The Andy Thomas Space Foundation is looking forward to welcoming a global audience to the 17th edition of the Australian Space Forum, which will be held on Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th July 2024 at the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC).
Supported by the Australian Space Agency and the South Australian Space Industry Centre, the Forum provides the perfect opportunity to stimulate ideas, share information about emerging technologies and network with influential space sector leaders and the broader community.
Participants can attend in person, or purchase session recordings if they are unable to physically attend.
The space sector in Australia is experiencing unprecedented growth as industry, academia, and government work together to expand their activities and develop international relationships for ongoing opportunity and success within the space economy. Forum sessions include international panels covering highly pertinent topics that shape our industry.
17th Australian Space Forum Booklet
This iconic event is not to be missed and represents one of the foremost events on the national space industry calendar.
Please note all prices are exclusive of GST (10%).
17th Australian Space Forum, 24th & 25th July 2024
General admission (in-person) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15th March 2024) | $450 | $750 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $500 | $850 | ||
Late | $550 | $950 | ||
Student (in-person) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15th March 2024) | $100 | $180 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $120 | $200 | ||
Late | $140 | $220 | ||
Teacher / Parent (in-person) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15th March 2024) | $100 | $180 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $120 | $200 | ||
Late | $140 | $220 | ||
General admission (virtual) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15 March 2024) | $150 | $150 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $165 | $165 | ||
Late | $180 | $180 | ||
Student (virtual) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15 March 2024) | $50 | $50 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $55 | $55 | ||
Late | $60 | $60 | ||
Teacher / Parent (virtual) | 1 Day | 2 Days | ||
Super Earlybird (prior to 15 March 2024) | $65 | $65 | ||
Earlybird (prior to 25 June 2024) | $75 | $75 | ||
Late | $85 | $85 | ||
4th Andy Thomas Space Foundation Networking Dinner, 23rd July 2024
17th Australian Space Forum Program
Date: 24th July 2024
Venue: Halls C&D Adelaide Convention Centre
8.00 | Registration Opens |
8.30 | Forum Opening Session • MC Wendy Zukerman, Executive Producer, Science Vs • Welcome to Country • Michael Davis AO, Chair, The Andy Thomas Space Foundation • The Hon Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, South Australian Government • Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency • Philip Smart, Industry Marketing and Communications Manager, AMDA |
9.00 | International Welcome • The Hon Judith Collins KC, Minister for Space, New Zealand Government • Dr Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe • Pam Melroy, Deputy Administrator, NASA (Virtual) |
9.45 | Ministerial Address: The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, Australian Government |
10.00 | Morning Tea |
10.30 | Unleashing India’s Space Potential: Strategies for a Resilient and Sustainable Ecosystem • Moderator: Shashank Saxena, Deputy Director (Technical), IN-SPACe • J. H. Prasanth, VP Brand and Communications, Skyroot Aerospace • Vinit Kumar Bansal, CTO, Piersight Space • Yashas Karanam, CEO, Bellatrix Aerospace • Nick Kumaran, COO, mistEO Private Limited • Pramod Kumar Konugurthi, Senior Vice President, XDLINX Labs Private Limited • Sakthikumar Ramachandran, Founder and CEO, OrbitAid Aerospace Pvt Ltd • Kamidi Sharat Chander Reddy, MVP Product, Director, TakeMe2Space |
11.35 | State of Space: Government Perspective – Enrico Palermo , Head, Australian Space Agency |
11.55 | State of Space: Industry Perspective – Brooke Stokes, Partner, McKinsey & Company (virtual) |
12.15 | SASIC Briefing – Matt Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA |
12.20 | NSW Government Briefing – Maroun El Khoury, Executive Director for Industry and Investment, Investment NSW |
12.25 | iLAuNCH Briefing – Darin Lovett, Executive Director, iLAuNCH Trailblazer |
12.30 | Lunch |
13.45 | International Agency Panel • Enrico Palermo, Head, Australian Space Agency • Mr Iain Cossar, Head of the New Zealand Space Agency • Dr Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe • Major General Steve (Bucky) Butow, Military Deputy & Director, Space Portfolio, U.S. Department of Defense • Chaired by Professor Andy Koronios, Chief Executive Officer, SmartSat CRC |
14.45 | Insights from an Australian Astronaut – Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian Astronaut, Australian Space Agency |
15.00 | SIAA briefing • Lisa Vitaris GAICD CompIEAust EngExec, Director, IAC 2025 Sydney, Space Industry Association of Australia |
15.15 | Afternoon Tea |
15.45 | Axiom in APAC – Koichi Wakata, Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer, Asia-Pacific Region, Axiom Space |
16.00 | International Space Industry Lessons learnt • Professor Nicolas Peter, President, International Space University • Koichi Wakata, Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer, Asia-Pacific Region, Axiom Space • Omar Pimentel, Policy and Strategy, Space Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), U.S. Department of Defense • Victor Maier, Lead Business Development & Marketing, The Exploration Company (Virtual) |
17.00 | Peter Nikoloff, Executive Director, The Andy Thomas Space Foundation |
17.10 | Networking Hour |
Date: 25th July 2024
Venue: Hall E3, Halls E1&E3 and Halls C&D
8.00 Registration Open
8.30 Expo Hall Opens
8.30 Research and Development
Ongoing and enduring R&D is fundamental if we are to grow, prosper and effectively address major challenges such as climate change, water & food security, Defence and National Security and exploring and utilising resources beyond our fragile planet. R&D collaboration both Nationally and Internationally brings together the resources and diversity in research and thinking multiplying our efforts to solving the challenges of tomorrow. This session will highlight recent research and development activities and ask the questions, how do we maintain a strong and resilient R&D base?
