. She then joined Gilmour Space Technologies as Head of GNC to work on software stack development, performance simulations and design optimisations.
Prof. Fabrizio Quadrini (m), PhD, is full professor of Manufacturing Technologies in the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. During his career, he has collaborated with many industrial partners to design and optimize new processes and products. He has been S&T manager of European projects such as SMART (Sustainable Moulding of Articles from Recycled Tyres) and GreenPack (Fully recyclable 100% PET package for food contact with O2 barrier, improved transparency and low CO2 footprint) and coordinator of the research unit of his University in several national and international projects such as SMARTFAN (Smart by Design and Intelligent by Architecture for turbine blade fan and structural components systems). He is author of over 260 manuscripts accepted in international journals and conferences (173 on Scopus, Hindex =20). He has been member of ASME/MED Manufacturing Processes Technical Committee (MPTC) and the AITEM board, and is Coordinator of the Bachelor in Engineering Sciences and member of the board of the Doctorate in Industrial Engineering. His main scientific interests deal with laser processing of metals and plastics, forming and machining of materials, composite materials, cellular materials, manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing, smart and shape memory materials, technologies for recycling, smart materials for space application.
Associate Professor Marta Yebra is a leading expert in remote sensing and bushfire management and the director of the ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, which aims to develop technological solutions to protect Australian from catastrophic bushfires.
She has published more than 141 scientific papers and her research has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Max Day Environmental Science Award by the Australian Academy of Science, the CSIRO OCE Pyne-Scott career award and the Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Utilization award.
She was finalist for the Australian Space Awards' Academic of the Year and the National Resilient Australia Award. Marta Yebra has served on several advisory government bodies including the Australian Space Agency’s Bushfire Earth Observation Taskforce and Earth Observation Technical Advisory Group, the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Scientific Reference Panel and the ACT Multi Hazards Advisory Council.
Preetham Akula, CEO and founder of Akula Tech, a deep tech start-up specializing in the space sector, draws from his aerospace engineering background to drive innovation. Fuelled by a profound passion for space tech, he established Akula Tech to pioneer advancements in the industry.
Akula Tech's unique value proposition stems from our next-generation satellites, equipped with adaptive intelligence, enabling them to learn and improve the mission operations over time. Our satellites are also manufactured using novel materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, making the production faster and cost efficient.
Dr Rebecca Allen is the Co Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute at Swinburne University of Technology. She completed her PhD in Astrophysics at Swinburne where she used information from powerful telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope to study the evolution and growth of galaxies going back to when the Universe was barely a billion years old. Now, Dr Allen applies her scientific expertise to help support Australia's growing space industry. To this end, she utilises cutting-edge research in areas such as microgravity experimentation and Earth observation to build climate change resilient communities and support health innovation. When she’s not studying space or using it for Earth, she’s inspiring and empowering future space leaders by communicating the wonders of the Universe and creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
As Director Governance & Industry Engagement Veronica is responsible for government relations, risk, supply chain and procurement, audit, security, DISP and PMO, as well as industry engagement (including university engagement) within the Optus Satellite & Space Systems business unit. Veronica also holds a number of roles with SIAA, including Deputy Chair, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, and member of the Nominations, Performance and Remuneration Committee, and Constitutional Reform Committee.
Prior, Veronica held a number of roles with Raytheon Australia, will responsibility for contracts management and Australian Industry Capability within the Business Development function. She also held senior corporate and Papua New Guinea-based Commercial, Compliance and Contractor Management roles with Newcrest Mining. In this capacity she provided legal and commercial advice in complex matters spanning the full spectrum of the contract management process, as well as setting up and managing a flagship vendor pre-qualification program.
Veronica holds a Bachelor of Arts / Law (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is admitted to the Supreme Courts of NSW and NT. She has also earned a Master of Business Administration (Strategic Planning) from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Diploma in Marketing (Public Relations).
Her portfolio included stakeholder identification and management and balancing multiple agendas and priorities to obtain and retain the company’s social licence to operate with an emphasis on supply chain localisation and sovereign capability development to meet Defence Program requirements. Veronica also has extensive experience in research, writing and policy development, with published works on subjects such as Supply Chain Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Indigenous Engagement. She has worked for the Judicial Commission of NSW, the Queensland Resources Council, University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, and the UN Global Compact.
Russell Boyce is a seasoned leader and strategic advisor with over 35 years of experience across disruptive technologies. He has deep experience in providing strategic thinking, leadership development, education and skills uplift for applying advanced technology and innovation to solve modern challenges.
