Conference

21st Australian International Aerospace Congress

9.00 am — 5.00 pm AEDT, 24 — 26 March 2025
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Avalon, VIC
Beyond horizons: Shaping tomorrow's aerospace frontiers through collaboration
Conference attendees talking

Partner with peers to explore the frontiers of aerodynamics, aerostructures, air and space operations, HUMS technologies and much more.

Returning to Melbourne in 2025, the 21st Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC21) is the region’s preeminent aerospace forum. Held alongside the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, it’s a deep dive into the latest aerospace and space technologies and research over several flight-filled days.

With a strong focus on collaboration, this year’s congress will bring together engineers, students, academics, researchers and industry specialists to chart new territories in aviation. You’ll have a chance to join in discussion sessions, hear from top players in the industry, build your technical skillset and discover all kinds of partnership opportunities.

Why be part of AIAC21?

If you’ve got any connection to the aerospace industry, you won’t want to miss this. At the congress, you’ll:

  • Be inspired by an interactive plenary program featuring thought leaders, critical stakeholders and experts debating real-world problems and solutions.
  • Participate in discussion-based sessions exploring key topics – and share your own knowledge and expertise​.
  • Learn new ideas, hear the latest technological advancements and explore solutions with a tangible impact on aerospace, aviation and HUMS projects.
  • Network, connect, and collaborate face-to-face with engineering minds, experts and industry heavyweights.

Three conferences for the price of one

Registration gives you access to three respected conferences and free rein at the Avalon International Airshow.

Contact us 

If you have any questions about AIAC21, contact [email protected]

 

Host
Congress principle partner
Partners
Abstracts

The AIAC21 program explores the frontiers of aerodynamics, aerospace structures and systems, air and space operation and HUMS technologies. We’ll look skywards to address current trends and challenges through technical, industry, government, sustainability and diversity lenses. 

Abstract submissions have now closed. You’ll find everything you need to know about the process in the submission guidelines, which include our speaker and author agreement. 

Key themes

21st Australian Aeronautical Conference (AAC)

  • Structures and materials
  • Autonomous systems / UAS
  • Aerodynamics and flight mechanics
  • Propulsion and aerospace systems
  • Airworthiness and sustainment
  • New aerospace technologies

14th DSTG International Conferences on Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS)

  • Machine/structure health monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics
  • Life and usage monitoring and management
  • AI-based predictive maintenance solutions
  • Text, image and voice analytics using pre-trained large AI models
  • Vibration, acoustic and wear debris analyses
  • Smart sensors and edge-computing technologies for HUMS
  • HUMS system verification and validation
  • Data science and data analytics applications to HUMS
  • Platform asset management

18th National Space Engineering Symposium (NSES)

  • Spacecraft systems design and analysis
  • Spacecraft dynamics and control
  • Orbit theory
  • Mission and trajectory design
  • Space environment
  • Launch vehicle design and methods
  • Australian space business opportunities

If you have any questions about AIAC21, contact [email protected]

Registration

Register now, standard registration prices now apply. 

Engineers Australia members can claim CPD hours for attending AIAC21. 

Register now

All fees are listed in Australian dollars and include a 10 per cent goods and services tax.

 Full conferenceDay registration
Standard registration prices  
Member$910$470
Non-member$1080$540
Student$500$200
Student non-member$600$250
Retired member$700$280
Retired non member$800$330
Late or on-site prices  
Member$1100$570
Non-member$1280$650
Student$700$280
Student non-member$800$330
Retired member$900$380
Retired non-member$1000$430

Group discounts

Save on full registration rates with group bookings. 

Group discounts apply to full registrations only, excluding already discounted abstract speaker registration fees. Discounts are not available retrospectively.  

Register now

AttendeesDiscount
5–95%
10–1910%
20 or more15%

Inclusions

Full registration includes:  

  • Morning, lunch and afternoon break catering  
  • Access to the welcome reception 
  • Access to the HUMS dinner, subject to availability*
  • Access to the Congress dinner
  • Entry to all Congress sessions on 24 and 25 March
  • Entry to Avalon Airshow on 26 March

Day registration includes: 

  • Morning, lunch and afternoon break catering on selected day  
  • Access to the HUMS dinner, subject to availability^
  • Entry to all Congress sessions on selected day 
  • Entry to Avalon Airshow on 26 March

For enquiries, contact [email protected]

*Available only to delegates who select the 14th DSTG International Conferences on Health and Usage Monitoring as their primary conference.  
^Available only to delegates who select the 14th DSTG International Conferences on Health and Usage Monitoring as their primary conference, with 24 March as their selected day.

