Prof Andrew Dempster is Director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He has a BE and MEngSc from UNSW and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He was system engineer and project manager for the first GPS receiver developed in Australia and has been involved in satellite navigation ever since. His current research interests are in satellite navigation receiver design and signal processing, new location technologies, and space systems, especially those related to extracting water. He is leading the development of space engineering research at ACSER.

Rob Mueller is a senior technologist for Advanced Products Development in the Exploration Research and Technology Programs Directorate at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He is the co-founder of the NASA Swamp Works innovation labs and the Kennedy Granular Mechanics & Regolith Operations (GMRO) Lab. He is also Kennedy's lead for Autonomous-Robotic Systems involved with In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Mueller is a former chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee for Regolith Operations, Mobility and Robotics, and former chairman of the ASCE Aerospace Division Executive Committee. He is a member of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Resources Technical Committee. In 2010, Rob Mueller was the co-founder of the annual NASA Robotic Mining Competition for Universities and continues as the head judge for this competition to this day. Technical expertise includes robotics, mechanical systems design, composite materials, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), planetary outpost construction, surface and ground operations, conceptual systems design and mission architecture design. He has worked on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, X-33, Atlas V, Orbital Space Plane, Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicles, Mars Exploration Studies and Lunar Exploration programs. More recently, Mueller has been leading the development of technologies required for planetary surface systems, including developing the specifics of lunar, asteroid and Mars regolith excavation, mining and other robotic surface support equipment. Rob Mueller has worked for NASA at Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami in 1988 and a Master (MSSE) of International Space Systems Engineering from the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands in 2006, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1994. Mueller has 28 years of engineering and management experience in the space industry and has been the recipient of numerous NASA awards, including the astronaut's personal achievement "Silver Snoopy" award, a NASA Silver Achievement Medal and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal. He has been awarded four U.S. patents for new technology inventions.

Gavin is passionate optimist that believes we are living in the most exciting time in human history, where developing almost perfect knowledge of the world around us can be used to reduce our impact on the environment and drive human progress for all people. He specialises in: • Innovation Strategy • Remote Operations • Data homogenization • In-Situ Resource Utilisation. Gavin, his wife Jenni, and their son Lucas moved back to Perth, Western Australia in 2021 where he and his family enjoy ocean sports and a love for aviation.

Michelle is the Program Director at AROSE. She has over 20 years of mining industry experience and has worked in technical engineering, commercial management, strategy and innovation, capital projects, new markets and optimisation roles for companies including Normandy, Rio Tinto, Momentum Partners, as well as IPL and Dyno Nobel. Prior to joining AROSE, Michelle was Program Director Technology Development, and leader of the Next Generation Mine Innovation Program, at South 32 in Perth, WA. Michelle was responsible for leading the identification, design and delivery of new technology and innovation for all greenfield projects as well as translation into brownfield operations. With a non-traditional technology background, Michelle brought her strong strategic and mining experience to deliver programs, and help drive the future competitiveness of the company. Her team monitored new developments in the industry and worked closely with technology partners and external institutes to develop, pilot and implement emerging technologies that could materially improve the outcomes of new projects and operations. Michelle is a people-centric and collaborative leader, who regularly gives time in mentoring and providing opportunities to those early in their careers. This includes presenting at Curtin University and remaining involved with alumni and advisory group activities at the WA School of Mines. Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining (Hons) and a Master of Science (Mineral Economics) from Curtin University and is active in the WASM Alumni as Vice President on the Council. She is also on the MRIWA College Panel and Industry Advisory Board for the Curtin School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

Mr Palermo is the second Head of the Australian Space Agency, starting in January 2021 at the Agency’s Adelaide headquarters. As Head of Agency, he is responsible for overall governance and performance, management, policy leadership and strategic direction. Mr Palermo spent the previous 14 years in various roles at Virgin Galactic, including managing a team of over 700 engineers, technicians and professionals responsible for the build and testing of a fleet of Mach 3, crewed commercial spaceships. He went from being the first employee of The Spaceship Company, a Virgin Galactic subsidiary dedicated to the high-tech manufacturing function, to becoming Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange listed public company Virgin Galactic Holdings. A Perth native, Mr Palermo graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Physics and Applied Mathematics. Mr Palermo also studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg. Mr Palermo has worked and studied in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Netherlands. His experience goes beyond the space industry having also worked in Australian chemical processing, management consulting, onshore and offshore oil and gas, and mining industries. Returning home to Australia with his wife Nadia and two boys, Mr Palermo brings his deep technical background, international network, and business scaling experience to help further develop Australia’s expanding ecosystem of space companies and startups.