A.T. Kearney advisor joins Space Agency's Advisory Board
Frank Robert, an Associated Vice President at consulting firm A.T. Kearney, has been appointed as an Advisory Board member of the Australian Space Agency.
The Australian Space Agency is responsible for the development of Australia's space industry. The agency, formed in May last year (Australia was one of the few OECD countries that did not have a dedicated space agency), is based in Adelaide, and has an operating budget of around $10 million.
In her duties as Head of the Australian Space Agency, Megan Clark is now supported by an Advisory Board consisting of eight experienced professionals that boast a strong track record in the space and aerospace landscape. The Board is a non-statutory and independent organ that provides advice and reviews the strategic direction and performance of the agency, however, it is not a decision-making body and has no governing legislation.
The newly created Advisory Board consists of four professors – Steven Freeland (Dean and Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University), Lisa Harvey-Smith (Professor of Practice in Science Communication, University of New South Wales), Peter Klinken (Chief Scientist of Western Australia), and Margaret Sheil (President at Queensland University of Technology).
Other members are Andrew Thomas (Advisor to the South Australia Government on space), Chris Pigram (Chair of AuScope), Pamela Melroy (Director, Space Technology and Policy at Nova Systems) and A.T. Kearney senior advisor Frank Robert. He has been associated to the global management consulting firm for over 25 years. Over the years, he has among others led a number of Space initiatives for the Australian government (satellites and telecommunications) and contributed to NASA planetary missions.
“The Advisory Group is an important part of our governance,” said Clark. “We welcome the extraordinary individual and collective expertise of the group to support the Agency to achieve its purpose to transform and grow a globally respected space industry.”
The appointment comes weeks after a report by Deloitte found that Australia has a strong potential to expand its space industry. In particular Queensland is well positioned to tap into this potential – if the right decisions are taken and support is provided, Queensland’s space industry alone could grow to more than $2.5 billion by 2035.