Not a member yet?

If you've been thinking about becoming an Engineers Australia member, join today and save on your conference registration rate. 

Terms and conditions 

Early bird and standard registrations

  • To be eligible for the published rates, registrations must be submitted and fully paid by the stipulated deadlines.

Student registrations

  • A student is defined as a holder of a student identification card from an accredited academic institution (submitted in English). Students must be studying full-time to qualify for the student rate. A copy of your student identification card must be uploaded during the registration process. Without this, the normal registration fee will be charged. 

Visa requirements

  • All visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia.
  • It is strongly recommended that Australian visa applications are lodged at least 2-3 months prior to departure from your port of origin. 

Registration confirmation

  • Your completed registration and successful payment will be acknowledged via email with a confirmation of your requirements according to your registration form. Your registration will only be processed or confirmed if payment accompanies your form. 
  • Sharing of registrations is not permitted; a separate registration is required for each individual.

Payment options

  • All online registrations require immediate payment by credit card. Accepted credit cards are MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Credit card transactions will incur a surcharge and will appear on your statement as payment to ‘Conference by Arinex’.
  • Registrations requiring payment by bank transfer must contact register.[email protected] prior to completing the online registration form. 

Cancellations and refunds

  • Cancellations must be notified in writing to the Congress Managers at register.[email protected]. Cancellations cannot be accepted over the phone. 
  • Cancellations before 29 October 2024 will incur a $150 cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations from 30 October 2024 to 11 February 2025 will incur a 50 per cent cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations on or after 12 February 2025 will receive no refund.
  • Transfer of registration will be permitted if you notify us with at least five business days’ notice of the Congress. Any difference in fees will need to be paid if the substitute registrant is not entitled to the same event registration rate. No refunds will be provided for transfers to a lower registration rate.
  • Where a payment has been made, there will be no refund for those who do not attend. 
  • Social function tickets are non-refundable as at Wednesday 12 February 2025.

Name badge

  • Each delegate of the Congress will receive a name badge upon registration. The badge will be your official pass and must be clearly visible at all times to obtain entry to all sessions and to social functions. The Congress Managers expect appropriate behaviour from attendees and reserve the right to revoke the badge and privileges of anyone behaving in an inappropriate manner. 
  • The name badge will also need to be presented on entry to Avalon Airshow on 26 March 2025 to receive your official Avalon Airshow pass.

Disclaimer

  • Engineers Australia reserves the right to alter, amend or cancel any or all of the elements in the event program. 
  • By attending or registering to attend the Congress, you agree to Engineers Australia's Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Terms of Access.

Code of conduct

  • The Organiser of AIAC21 (the “Event”) reserve the right to remove from the venue/Event at any time any attendee deemed to be causing, or potentially causing, a disturbance or exhibiting disruptive or inappropriate behaviour. Such removal does not constitute a right to refund of any fees paid. View the Code of Conduct which all attendees are expected to comply with. 

Communications sent by external travel providers are not associated with the Congress managers. All official event travel and accommodation arrangements and communications regarding your registration will be sent to you directly by Arinex.

If you receive any external communications, note that proceeding with booking with an external provider is at your own risk and no liability will be borne by the Congress. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Speakers

Discover our esteemed line-up of expert speakers at AIAC21. 

More to be announced soon.  

Keynote speakers 

Jerome Antoni headshot
Professor Jerome Antoni
Director, Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique, Insa-Lyon, France

Jerome Antoni holds a MS in Mechanical Engineering (1995) and a PhD in Signal Processing (2000) from University of Technology of Compiègne. He joined the University of Technology of Compiègne in 2001, after completing his PhD at the University of Grenoble (France). He currently holds a full professor position at the University of Lyon, France, and leads the research group Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique.

The primary direction of his research activity is concerned with the development of signal processing methods in mechanical applications, with a special interest in the resolution of inverse problems in acoustics and vibrations. This includes applications in machine and structural health monitoring (MHM and SHM) as well as identification and imaging of acoustic and vibration sources. He has published about two hundred journal papers in these domains.

Jerome Antoni is Associate Editor of Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing and with the editorial boards of Applied Sciences and Machines.

