Canberra, AUSTRALIA, November 20, 2017 – Senior leaders from Australia’s space industry, government and academic communities convened in Canberra today to expand the dialogue around establishing a National Space Agency for Australia.

The Securing Australia’s Space Industry Forum 2017 (the Forum), hosted by Lockheed Martin Australia in partnership with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Space Industry Association of Australia, explored key opportunities and challenges for the realisation of a National Space Agency, the formation of which was announced by the Federal Government during the recent International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide.

Speaking at the Forum, Rod Drury, Managing Director, Lockheed Martin Australia Space Systems Company, reaffirmed Lockheed Martin’s commitment to facilitating formative, high-level discussions between industry, government and academia in support of realising a National Space Agency for Australia.

“The Government’s announcement of a National Space Agency that will provide clear, consistent leadership on space was resoundingly welcomed by Australia’s space community,” he said. “It is critical that Australian industry, government and academia work together to ensure that Agency has the capabilities and capacity necessary to support the sustainable growth of our burgeoning space industry by advancing technology innovations and furthering scientific discovery.”

In his address to the Forum, Vince Di Pietro AM, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia, acknowledged the significant contribution of Forum speakers and reiterated Lockheed Martin’s ongoing commitment to Australia’s space industry.

“Today’s Forum addressed critical questions for the future of Australia’s National Space Agency and, therefore, the wider space industry as a whole,” he said. “As a leading global space company, with a significant presence in Australia, we are committed to playing our part in contributing to such a crucial dialogue that has broad and far reaching economic and security implications for Australia.”

The Securing Australia’s Space Industry Forum 2017 featured a keynote from Dr Megan Clark AC, FTSE, Chair of the Expert Reference Group, Space Industry Capability Review, followed by a panel discussion featuring some of Australia’s leading space industry commentators including: Peter Jennings PSM, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute; Air Vice Marshal (ret) Mark Skidmore AM, Chairman of Skykraft; Michael Pakakis, Director of the Victorian Space Science Education Centre and Solange Cunin, Founder and CEO of Cuberider.

About Lockheed Martin Australia
Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Lockheed Martin Australia and its related entities employ more than 800 people in Australia and New Zealand working on a wide range of major programmes spanning the aerospace, defence, maritime and civil sector.

About Securing Australia’s Space Industry Forum 2017

The Securing Australia’s Space Industry 2017 forum is the next chapter in Lockheed Martin’s thought leadership series, drawing on leaders in government, industry and academia. This year’s event, held in partnership with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Space Industry Association of Australia, was convened to continue to expand the Australian space community’s dialogue generated by the Federal Government’s announcement to establish a National Space Agency.