Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, announced the establishment of the Space Industry Innovation Council (Space IIC), as part of the Government’s response to the inquiry by the Senate Committee on Economics into the state of the Australian space science and industry sector on 19 November 2009.
The establishment of the Space IIC recognises the importance of the space science and industry sector to Australia. National security, climate change, weather, natural resource management, forestry and agriculture, and disaster management are reliant on space technologies.
The Space IIC will provide strategic advice on innovation priorities to the Minister, champion innovation in the space sector and build connections with other organisations, including the Enterprise Connect network.The Space IIC will also consider relevant implications for space science and industry arising from the Defence White Paper and the National Security Science and Innovation Strategy.
Senator Carr stated that "the Council will examine Australia's current civil space activities, risks and strategic priorities with a focus on Earth observation, satellite communications and navigation."
The Space IIC will work closely with businesses, unions, researchers and government in achieving its goals.
Council Members
On 25 November 2009, the Minister announced that Dr Rosalind (Ros) Dubs would chair the newly established Space IIC. The full membership of the Space IIC was announced 20 January 2010:
| Chair - Dr Rosalind Dubs |
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Technology Sydney |
| Dr Susan Riding |
R&D Manager, BAE Systems |
| Dr Sue Barrell |
Observations and Engineering Branch, Bureau of Meteorology |
| Mr Brett Biddington |
Chair, Australian Space Industry Chamber of Commerce |
| Dr Phillip Diamond |
Chief of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science |
| Dr Ben Greene |
Chief Executive Officer, Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited |
| Professor Peter Hall |
Professor of Radio Astronomy Engineering and Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy |
| Mr Chris Jenkins |
Managing Director, Thales Australia |
| Mr Rob Lorimer |
Position One Consulting |
| Dr Roger Lough |
Former Chief Defence Scientist |
| Ms Naomi Mathers |
Research Scientist & Program Developer, Victorian Space Science Education Centre |
| Dr David Nayagam |
Astronaut candidate with the European Space Agency |
| Professor Andrew Parfitt |
Pro Vice Chancellor, Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia |
| Dr Chris Pigram |
Chief of Division, Geospatial and Earth Monitoring Division, Geoscience Australia |
| Mr Paul Sheridan |
Director Satellites, Optus |
| Dr Terry Stevenson |
Chief Technology Officer, Raytheon Australia |
| Dr Michael Green |
General Manager, Innovation and Space Branch, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research |
Council Meetings
The Space IIC held its inaugural meeting in Canberra on Wednesday 10 February 2010, where it began work on developing a strategic roadmap to guide the future direction of the Space IIC.
Innovation Profiles
Innovation Profiles are real stories of innovation in industry in Australia. Twenty five members of the industry innovation councils share their views and experiences as innovation leaders on-line in web, video and print formats.
Council Meetings Contacts
The Space IIC held its inaugural meeting in Canberra on Wednesday 10 February 2010, where it began work on developing a strategic roadmap to guide the future direction of the Space IIC
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research provides secretariat support to the Space IIC. The Departmental contact is:
Suzanne Milthorpe
Space Policy Unit
GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: 61-2-6276 1166
Email: space@innovation.gov.au