His contributions include :
25 years of hypersonics R&D (experimental, numerical and flight experiments), including as DSTO Chair for Hypersonics at UQ. This included leading the international SCRAMSPACE scramjet flight experiment and supporting research program that saw over 100 publications and almost 30 young scientists and engineers trained;
10 years of in-orbit space R&D as Chair for Intelligent Space Systems and Director of UNSW Canberra Space. The effort included flying four space missions with five advanced satellites (including the formation-flying / optical-and-RF ISR / artificial-intelligence mission M2); contributed 35+ of the best space engineers in Australia, and spun off three space companies;
Chaired the National Committee for Space and Radio Science for several years, and helped establish the Australian Space Agency, Smartsat CRC, and NICSAT, NSMEO, Aquawatch and other national mission opportunities; and
led the founding of Skykraft, and chairs the board of Infinity Avionics (two of the spin-offs)
Russell is now using his consulting company Mission Assurance as the vehicle for continuing to contribute, in roles that include :
Domain Lead for Aeronautics, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – this role includes overall responsibility for AIAA’s High Speed Flight Task Force (supersonics and hypersonics)
Ambassador to the Australian region for the Milo Space Institute (Arizona State University) and its emerging space nations capacity building programs
strategic thinking facilitation for senior executive education via the global top 5 business school INSEAD in France and Singapore.
Matt is the Managing Director for SSC Space Australia. Joining SSC in 2022, his role is to manage the Swedish Space Corporation ground station infrastructure in Australia, and to grow the business in the ANZ region.
Matt has been working with organisations to deliver complex projects in highly technical environments for 19 years within the ICT, telecommunications, and data centre sectors, and he has experience in bringing new technologies to market. With the rapid growth of the Space sector in Australia, and the focus on developing a mature, sovereign capability, SSC are continuing to invest in their Australian operations and are in a position to provide a complete range of services to industry, including ground station, science and launch, and engineering solutions.
Jackie has a diverse and long-standing background in education with first hand experience working with school children.
She was a school teacher for 25 years and later worked in the Department of Education analysing the NSW school curriculum and how it corresponds with student learning.
Jackie co founded One Giant Leap Australia Foundation with her husband, Robert Carpenter OAM, in 2008.
Anntonette Dailey is a chartered engineer and brings more than 15 years senior executive capability, working across multiple Government agencies, not for profit and consultancies.
Anntonette was recently the Executive Director at the Australian Space Agency, having commenced as part of the inaugural leadership team in 2018 and was responsible for managing its operating environment, managing stakeholders and was instrumental in the establishment of the Australian Space Discovery Centre, publishing the first three whole of Government State of Space Reports, the financial controller and management of the public affairs, outreach and parliamentary activity.
Anny has always had a soft spot for the space sector, attending space camps at school, presenting to Parliament on the need for better space coordination. She is also a major supporter for developing the current and future STEM workforce. Her leadership and passion were recognised by AFR as one of Australia’s 100 most Influential Women and as young graduate of the year by the University of Technology, Sydney.
As a mother to Skye (6) and Flynn (1), Anny enjoys caravanning, renovating, rugby union and car racing.
Dr. Malcolm Davis joined ASPI as a Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability in January 2016.
Prior to this, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in China-Western Relations with the Faculty of Society and Design at Bond University from March 2012 to January 2016, and he currently retains an Honorary Assistant Professor position in the Faculty. He has worked with the Department of Defence, both in Navy Headquarters in the Strategy and Force Structure area, and with Strategic Policy Division in the Strategic Policy Guidance and Strategic External Relations and Education sections from November 2007 to March 2012. Prior to this appointment he was a Lecturer in Defence Studies with Kings College London at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, in Shrivenham, UK, from June 2000 to October 2007. He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Hull as well as two Masters degrees in Strategic Studies, including from the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. His main research focus is on defence strategy and capability development, military technology, and the future of warfare.
Professor Andrew Dempster is Director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) in the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He has a BE and MEngSc from UNSW and a PhD from the University of Cambridge in efficient circuits for signal processing arithmetic. He was a system engineer and project manager for the first GPS receiver developed in Australia in the late 80s and has been involved in satellite navigation ever since. His current research interests are in satellite navigation receiver design and signal processing, areas where he has six patents, new location technologies, and space systems, especially those related to extracting water. He is leading the development of space engineering research at ACSER.
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series and is a board director for the Minds Count Foundation. He holds bachelor degrees in both law and communications from the University of Technology, Sydney and is an admitted solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, Jerome worked in various legal fields, including academia and research, commercial practice and a major federal government inquiry.
Melissa is the Deputy Director and Chief Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants 4 Space and Professor of Space Law, Policy and Governance, Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources, University of Adelaide.
Melissa is a prominent legal researcher, working in the areas of commercial and military uses of outer space, encompassing both domestic and international space law. She has worked closely with the Australian space industry, including serving as Deputy Director and Board Member of the Space Industry Association of Australia, as well as on the successful bid team for the 2025 International Astronautical Congress to be held in Sydney. She has published widely on all legal and regulatory aspects of the space environment.
