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Opportunities in Space for Australian manufacturers

To celebrate World Space Week, which runs from 4 to 10 October, AMGC is set to host a webinar ‘Opportunities in Space for Australian manufacturers’

Estimated to be worth around US$350 billion in 2018, space is a fast-growing and competitive commercial sector that is undergoing rapid transformation.

Space technology is becoming smaller, lighter, and more precise in unimaginable ways.

The space supply chain is more globalised, and the pace of innovation is rapidly accelerating. These transformations mean that Australian manufacturers of all sizes have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the space economy.

To be held on 8 October at 10:00 – 11:30 AEDT, AMGC’s webinar will share exactly where and how to access these opportunities. It has assembled a panel of space industry experts that will discuss Federal Government grant funding, detail the importance of an experienced space launch partner, and present a real-world case study that illustrates how an Australian watch maker is translating its skills and capabilities into the manufacture of components required for satellites.

Expert Space Industry Panellists

Jens Goennemann, Managing Director, AMGC

AMGC’s Managing Director, Jens Goennemann, will open the webinar with an overview of the broad range of opportunities available to Australian manufacturers within the space supply chain.

Anthony Murfett, Deputy Head, Australian Space Agency

Established in 2018, the Australian Space Agency is responsible for fostering Australia’s commercial space industry, particularly identifying and facilitating both domestic and international opportunities for Australian companies. Anthony Murfett will delve into the operations and programs of the Agency.

Anthony will showcase the Australian Moon to Mars initiative, which is designed to give local businesses and researchers the chance to support NASA’s Moon to Mars space exploration program. He will provide the audience with valuable insights on how to access the Federal Government’s $25 million Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants program. The objective of these grants is to build the capacity, skills and capabilities of Australian companies so that they can succeed in national and international space supply chains.

James Prior, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Skykraft

James oversees the SmallSat design and manufacturing business that delivers commercially viable space-based services to the end user. With operations commencing in 2024, Skykraft’s foundation constellation is currently under development for the provision of space-based Air Traffic Management services.

James will share his experience in building the organisation, the key skills needed and what he sees as the big opportunities for the Australian, and global, space industry.

Blake Nikolic, Director, Black Sky Aerospace

An industry leader in the aerospace and defence environments, Black Sky Aerospace (BSA) is enabling Australia’s access to space. The company provides everything from launch vehicles and propulsion systems through to ground support and infrastructure for aerospace companies from around the world.

With such an impressive space pedigree, BSA knows only too well that manufacturers keen to join the space supply chain need to demonstrate their experience in space—their componentry and products must be ‘battle tested’. As such, Blake will explain how BSA can help your company join the space race. If you, or your company, are looking for a launch partner, be sure to tune in for Blake’s presentation.

Josh Hacko, Technical Director, Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker

Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker holds the mantle for having the first and only wristwatch manufactured completely in Australia. Manufacturing a watch is one of the most difficult tasks to undertake in the field of mechanical engineering. The precision, techniques, knowledge, and machining equipment required are incredible.

Josh will share the company’s experiences of transferring its skill set from watches to satellites and other space industry componentry. Like the capabilities of many Australian manufacturers, those of Nicholas Hacko are highly sought after by the space industry; the ability to create extraordinarily precise componentry that is small, and therefore lightweight, translates seamlessly into the manufacture of components required for satellites. Learn how Nicholas Hacko transitioned into space, and how your business can follow suit.

Michael Haddy, National Director Defence and Space, AMGC

Michael commenced as Director – South Australia in April 2018. Michael has a three-decade-long background in business, commercialisation and software engineering. He founded Innovation Science in 1999, a company that has developed and deployed combat system simulation and specialist systems, and provided engineering expertise in Australia, the UK and Canada. He has served different senior roles at Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation Program, an initiative that delivers guidance and prototype solutions for Defence projects, between 2010 and 2017.

Michael Sharpe, National Director Industry, AMGC

Michael joined the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre in 2017 and is the National Director – Industry. Michael has vast industrial experience including nearly three decades at Sharpe Bros (Australia), one of the nation’s leading road companies. From 2004 -2014, he served as Managing Director of the family business. From 2012 – 2016, he was on the board of HunterNet, a successful industry clustering initiative in the Hunter and Central Coast region and served as Chairman for a one-year period.

The webinar will conclude with an open discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to ask panellists any questions.

Event Details

The ‘Opportunities in Space for Australian manufacturers’ will be hosted via Zoom webinar on:

Date: 8 October 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AEDT

For further information, contact: [email protected]