11 April 2024                                                                                               Contact
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Media Release:
Maria MacNamara appointed CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia

The Board of the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) has concluded an extensive search for its next CEO, appointing Maria MacNamara to the position commencing on 22 April 2024.

Maria MacNamara comes to SIAA having recently completed a term as the Director of Government Affairs and Innovation Strategy at global ICT infrastructure company Kyndryl. Maria has previously been CEO of Advance.org, Australia’s diaspora organisation, and has held senior roles in the Australian and NSW governments. Maria has served the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem as a non-executive director of the Spark Festival since 2015, is a member of the Serco Asia Pacific Advisory Board, the Western Sydney University Infrastructure Committee, and is an Industry Fellow of the University of Technology, Sydney.

In commenting on the appointment, SIAA’s Executive Chairman Jeremy Hallett said: “Maria has been at the centre of Australia’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for many years and is a respected transformational leader who brings 35 years of experience across membership organisations, the public sector and global ICT. As the Australian Space Sector reaches new heights driven by its commercial enterprise and academic institutions, Maria brings crucial expertise in strategy and delivery, a deep global network and the ability to unlock further opportunity domestically and abroad. The eyes of the world are on Australia as we enter our next growth phase in Space and prepare to deliver the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney in 2025, and Maria is the right leader for SIAA during this transformational period.”

Maria MacNamara said: “I want to acknowledge the tremendous work done by the leaders who came before me to establish SIAA as the leading voice for the space industry in Australia. I am honoured to join an organisation that has the power to shape Australia into a true space-faring
nation”

“Australia plays a vital role in the global space industry through its strategic geographic location, skilled workforce, and the innovative technologies developed by its enterprises to address challenges within the international space ecosystem. I am excited to collaborate with the Space
Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) members, our public and private partners, and the SIAA team to leverage this valuable asset and contribute to the expansion of Australia’s share in the global space economy.”

Maria will be based in Sydney and will begin as SIAA’s CEO on 22 April 2024.

SIAA’s CEO, Maria MacNamara, and Executive Chairman, Jeremy Hallett, are available for further comment.

ABOUT SIAA:
The Space Industry of Australia is the national peak body for the space industry in Australia. Formed in 1992, SIAA hosted the 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide which led to the establishment of the Australian Space Agency in 2018. SIAA and its member companies
work closely with Australian governments, international partners, academia, and industry to advance Australia’s space industry and economy. In 2025, SIAA will host the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney.

ABOUT IAC 2025:
The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is the International Astronautical Federation’s (IAF)’s premier global space event and from 29 September to 3 October 2025 will be hosted in Sydney, Australia by Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and co-hosted by Australian
Space Agency and NSW Government.

This prestigious event is where the world’s space community gathers to access the latest advancements and trends, academic works, industry connections, and partnership opportunities.

This will be the third time Australia has hosted the IAC, with previous events held in Melbourne in 1998 and Adelaide in 2017. The 76th IAC 2025 in Sydney presents a generational opportunity to showcase the rapid progress of Australia’s space industry and the importance of space-enabled services to the Australian way of life.

The event will broaden the influence and relevance of space to adjacent industries, delve into why space is critical for both businesses and our everyday lives, and aim to advance space in the Indo-Pacific by showcasing the entire region and its wide variety of space-based opportunities.

MARIA MACNAMARA BIOGRAPHY:
Maria was recently the Director of Government Affairs and Innovation Strategy in Australia and New Zealand at Kyndryl. She was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Advance.org, Australia’s global diaspora organisation, an Adviser to Senator the Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, the Acting Director of Policy and Strategy at WIRO in the Department of the NSW Government led by the Hon. Victor Dominello and Head of Strategy for the Digital Transformation Agency within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Maria has launched three startups and exited two.

She is a member of the Asia Pacific Advisory Board of Serco, Chair of the AUKUS Information Sharing Committee of the AUKUS Forum, an Industry Fellow at UTS, and a member of the University of Western Sydney Infrastructure Committee. Maria is a Non-Executive Director of Spark Festival and sits on the advisory boards of Social Value and Zitavi. She served on the Advisory Council for the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, chaired the Strategy Board for the ARC Training Centre for Information Resilience, and was a member of the Board of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Maria is a member of the International Women’s Forum (Australia) and the Royal Society (NSW) and was a founding member of the Montessori Children’s Foundation.

Maria has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and completed the Deep Dive Program delivered by Tel Aviv University and the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce.