Our 2022
Awards Categories

Academic of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the trengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It is open to any academic working in an Australian academic or research institution that has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the space industry and is on a rapid career trajectory – with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their institution and/or any aligned commercial partner business.

All academics focused on delivering new research, products, initiatives or other developments that currently/will support the future Australian space economy are encouraged to participate.

Engineer of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It is open to any degree-qualified engineer at any career level and at any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the space industry and is on a rapid career trajectory – with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation.

All engineers working in industry across areas such as agricultural, aerospace, civil, electrical and electronics, mechatronic, launch, mechanical, structural, information and combat systems, and all other sectors are encouraged to participate.

Executive of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

All industry executives who hold a senior position such as CEO, CFO, COO, managing director, executive director, or equivalent title are encouraged to apply.

Female Space Leader of the Year

This award recognises a female leader in space that has most effectively shaped their business’ success while supporting the strengthening, diversity and growth ofAustralia’s space industry and its capabilities.

It is open to all female aviation professionals who hold a management/leadership position in a business, organisation or institution that supports space and the space research industry.

Female leaders working across all areas of the space industry including agricultural, aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical and electronics, geo-spatial, mechatronic, launch, mechanical, observation, structural, information and combat systems, and all other sectors are encouraged to participate.

All space-related female leaders are encouraged to enter irrespective of age or geographical location.

Graduate of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

This award recognises the graduate who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to building a successful career in the space industry.

It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the graduate to create a point of difference to positively contribute to the space industry and shape an exciting career path.

Graduates from all academic disciplines working in space industry are encouraged to participate.

Indigenous Space Leader of the Year

This award recognises the Indigenous leader that has most effectively shaped their business’ success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space and national security capabilities.

It is open to all Indigenous professionals, of any age or career level, working in a business, organisation or institution that supports space or space activity within Australia.

Indigenous space professionals working across all areas of the space industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations, training and mentorship programs or any other space business are encouraged to participate.

Innovator of the Year - Individual

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

All types of innovation will be considered, whether related to service excellence, product, systems and platform development, business development, technology, workplace management and enterprise or any other style of innovation.

Professionals working across all areas of space industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations or any other space business are encouraged to participate.

Researcher of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It is open to any researcher at any career level and at any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the space industry and is on a rapid career trajectory – with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their institution and/or any aligned commercial partner business.

Researchers across all areas of space industry are encouraged to participate.

Rising Star of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

This award recognises the individual that has most effectively shaped their business’ success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through their participation in the space industry.

It is open to any individual at any career level and any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling professionally in the space industry and is on a rapid career trajectory – and made a positive contribution to the space industry.

Professionals across all areas of space industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations or any other space business are encouraged to participate.

Scientist of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

This award recognises the scientist that has delivered outstanding work for their organisation or institution while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through their participation in the space industry.

It is open to any degree-qualified scientist at any career level and at any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the space industry and is on a rapid career trajectory – with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation.

All scientists specialising in the agricultural, aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical and electronics, geospatial, mechatronic, launch, mechanical, observation, structural, information and combat systems, and all other sectors are encouraged to participate.

Lifetime Achievement Award 2022

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

This award recognises the professional that has delivered outstanding work for their organisation or institution, achieving a significant milestone on a local or national level, while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through their active participation in the space industry.

Their efforts enabled them to move rapidly in an upward career trajectory, played an integral role in business development, and made an impactful contribution to the industry, their organisation and peer group.

Academic Faculty of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all academic institutions supporting the space industry at undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels.

All Australian universities and academic institutions are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.

Business of the Year - Large

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all space primes, no matter their specialisation, operating across domains such as agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines.

All space primes are encouraged to participate irrespective of revenue or geographic location/s.

Business of the Year - SME

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all space SMEs, no matter their specialisation, such as agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines. All space SMEs are encouraged to participate.

Business of the Year - Independent

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all space businesses, no matter their specialisation, which are not a division of, funded, or run by a government body or educational institution. Businesses such as agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other spacerelated disciplines are encouraged to participate.

Defence Business of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all defence-related businesses, no matter their specialisation, such as telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines.

All defence businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic
location/s.

Diversity Business of the Year

This award recognises the business that has most effectively demonstrated its ability to accelerate as a supportive and inclusive organisation while strengthening Australia’s space capabilities.

This includes, and is not limited to, promoting gender diversity, support for LGBTIQA+, fostering youth programs, introducing cultural and religious support, leading community engagement and initiatives to enable and advocate for a modern and diverse workplace.

It includes all space-related organisations, no matter their specialisation or size, such as primes, agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, education and training, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines. All space businesses are encouraged to participate.

Indigenous Support Business of the Year

This award recognises the business that has most effectively driven demonstratable support and inclusion of Indigenous communities, education and practices, while strengthening Australia’s space and national security capabilities.

All businesses, no matter the specialisation, operating across domains such as primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations, training and mentorship programs or any other space business are encouraged to participate.

All businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.

Innovator of the Year - Company

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

All types of innovation will be considered, whether related to service excellence, product, systems and platform development, business development, technology, workplace management and enterprise or any other style of innovation.

All space businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.

Launch Business of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all launch businesses, no matter their specialisation, such as OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management organisations, R&D, engineering, advanced manufacturing technologies, energy, software, procurement and other related space businesses.

All space launch businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic
location/s.

Manufacturing Business of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all space manufacturing businesses, no matter their specialisation, operating across domains such as agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines.

All space manufacturers are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.

Research Organisation of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all research organisations, both public and private, no matter their specialisation, operating across domains such as telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space related disciplines.

All research organisations are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.

Start-up of the Year

Finalists of the Australian Space Awards have most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s space economy through its participation in the space industry.

It includes all space start-ups, no matter their specialisation, operating across domains such as agriculture, launch, observation, research and development, telecommunications, satellite, energy, mining, transport and all other space-related disciplines.

All space start-ups are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.