Headshot of Dr Eric Bechhoefer
Dr Eric Bechhoefer
Retired Naval Flight Officer

Eric Bechhoefer is a retired Naval Flight Officer who has worked in aviation for over 40 years. He was awarded Helicopter Association International’s Salute to Excellence Award for Safety in 2023 for his efforts in enhancing safety and mentorship.

He is a Fellow at the Prognostic and Health Management Society, IEEE Senior Member, and sits on both the Vertical Flight Society’s HUMS Technical Committee and the SAE Aerospace HM-1 Committee covering Integrated Vehicle Health Management.

Bechhoefer holds a degree from the University of Michigan. He has an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a PhD in Engineering (specialising in digital signal processing) from Kennedy Western University. His credits include 180+ journal papers and 36 patents in the field of condition monitoring. 

Chiara Bisagni
Chiara Bisagni
Professor – Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano

Chiara Bisagni is Professor at the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at Politecnico di Milano in Italy, and a guest Professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. She received her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, where she began her academic career. She then held a Professorship at the University of California San Diego before moving to the Delft University of Technology, where she was Professor from 2015 to 2023.  

Her research focuses on aerospace composite structures, with projects spanning across areas from buckling, post-buckling and crashworthiness to areas such as fatigue, damage tolerance and optimisation for aeronautical and space applications.  

Professor Bisagni has received numerous accolades, including an Amelia Earhart Fellowship, a Marie Curie Grant, a Young Researcher Fellowship from MIT, a Fulbright Grant and recently was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant. She is Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Knight of the Order of Star of Italy. 

Headshot of Marcel Bos
Marcel Bos
Head of Aerospace Vehicles Integrity and Life Cycle Support Department, NLR – Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre

Marcel Bos received his master’s degree from the Aerospace Department of Delft University of Technology in 1988. After his graduation and military service he worked for one year in the Structures Division of the Defence Science and Technology Group in Melbourne, Australia. Back in the Netherlands he was employed by Airbus Defence and Space as a structures expert, though eventually his work shifted to aerodynamics, re-entry and landing technology, parachute systems, trajectory simulations and robotics.

In 2000 Mr Bos moved to the Platform Integrity and Life Cycle Support department of NLR, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre. Since then, he has been engaged in basic research and contract research for various national and international customers. One of the projects that he managed was the full-scale fatigue test on the wing of a decommissioned F16, which also served as a test bed for various new SHM technologies. His present position is Department Manager.

From 2005 to 2017 Mr Bos was the Netherlands’ delegate to the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue and Structural Integrity (ICAF). In 2017 he was elected ICAF General Secretary. 

Dr Leslie Cohen headshot
Dr Leslie Cohen
Senior Advisor to Director Space Materials Lab Aerospace Corp, The Aerospace Corporation

Dr Cohen is world renowned for his work in advanced composite materials.  In his 50+ year career and counting, he has had major impact on how the aerospace industrial base manufactures composites.  He joined McDonnell Douglas in the late 1960s.  While at McDonnell, he held positions of increasing responsibility in Technology Operations and Business Development. As a senior director, he oversaw their business development in the Russian Federation.  Les has worked on applying composites to a wide range of aerospace structures including ICBMs and re-entry vehicles, the OH-58 helicopter, the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative.

Following his McDonnell Douglas career, he launched a new career as partner and owner of a public corporation named Culver City Composites, famous for their work in fabricating polyimide prepregs.  Les took Culver City Composites public and ultimately sold the company to Cytec Engineering Materials.

Les then joined HITCO Carbon Composites and revitalised their work around automation of composite primary and secondary structure.  Under his leadership, HITCO launched a major capital improvement program that enabled the company to become a leading Tier II fully automated supplier to The Boeing Company for manufacture of 787 composite work packages and to Lockheed Martin for the manufacture of automated fiber placed (AFP) wing skins and nacelles skins for the F-35.  

In his role as Senior Vice President for Strategic Technology, he has led HITCO in capturing  2 billion dollars government R&D efforts to advance the state of the art in composite manufacturing including hot drape forming, noodle fabrication, automated tape layup, and automated fiber placement manufacturing techniques with out-of-the-autoclave materials as well as  production programs.  His latest passion is to leverage the Digital Thread concept for composite to eliminate analog methods in managing and facilitating the production of digitally fabricated complex primary and secondary structure in composites. 

