🚀 What an absolute honour it was to be invited by the United Nations, through its Programme on Space Applications implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and the International Astronautical Federation to present at the 30th Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits.

🌏 This years theme “Challenges and Capacity-building Opportunities for Emerging Space Nations” brought together representatives from government, space agencies, research institutes, academia and non-governmental organisations to help build partnerships and accelerate the use of space technologies and applications for sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.

🌱 It was great to share the ways industry is working in Australia to build crucial international partnerships and connect space ecosystems at different levels of maturity to help build much needed capacity.

Some key takeaways:

🪐Industry has unique strengths compared to government or NGO bodies when it comes to developing international collaborations, we are generally nimbler and more quickly adaptable, which we can really use to our advantage.

👩‍🚀 When considering capacity building in any space ecosystem, we need to think beyond just technical capacity.

🛰️ QL Space’s experience in developing international partnerships has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, so if you are from an emerging or aspiring space ecosystem I hope that gives you encouragement to reach out to developed ecosystem partners for support. Whether that be through trade delegations, connecting with your embassy, coming to conferences and workshops such as this, or joining international organisations like the International Space University.

💫 Finally, I believe industry has a real responsibility to share skills and knowledge to ensure the future of space truly does benefit all humankind, by fostering a global space community that’s not just about geographical proximity but about sharing knowledge, resources, and visions for the future.

Grateful for the opportunity to be part of this event and the privilege of sharing the stage with my incredible panellists: Anna Aikohi, George Steve Fajardo Soria, Madin Maseeh and Michele Melo.

A huge thank you as well to Nathalie Ricard and Hazuki Mori for all their work in what was an outstanding workshop.

I’m excited to now be heading to Geneva for the United Nations and World Health Organization conference on space in two weeks!

#iac2023 #UNIAFworkshop Activate to view larger