Adelaide, July 26 (Indian Abroad Newsdesk):
The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) South Australian Chapter, in collaboration with the AIBC Defence & Security Industry Chapter and the AIBC Make with India Chapter, hosted a pivotal event titled “Bilateral Opportunities in Defence & Space ” at ThincLabs, University of Adelaide recently.
President of the AIBC South Asia Chapter Deepa Mathew welcomed the attendees and noted the event’s strategic timing alongside the Australian Space Forum. This alignment provided a significant platform for discussing the expanding opportunities in the bilateral space industry and various government initiatives from both Australia and India.
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and panellists who shared valuable insights into the evolving landscape of defence and space cooperation. Ms. Patricia Smith, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), underscored India’s role as a natural partner for Australia, highlighting the strategic and economic roadmap shared between the two nations in defence and space sectors.
Keynote speaker Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director of INSPACe, India, discussed recent reforms in the Indian space sector and the agile market opportunities for Australian space industries. He emphasized the importance of joint development and upskilling through technical collaborations in space programs.
CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) Tim Thomas reinforced the need for deepened bilateral collaboration in defence and space, stressing the benefits of enhanced business engagements between Australia and India.
The event also featured an enlightening panel discussion moderated by Joe Williams, AIBC Defence & Security Industry Chapter Lead. The panel included Tim Thomas, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Lloyd Jacob Lopez (CEO of Hex20), Dr. Tony Scoleri (CEO of AI Craft), and Stan Astachnowicz (Program Director, Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space at the University of South Australia). The discussion provided comprehensive insights into the space programs of both countries.
In his concluding remarks, Vish Viswanathan, AIBC Make with India Industry Chapter Lead, highlighted emerging opportunities for small to medium enterprises within the space industry.