Dr Cohen holds a BS, MS, and PhD from Carnegie Tech and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Technion Institute of Technology. His numerous awards and recognitions include:

  • Gold Medal for Science and Technology from the USSR Academy of Sciences.
  • Gold Medal for Composite Excellence from the University of Delaware.
  • SME/CMA Judd Hall Award for Excellence in Composite Manufacturing for Aerospace Structures.
  • SAMPE Fellow and George Lubin Award recipient.
  • SME Fellow in Manufacturing and SME Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow.
  • Winner of the Suppliers of Advanced Composite Materials Association Award for Distinguished Technical Achievement.
  • L.A. City Council Citation for Humanitarian Contributions to Education (2013).
  • Lifetime Achievement Awards from SAMPE, including the Kushner and Lubin Awards.

Dr Cohen serves on advisory boards for Carnegie Mellon University (Civil Engineering), Stanford University (Aeronautical Engineering), and Penn State’s Applied Research Lab. He is also a member of AIAA, SME/CMA, ASTM, and SAMPE, and has served in leadership roles such as Global Director of SAMPE and Board of Directors member for the USC School of Engineering.

Heaadshot of Amanda Holt FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER
Amanda Holt FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER
Chief Executive Officer, SYPAQ Group

With a career spanning across the defence and technology sectors, Amanda brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of innovation and enterprise-level solutions to address some of Defence’s toughest challenges, seeing Amanda recognised as the inaugural Defence Connect Executive of the Year in 2019, and leading SYPAQ to be recognised as the Australian Financial Review’s Most Innovative Company for 2023. 

As the Chief Executive Officer of SYPAQ, a leading engineering and systems integration company demonstrating the innovation potential of local defence industry, Amanda has consistently demonstrated her capability to lead and influence complex organisational improvements across technology, plans, and people. Her collaborative approach has consistently delivered effective results, from the boardroom to the battlespace. Amanda is proud to describe SYPAQ’s contribution to the autonomous systems industry as the renaissance of the Australian Aerospace industry. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Amanda remains actively engaged in various professional organisations and continues to be active in the engineering disciple, as a Fellow and Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia. She is also a member of the RMIT Aerospace Engineering Advisory Board, the Defence Council Victoria, industry co-chair of the Defence Maritime Environmental Working Group and co-chair on the Army’s Land Environment Working Group.   

Amanda has recently been appointed as Non-Executive Director for PWR Group Holdings and CEA Technologies – two innovative Australian advanced technology businesses. 

Headshot of Professor Sabine Klinkner
Professor Sabine Klinkner
Chair of the Satellite Technology Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart

After graduating from the University of Stuttgart in Aerospace Engineering in 2002, Sabine Klinkner started working with the space SME von Hoerner and Sulger GmbH, focusing on the development of robotic space systems and the design of different flight hardware developments of scientific space instruments. 

From 2004–2008 she pursued her PhD at the University of Stuttgart in parallel to her work in industry, realising a concept of a Microrover for the extreme environmental conditions of the Mercury surface. 

Since January 2015 Ms Klinkner has held the chair of satellite technology at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Space Systems. In her department she focuses on research in the fields satellite systems, robotic systems for planetary exploration and dust astronomy. 

Sam Meure
Dr Sam Meure
Director, Space Directorate

Dr Sam Meure has worked for over 15 years in the aerospace industry in both research and production support functions for commercial and defence platforms. During this time, he worked for Boeing (in Australia, USA and Japan), developed manufacturing pathways for regional Space platforms with Swinburne University and then moved to the Defence Aviation Safety Authority to take on the Director role in the Space Directorate (September 2024).

After completing an Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering PhD at the University of New South Wales, Sam spent over a decade in design, performance evaluation and production support roles focused on delivering new carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) solutions to the aerospace sector. This started with work at CSIRO researching self-healing epoxy systems then continued at Boeing Aerostructures Australia where he worked in R&D, production support and leadership roles. Whilst with Boeing, Sam spent 2 years at Boeing Research and Technology-Japan establishing the CFRP R&D portfolio and leading their CRFP production support for the Boeing Commercial platforms across the region.

At the Space Directorate, Sam is supporting setup of the Defence Space Safety Program. While leveraging existing regulations capability and approaches setup within DASA, the Space Directorate are working with the Australian Space Agency and key stakeholders to prepare Space Safety Regulations that can be used to assure safety during Defence space launches, returns and orbital operations.

Dr. Bjoern Nagel
Dr Bjoern Nagel
Director of the Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Dr Bjoern Nagel is Director of the Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). His research is addressing advanced digital methods such as MBSE, MDO, AI and VR for modeling aeronautics as a system-of-systems aiming at accelerating the innovation cycle, optimising the impact of novel technologies and finding novel holistic solutions. Collaboration in large teams of experts is characteristic to his research, enabling him to capture the system of interest in the required width and depth. 

