Professor Michael Ireland is an expert in astronomical instrumentation and optical interferometry, using some of the world’s largest telescopes to study exoplanets and the life cycles of stars. His work connects directly to the LIFE space mission concept and Pyxis project, developing technology for space interferometry and the Asgard instrument suite for the VLTI, where he serves as a lead investigator. At ANU’s Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, he heads an active research group focused on advancing high-resolution observational techniques for exploring planetary systems and stellar evolution.

Professor Robert Sharp is a leading figure in astronomical instrumentation and space technology development in Australia. As Project Scientist for the Giant Magellan Telescope Integral-Field Spectrograph (GMTIFS) and Director of the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre at the Australian National University, he advances the design and construction of cutting-edge optical and infrared systems. His research connects large-scale observatories with emerging small-satellite capabilities, translating expertise in high-precision spectroscopy and imaging into new tools for astrophysical discovery and next-generation Earth-observation missions.

Associate Professor Francis Bennet is an expert in adaptive optics for astronomical instrumentation, space situational awareness, and laser communications. He takes quantum communications experiments from the lab to space, enabling a global quantum encrypted communications network. This includes working on the development of a satellite to test quantum communications between space and the ground, developing capability for high-speed optical communications between Earth and Lunar spacecraft, and building cutting edge adaptive optics for space and communication applications. Francis also leads the ACT Node of the Australasian Optical Ground Station Network and is a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Technical Advisory Group on Advanced Communications.

Professor Duncan Wright leads the Centre for Astrophysics at USQ, where he drives research in high-resolution spectroscopy, exoplanet discovery and stellar science. His group combines observational programmes from the Mount Kent Observatory with advanced instrumentation and calibration methods to probe low-mass planets around M-dwarf stars. As part of Australia’s growing sovereign space-capability agenda, he also leads satellite payload and instrumentation initiatives that bridge astronomy and space-engineering innovation.

Doctor Alejandro Borlaff is a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center whose work spans space-telescope instrumentation, calibration and imaging of the ultra-low surface-brightness Universe, and galactic magnetic fields. At NASA Ames, his projects include stray-light background correction for the Hubble Space Telescope, preparation for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Euclid Space Telescope, and magnetic-field studies of external galaxies via SOFIA. His passion lies at the interface of advanced instrumentation and deep-Universe science, especially exploring the faintest structures around galaxies while pushing calibration standards for next-generation observatories.

Doctor Jennifer Burt’s research focuses on detecting and characterizing low-mass exoplanets using high-precision radial velocity (PRV) techniques. She helped commission and automate the Automated Planet Finder telescope and has led RV follow-up of NASA TESS discoveries using instruments such as the Planet Finder Spectrograph and PARVI. Now a scientist at JPL, she works within NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program to advance Extreme Precision RV capabilities and enable the detection of Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars.

Professor David Valls-Gabaud leads investigations into ultra-low‐surface‐brightness structures in the cosmos, employing rigorous Bayesian and statistical methods to trace stellar ages, star-formation histories in dwarf galaxies, and the faint diffuse filaments of the cosmic web. His work bridges stellar populations, galaxy evolution and cosmology, aiming to reveal hidden components of the universe that challenge observational limits and theoretical models. He is also leading the development of the MESSIER Surveyor, a low surface brightness imaging space telescope. 

Benjamin Wilcock, Senior Science Programme Manager at Blue Skies Space, spearheads the development of the Twinkle small-sat mission, a cost-efficient 0.45 m telescope + spectrometer in Sun-synchronous orbit. His research drives large-scale infrared and visible surveys of exoplanets and solar-system bodies, opening commercialised access to space science.

Doctor Paolo D'Avanzo is a Senior Researcher at INAF’s Brera Astronomical Observatory, specialising in the study of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) and X-ray binaries. Their work spans observations (e.g. using Swift and Fermi) and theory, investigating prompt GRB emission across MeV–GeV energies. They explore the structure of ultra-relativistic jets, possible magnetar central engines, and the link between GRBs and gravitational-wave sources. He also studies accretion and jets in compact object binaries, contributing to high-energy astrophysics and multi-messenger astronomy.