Melissa joined the University of Adelaide in 2011 and was Dean of Law 2017- 2021. She holds a PhD from Monash University, an LLM from the University of Melbourne, and a BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Grad Cert in Higher Education from Monash and a Grad Cert in Higher Education (Online Learning) from the University of Adelaide. She has held visiting positions at The University of Amsterdam (2002), and National University of Singapore (2006 and 2017). Melissa has also served on the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Classification Review Board (2009-2014). Melissa is a Member of the International Institute of Space Law and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
RaviTeja Duggineni is the founder and CEO of ResearchSat, a pioneering company in the field of space research and biotechnology. An Aerospace Engineer with a master's degree, RaviTeja's passion for space sciences propelled him to establish ResearchSat, aiming to revolutionise scientific research in space and its application on Earth. His expertise in Systems Engineering, Aerodynamics, and space-viable systems has been instrumental in creating a unique "Lab in a Satellite," democratising access to microgravity environments for groundbreaking discoveries. RaviTeja's leadership and innovative vision drive ResearchSat to explore uncharted space territories and deliver cutting-edge solutions that benefit life on our planet.
Annabel is an international corporate and technology lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in Australia, the UK and Asia. At the heart of what she does is solve problems and execute complex transactions. She specialises in commercial transactions and projects involving technology, data and intellectual property, including in the space sector.
She advises on the procurement of satellite and space technology, drafting novel contractual terms and navigating difficult issues related to complex interdependent risks particular to space activity and on IP and data related rights and obligations.
In addition to her transactional practice, Annabel is the firm’s Government sector lead and provides extensive advice on the regulation of complex and fast changing areas involving technology and data. She also advises government on their most sensitive programs, including those relating to how government engages with citizens and regulatory reform.
Annabel is passionate about innovation in business and government and the role reliable and clear legal advice plays in achieving project outcomes. She is actively involved in the Canberra Innovation Network and the KWM Digital Economy Team, maintaining a focus on helping foster opportunities for Australia in our region.
Jeremy is an experienced business leader within the Space Industry in Australia and Internationally. He currently sits on the Advisory Board of Av-comm Space and Defence, APAC’s leading Ground Segment provider for Space Missions, and DroneShield, an ASX-listed company leading the world in technology for the detection and defeat of autonomous systems. He also provides expert advice to other Australian Space organisations including the Australian Space Agency.
In addition, Jeremy is an angel investor including being an Investor and Mentor in the Moonshot Space Accelerator – Australia’s only Space Accelerator program that is helping to grow a Space-enabled economy. Further, he is a Mentor at the National Space Industry Hub run by Cicada Innovations helping Space startups supercharge their commercialisation journey.
Previously, Jeremy was CEO & Managing Director at Clearbox Systems, one of Australia’s longest standing and most successful Defence and Space businesses. In Space, Clearbox Systems has a particular emphasis on Satellite Communications and Space Domain Awareness. Clearbox’s solutions have been deployed extensively in Australia and Internationally and are renowned for their technology, dependability of delivery and responsiveness to emerging requirements.
While leading Clearbox Systems, Jeremy helped found Quasar Satellite Technologies, a CSIRO spin-out company, alongside venture capital and industry founders. Quasar is enabling a new future for space communications by commercialising world-beating phased array technology from CSIRO.
Jeremy is passionate about Australia’s Space Industry and believes in the ability of Australia’s Space Industry to provide world-leading technology and services. He is an enthusiastic advocate for Australia’s Space Industry and has deep technical, commercial and operational knowledge in key sectors where Australian Space Industry has a competitive advantage.
Paul grew up in Africa, under the influence of leaders like Nelson Mandela. He went on to work in over 20 countries on everything from mergers and acquisitions to global shared services before launching an award-winning, for-purpose leadership and innovation academy in Antarctica. Paul has formal qualifications in education, business and innovation and is accredited in neuroscience and appreciative inquiry through the Neuro-Leadership Institute and Case Western Universities, respectively. He is the lead facilitator of the 4-Dimensional Leadership program used by NASA and chairs the Board of a Community Services organisation, as well as annual symposia like World Forum Disrupt and the Humans in Space Summit. His PhD is in breakthrough innovation and his passion is bringing leadership lessons from frontiers like space to the workplace.
Mei He is currently studying aerospace engineering and chemistry at the University of Adelaide, and has previously worked in space marketing and business development. She formerly led Sydney Women in Aerospace Engineering as Co-President, coordinating outreach events to promote STEM careers to high school students, and fostering a safer aerospace community for women at the University of Sydney. Mei has particular interest in space marketing and the broader reputation of space to those outside of the industry. She also previously led the ‘Do It In A Dress’ initiative at the University of Sydney and has volunteered for One Girl, Days for Girls, and Coast Shelter.
