A cocktail reception for VIPs and invited guests to share Australia’s ambition to work collaboratively with international partners to promote responsible, sustainable, and norm-based practices in space.
Space VIP cocktail reception
Promoting responsible, sustainable, and norm-based practices in space.
Speakers
Enrico Palermo
Australian Space Agency head
Enrico Palermo has led the Australian Space Agency since January 2021, achieving several milestones including an agreement with NASA for an Australian rover mission to the Moon and the first commercial spaceflights from Australia.
Before joining the Agency, Enrico spent 14 years at Virgin Galactic working on crewed commercial spaceships and achieved the position of Chief Operating Officer. Enrico studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg and holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Applied Mathematics from the University of Western Australia, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the same university.
Before joining the Agency, Enrico spent 14 years at Virgin Galactic working on crewed commercial spaceships and achieved the position of Chief Operating Officer. Enrico studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg and holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Applied Mathematics from the University of Western Australia, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the same university.
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.