Speakers:
8.30 Building a Sustainable Space Ecosystem
Session hosted by Investment NSW
Building a sustainable space ecosystem requires early-stage support, a strong pipeline of innovative solutions, and the development of academic and commercial partnerships.
In this session, the NSW Government has brought together some of the brightest minds from the NSW Space Research Network and the National Space Industry Hub, alongside an impressive lineup of Sydney’s most innovative space startups, to dive deep into the “ABCs” of growing your sustainable space business. Featuring talks from influential and experienced innovators in the NSW space ecosystem, followed by a startup-led panel discussing real support mechanisms available today, this session is the perfect opportunity to learn about the space startup journey and discover the secrets to building a resilient and thriving space business in Australia.
Speakers:
8.30 Application of Digital Engineering to Space Mission Design and Operations
Session hosted by Nova Systems
Digital engineering offers a route to efficiently maximise the chances of mission success, through support of mission design, evaluation, planning operations and sustaining missions. The team will work through an example mission design using the STK modelling tool to demonstrate the value, de-risking and efficiency that digital engineering can bring in what is regarded as an iterative and recursive process.
Speakers:
10.00 Morning Tea
10.30 Defence and National Security – The Next Decade
Increasing geopolitical tensions, scarce resources and the impact of climate change on food and water security across the globe are major contributors to shaping Defence and National Security strategies over the coming decade. These factors are incorporated into the latest Defence Strategic Review, which highlights the need to accelerate our preparedness. But what does this preparedness look like and how can industry play a role?
Speakers:
10.30 End User Perspectives: Uncovering the impact of space
Space technology is not an everyday dinner conversation in Australia, despite its broad implications in everyday life. Space is critically important in many sectors, including mining, agriculture, emergency services, autonomous vehicles and weather monitoring. Use cases will be explored, explaining how downstream users can get maximum benefit from innovative space-based technologies.
Speakers:
10.30 Sector Achievements: Moments of national pride and lessons learnt
Since the establishment of the Australian Space Agency in 2018 we have seen the steady growth of our space sector with many achievements to recognise and celebrate. Australian organisations will highlight recent achievements and review lessons learnt in setting a trajectory for continued innovation, resilience and growth.
Speakers:
12.30 Lunch
13.45 Sovereign Launch – Critical Access to the Next Frontier
Australia benefits from geographical advantages and limited air-space & maritime congestion. However, there are complex issues relating to the current geopolitical environment. To what extent is it important to ensure national access to space through sovereign launch capability?
Speakers:
13.45 Enabling Technologies – Space Sector Opportunities
Rapid technological developments impact daily lives and are critical to increasing Australia’s economic prosperity across industries. Australia’s ongoing focus and strengths in enabling technologies such as quantum, artificial intelligence, cyber and laser communications are fundamental to advancing space technologies further catapulting the development for multi-sector growth and sustainable practices.
Speakers:
13.45 International Space Policy Developments
Since the beginning of the space age, Australia has played a prominent role in international space policy and coordination. National and international space policy experts will explore some of the new and unique questions that Australia and the international community must address and hopefully resolve in order to encourage and promote the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.
Speakers:
15.15 Afternoon Tea
15.45 Human Space Flight – Exploration, research, innovation
Some believe that moving beyond the earth’s surface is the next necessary step to ensure the sustainability of our fragile and resource limited planet. Resource utilisation and astrobiological research is a new and exciting benefit of future human spaceflight. Australia is making an investment in our future, through recent and planned contributions to human space flight.