In 2003 he started his career as research associate at the DLR Institute of Lightweight Systems investigating the multidisciplinary optimisation fiber composite wings. He became Head of the Department Integrated Aircraft Design at the DLR Institute of Air Transport in 2007 before he became the Founding Director of the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics in 2017. He received the Award for Technical Innovations from the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (IACS) in 2018. Dr Nagel visited scientists at the Airbus Future Projects Office Madrid and the Saab Aircraft Concepts Department Linkoeping.  

He received his diploma in Aeronautical Engineering from Technische Universitaet Braunschweig and his doctoral degree in Digital Engineering from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.

Jim Simpson
Jim Simpson
CEO, Titomic

Jim Simpson is a distinguished leader with over 40 years of experience in the aerospace, defense, and satellite industries. He currently serves as CEO of Titomic (ASX: TTT), bringing extensive expertise in U.S. national security and commercial space endeavors to lead the company into its next phase of growth and innovation. Simpson’s career includes transformative leadership roles across major organisations, including 35 years at Boeing, where he retired as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for the Network and Space Systems Division, overseeing an $8 billion portfolio. During his tenure, he led initiatives across DOD, commercial, intelligence, and civil satellites, Cyberspace, NASA Space Programs, and Missile Defense. As Vice President of the Commercial Satellite Systems business, he made Boeing the top satellite manufacturer globally, led the first phase of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, and secured the first commercial sale of the Delta IV launch system. Simpson contributed to or directly influenced over $15 billion in sales at Boeing.

After retiring from Boeing, Simpson held key leadership positions such as CEO of Asia Broadcast Satellite, the fifth-largest regional commercial satellite communications service company, and CEO of the startup Saturn Satellite Networks, focusing on small GEO satellite solutions. He also served as Chief Strategy Officer for Virgin Orbit, playing a pivotal role in taking the company public in 2022 with a valuation of $3 billion. Additionally, he provided strategic leadership at Aerojet Rocketdyne as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development. Simpson’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Materials Engineering from UCLA, an MBA from USC, and a graduate certificate in Engineering Management from Caltech. He is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society.

Delphine Spaterna headshot
Delphine Spaterna
APAC Engineering Director, Thales

Delphine is a French native and APAC engineering director who is currently living in Australia. She has worked at long-standing multinational company, Thales, for over 25 years.

Delphine joined Thales’ defence activities in France as a computer science graduate and at the company, grew into a technical leader and work-package manager. She then took her career in a new direction, developing her professional knowledge to move into sales and key account manager roles.

After two years in sales management, she moved into an engineering delivery and innovation management role which enabled her growth into becoming the engineering director of a large software competencies centre. Delphine then integrated a new Thales Business Unit in the space domain (Thales Alenia Space) and took up a R&D and strategy director position there.

“Just 2 years ago, I moved to Australia as part of Thales AMS (Aerospace Mobility Solutions) as the APAC engineering director. I’ve joined this new GBU with the same goal: developing and supporting engineering transformation to increase Thales’ efficiency and sustainability in Australia.”

In her current role, she directs the company’s air traffic management in complex project development, upholds a commitment to developing quality products, and defines the best processes, tools, skills and people.

Plenary speakers

Headshot of Dr Geoff Andersen
Dr Geoff Andersen
Research Director, Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development

Dr Andersen is the Research Director for the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD) Melbourne Office – the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) international branch serving Australia. After earning a PhD in optical physics at the University of Adelaide, Australia, he served more than twenty years as a senior researcher and adjunct instructor in the USAF Academy Department of Physics. During that period, he published The Telescope: Its History Technology and Future, 20 journal articles and more than 50 conference presentations. 

In 2017, Dr Andersen joined AFOSR and spent four years as Research Director of their Southern Office in Chile. Then in 2021 he returned to the US to take a temporary position as Chief Scientist of the US Space Operations Command and deputy Chief Scientist of the United States Space Force. Since 2022 he has served in his current position which aims to engage with basic research efforts throughout Australia.  

Headshot of Dr Shane Arnott
Dr Shane Arnott
Senior Vice President of Programs and Engineering, Anduril Industries

Dr Shane Arnott PhD oversees the Maritime Division and its family of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles; Maneuver Dominance, a strategic pursuit of massed mission autonomy in the ground and surface domains; as well as engineering development programs in Australia and the UK that support multiple business lines.

