20 Astronomy and Space Leaders in Australia and NZ

Astronomy and space science in Australia and New Zealand is shaped by people who lead agencies, observatories, universities, data systems and public understanding.

The work is ambitious, patient and deeply collaborative. These 20 leaders show the range of roles that help the region explore the universe, build new capability and make big science useful to more people.

1. Enrico Palermo

Head of the Australian Space Agency, Australian Space Agency

Enrico Palermo leads the Australian Space Agency, with responsibility for its governance, performance, management, policy leadership and strategic direction. That places him at the centre of Australia’s national space effort.

His role shows how space leadership is not only about missions and hardware. It also involves setting priorities, building partnerships and creating the conditions for a capable, trusted sector.

2. Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Director of Space Technology, Australian Space Agency

Katherine Bennell-Pegg leads space technology at the Australian Space Agency. In 2024, she became the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag, a milestone that made Australia’s place in human spaceflight more visible.

Her leadership sits where engineering, national capability and public imagination meet. It is a reminder that representation can help more people see themselves in the future of space.

3. Douglas Bock

Director, Space and Astronomy, and Director, ATNF, CSIRO

Douglas Bock leads CSIRO’s Space and Astronomy business and the Australia Telescope National Facility. His work spans the people, facilities and partnerships that support major astronomy and space research.

That combination of roles reflects the importance of connecting national research infrastructure with the scientists and communities who use it.

4. Mark Cheung

Science Director and Deputy Director, Space and Astronomy, CSIRO

Mark Cheung is Science Director and Deputy Director of CSIRO’s Space and Astronomy business. He helps connect scientific direction with the broader capability Australia needs in astronomy and space.

Good science leadership makes room for both deep expertise and a clear shared purpose.

5. Sarah Pearce

SKA-Low Telescope Director, SKAO

Sarah Pearce is SKA-Low Telescope Director for the Australian part of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. She leads one of the world’s most ambitious radio astronomy projects.

The role involves more than building a telescope. It means bringing together engineering, science, data, land, community relationships and long-term stewardship.

6. Naomi McClure-Griffiths

Chief Scientist, SKAO

Naomi McClure-Griffiths is Chief Scientist at the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Her research has helped reveal the structure and evolution of the Milky Way.

As a scientific leader, she helps turn a huge international facility into a coherent programme of discovery.

7. Simon Ellingsen

Executive Director, ICRAR

Simon Ellingsen is Executive Director of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. ICRAR brings together Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, giving its leadership a strong partnership and institution-building dimension.

His role shows how regional research strength grows when universities build durable shared capability.

8. Karen Lee-Waddell

Director, Australian SKA Regional Centre, ICRAR

Karen Lee-Waddell directs the Australian SKA Regional Centre. She leads the computing and data-intensive research capability that will help Australian researchers work with the SKA’s enormous scientific data streams.

This is the kind of leadership that makes discovery possible behind the scenes: reliable systems, skilled people and thoughtful access to complex data.

9. Sarah Brough

Head of School, Physics, UNSW

Sarah Brough is Head of the School of Physics at UNSW and an observational astronomer. She leads a major academic community while continuing to contribute to research.

University leadership is often a balancing act between people, teaching, research, resources and the long view.

10. Joss Bland-Hawthorn

Director, Sydney Institute for Astronomy, University of Sydney

Joss Bland-Hawthorn directs the Sydney Institute for Astronomy. His research spans astronomy and astrophysics, including the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Institute leadership creates the platform for many researchers to work together on questions that no single person or discipline can answer alone.

11. Elaine Sadler

Chief Scientist, ATNF, and Professor of Astrophysics, CSIRO and University of Sydney

Elaine Sadler is Chief Scientist of the Australia Telescope National Facility and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sydney. Her work includes how galaxies form and evolve, especially through radio astronomy.

Her leadership connects national facilities, university research and the careful mentoring that keeps scientific communities strong.

12. Matthew Bailes

Director, OzGrav, Swinburne University of Technology

Matthew Bailes directs OzGrav, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery. The centre studies signals from some of the most extreme events in the universe.

Leading work at this frontier requires patience, precision and the ability to help a large group stay focused on a shared scientific challenge.

13. Jean Brodie

Director, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology

Jean Brodie directs the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne. The centre brings astrophysics, computation and research training together.

Her role highlights a central truth about modern astronomy: discovery depends on people who can connect theory, data, technology and learning.

14. Stuart Wyithe

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Australian National University

Stuart Wyithe is Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the Australian National University. He was appointed to the role in May 2026 after most recently leading the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

His path from astronomy leadership into university-wide research leadership shows how expertise can scale when it is paired with institutional responsibility.

15. David McClelland

Director, ANU Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics, Australian National University

David McClelland directs the ANU Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics and is Deputy Director of OzGrav. His work is closely connected with precision measurement and the detection of gravitational waves.

The best research leaders make highly technical work easier for a wider team to contribute to and understand.

16. Richard Easther

Professor and Head, Department of Physics, University of Auckland

Richard Easther is Professor and Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland. His research focuses on theoretical cosmology and the physics of the early universe.

Department leadership asks people to hold both the detail of scholarship and the everyday experience of staff and students.

17. Pauline Harris

Associate Professor and Chairperson, Society for Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions, Massey University

Pauline Harris is an Associate Professor at Massey University and Chairperson of the Society for Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions. Her work connects Māori astronomy, mātauranga Māori and research.

This is leadership with a clear cultural purpose: protecting knowledge, creating respectful pathways and widening what counts as valuable expertise.

18. Craig Rodger

Beverly Chair in Physics, University of Otago

Craig Rodger is the Beverly Chair in Physics at the University of Otago. His research focuses on space weather and the way activity from the Sun affects Earth’s near-space environment.

Space weather leadership helps connect fundamental physics with real questions about satellites, communications and the systems people rely on every day.

19. Guglielmo Aglietti

Director, University of Auckland Space Institute

Guglielmo Aglietti directs the University of Auckland Space Institute, Te Pūnaha Ātea. The institute brings together space research, engineering and education.

Its work reflects the value of creating places where technical disciplines can meet around a shared national and regional ambition.

20. Steven Tingay

Executive Director, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Curtin University and ICRAR

Steven Tingay is Executive Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and leads Curtin’s contribution to ICRAR. His work connects radio astronomy research with major international observatories.

That kind of leadership is about building capability that lasts: facilities, partnerships, researchers and a sense of why the work matters.

Conclusion

Australia and New Zealand’s astronomy and space science community is full of leaders who make difficult, long-term work possible. They lead agencies, facilities, universities, data systems and partnerships, but they also lead people through uncertainty and discovery.

The common thread is practical stewardship. Strong leadership gives talented people a clear purpose, the trust to do good work and the support to keep learning.

About the author

Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. His approach is practical rather than motivational: something people can use on Monday morning, not a feeling that fades by Friday.

He works with schools, organisations and leadership teams around the world.

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If your organisation is working through culture, communication or accountability, Jonno can help through a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.