Bennell-Pegg made history as Australia’s first official astronaut and the first Australian woman to receive professional astronaut wings.
She was one of four national award recipients recognised on the night, each presented with a handcrafted glass trophy, a traditional Indigenous coolamon, and clapsticks. The other recipients were:
- 2026 Senior Australian of the Year: Professor Henry Brodaty AO
- 2026 Young Australian of the Year: Nedd Brockmann
- 2026 Australia’s Local Hero: Frank Mitchell.
Accepting the award, Bennell-Pegg said the honour reflected the efforts of many people who had helped build Australia’s space industry.
“This incredible honour isn’t mine alone. It belongs to everyone who has helped build Australia’s space sector – the Australian Space Agency, the people who encouraged and educated me, and especially my family,” she said.
Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, congratulated Bennell-Pegg, describing her as a trailblazer whose work is shaping both the national space sector and the next-generation workforce.
“Katherine’s recognition as the 2026 Australian of the Year is a powerful reminder to defy limits. Australia’s future is full of discovery, opportunity and hope,” he said. “Our team at the Agency couldn’t be prouder. This is a well-deserved honour for a true Australian pioneer.”
Bennell-Pegg is a director at the Australian Space Agency, a Group Captain in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve, and a highly regarded space engineer. Her career has taken her around the world, contributing to human spaceflight, space exploration, space robotics, and Earth science missions – work that underpins the satellites, data, and systems Australians rely on every day.
In April 2024, after graduating from the European Space Agency’s astronaut training program, she became eligible for missions to the International Space Station and future deep space missions.
Since returning to Australia, Bennell-Pegg has focused on promoting Australia’s space capabilities internationally, while bringing back expertise, networks, and insights to strengthen the local sector.
A key part of her role is also inspiring young Australians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In November 2025, Bennell-Pegg was named South Australian of the Year, a recognition that paved the way for her national honour.