Dan Lloyd held various senior positions globally at Vodaphone across 15 years and was also an adviser to the federal minister for communications. He's currently the group executive of the regional telco Field Solutions Group.
In his LinkedIn profile, Lloyd said he “led the turnaround and transformation of Vodafone Australia’s reputation, engagement and influence with government” while serving as chief strategy and corporate affairs director.
The federal government surprisingly cancelled the JP 9102 program in November, which aimed to deliver a new military satellite communications capability for Australia.
The project was arguably the biggest contract in the local sector, and afterwards, SIAA chairman Jeremy Hallett claimed the decision was so bad it would make companies think twice about working with Defence.
“While other OECD nations see sovereign space capability as critical to creating high-tech, high-value jobs and a military advantage, in our own backyard, we seem to be doing the exact opposite,” he said.
The cancellation of JP 9102 last year also came after Labor made a string of other cuts to space, including abolishing the $1 billion National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO). The federal government has, though, hinted the money from JP 9102 will be spent on a replacement project.
“Dan brings an unusual breadth of experience across policy, regulation, strategy, governance, commercial leadership and international business, which will be invaluable to SIAA, its members and key stakeholders,” said Hallett of Lloyd’s appointment.
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“Dan’s constructive approach and extensive experience is exactly what the space industry needs to go to the next level.”
Lloyd will succeed Lisa Vitaris, who assumed the top job on an interim basis after former CEO Maria MacNamara resigned after just three months. Vitaris will now concentrate on curating the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 event in Sydney on behalf of the SIAA.
“It is a great privilege to be leading SIAA through the next phase of growth of the Australian space industry,” Lloyd said.
“Australia has extraordinary competitive advantages in a host of space-related areas, not least our unique geography, stable regulatory environment, and a highly educated and innovative workforce and culture.
“It is a particularly exciting time when all eyes are on Australia with the landmark International Astronautical Congress in Sydney later this year. I look forward to ensuring Australia is able to capture the increasing benefits of the space industry for productivity, innovation, growth and defence.”
Aside from working at Vodaphone, Lloyd also held senior roles at TPG, legal firm Gilbert + Tobin and was chair of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association.
Despite the axing of JP 9102, space is playing an increasingly large role in telecommunications, particularly in regional areas of Australia that struggle to obtain good internet access.
Commercially, for example, Optus joined Telstra last year in offering customers Starlink via a satellite dish, while both telcos have also signed up to launch straight-to-mobile services when they become available.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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