This is part one of a two-part podcast series on WRegSAT Series II.

This podcast features interviews recorded during an April workshop that brought together Australian space experts, featuring Lesley Sutton, Luke Standen, Zamara Rodriguez, Dr Joel Lisk, Dr Melissa De Zwart, Dr Matthew Stubbs, Dr Rebecca Leshinsky, Dr Evie Kendal and Amos Taylor. Through a partnership with Gilbert + Tobin, participants explored gaps in Australia’s space regulatory framework and assessed potential approaches against seven key values:

1. Maa Bullarbu and custodial responsibility for the next seven generations
2. Promoting safe and sustainable practices
3. Encouraging innovation and competitiveness
4. Ensuring national security
5. Including diverse perspectives
6. Meeting international obligations
7. Strengthening regulatory effectiveness and resilience
   

The workshop saw detailed and high-level discussions spanning space regulations together with broader space governance issues among participants. WRegSAT representatives are consolidating these insights into a Regulatory Options Paper. That work will continue through two further workshops in July and November.

Stay tuned for part two of this series. For more information about WRegSAT, please visit our website at https://www.spacegovcentre.org/wregsat.

Welcome to Season Three of Space Matters: The Space Governance Podcast.

This episode serves as a framing discussion for the season and features the opening keynote from founder and CEO of the ACSG, Dr Cassandra Steer, delivered at our expert workshop on space infrastructure in the Asian Century. The workshop, hosted by the ACSG with support from UNSW Canberra, brought together senior stakeholders from government, industry and academia, including a representative from the Philippines Space Agency, to discuss the future of space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Key discussions focused on strengthening regional collaboration, advancing burden-sharing frameworks, addressing evolving security challenges and reflecting on a changing geopolitical order, including opportunities for Australia’s role in the region. The workshop also considered how these issues intersect with Australia’s regional priorities, including the importance of Asia literacy, and how deeper cooperation can help address national challenges while opening new avenues for engagement across the region.

At a time of increasing strategic competition, these conversations are both timely and necessary. This podcast series builds on ACSG’s commitment to advancing responsible space governance, featuring experts Australian and international experts.
The ACSG thanks Aiden Seaver for his background research for this keynote, together with Mila Spence and Andre Kwok for organising this workshop.

To learn more about the ACSG, visit our website at https://www.spacegovcentre.org/ and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacegovcentre/

In this episode of Space Matters, we speak with Dr Tristan Moss about the intersection of Australia’s military history and contemporary space policy, tracing how defence considerations have long shaped Australia’s engagement with space. Drawing on historical and policy perspectives, this episodes explores Australia’s approach to developing sovereign space capabilities, recent investments in ground infrastructure and the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening Australia’s space posture.

The episode also looks at Australia’s space relationships in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting how collaboration with regional partners can enhance stability, support climate resilience, and ensure secure access to important space-derived data. Throughout the discussion, Dr Moss explains the need to mainstream space literacy across government and defence, develop clearer career pathways, and adopt a more integrated, whole-of-government approach to space governance. Dr Tristan Moss reflects that effective leadership, informed policymaking and sustained public engagement are essential to positioning space as a core pillar of Australia’s long-term strategic, environmental and security interests.
Further Listening
An earlier episode where Dr Tristan Moss explaining the significance of space history: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3srOVunSSYsCXqbm9dX3Zm?si=mpiEVBFbRU61maw-zXQUWQ