Paul Hepplewhite is the Associate Director of Space at Investment NSW, with over 7 years’ experience supporting businesses in NSW. Paul’s career began supporting his family’s small business, running his own business and finally supporting business within the NSW Government.
Paul currently leads a dedicated team supporting space and its applications to the economy. Paul helped establish the National Space Industry Hub, the Waratah Seed Space Qualification Mission, the NSW Node of the SmartSat CRC and the NSW Space Research Network.
Prior to this Paul was an advisor to the NSW Small Business Commissioner where he led a team driving reform to support businesses facing unintended regulation barriers.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong and is an avid space enthusiast.
Michael has over 35 years of experience at the senior levels of space, aviation, corporate finance and general industrial management. An experimental Test Pilot turned successful entrepreneur and business executive as evidenced by roles as the Founder and CEO of the Aerospace Group (later acquired by and renamed Raytheon Australia); Founder, CEO and inaugural Chairman of Regional Express Airlines (REX), and recently as the Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer for Virgin Australia. Michael is a graduate of the Royal Military College, he has a Bachelor of Arts/Economics from UNSW, Grad Dip in App Investment from FINSIA, is a distinguished graduate of the Empire Test Pilots’ School UK and was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Professor Ryszard Kowalczyk joined the University of South Australia in 2022 from Swinburne University of Technology, where he was Director of Swinburne’s Key Lab for Intelligent Software Systems and Head of Distributed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems Research Group, and the former inaugural Wipro Chair of AI, also at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Prior to this, he led AI research at CSIRO and a number of corporate research and development centres in Australia and overseas. Professor Kowalczyk’s research interests include AI, autonomous software agents and collective intelligence for automated and optimised decision-making, and their applications in digital eco-systems of interacting systems, people and things, including cyber-physical-social eco-systems. It involves automated reasoning, negotiation, learning, adaptation and self-organisation in autonomous multi-agent systems, enabling smart infrastructure, smart cities, smart exchanges and industry 4.0.
Professor Kowalczyk has co-authored four patents, published more than 250 scientific articles, and provided expert policy advice to government bodies in Australia and overseas. He has been awarded over 30 research and development projects funded by competitive grants and industry in excess of $25 million, delivering significant research and commercial benefits. His current and past industry collaborators include Wipro, Defence Science and Technology Group, Zimbani, CGREI, Suncorp Australia, AARNet, Siemens, Telstra, VastPark, Canon Australia, IBM Australia, Australian Navy, SAP Software and Solutions and DaimlerChrysler.
Professor Kowalczyk received PhD in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) from Silesian University of Technology in Poland and holds a lifetime title of State Professor awarded by the President of Poland.
Katie was appointed Deputy Secretary of Investment NSW in August 2022, bringing more than 20 years' experience across commercial, legal, company secretarial, governance, compliance, and risk management.
Katie is passionate about delivering results, with a focus on collaboration and strategic partnering. Prior to joining the NSW Government, Katie held senior legal roles including at Stryker South Pacific as Regional Legal Counsel, and Baker McKenzie and Morrison & Foerster where she was responsible for leading and directing complex corporate and commercial transactions. Katie has acted for companies across all stages of the product cycle, from research and development, startups and commercialisation through to significant M&A transactions, corporate restructuring, and capital raisings.
Katie holds a Masters degree in Law and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), and is admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW, the High Court of Australia and the Courts of England and Wales.
Rajat is a Co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Space Machines Company, which is building a “Roadside Assist in Space” capability to service and protect critical space infrastructure and ensure their availability to enable key on-earth capabilities. In March 2024, Optimus, the first demonstrator spacecraft and the largest single Australian-designed and built satellite, will launch on a SpaceX rocket.
Rajat is also the founding partner of 11point2, delivering entrepreneurial innovation to major corporations in sectors such as energy and resources. The firm is dedicated to innovating solutions for complex challenges, with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, energy transformation, and public welfare. 11point2 collaborates exclusively with partners focused on making a positive impact on climate change, decarbonization, national security, and health.
Throughout his diverse career, Rajat has held various roles, including investor, advisor, founder, director, and executive across technology-driven sectors. He trained as an aerospace engineer and his professional experience spans from a senior technology, product, and research leader at Microsoft to being an early senior executive and co-founder of 3 start-ups. He has managed businesses across multiple international markets to drive growth and profitability. His leadership extends beyond corporate roles, serving as an advisor for digital health and cybersecurity platforms.
Nick Leake is the Head of Satellite and Space Systems at Optus with more than 40 years’ experience in the industry. Nick’s career began in the Royal Airforce followed by roles in the Satellite and Communications industries across Europe and the Asia Pacific.
