Moree’s Dr Gabrielle Caswell has been nominated across multiple categories in this year’s Australian Space Awards.
Dr Caswell, of SpacePort Australia, is among those in contention ahead of the 2026 awards, to be held in Sydney in June.
She has previously been recognised as a finalist in earlier years, including three nominations in 2024 and five in 2025.
Speaking following the nominations, Dr Caswell said the broader space sector was continuing to evolve, with renewed focus on missions beyond low Earth orbit.
“It’s an exciting time to be working in space,” she said.
Dr Caswell also pointed to Australia’s historical role in space exploration, noting the contribution of the Moree Overseas Telecommunications station in broadcasting images from the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Her work through SpacePort Australia has included developing partnerships with international education and training organisations, aimed at preparing people for careers in the space industry.
These collaborations include links with academic institutions and STEM-focused organisations, as well as involvement in projects exploring the use of space-based technologies in areas such as medical deployment.
Dr Caswell’s background includes experience in rural and remote medicine, which she said informs her approach to problem solving and systems design in challenging environments.
She said the development of future space capability would rely on multidisciplinary collaboration and practical innovation.
“The STEM opportunities are enormous in the space industry,” she said.
Finalists for the Australian Space Awards are expected to be announced later this month, with the ceremony scheduled for 18 June in Sydney.
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