Meet our Executive team
Located around Australia, our Executive team is responsible for coordinating civil space matters across government and supporting the growth and transformation of Australia’s space industry.
Enrico Palermo - Head of the Australian Space Agency
Enrico Palermo - Head of the Australian Space Agency
Enrico is responsible for governance and performance, management, policy leadership and strategic direction of the Agency.
Dara Williams - Deputy head of the Australian Space Agency
Dara Williams - Deputy head of the Australian Space Agency
Dara ensures the Agency delivers on its purpose to transform and grow a globally respected Australian space industry that contributes to the economy.
Aude Vignelles, Acting General Manager National Space Capability, Technology and Programs | Chief Technology Officer
Aude Vignelles, Acting General Manager National Space Capability, Technology and Programs | Chief Technology Officer
The National Space Capability, Technology and Programs branch provides whole-of-government strategic guidance on national space capability and needs through scoping activities, expert advice and technical due diligence on space matters. It supports the growth and uptake of space applications and delivery of the Australian Space Agency's programs in alignment with critical technology priorities, to grow a trusted and respected Australian space sector.
Christopher De Luis - General Manager, Office of the Space Regulator
Christopher De Luis - General Manager, Office of the Space Regulator
The Office of the Space Regulator is responsible for the regulation of Australian space activities and high-power rockets. Its purpose is to provide an internationally recognised regulatory framework that enables entrepreneurship and sector growth, while assuring risks to safety and other national interests are managed appropriately. This includes the implementation of Australia’s obligations under the United Nations space treaties.
Chris Hewett, General Manager Space Policy
Chris Hewett, General Manager Space Policy
The Space Policy branch provides policy advice and analysis on the space sector. The branch works across government policy domains, programs and capability development to facilitate decision making and outcomes in the national interest.
Meet our Advisory Board
The Australian Space Advisory Board is non-statutory, independent and skills based.
The Board:
- advises the Head of the Agency
- reviews and advises on the Agency’s strategic direction and performance
- supports the Agency to achieve its purpose
- is not a decision-making body and has no governing legislation.
Dr Megan Clark AC
Location
Victoria
Current positions
Director, Rio Tinto
Director, CSL Limited
Expertise
Inaugural Head of the Australian Space Agency 2018 to 2020
Former positions: Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Director at NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia), Vice President Technology and subsequently Vice President Health, Safety and Environment at BHP Billiton.
Qualifications
BSc Geology from the University of Western Australia
PhD Economic Geology from Queen’s University, Canada
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2014 for eminent service to scientific research and development.
Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts AM CSC
Location
Australian Capital Territory
Current position
Defence Space Commander
Expertise
Former positions: Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO), Director at NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia), Vice President Technology and subsequently Vice President Health, Safety and Environment at BHP Billiton
Former positions: Head Aerospace Systems Division, Director General Aerospace Combat Systems Department of Defence, Director General New Air Combat Capability, Defence Materiel Organisation.
Qualifications
BEng Aeronautical Engineering, RMIT University
Masters, Management and Defence Studies, University of Canberra
International Relations, Royal College of Defence Studies London
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service in the fields of aerospace acquisition and sustainment.
Alfred ‘Al’ Wassel
Location
Florida, USA
Current position
Freelance space operations consultant
Expertise
1980–2001, member of US Air Force
2014–2020, Vice-President at Millennium Engineering and Integration. Responsible for executing contracts in space operations, including working with NASA and the U.S. Dept. of Defence
13 years as a senior Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative, executing Commercial Space Launch Act legislative responsibilities on US Federal launch sites
Represented the FAA on the U.S. National Aerospace Technician Advisory Council.
Qualification
Masters in Business Management, Cambridge University.
Frank Robert
Location
Victoria
Current position
Associated Vice President, AT Kearney
Expertise
Has contributed to NASA planetary missions and leading-edge commercial spacecraft
Leads space practice for Australia, specialising in telecommunications, satellites and technology strategy
Has conducted research and authored a white paper on optimising the economic impact of the Australian Space Agency.
Qualifications
Master of Business Administration, Cornell University
Graduate work in Radio Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Economics and Minor in Astronomy, Amherst College.
Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith
Locations
Tasmania and New South Wales
Current position
Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador and Professor of Practice at UNSW
Expertise
Astrophysicist with more than 50 research publications on topics including star formation, supernova remnants, cosmic magnetism, planetary nebulae, and black holes.
Global experience in radio astronomy research, facility operations and management.
Former research group leader at CSIRO and project scientist for both the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescopes.
Expert on designing evidence-based equity and inclusion policies and programs to grow the STEM workforce.
Award-winning science communicator, television presenter and author on the topic of astronomy.
Qualifications
PhD in Radio Astronomy, University of Manchester
Master (Hons) of Physics in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Professor Peter Klinken AC
Location
Western Australia
Current position
Chief Scientist of Western Australia
Expertise
Leading medical research scientist advancing the understanding of genes in leukaemia, cancer and anaemia
Research achievements include discovery of a gene that supresses the growth of tumours
Worked as a researcher at the US National Institutes of Health in Washington and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne.
Qualification
PhD in Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia.
Professor Steven Freeland
Location
New South Wales
Current position
Emeritus Professor, Western Sydney University and Professorial Fellow, Bond University
Expertise
Extensive national and international experience in space law, representing the Australian Government at the UN and advising the Australian and New Zealand governments on space regulation.
Editorial board member of several space-related journals, author of over 300 publications on international and space law
Former positions: Director of the International Institute of Space Law in Paris, faculty member of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law, member of the International Law Association’s Space Law Committee.
Qualifications
PhD in International Law, Maastricht University
Master of Laws, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Bachelor of Law and Commerce, Bachelor of Industrial Relations, UNSW
Marie Curie Fellow in 2013.
Terms of Reference
Australian Space Agency Advisory Board - Terms of Reference