As Head of Optus Satellite and Space Systems, Nick leads the teams who are responsible for the Optus Satellite Fleet; engineering and testing of satellite products; launch support for global and regional operations; sales; marketing and the procurement, as well as delivery, of new satellites and programs. This includes the Optus C1 Satellite which provides critical mission capabilities for Defence operations and, at the time of launch, was the world’s largest Defence-commercial spacecraft.
Nick has led the end-to-end RFI, RFT and acquisition program that will bring Optus’ 11th spacecraft and the first fully software-defined Ku-band satellite to the Asia Pacific. In addition, Nick is also leading the team who will utilise the world’s first Mission Robotic Vehicle and Mission Extension Pod to extend the life of the Optus D3 spacecraft in orbit.
Kaylee is a passionate young individual whose role at LEAP is to liase and support university student teams across Australia and New Zealand, including Rocketry, UAV/UAS, Lunar Rover, Solar Cars, FSAE Racing, Human Powered Vehicle, and Robotics teams. Kaylee is also the Co-President at Sydney Women in Aerospace Engineering society and a current Aerospace Engineering student at The University of Sydney. In the past, she worked on space workforce development within AIC (Australian Industry Capability) and Project Coordinator for ADF SATCOM Joint Project 9102. At the Space Generation Advisory Council, she serves as Asia-Pacific Executive Secretary and supports the Space Safety and Sustainability project group.
Urszula is a market-leading regulatory and digital economy lawyer, with a focus on emerging technologies. She runs a cross-border team based in both Hong Kong and Australia.
Urszula advises global banks, payment institutions, large technology companies, transnational bodies and developers on new products and services, infrastructure, cross-border transactions, complex multi-stakeholder structures, compliance and licensing. In her data practice, Urszula advises on privacy regulation, algorithmic design, encryption technologies and data-sharing arrangements. Urszula is a leading specialist advising governments, multilaterals and regulators on building robust enabling environments for digital payments, digital identity, financial crime controls, cross-border data flows and innovation.
Urszula is a member of multiple advisory bodies and has been appointed to the Panel of Recognised International Market Experts (P.R.I.M.E.). She is regularly invited to brief governments, regulators and transnational policymakers. Urszula is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong, Australia and England & Wales. She is highly rated across a number of practice areas by Chambers and other major legal directories.
Nick began his career as a Telecommunications Engineer, starting work for Optus in 1996 under the Optus Cadetship program, and pursued many areas of opportunity and growth across Satellite Operations, Engineering, Marketing and Sales. In 2008 he completed an MBA at MGSM.
Nick left Optus in 2011 to join global satellite service provider SpeedCast to lead the SATCOM expansion into major regional projects including PNG, focused on DIBP for Manus Island connectivity, and all across the Pacific, eventually becoming the VP, Sales for Asia Pacific managing three sales teams from Hong Kong (North Asia), Singapore (South East Asia) and Australia Pacific. Nick enabled the $184m business satellite service (BSS) delivery and support contract with NBN.
Returning to Optus in 2017 initially as Senior Director Sales & Marketing, Nick now leads Solutions, Product, Marketing and Strategy for Optus Satellite and Space Systems. In this role, he secured the business case underpinning the launch of the region’s first Software Defined GEO Satellite – Optus 11, and the contracts supporting the launch of the world's first Mission Extension Pod (MEP) from SpaceLogistics.
He is now in charge of the development and evolution of satellite and defence products & solutions for Optus, and has a passion to enable Australian industry collaboratively for mutual success.
Mike counsels launch, satellite, space-based service providers, software, communications and other technology companies and investors on a broad range of legal issues related to regulatory, disputes and compliance issues.
Prior to joining Akin, Mike led the in-house team responsible for policy strategy, government contracts, intellectual property, regulatory licensing and compliance for a space and defense company.
Before entering industry, Mike held numerous space-related posts in the U.S. government, including serving as Staff Director and Senior Counsel to the Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. In that position, he assisted in the committee’s oversight role, led preparation for congressional investigations and drafted and negotiated legislation, including the Commercial Space Launch
Competitiveness Act of 2015 and the NASA Transition Authorization Act of
2017.
He also served as a Senior Policy Analyst and Liaison to the National Space Council in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he advised senior White House leadership on space law and policy and led interagency policy development efforts. His government service also includes service in the Office of the General Counsel and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Mike holds a doctorate in Space Law and an LL.M in Air and Space Law from McGill University’s Faculty of Law. He earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina.