Before joining Anduril, Dr Arnott spent 23 years at The Boeing Company as one of the their top-ranking engineers as a Boeing Senior Technical Fellow. He was the founding leader of the global Phantom Works division, where he worked multiple classified programs in the aerospace domain. His last role was leading the MQ-28 Ghost Bat (‘Loyal Wingman’) program, where he brought the autonomous fighter from sketch to flight within three years.

Most recently at Anduril, he led the inception of the Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV) program, a co-development with the Royal Australian Navy including a range of mission payloads, intended to go from clean sheet to combat ready in three years. Dr Arnott was recognised as Innovator of the Year in 2019 and his team received a prestigious Aviation Week Laureate award for outstanding innovation in aerospace in 2021.

Dr Arnott is a GoFly Master mentor, a Techstars industry mentor, advisory board member of the Stanford University Common Mission Project (in the US and Australia), an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology and a contributing author to the NATO Allied Capability Transformation Program. He received his Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering from La Trobe University and his PhD in Systems Engineering from the University of Queensland. 

Craig Benson
Craig Benson
Co-founder, Director and Chief Innovation Officer, Skykraft

Dr Craig Benson is co-founder, director and chief innovation officer at Skykraft where he is building a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites to provide global Air Traffic Management services.  The constellation is designed to use existing aircraft equipment to provide seamless air traffic control services, even in remote and oceanic regions. This VHF voice, VHF data and ADS-B service will improve flight efficiency and result in greater safety in remote and oceanic regions including the Pacific with operational deployment during 2026.
Craig is a former Royal Australian Air Force engineering officer, consultant and university lecturer with experience ranging from aircraft maintenance to electronic warfare, and GPS to underwater acoustic communications.

Headshot of Andrew Glynn
Andrew Glynn
Vice President of Engineering and Programs, Anduril Australia

Andrew Glynn has more than 20 years of experience leading major product development programs across both commercial and defence environments to deliver ‘first of type’ capabilities in autonomous systems, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Andrew was appointed Vice President, Engineering and Programs at Anduril Australia in December 2022. In this role, he is responsible for leading Anduril Australia’s engineering capability and delivery of major programs including the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea development program in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) and a range of Australian industry partners.

Prior to joining Anduril, he held the role of Program Director for the MQ-28A ‘Loyal Wingman’ where he was responsible for leading the design and development of the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australian in more than 50 years in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Andrew holds degrees in Engineering (Mechanical) and Science from The University of Melbourne, a Master of Science from École Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) and a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School. 

Headshot of Lieutenant Colonel David J. Newell
Lieutenant Colonel David Newell
Australia Site Chief and International Project Officer, Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development

Lieutenant Colonel David J. Newell is an International Project Officer and the Australia Site Chief for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development. He is also the fundamental science liaison between the U. S. Air Force Research Laboratory and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group. 

He leads coordination and collaboration with Australian universities in support of the Department of the Air Force’s basic and applied science goals. He also fosters ground-breaking research by fostering connections between the Air Force Research Lab’s scientists and engineers with their Australian academic and defense counterparts. 

Lt Col Newell manages an Australian research portfolio focused on advanced materials, aeronautics and hypersonics. Additional interests within these categories are manufacturing technology for affordability, additive metals, composite materials, materials for propulsion and extreme environments, modeling and validation via experimentation, and aerodynamic drag reduction. 

Headshot of Dr Walter A Silva
Dr Walter A Silva
Senior Research Scientist – Aeroelasticity branch, NASA Langley Research Center

Dr Walt Silva is a Senior Research Scientist in the Aeroelasticity branch at the NASA Langley Research Center. He has more than 30 years of experience in industry, government and academia in the fields of unsteady aerodynamics, structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, reduced-order models, nonlinear dynamics and flutter testing. He has a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering (Boston University, NYU-Polytechnic University) and a PhD in Applied Mathematics (College of William & Mary).  

He started his career at the Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Bethpage, NY), where he worked in Propulsion, Loads and Dynamics and Flight Controls. He has taught several invited short courses in computational/experimental aeroelasticity at national/international organisations. 

Dr Silva is a NASA Floyd Thompson Fellow and a Fellow of the AIAA. He is also an adjunct professor at the College of William && Mary, where he teaches graduate-level applied mathematics.   

Dr Silva has been awarded Patent 8060350, "Method of Performing Computational Aeroelastic Analysis", based on his Reduced-Order Modeling technology and the AEROM software. He is also the recipient of NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal for his contributions to the development of nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic models. 

Dr Silva is currently the NASA Lead for Structures for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (X-59).

Program

Prepare for an exceptional journey at AIAC21, where we delve into the latest in aerodynamics, aerospace structures, air and space operations and groundbreaking HUMS technologies.  

The program features plenary sessions, keynotes, presentations and engaging panel discussions. We'll tackle emerging trends and challenges from various angles, including technical innovation, industry shifts, government impact, sustainability and diversity.  

More details to be announced. 

View the latest program (PDF) 

24 March 2025
Welcome reception

Join us at the AIAC21 welcome reception, a perfect opportunity to kick off congress with networking and camaraderie. Over refreshments, connect with fellow attendees, industry experts and keynote speakers in a relaxed atmosphere. 

The reception sets the tone for a productive and engaging congress experience.

24 March 2025
HUMS dinner

Be a part of the HUMS dinner, a signature event of the HUMS Conference where you can relax and reflect on the day's achievements. Held at The Bank on Collins, this evening is an opportunity to relax, share stories and connect with fellow attendees and industry leaders.

This is a unique opportunity to build meaningful connections, exchange ideas and celebrate the innovative discussions from the conference.

25 March 2025
Congress dinner

Don't miss the congress dinner, a highlight of AIAC where you can unwind and celebrate AIAC21's successes. Enjoy a meal in a distinguished setting while engaging in meaningful conversations with peers and industry leaders. 

The dinner provides a unique opportunity to forge lasting relationships, share insights and reflect on the innovative ideas presented.

Location
View of the MCEC at dusk

AIAC21 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 
1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf VIC 3006 

Find us

On Wednesday 26 March, AIAC21 sessions will be held at the Avalon Australian International Airshow.

Avalon Airport, Geelong
80 Beach Road, Lara VIC 3212

Please refer to the Avalon Australian International Airshow website for directions and transport options.

 

Situated along the Yarra River, MCEC provides an exceptional location close to the Melbourne CBD. It's an easy walking distance from a range of accommodation options, which are available for you to book when registering for AIAC21.

MCEC was the first centre in the world to be awarded a 6-Star Green Star environment rating by the Green Building Council of Australia for the Convention Centre’s innovative environmental design and operational features. It achieved Gold EarthCheck Certification in 2016, following five years of continuous Silver accreditation. EarthCheck benchmarks its sustainability initiatives against other convention centres in Australia and, by awarding them gold, has placed MCEC as a leader in a unique worldwide group of sustainable tourism operators.  

Acknowledgement of Country   

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people, on which MCEC is built. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.  

Accommodation

Our accommodation specialists have secured rooms at hotels adjacent to MCEC, with flexible booking terms and conditions available exclusively to AIAC21 attendees.  

Access flexible booking terms and conditions

All room rates are listed in Australian dollars and include a 10 per cent goods and services tax. 

Advertised rates are valid for stays from 24–26 March 2025 inclusive. Rates will be honoured for stays two days prior to or after AIAC21, subject to room availability. 

 

201 Normanby Road, Southbank VIC 3006 (15-min walk to MCEC)
AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank
Image of a room at the AC Hotel Melbourne

Deluxe Room
4.5 stars
$355 per night  

  • Complimentary WiFi
  • Credit card required at time of booking to guarantee reservation  
  • Cancellations, including shortening of stay, made within 30 days prior to arrival or no show will incur a cancellation fee equivalent to the full duration of the stay 

Book now

 

35/47 City Road, Southbank VIC 3000 (16-min walk to MCEC)
Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank
Image of a room at the Holiday Inn Southbank

Superior Room
4 stars
$263 per night  

  • Complimentary WiFi
  • Credit card required at time of booking to guarantee reservation
  • Cancellations, including shortening of stay, made within 30 days prior to arrival or no show will incur a cancellation fee equivalent to the full duration of the stay

Book now

Travel

When attending AIAC21 please consider sustainable transport options such as walking, or take advantage of the convenient public transport options to the venue, rather than driving. Visit Public Transport Victoria to find out about Melbourne's public transport options.

Yarra River and the Melbourne skyline

More on Melbourne

Melbourne is where creativity and innovation come together. It’s the home of world-class events, hidden treasures to explore and pioneering advancements that are respected internationally. 

