Australia’s first professional astronaut inspires ANU engineering students

Students at The Australian National University (ANU) had a rare opportunity to meet Australia’s first professional astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, during a special on-campus session at the School of Engineering. 

Held on Monday 30 March at the Acton campus, the exclusive event brought together undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students for a meet and greet, moderated discussion and Q&A with the 2026 Australian of the Year. 

 

 

 

 

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Bennell-Pegg shared insights into her journey to becoming a qualified astronaut, offering a firsthand perspective on the skills, persistence and global collaboration required to build a career in space. 

The session included a facilitated chat with our students, led by Clare Heaney and featuring panellists Freya Slater and Adi Gopalakrishnan, exploring her career path before opening to audience questions. Discussions ranged from technical challenges in astronaut training to the future of Australia’s role in the global space sector. The event concluded with an informal meet and greet, giving students the chance to continue conversations and take photos. 

For many students, the session offered both practical insight and inspiration.

The visit highlighted ANU leadership in space research and education, with globally recognised strengths in astrophysics, satellite technologies, and space instrumentation. Through initiatives such as the ANU Institute for Space, ANU Rocketry and partnerships with industry and government, ANU actively engages students and researchers in advancing Australia’s space capability and innovation. 

Thanks to everyone who organised this visit, including the Canberra Cyber Hub, and to Katherine for joining us. Her answers to the many and varied student questions were just great to learn from.