Professor Anna Moore is the Australian National University’s (ANU) Vice Chancellor’s Entrepreneurial Professor and Director of ANU Institute for Space the multi-disciplinary initiative spearheaded by Moore in 2018, harnessing the University’s diverse space capability under one central institute with the aim to solve society’s greatest challenges. Professor Moore was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Space Agency, as part of the Australian Government’s expert reference group. She was awarded Female Leader of the Year at the Australian Space Awards (2021), and Top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review (2019) and InSpace was awarded Academic Institution of the Year at the Australian Space Awards 2023 . Over her career, Moore has raised over $150 million in funding across 29 space and astronomy manufacturing projects in collaboration with industry and government. Anna is an inspirational role model to many women and is ensuring women thrive in the traditionally male-dominated STEM workforce. Professor Moore is a dual US/Australian national and worked at Caltech for 12 years before moving to Canberra as Director of the Advanced Instrumentation and technology Centre in 2017. She is a distinguished researcher, a world-leading expert in astronomical instrumentation and translation, and a global leader in the emerging field of transient infrared astronomy.
Mr Palermo is the second Head of the Australian Space Agency, starting in January 2021 at the Agency’s Adelaide headquarters. As Head of Agency, he is responsible for overall governance and performance, management, policy leadership and strategic direction. Mr Palermo spent the previous 14 years in various roles at Virgin Galactic, including managing a team of over 700 engineers, technicians and professionals responsible for the build and testing of a fleet of Mach 3, crewed commercial spaceships. He went from being the first employee of The Spaceship Company, a Virgin Galactic subsidiary dedicated to the high-tech manufacturing function, to becoming Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange listed public company Virgin Galactic Holdings.
A Perth native, Mr Palermo graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Physics and Applied Mathematics. Mr Palermo also studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg. Mr Palermo has worked and studied in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Netherlands. His experience goes beyond the space industry having also worked in Australian chemical processing, management consulting, onshore and offshore oil and gas, and mining industries. Returning home to Australia with his wife Nadia and two boys, Mr Palermo brings his deep technical background, international network, and business scaling experience to help further develop Australia’s expanding ecosystem of space companies and startups.
Kiriti Rambhatla, the founder of Metakosmos is an emerging technologies & innovation specialist. His work on Innovation was published on Forbes & he has been nominated as a finalist in “Innovator of the year” category at the Australian Space Awards 2023. He is currently the chief architect of Kosmosuit , the next generation commercial spacesuit technology which won the Global Innovation Award at Tech Connect World 2023 in Washington DC, USA.
Prior to founding Metakosmos, he was the Head of Emerging Technologies at LinkedIn (Microsoft group) where he led a team in Asia Pacific that won the Innovation Excellence award for deploying future technologies. His interest & passion for space made him pursue the idea of building commercially viable spacesuits.
He holds a bachelors in Electrical Engineering & a Masters in Business Administration with specialisations from London Business School & MIT USA. He was a former speaker at the European Commission, Tedx, ANZ Biobridge , CSIRO & Avalon International Airshow to name a few.
Dale has over 20 years’ experience in asset and structured finance.
He gained experience at several top tier international law firms as well as many years as a banker in the asset and structured finance team at HSBC Hong Kong. In his banking role, Dale worked on numerous aircraft financings to a number of major airlines. Dale also established leasing platforms in Dubai and Hong Kong and continues to act on such matters in Australia for lessors of equipment and fleet. He also acted on satellite financings and restructurings in relation to Jabiru I & II in Australia.
Dale has also been involved in numerous standard form documentation and PPSA issues for equipment lessors and banks (Westpac, NAB, Rabobank). He has also drafted all the standard industry (APLMA) documentation for Benchmark rate reforms and chaired the committee on risk free rate (RFR) amendments.
“Dale Rayner is frequently engaged by major domestic and international banks. He has considerable experience in the asset finance sphere, advising on leasing platforms and structured financing arrangements.” Asset Financing & Leasing, Chambers & Partners 2023
Physicist Dr Lyle Roberts is Head of Photonics at Advanced Navigation where his team works at the nexus of photonics, signal processing, and laser interferometry to develop breakthrough technologies for navigation. Lyle joined Advanced Navigation in 2021 after Vai Photonics, the company he co-founded to commercialise his research at The Australian National University, was acquired.
Prior to co- founding Vai Photonics in 2021, Lyle was a research fellow at the ANU’s Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics researching a range of technologies including instrumentation for satellite laser ranging systems such as NASA’s Mass Change (MC) and Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) missions.
Lyle has been involved in Australian space R&D for over a decade, representing Australia at NASA Ames’ Academy for Space Exploration in 2012, and being recognised as an International Astronautical Federation Emerging Space Leader in 2014. Lyle now heads Advanced Navigation’s development of Navigation Doppler LiDAR for lunar exploration.
Chris Shaw is the CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation, a robotics and navigation AI-based technology company.
Chris earned his degrees in business and electronic engineering from the University of Western Australia graduating with First Class Honours. During this time, he was a research and development engineer at Entecho, a company focused on developing air taxis and aerial vehicles. Following this, he joined Cyber Technology, a company specialising in autonomous vehicles.
