How did you start down this career path?
My earliest memory related to space work goes back to my high school years when my teammates and I built models and exhibits to explain black holes, event horizons, and binary stars, etc. However, I never imagined I would get the opportunity to work on space projects due to the limited opportunities in where I grew up. Even after graduating, I only had opportunities to work on terrestrial communications. It was only after joining the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in 2020 that I got the chance to work on some major space projects, reigniting my childhood passion for space. I realised that much of the R&D I was doing for terrestrial communication systems could be transformed to address challenges in satellite communications, space domain awareness and sensing in space domain.
What inspires you in your role/industry? Why?
I'm inspired by humanity's ability to solve seemingly impossible problems collectively. Space exploration, colonizing Mars, and reusable rockets are a few that inspires me every day. I'm fortunate to be in a position where I can contribute to solving some of the challenges faced by Australian Space sector, working alongside an amazing network of remarkable individuals from academia and industry.
What's your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?
Our customers either end-users, government agencies, or space organisations, that rely on our expertise to develop reliable and safe systems for space applications. My work spans from developing fundamental capabilities at low technology readiness levels (TRLs) to creating space-qualified payloads at high TRLs. What sets us apart is our deep commitment to understanding user needs and fostering a collaborative process. We engage closely with customers from the very beginning, working to fully understand their requirements and use cases. This collaborative effort is critical in defining the project scope and creating a tailored solution that meets their specific needs. This approach allows us to develop engineering solutions that are both innovative and practical, leveraging on our extensive research experience and industry knowledge.
How do you innovate and stay ahead of industry trends?
As a researcher and an academic at UTS, I have certain advantages compared to R&D teams in the industry. These include access to state-of-the-art facilities for modelling, rapid prototyping, and test and evaluation that are not readily available elsewhere. For instance, much of our design work relies on high-fidelity electromagnetic modelling to evaluate the performance of our communication systems before prototyping. These techniques reduce technical risks and save development time, feasible only due to high-performance computing facilities available to us. Additionally, I have access to a wealth of expertise through research publications and networks with leading industry players in the space domain. This allows me to stay updated on the latest developments and adapt to industry needs constantly.
What is the toughest challenge you've faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Whilst most of the engineering problems we come across are technically challenging, the toughest challenge has always been finding individuals with specific expertise to work on my projects. Unfortunately, there is a limited pool of graduates, PhD students, and researchers with the expertise in antennas and RF systems, particularly for space systems, which require domain knowledge in space engineering. Australia has a shortage of talents in this area. My approach is to train PhD students and undergraduate students for such projects, a long-term endeavour. I also tap into my industry and academic contacts to source researchers and engineers and upskill them. Resource planning is the first task I undertake well in advance of project commencement. I also align new projects with our resourcing capacity, ensuring that as one project finishes, the team can transition to the next.
What are some of your goals for the next 5 years?
My long-term goals are closely aligned with the UTS 2027 strategy, particularly the initiatives of "Connected Research" and "Sustainable Partnerships." Over the next five years, I aim to grow capabilities and expand my team's capacity to deliver more large scale high-impact work in the space and defence domains. This will involve collaborating with our current industry and academic partners, as well as engaging with new partners who share common interests. To achieve these goals, I plan to recruit new PhD students and researchers, enhancing our research capabilities and extending our expertise to other closely related disciplines.
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