The summit will feature two main stages with over 70 industry leaders set to discuss emerging business opportunities, innovations and the real-world applications shaping the future of the space industry.
As well as hearing from Scott Morrison, former Australian Prime Minister and Non-Executive Group Chairman at Space Centre Australia, attendees will also be treated to a session from Lieutenant General Susan Coyle.
Coyle was the first female to lead a warfighting domain in the Australian Army and currently heads the Joint Capabilities Group, the division of the ADF that contains Space Command.
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Lieutenant General Coyle began her distinguished military career in the Army Reserves in 1987 and has since served at tactical, operational, and strategic levels across a range of command and staff appointments.
Over the decades, she has commanded at every rank, including pivotal roles such as Commander Forces Command, Commander Joint Task Force 633 (CJTF633), Commander 6th Brigade, Commander Task Group Afghanistan, and Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment.
In a significant milestone for women in defence, Lieutenant General Coyle became the first female to lead a warfighting and operational domain when she was appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities Group in July 2024.
When taking on her role as Chief of Joint Capabilities, she was also elevated to lieutenant general — the second-highest rank in the army — where she heads up the ADF's cyber and space commands.
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Discussing her position leading Australia's embryonic space command with ABC News last year, Lieutenant General Coyle said, "We're building trades to be space experts and building training institutions.
"If you're in the army, you look at geography, you look at terrain, you look at weather, and how that impacts how our forces will fight on the ground. Well, it's the same in space.
"So we're looking at what's up in the sky … what satellites are ours or our allies? What are commercial ones that we have to protect, and what are other satellites up there that we're not aware of that may be adversaries' satellites, and what are they doing?"
In her session at the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition, Lieutenant General Coyle will deep dive into her role at the intersection of space, cyberspace, and information warfare, and explore how space development is impacting defence strategies and operations.
Her military career is marked by numerous accolades, including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her leadership as Commander Joint Task Force 633, as well as receiving a Conspicuous Service Cross as Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment.
She was also honoured with a Distinguished Service Medal for her contributions as Deputy Commander JTF 636/Commander Task Group Afghanistan on Operations SLIPPER and HIGHROAD.
Additionally, her honours include a Chief of Joint Operations Command Commendation for her role as Officer Commanding 104th Signal Squadron on Operation ANODE, and a Commander Australian Theatre Commendation as Staff Officer to the Commander Australian Theatre Joint Intelligence Centre.
While she was posted to the United States, she also received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for her role as the 11th Signal Brigade Satellite Engineer.
Beyond her military achievements, Lieutenant General Coyle is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Advanced Management Program and holds an impressive array of postgraduate qualifications.
At the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition, Lieutenant General Coyle will share her experiences as a female leader in the Australian Army, offering inspiration for attendees to succeed in their own careers.
She will also explore the intersection of space and defence more broadly, and why this connection is crucial in shaping Australia’s space sector.
The Australian Space Summit & Exhibition will unite a lineup of local and international thought leaders to explore critical funding challenges and highlight emerging opportunities for international collaboration.
The Australian Space Summit & Exhibition will be held on 27 and 28 May at the ICC, Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
For more information on the agenda, click here.
To see the full list of speakers, click here.
Click here to learn more about the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition.
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