Hall of recognition

2021 Winners and finalists

Winners and finalists recognised at the Australasian Space Awards.

2021 All recognition

Winner shown first in every category.

ACADEMIC OF THE YEAR

Winner Sascha Schediwy, University of Western Australia
Finalists
Elias Aboutanios, University of New South Wales
David Buttsworth, University of Southern Queensland
Gordon Cable, University of Tasmania
Iver Cairns, University of Sydney
Tat-Jun Chin, Australian Institute for Machine Learning
Kim Ellis Hayes, Swinburne University of Technology
David Flannery, Queensland University of Technology
Alice Gorman, Flinders University
Saeid Nahavandi, Deakin University

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Winner Andrin Tomaschett, UNSW Canberra Space
Finalists
Xueliang Bai, University of Sydney
Chris Butt, Shoal Group
Jacob Debono, Electro Optic Systems
Mathew Gardiner, Shoal Group
Bryan Greenham, Black Sky Aerospace
Volker Hessel, University of Adelaide
Lewis McCluskey, Southern Launch
Julia Mitchell, SITAEL Australia
Ryan Whitside, Hypersonix Launch Systems

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner Robert Coorey, Geospatial Intelligence
Finalists
Jason Armstrong, Boeing Research & Technology - Australia
David Ball, Lockheed Martin Space
Lloyd Damp, Southern Launch
Nick Green, PFi Aerospace
Sean Moules, TQCSI
Blake Nikolic, Black Sky Aerospace
Keith Rosario, Cingulan Space
Craig Smith, Electro Optic Systems
David Waterhouse, Hypersonix Launch Systems

FEMALE LEADER OF THE YEAR

Winner Professor Anna Moore, Australian National University Institute for Space
Finalists
Megan Badger, PFi Aerospace
Elisha Buckley, Southern Launch
Rowena Christiansen, The ad astra vita project
Alice Gorman, Flinders University
Marissa Riggs, UQ Space
Myrthe Snoeks, UQ Space/The University of Queensland
Flavia Tata Nardini, Fleet Space Technologies
Angela Teale, Slingshot Aerospace

GRADUATE OF THE YEAR

Winner Clint Therakam, UNSW Canberra Space
Finalists
Nina Averill, Saber Astronautics
Jesse Cilliers, Black Sky Aerospace
Ross Fraser, Shoal Group
Scarlett Li-Williams, SAAS Missions
Albert Sztolc, Shoal Group
Mikaela Verhoosel, Geoplex

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR - INDIVIDUAL

Winner Blake Nikolic, Black Sky Aerospace
Finalists
James Brown, Geospatial Intelligence
Ian Dewey, Immanuel College
Alice Gorman, Flinders University
Greg Keith, Geospatial Intelligence
Patrick Neumann, Neumann Space
Robert Potter, Internet 2.0
Michael Smart, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Donald Yates, COLUMBUS Group

RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

Winner Saeid Nahavandi, Deakin University
Finalists
James Allworth, Electro Optic Systems
Malcolm Davis , Australian Strategic Policy Institute
David Flannery, Queensland University of Technology
Alice Gorman, Flinders University
Jun Jo, Griffith University
Patrick Neumann, Neumann Space
Danail Obreschkow, International Space Centre, University of Western Australia
Sascha Schediwy, University of Western Australia
Duncan Wright, University of Southern Queensland

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

Winner Christopher Capon, UNSW Canberra
Finalists
Megan Badger, PFi Aerospace
Xueliang Bai, University of Sydney
James Brown, Geospatial Intelligence
Chris Butt, Shoal Group
Rowena Christiansen, The ad astra vita project
Adrien Doucet, Neumann Space
Blake Nikolic, Black Sky Aerospace
Joseph O'Leary, Electro Optic Systems
Brenton Smith, Space Services Australia/UNSW Canberra Space

SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner Graziella Caprarelli, University of Southern Queensland
Finalists
David Flannery, Queensland University of Technology
Volker Hessel, University of Adelaide
Christopher Moore, Electro Optic Systems
Patrick Neumann, Neumann Space
Danail Obreschkow, International Space Centre, University of Western Australia

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - LARGE

Winner Electro Optic Systems
Finalists
Boeing Research & Technology - Australia
Deloitte

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - SME

Winner Shoal Group
Finalists
Black Sky Aerospace
Cingulan Space
Geoimage
Geospatial Intelligence
Inovor Technologies
Norton Consultants
Salentis International
Southern Launch
TQCSI

DEFENCE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Winner Geospatial Intelligence
Finalists
Shoal Group
Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR – COMPANY

Winner Geospatial Intelligence
Finalists
Amentum Aerospace
Black Sky Aerospace
Geoimage
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Neumann Space

RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR

Winner Boeing Research & Technology - Australia
Finalists
Integrated Marine Observing System
University of New South Wales
University of Southern Queensland

SPACE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Winner CUAVA
Finalists
Atomic Sky - QuantumTX
PFi Aerospace
Swinburne University of Technology
UQ Space
Victorian Space Science Education Centre

START-UP OF THE YEAR

Winner Prism Neuro
Finalists
Black Sky Aerospace
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Southern Launch
Space Services Australia
Valiant Space
Fireball.International

EXCELLENCE AWARD

Winner Sascha Schediwy, University of Western Australia
Submissions now open. Entries close 12 February 2027. Start submission → Submit now