In mid-June, AIAA Melbourne Section’s Kaja Antlej, Senior Lecturer (Industrial Design) & XR Researcher at Deakin University, presented “AIAA in Australia: Building Community, Capability and Connection” at AusSpace 26 in Sydney. The event brings together leaders from industry, government, academia, and research to explore the policy decisions, capability challenges, and commercial opportunities shaping Australia’s rapidly expanding space sector.
Antlej, AIAA Melbourne Section Chair Emeritus and current Strategic Initiatives Director, highlighted how AIAA is helping connect industry, academia, government, students, and early-career professionals across Australia’s aerospace, aviation, space, and defense sectors. She also encouraged greater Australian participation in AIAA’s Technical Committees, where members contribute to global discussions and help shape the standards and best practices that will guide the future of aerospace.
In line with AIAA Australia’s growth, AIAA exhibited at AusSpace 2026 and Lisa Vitaris, Strategic Advisor, Indo-Pacific | Bid Director, IAC 2029 Houston, AIAA, moderated two panels (“Building trusted space partnerships: Strengthening capability through international co-operation” and “Why one astronaut can transform a nation’s capability — and what it means for you”). She was accompanied by her work experience student, Anneka Booth, who got to meet Paul Scully-Power, our first Australian-born astronaut!
Nimish Shete, AIAA Sydney Section Chair, and Antlej presented engineering awards at the Australian Space Awards 2026, where Antlej won the Rising Star of the Year – Academia award.
Next events for AIAA Australia are:
- ICAS 2026 in Sydney (13–18 September)
- AIAA Region VII Student Conference in Adelaide (30 November–1 December 2026)
- Avalon Australian International Airshow in Avalon (23–28 February 2027)
Through these efforts, AIAA Australia continues to strengthen professional networks while creating new opportunities in aerospace, STEM, and innovation. Learn more about our sections in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, or reach out to Lisa Vitaris, [email protected].