Upon discovering a gap in the market for small robust high performance autonomous navigation solutions, Chris co-founded Advanced Navigation with business partner Xavier Orr. Since 2012, the company has experienced great success and has progressed into several deep technology fields, including underwater sonar, GNSS antennas and receivers, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, robotics, and quantum-enhanced inertial navigation.
Dr Smart is a world leader in scramjet design for reusable space launch. He graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The University of Queensland (UQ) in 1985 and completed a PhD at NYU-Poly in 1995. He then spent 10 years as a research scientist in the Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion Branch at NASA’s Langley Research Center. He returned to Australia in 2005 and spent 15 years in the UQ Centre for Hypersonics, being appointed Professor and Chair of Hypersonic Propulsion in 2007. In December 2019 he co-founded Hypersonix Launch Systems Ltd. Hypersonix Launch Systems is an Australian start-up that is developing hydrogen fuelled scramjet technology for green access-tospace.
Dr. Sandy Tirtey is Rocket Lab’s Director of Global Commercial Launch Services and the company’s Launch Director.
Dr. Tirtey joined Rocket Lab in 2013 as Vehicle Team Lead, where he supervised the development and construction of the Electron launch vehicle.
In 2015, Dr. Tirtey took on the role of Vice President of Vehicle Systems, before becoming Rocket Lab’s Launch Conductor in 2016.
In this role, Dr. Tirtey led mission operators through the successful launches of ‘It’s A Test’ and ‘Still Testing’ in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Today, Dr. Tirtey is the Director of Global Commercial Launch Services and is based in Brisbane, Australia.
In this role he supports small satellite operators globally to access orbit through frequent and reliable launch opportunities on the Electron launch vehicle.
Joe is a seasoned professional in aerospace and technology, with a career in aviation that spans over 30 years. He has extensive experience in regulatory reforms and has held various leadership positions, including leading government and industry committees and panels.
Joe is currently the Head of Regulatory Affairs for Hypersonix working with the Pentagon's Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) HyCAT Hypersonic program. He also serves as a member of the Australian Space Agency's Space Regulation Advisory Collective and the FAA's ETM working group. In the past, Joe was appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia as a member of the Australian Government’s Strategic Aviation Industry Consultative Council (AICC).
His extensive experience and contributions to the industry are highly respected. Joe has a strong background in both civilian and military regulations and has worked with both multinational and startup organizations. He has achieved several notable accomplishments throughout his career such as obtaining 'first-of-kind' world first approvals for The Boeing Company FAA Repair Station for Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and startup Airobotics as well as serving as a member of NASA's AOSP airspace workshops in the USA.
Shreyas Urunkar is the Lead Project Engineer at Akula Tech working on innovative projects to help revolutionise the satellite industry. During his time as a student in RMIT completing his master in aerospace engineering, he developed his expertise in space systems engineering, structures and materials which has been instrumental in developing sustainable manufacturing methods for earth observation satellites.
Aude Vignelles was the inaugural Chief Technology Officer of the Australian Space Agency. As part of the senior executive team, Aude lead and was responsible for writing the civil space strategy technical roadmaps, scoping and managing the Agency’s space programs and delivering on domestic and international activities. She provided an in-depth understanding of the national and international space industry, program management expertise and a breadth of space science and systems engineering skills. Prior to this role, Aude was the Executive Manager, Satellite & Fixed Wireless Operations at nbn.
Aude is a space and aeronautics engineer (graduating from ENSICA, Toulouse) who started her career at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands. She became a source of expertise for the test campaign of all scientific programmes run by ESA from their early phase, such as Rosetta. She was appointed Test Manager for the X-ray Multi Mirror mission (XMM), then the largest scientific space program ever carried out by ESA. She then moved to London where she started a career in the broadcast industry and successfully integrated the first digital terrestrial broadcast centre in the world (ONdigital). She continued this career in broadcast and media here in Australia with Foxtel and Austar. She later was appointed Vice President of Technicolor covering all programs in the APAC region.
Aude has been living in Australia for the past 23 years and has contributed to the Australian space community through White Papers, events at conferences with the growing start-up community in Australia, and promotion for Women in Space and Engineering at universities.
Lisa Vitaris is Director, IAC 2025 Sydney at the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). Lisa is an experienced business leader with expertise in high growth acquisition, digital technology, and branding.
Lisa’s experience spans telecommunications, financial services, technology, automotive and travel including brands such as amaysim (Optus), Tyro, CMC Markets, Hyundai, Tourism Tasmania, Volvo, and LG.
Lisa was appointed to the Engineers Australia board in October 2021. In addition, she is the Founder and Director of 10 Pieces, an environmentally sustainable travel initiative, and on The Marketing Academy’s advisory council, and University of Technology Sydney’s advisory to Advanced MBA students.
