Student rocketry director named youth space leader

USYD Rocketry Team Director Alison Lockley was named one of 2022's Young Australian Space Leaders by the Australian Youth Aerospace Association (AYAA).

Selected winners receive a scholarship providing them with the opportunity to attend the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and the Space Generation Congress (SGC).

Having recently led the Sydney team to win the annual Spaceport America Cup competition, the AYAA recognised Ms Lockley's demonstrated commitment to diversity and outreach, technical excellence, initiative, and resilience.

Ms Lockley, who is in her final year studying a Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Aeronautical Engineering) and Bachelor of Science (majoring in Space and Physics), has led by example in her role as rocketry president and throughout her degree, promoting diversity among her peers. 

"I am honoured to have been selected as one of AYAA's Young Australian Space Leaders of 2022. Space is for everyone," said Ms Lockley, who is also interning at the Defence Science and Technology Group as a STEM Cadet.

"I look forward to representing our growing sector by promoting diversity alongside technical excellence." 

As part of the scholarship, Ms Lockley will travel to Paris to attend the IAC. The conference is the world's largest coming together of global space actors from various fields.

With over 6,000 participants each year, it showcases the latest space information and developments in academia and industry.

The SGC brings together 150 delegates from the United Nations, NASA and other world-leading space organisations to share perspectives on global space issues.

"We are proud to be able to provide young people in Australia with opportunities otherwise inaccessible to them," said AYAA 2022 President Bao-Thien Nguyen.

"These individuals give so much to the industry that it is great to be able to give them access to this once in a lifetime experience."