The Australian Government’s iLAuNCH Trailblazer has appointed an Industry Advisory Panel to provide advice on strategies and direction within the global space industry. 

The panel brings in five highly space credentialed members to advise on engagement, collaborative research, commercial opportunities and workforce requirements for the benefit of the program. New members include: 

• Dr Kimberley Clayfield – Space Research Program Director and Space Technology Future Science Platform Leader at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency 
• Lieutenant General Larry James (USAF Ret) – Professor of Space Innovation Monash University and Strategic Advisor SmartSat CRC 
• Clive Oates – Head of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, Australia 
• Dr Tim Parsons – Chair of the SmartSatCRC’s Aurora Cluster, Expert in Residence, National Space Industry Hub Cicada Innovations, Non-Executive Director Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). 
• Professor Peter Schubel – Executive Director, Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences, UniSQ
• Eva Rodriguez Rodriguez – Director of Impact and Space lead, Breakthrough Victoria 

They join Professor Anna Moore Director of The Australian National University (ANU) Institute for Space and ANU Lead, Industry Professor Colin Hall University of South Australia Lead, and iLAuNCH’s Executive Director Darin Lovett and Chief Technology Officer Joni Sytsma on the Panel. 

Dr Tim Parsons and Darin Lovett will serve as Co-Chairs of the Advisory Panel, and together their experience across global and national networks will assist with investment opportunities, industry work experience and educational programs, including curriculum co-development and importantly future funding beyond the initial 4-year grant period. 

“I congratulate the iLAuNCH Industry Advisory Panel members and my Co-Chair on their appointments. Their combined experience and breadth of knowledge will guide the future of our program and drive commercial success for our emerging space products and services,” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett.

The iLAuNCH Trailblazer supports R&D projects to commercialisation, empowering universities and industry to advance ground breaking solutions. 

“I am excited to co-lead the Advisory Panel to further strengthen space programs in Australia,” said Co-Chair Dr Tim Parsons. 

“We are focused on building sovereign capability across technology commercialisation opportunities both within the space sector and leading to other sectors beyond space.” 

Immediate opportunities exist through the launch of the new iLAuNCH Space Accelerator slated for July, along with the Future Skills Development program across the five focus segments of Advanced Manufacturing, Rocket launch, Hypersonics and Flight Diagnostics, Satellite Communications and Sensors, and Materials and Processing. 

About iLAuNCH

The Australian Government Trailblazer Universities Program provides dedicated investment to accelerate Australia’s innovation agenda at speed and at scale.  

The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Trailblazer is a $180 million program building Australia’s enduring space capability through the commercialisation of projects, a fast-track accelerator, and skills development to build the workforce of the future. 

For Industry Advisory Panel biographies, visit ilaunch.space/about/team.