Terry van Haren DSM (Air Commodore RAAF retired)
Terry van Haren is the President APAC and Managing Director of LeoLabs Australia – a subsidiary of LeoLabs Inc (US). Terry joins the LeoLabs team after a distinguished 35 years of service to the Royal Australian Air Force as a Commander, Director, fighter pilot, and fighter combat instructor. Terry recently served as the Air and Space Attaché to the United States in Washington, DC, where he developed his passion for Space by leading the Australian Embassy’s interagency space working group whilst engaging widely with the US Space Force, Government Departments and Space Industry.
Terry believes that cooperation, between Government Departments, Space Agencies, and commercial industry, is the key to Space security and prosperity for like-minded responsible space nations. Terry shares the Leo Labs vision of providing ‘superior information in dynamic space operations’ through its global network of space surveillance radars and vertical space operations technology stack – VertexTM.
Stephanie is currently the Associate Director leading KPMG’s Adelaide Space Industry Practice within the Management Consulting - Advisory and Operations group. She has spent over the past 15 years specialising in international relations and space policy, spending most of her time previously based in Washington, DC supporting U.S. government agencies (NASA HQ, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Commerce) on a variety of space diplomacy issues such as: Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, Space Traffic Management, Space Operations, Commercial Space / NewSpace Industry Engagement STEM Workforce Planning. Stephanie’s space cooperation specialization has been involved at the interagency and international (bilateral and multilateral) coordination efforts facilitating dialogues and movement of government priorities and projects forward. Her passion in the space sector stems from utilising space technology for applications back on Earth, ensuring a diverse workforce and connecting space across other industries and disciplines.
Jesse Suskin is the Head of Government Relations and Public Policy in Australia, for Wing, a company that sees a future where drone delivery is the safest, fastest and most environmentally friendly way to transport small packages. Before joining Wing in 2018, Jesse spent over six years with Google, working in government relations, public affairs, and public policy in Washington, DC and Sydney, Australia.
Earlier in his career, Jesse worked in politics and public service, including as the White House Associate Director of Communications and as Director of Media Services for the Governor of Massachusetts. He's also served on three presidential campaigns and was a strategic adviser to the former Australian Ambassador to the United States, Kim Beazley.
Jesse serves on a number of advisory bodies including the Australian Department of Infrastructure’s New and Emerging Aviation Technology Consultative Committee, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Regulatory Roadmap Technical Working Group, and the University of New South Wales School of Aviation’s Industry Advisory Committee.
Dr. Webb uses AI to explore the Universe and beyond. Her AI skills developed through astronomy opened a unique and rewarding research career, where she now focuses her work on the use of AI in multiple fields, including human-machine teaming, space situational awareness and medical technology, while remaining closely involved in the astronomical research community.
She has been recognised as an emerging leader in the field of AI for Astronomy and other data intensive fields. Additionally, she works to inspire the next generation of scientists and provide a diverse expert voice to media as a 2023/2024 Superstar Of STEM. Dr. Webb is the Mission Leader for Swinburne’s unique student space challenge programs, sending student led experiments to the International Space Station with a focus on human health in space. This Australian wide program gives students insight into a space science career and ability to work with our US launch partners Rhodium Scientific to have space ready payloads.
Liam began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed a range of international media and communications campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to researching and writing extensively on geopolitics and defence, specifically in North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Master of Strategy and Security from UNSW Canberra, with a thesis on post-truth, postmodernism and disinformation operations.
Dr James Bennett joined EOS Space Systems in 2011 and was appointed to the position of Executive Vice President (Acting) in 2022, having previously worked as Vice President, Head of Technology Development and Astrodynamics Group Leader.
Dr Bennett has held academic roles at RMIT and the University of Western Australia and is a former leader of the Space Environment Management Program within the Space Environment Research Centre, a role he carried out in conjunction with his work at EOS.
He was awarded a PhD in applied mathematics from RMIT University in 2008. Dr Bennett is a member of the International Laser Ranging Service Governing Board and Missions Standing Committee and plays an active role in a range of domestic and international space activities, particularly in relation to space domain awareness.
Professor Lawrence is a proud Wadjak/Ballardong man from the Noongar Nation of the South West of Western Australia. He also identifies with, and has blood ties to, the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields regions.
Former Dean and Professor of Indigenous Engagement at Curtin University, Professor Lawrence has a strong track record of creating greater opportunities to support Aboriginal students, staff, partners and community members. With exemplary experience, networks and academic performance across research, education and engagement – particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – Professor Lawrence drives the Faculty of IT's contributions to the broader Monash University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework: 2019 – 2030 and Impact 2030.
Underpinning his work at Monash is a focus on collaborating with Aboriginal communities in Victoria – using technology and innovation to improve their health, wellbeing and education while fostering more ‘tech-smart’ communities through co-design. Working with researchers across the faculty, he engages Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in schools and high schools to nurture the next digital and space explorer workforce of the future.
If you're interested in speaking at the event, please contact Demii via email.