Professor Peter Tuthill's work focuses on pushing the envelope of high-angular-resolution astrophysical imaging. He has led work using aperture-masking interferometry and non-redundant masking techniques, developed in part for the PAVO beam combiner at the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI), to resolve the surfaces of rapidly rotating, tidally-distorted and magnetic stars. He has also directed major instrumentation projects such as the VAMPIRES polarimetric interferometer and the TOLIMAN Space Telescope mission concept to search for Earth analogues around Alpha Centauri via precision astrometry. His work uses novel photonic interferometry to explore both stellar and exoplanetary environments with unprecedented clarity.

Professor Peter Moar is the Program Lead for Space Instrumentation Engineering at the Space Technology & Industry Institute, Swinburne University of Technology. His research focuses on designing, developing and delivering high-TRL space instrumentation from RF electronics and FPGA SoCs to reconfigurable flight computers, ensuring full lifecycle heritage from concept to orbit with partners like German Aerospace Center and Teledyne Brown Engineering.

Professor Iver Cairns specialises in space physics, with over 30 years’ research in plasma waves, radio emissions and space-weather phenomena. His work spans modelling wave-particle interactions in the heliosphere and magnetospheres, contributing to missions such as PUNCH and TRACERS, and leading the CubeSat programme INSPIRE‑2 via the ARC Training Centre for CubeSats, UAVs and their Applications (CUAVA)

Paul is an Honorary Professor in the ANU Research School of Physics and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. He is a leader in advanced composite materials and the ANU lead for the ARC Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites. He is also Director of New Frontier Technologies, a Canberra-based company specialising in automated manufacture and digital analysis of carbon-fibre composite structures for aerospace, defence, and clean-energy sectors. A Fellow of Engineers Australia, his work bridges research, education, and industry innovation, fostering global partnerships and advancing lightweight, high-performance manufacturing technologies.

Emeritus Professor Fred Menk at the University of Newcastle focuses on near‑Earth space physics, particularly magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling, ultra‑low‑frequency wave phenomena, and space plasma processes. His research explores the dynamics of Earth's magnetic environment and its interaction with the ionosphere, contributing to our understanding of space weather and magnetospheric physics.

Doctor Mark Casali, former director of Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) at Macquarie University, focuses on the development of advanced astronomical instrumentation and precision optical systems for ground‑based telescopes. His work supports major international observatories and large-scale astrophysical surveys, enabling high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. He also leads initiatives in data-intensive astronomy, integrating cutting-edge technology to expand observational capabilities and scientific discovery.

Professor Karl Glazebrook’s research focuses on the evolution and formation of galaxies across cosmic time and observational cosmology. He has pioneered techniques such as the “nod and shuffle” spectroscopic method, contributed to large‑scale galaxy surveys probing dark energy via baryonic acoustic oscillations, and leveraged major telescopes (Gemini, Keck, Hubble, JWST) to explore how massive galaxies emerge and evolve.

Ian Tasker’s research examines Australia’s space-based astronomy through a historical and policy-focused lens. Using the Political–Institutional Contingency model, he explores how jurisdiction, patronage, evaluation, and framing shape scientific development. His work highlights lessons from Australia’s astronomical past—such as the decline of Sydney Observatory and early institutional fragmentation—to inform strategies that balance technological ambition with national scientific autonomy in the coming decade.

Doctor Themiya Nanayakkara is a specialist in extragalactic astrophysics and data-driven astronomy, working through the JWST Australian Data Centre and the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology. He develops novel spectral-modelling and machine-learning techniques to mine deep-field observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, with the goal of tracing galaxy formation, rapid stellar mass build-up, quenching and galaxy-evolution in the early Universe