Speakers:
15.45 Space Sector Economics and Investment
The recent release of the World Economic Forum Insight report on Space forecasts the global space sector to grow to $1.8 Trillion by 2035. 25% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product comes from Mining and Agriculture with space capabilities an important contributor to the growth and productivity of these sectors. Australia’s space sector percentage of GDP by comparison to other developed countries is far below that of the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. Investment and funding are well-known challenges in the Australian Space Sector. The time is now for Australia to capitalise on investment opportunities available both nationally and internationally. Explore learnings and opportunities available to improve access to such sources of investment.
Speakers:
15.45 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion enhances the fabric of society and enriches workforce development to ensure a strong foundation of our growing space sector. Exploring the importance of different perspectives, skill sets and approaches in the industry will allow for robust discussion on optimising workforce growth and expectations. What is critical for young people and mid-career professionals moving into the industry? How can the space ecosystem continue to develop in a sustainable manner for all?
Speakers:
17.00 Forum Close
Media Gallery
Speakers
Exhibition & Sponsorship
The Australian Space Forum series continues to grow through the ongoing support of our sponsors and exhibitors and we thank them for their contribution to the space industry in Australia and around the world.
The 17th Australian Space Forum is proudly supported by the below sponsors and exhibitors who are committed to a thriving space sector. If you would like to enquire on available sponsorship and exhibition packages for the next Forum, please contact spaceforum@andythomas.foundation
Special thanks to our Sponsors and Exhibitors
If you would like to enquire on available sponsorship and exhibition packages, please contact spaceforum@andythomas.foundation
Supporting Partners
17th Australian Space Forum Sponsors
If you would like to enquire on available sponsorship, please contact spaceforum@andythomas.foundation
• South Australian Space Industry Centre
• The Australian Space Agency
• AROSE
• CSIRO
• Deloitte Australia
• Department of Defence – Australian Government
• The Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources
• SmartSat
• Saber Astronautics Australia
• Australian Space Diversity Alliance
If you would like to enquire on available exhibition packages, please contact spaceforum@andythomas.foundation
• Advancing Earth Observation Forum
• AIAA
• AMDA Foundation (Platinum Sponsor)
• ANT61
• AROSE(Gold Sponsor)
• Astroscale U.S. Inc. (Exhibition Lounge Sponsor)
• Australian Space Agency (Major Sponsor)
• Australian Space Diversity Alliance (Diversity Partner)
• AVA Challenge
• Blacksky
• Boson Engineering (Silver Sponsor)
• Braemac(Silver Sponsor)
• Caelera Pty Ltd
• Capricorn Space
• Centralian Controls and Markforged
• CSIRO(Silver Sponsor)
• Dedicated Systems Australia
• Deloitte Australia(Silver Sponsor)
• Department of Defence – Australian Government(Silver Sponsor)
• ELO2
• Fleet Space Technologies (Technology Sponsor)
• Fugro SpAARC
• Hamilton Secondary School
• Heo
• Hex20 Pty Ltd
• Human Aerospace
• iLAuNCH Trailblazer (Networking Hour Sponsor )
• India Space Pavilion
• Innospace
• Innovation & Collaboration Centre, UniSA
• Inovor Technologies
• Investment NSW
• Jirra Enterprise Space Pty. Ltd.
• Lockheed Martin Australia (Name Badge Sponsor)
• Makers Empire
• Myriota
• MySecurity Media – Australia in Space (Media Partner)
• Nano Vacuum (Foundation Partner)
• Neumann Space (Foundation Partner)
• Nova Systems
• Planet
• Resonate Systems Pty Ltd
• Resonic Japan Co. Ltd.
• Robinson Aerospace Systems
• Rohde & Schwarz Australia
• Saab Australia
• Saber Astronautics Australia (Meeting Room Sponsor)
• Scitek Australia Pty Ltd (Foundation Partner)
• Silicon Sensing Systems
• SmartSat (Networking Dinner Sponsor)
• South Australian Space Industry Centre(Major Sponsor)
• Southern Launch
• Sovereign Marketing
• Space Machines Company
• Spiral Blue
• Starbound Space Solutions
• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
• Te Pūnaha Ātea — Space Institute The University of Auckland
• The Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources (Silver Sponsor)
• The Andy Thomas Space Foundation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• UniSA/ISU – Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program
2nd Australian Space Week
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation proudly presents the 2nd Australian Space Week. Held in July, around the 17th Australian Space Forum, this week will showcase some of the industries best technologies, innovations and educational developments through a range of events, workshops and experiences.
Check out the exciting activities to come and consider registering your own initiative for the week!
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation proudly presents the 2nd Australian Space Week.
A highlight of the Australian Space Forum is the educational outreach the event provides to students through the Space Passport program, enabling the opportunity for students to learn about space career pathways through direct engagement with Australia’s space leaders.
The Space Passport Program sessions encourage students to:
We encourage all delegates to download the Forum app. You can connect to the app through your relevant app store.