The city is easy to navigate and perfect to explore on foot or through its extensive transport network. Visitors are welcome to discover its creative culture, expressed in its food, fashion, events, arts and music scene. 

For those wanting to explore further afield, the unique natural beauty of regional Victoria is not to be missed. Stunning day trips are ready to be enjoyed just over an hour from the city centre. Discover some of Victoria’s rugged and dramatic coastlines, incredible food and boutique wineries, wellbeing experiences and charming regional villages that will really make for a memorable visit.

Discover what you can experience in Melbourne pre and post AIAC21.

Sponsorship
Be part of Australasia’s future in aerospace and aviation

Since its inception, AIAC21 has grown to become the region’s premier aerospace and aviation event, drawing hundreds of engineers, students, academics, researchers and industry specialists biannually. We set the stage for advancement and learning, bringing together fresh talent with industry heavyweights to create real innovation. 

If you’re looking for a way to launch your brand into the aerospace and aviation engineering community, this is a prime opportunity. 

How a sponsorship at AIAC21 can take you to new heights 

  • Align your brand with cutting-edge developments in aerodynamics, aerostructures, air operations and HUMS technologies.
  • Showcase innovation and diversity as a key priority for your business.
  • Offer promotional opportunities through multi-channel marketing campaigns.
  • Get invaluable exposure to Engineers Australia’s 120,000+ members and key stakeholders.

Sponsorship packages

  • Congress Major Partner 
  • Prime Partner 
  • Congress Partner 
  • Education Partner 
  • Coffee Station Sponsor 
  • Lanyard Sponsor 
  • Congress Dinner Sponsor 
  • Welcome Reception Sponsor 
  • Charging Station Sponsor 

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, the sponsorship prospectus or tailored packages, contact [email protected]

Congress principle partner
Partners

AMDA, Congress principal partner
ETMC, HUMS dinner and Next Generation sponsor
LEAP Australia, Session sponsor
Memko Pty Ltd, Lanyard sponsor
RMIT Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre, Congress education partner
Swinburne University, Education partner

Committee

The AIAC21 committee is made up of expert volunteers, Engineers Australia volunteers and industry experts who support the successful delivery of the conference. 

Find out more about the history of the Australian International Aerospace Congress

Organising committee

  • Prof Pier Marzocca, RMIT University – AIAC21 Congress Chair 
  • Prof Cees Bil, RMIT University 
  • Sheridan Buesnel-May, AMDA Foundation Limited 
  • Adam Groszek, Swinburne University 
  • Dr Sonja Jenkinson, Defence Aviation Safety Authority 
  • Dr Jana Madabhushi, Defence Aviation Safety Authority 
  • Dr Ben Main, Defence Science and Technology Group 
  • Prof Peter Moar, Swinburne University 
  • Prof Jennifer Palmer, RMIT University 
  • Dr Nader Sawalhi, Defence Science and Technology Group 
  • Michael Scott, RMIT University
  • Dr Aaron Sudholz, BAE Systems Australia 
  • Bob Teunisse, Departmnet of Defence
  • Prof Michele Trenti, The University of Melbourne 
  • A/Prof Wim Verhagen, RMIT
  • A/Prof Dries Verstraete, The University of Sydney 
  • Dr Christopher Wallbrink, Defence Science and Technology Group 
  • Dr Wenyi Wang, Defence Science and Technology Group 
  • Zihao Wang, The University of Sydney 

Technical committee

  • Simon Barter
  • Andrew Becker
  • Cees Bill
  • David Blunt
  • Pietro Borghesani
  • Jordan Carroll
  • Raj Das 
  • Wayne Foster 
  • Adam Groszek 
  • Alex Harman 
  • Riyazal Hussein 
  • Sonja Jenkinson 
  • Michael Jones 
  • Rhys Jones 
  • Vlado Kekoc 
  • David Lingard 
  • Jana Madabhushi 
  • Ben Main 
  • Paul Marsden 
  • Pier Marzocca 
  • Peter Moar 
  • Quentin Michalski 
  • Adrian Orifici 
  • Suresh Palanisamy 
  • Jennifer Palmer 
  • Robert Porter 
  • Cedric Rosalie
  • Shannon Ryan 
  • Wade Smith
  • Aaron Sudholz 
  • Pavel Trivailo 
  • Wim Verhagen 
  • Christopher Wallbrink 
  • John Wang 
  • Wenyi Wang 
  • Leonard Whitehead