Human progress is in space exploration
‘Quod Invenias Explorans Spatium Progressus Est Humanitatis’
The Andy Thomas
Space Foundation
About
Mission
Our mission is to promote social well-being and overcome disadvantage in Australia and to advocate in favour of space as a domain for international cooperation and peaceful co-existence. We will achieve our mission by supporting the outreach and education goals of the Australian Space Agency and by acting as an interface between the space community and the public. This will involve building a culture of entrepreneurship and igniting a curiosity for space and related scientific activities among young Australians.
Purpose
Our purpose is to achieve our mission through the following three interconnected goals:
- Advancing Space Education – Making STEM literacy for all students an educational priority.
- Raising Space Awareness – Making connections between space science and technologies and our everyday lives.
- Contributing to the national space community – Through events and other education initiatives
Dr Andrew Thomas AO – Founding Patron
Dr Megan Clark AC – Co-Patron
Dr Megan Clark is currently Head of the Australian Space Agency. Prior to her appointment, she chaired the Expert Working Group into the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability.
She is also a director of Rio Tinto and CSL Limited and she is a member of the Australian advisory board of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
She was Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) from 2009 to 2014.
Prior to the CSIRO, she was a Director at NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia) and was Vice President Technology and subsequently Vice President Health, Safety and Environment at BHP Billiton from 2003 to 2008.
Dr Clark holds a B.Sc. from the University of Western Australia and a Ph.D. from Queen’s University, Canada and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, a Fellow of the AusIMM and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 2014, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Announcements
27 January 2021 
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation has signed a funding agreement with the South Australian Government to support space education and inspire young South Australians to pursue careers in the state’s booming space sector.
The Foundation has committed to use the funding to work alongside the Australian Space Discovery Centre to inspire the next generation of the state’s space workforce, as well as to provide scholarships and in-kind support to increase resources for space education and outreach.
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation has also been appointed to take over the running of the biannual Australian Space Forum, one of Australia’s premier space industry events. The 11th Australian Space Forum will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday, 31 March 2021.
Registrations for the forum are opening soon. Follow the Andy Thomas Space Foundation on social media for more information on the event or email contactus@andythomas.foundation to inquire about sponsorship or exhibition opportunities.
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation is bidding to host the International Astronautical Congress in 2024.
Click here to read the Foundation’s announcement.
Click here to read the supporting announcement by the Premier of South Australia.
20 November 2020
The Foundation was launched today. We received the following messages of congratulations.
Dr Andrew Thomas AO
Australian Astronaut
Hon. Steven Marshall MP
Premier of South Australia
Dr Megan Clark AC
Head, Australian Space Agency
Nicola Sasanelli – CEO
Adjunct Professor Nicola Sasanelli AM
Nicola graduated from the University of Bari, Italy in 1987 with a degree in Electronic Engineering. He went on to work as a researcher in microelectronics high-reliability components at Tecnopolis S&T Research Centre, Bari before being appointed as Scientific Attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Canberra from 2001 to 2008.
In 2009, Nicola joined the South Australian Government as a Special Envoy for higher education research and technology transfer to Europe with the Department of Premier and Cabinet and later joined the Department of State Development as Director for International R&D Collaborations.
From 2003 to 2013 he was appointed as Adjunct Professor of Science and Technology at the University of Canberra, Australia, and in 2007 he became an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia.
In 2016 Nicola joined Defence SA (South Australian Government) as Director of the Space Industry and R&D Collaborations project.
In September 2017 the South Australian Space Industry Centre was created, with Nicola as Director. His focus was to support space industry growth and increase international R&D collaborations in South Australia’s space sector.
In 2018 Nicola was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia – Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment and he was appointed on the board of the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). In the same year he was also appointed to the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the Italian Government for ‘promoting high-tech industry and R&D collaborations between Italy and Australia’.
In 2019 Nicola joined SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre as Director of Communication and Outreach, becoming Senior Advisor of South Australian Space Industry Centre and in 2020 Nicola founded and became the CEO of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation.
Nicola’s main passion, outside of his interest in space, is painting.
Inspiring the next generation of space leaders
The Andy Thomas
Space Foundation
Major institutions, corporations, SME’s, other philanthropic foundations and private individuals can all contribute to and assist our mission.
Your support can take the form of:
- Scholarships
- Annual Sponsorships
- Collaborative internship programs at secondary and tertiary level
- Funding for in-school space education programs
- In-kind and volunteer support
For more information please contact us by email
contactus@andythomas.foundation
The Foundation is committed to promoting and supporting the highest quality space activities in Australia to drive progress in education, research and innovation to ensure that the space sector is a key contributor to Australia’s economic transformation.
Partners
Government Supporters
Corporate Sponsors
Professional Partners
Event Partner
