Revolutionising emergency response with AI and robotics

This event will focus on the application and growing importance of robotics and AI technologies in the emergency response sector.

Following the release of Australia’s National Robotics Strategy, this event will focus on the application and growing importance of robotics and AI in emergency response management.  

We will discuss advances in robotics through recent projects with the DARPA Subterranean Challenge and Project Silvanus. Australian Astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg will highlight the role space and robotics can play in improving emergency services. And we’ll explore the opportunities and challenges facing these sectors.  

Speakers

Professor Tony Haymet
Australia’s Chief Scientist
Professor Tony Haymet was appointed as Australia’s Chief Scientist in January 2025. In this role, he will provide authoritative and independent evidence-based advice on whole-of-government science and technology priorities.

Professor Haymet is an experienced scientist and leader who has strengthened national and global research partnerships. He has a long history with Japan, first visiting in 1994 with the support of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to deliver talks at Kyoto University. In October 2024 he lectured at Hiroshima University and held discussions with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).
Paul Flick
Impact Lead, Cyber Physical Systems, CSIRO
Paul has a background in 3D mapping, Computer Vision and Robotics. He aims to bring CSIRO technologies to industry.
Tirthankar (Tirtha) Bandyopadhyay
Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Dr Tirtha leads the Robotic Autonomy team. He works on building highly capable robots to navigate and assist humans in field operations. He has worked on self-driving cars, marine robots, assistive robots, confined space inspection robots and robots for space applications.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg
Katherine Bennell-Pegg is an Australian Astronaut and Space Systems Engineer. In 2023, she began astronaut training with the European Space Agency in Germany and qualified for International Space Station missions in April 2024. Katherine is the first person qualified as an astronaut under the Australian flag. Katherine holds four degrees in science and engineering and aims to leverage human spaceflight to benefit researchers and industries, inspiring the next generation.

DARPA image credit on main page: Katrina Lo Surdo, CSIRO

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