The Hatchery

Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and astronaut. She is the mission pilot and the first black civilian astronaut for the Inspiration4, the world’s first all- civilian orbital mission to space. Dr. Proctor is also one of The Explorer’s Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World, a multidisciplinary, professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation.

Sabra Horne Entrepreneur in Residence Sabra Horne is Entrepreneur in Residence at BMNT, where she supports the development and deployment of government innovation efforts. Before joining BMNT, she was Chief of the Innovation Hub, responsible for envisioning, establishing and developing innovation efforts in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Prior to this role, she led the change management of the agency and was director of stakeholder engagement, leading effective sharing of cyber information with private sector, and state, local, tribal and territorial entities. She stood up CISA’s Election Task Force to support state and local election officials following the 2016 election.

Previously, she served the National Security Agency (NSA) as Deputy Chief for Information Sharing and Collaboration, facilitating sharing of NSA’s most highly classified intelligence. She was Senior Advisor to NSA Threat Operation Center leadership and led its effort to share unclassified cyber threat information with other agencies. Her NSA service began as a core member in standup of the Media Leaks Task Force, which led agency response to the public leaks of classified information by Edward Snowden in 2013.

Ms. Horne previously served as Director of Communications at the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. She began her government career at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships for Open Source, driving collaboration across the sixteen intelligence agencies in their use of open source intelligence. She served as Chief of Staff in the standup of the National Maritime Intelligence Center and lead development of a unifying intelligence collection and analysis framework across the intelligence community. She has been awarded five national intelligence awards for her service.

Prior to government service, she spent an 18-year career in academic publishing, the last twelve as Senior Executive Editor for academic criminal justice publications at Wadsworth Publishing. Ms. Horne has a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and was awarded an honorary doctorate from her undergraduate alma mater, The College of Charleston. She serves as a Washington, D.C. Commissioner.

Retired (from paid work) in 2018 after a long career with Bureau of Meteorology, starting as a forecaster and embracing a wide variety of roles across research, climate monitoring, international climate policy, global earth system observations, science leadership and governance, culminating as the Bureau’s Chief Scientist. Elected to fellowship of ATSE in 2013, an inaugural STA Superstar of STEM in 2017/18 and awarded as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022.

Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith is an award-winning astrophysicist and author with a talent for making the universe accessible to all. Throughout her career she has conducted research at universities and institutes across the world, published more than 50 research papers and played a key role in the development of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope. She is a member of the advisory group to the Australian Space Agency, the Questacon board, a Professor of Practice at the University of New South Wales.

Anntonette (Anny) is an Executive Director at the Australian Space Agency and commenced in the Agency when it was established in July 2018. Anny is responsible for the operations of the Agency and ensuring it meets it government requirements ensuring the smooth running of the organisation including funding and project management. As an engineer, Anny is also responsible for inspirational element of the Civil Space Strategy and leads the Australian Space Discovery Centre for the Agency and has a personal goal to meet the key values of the Agency – namely to inspire Australians and ‘do cool stuff’.

In 2019, Anny was identified in the Financial Review’s as one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women.

As a chartered professional engineer, Anny graduated with honours at the University of Technology Sydney and took on a career in environmental sustainability. Working across multiple Government agencies as well as not for profit and consultancy – Anny brings 15 years of senior executive capability to the Agency.

Prior to CSIRO, Elanor was the Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the Australian National University (ANU). She has also held Board appointments at Innovation Science Australia, Significant Ventures, Questacon and other government scientific advisory roles. Elanor was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Technology and Engineering in 2020 and was named named an honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia in 2017.

The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. From being a refugee, to developing legislation, to producing radio programs and films, to leading digital innovation teams, to helping people heal through Reiki, to designing homes and making clothes, to running bakeries and ice cream shops, Oakley has tried it all, and is all the richer for each experience. With a bit of luck and lot of courage, she’s looks forge the way ahead and face the unknown.

Professor McMillen was Vice Chancellor at the University of Newcastle for seven years. During her tenure, she was instrumental in the economic transition of Newcastle through significant engagement with industry and the establishment of innovation hubs to drive collaboration between industry, researchers, startups and investors.

Her insights and experience proved instrumental in the development of the EXCITE Strategy, South Australia’s 10-year plan to grow the economy through R&D and the advancement of future industries, and maintain our proud reputation as a centre of scientific excellence.

Bobby Cerini is a science communicator who has worked in museums, festivals and research organisations across several continents. Her 25-year career began with the development of multidisciplinary exhibitions and travelling science shows before expanding into dynamic science campaigns and programs for young people, parents and the community.

Amelia is a Mechatronics Engineer currently working in robotic manufacturing. She is passionate about mass customisation, biofabrication and robotics. Amelia has previously worked in a research capacity for the Biofabrication and Tissue Morphology Lab where she employed 3D scanning and modelling to fabricate personalised assistive devices using additive manufacturing techniques. Her current work is in the Design Robotics project which is a partnership between QUT and UAP where she is developing advanced solutions for industry using collaborative robotic arms: reducing the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks in the manufacturing process.

Having traversed environmental science and management, human geography, palaeoclimatology and business, Roshni is a thought leader, a compassionate disruptor, a connector and someone who gets things done. She is making it her life’s work to harness location intelligence to create tangible positive change for society, creating real traction around sustainability and leveraging tech for good.

Dr Rachel Nowak GAICD is an executive and a director who has been working on or in every step of the research, innovation and commercialisation pathway in the UK, Germany, USA, and Australia. I draw on this diversity of experience to cultivate innovation and creativity. Her specialities include biotech, medical research, agricultural science, brain tech, higher ed and media.

Jia-Yee has experiences in technology start-up and commercialisation, and in developing government policies in health and medical research, and in digital health. Her experiences in designing and implementing research-industry engagement programs at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology has provided her with deep insights into driving value creation in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Claire holds the position of First Assistant Secretary, Major Capability Division in the Department of Home Affairs. In this role, Claire is responsible for the design, future planning, coordination and management of the Department’s Portfolio of major capability ICT, digital and technology programs and projects. Before making the move to federal government 10 years ago, Claire spent her early career in the NGO sector supporting vulnerable children and young people through trauma informed practice. Since joining the public service, Claire has led complex (and often highly politicised) work across a range of policy, program, and operational settings. A behavioural psychologist by training, Claire is committed to positive and adaptive people leadership, personal and professional integrity and the delivery of high quality outcomes that add value. As a leader, Claire models strength and vulnerability in her approach, and values diversity of thought and experience when building successful teams. Claire is an avid reader, a textile artist in her spare time, and enjoys country living with her ‘high school sweetheart’ husband and their two little grey cats.

An experienced public sector leader who believes the most successful teams are the ones that embrace diverse perspectives. Amelia has recently made the leap from state to federal government as the Director of Location Capability at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A latecomer to the geospatial profession, she brings an inclusive leadership ethos and sought-after skills in governance, digital program delivery, design thinking to unlock location intelligence to help solve some of Australia’s most pressing challenges.

Kelly Sims joined IP Australia in September 2021 as General Manager of Trade Marks and Designs Group. She is executive lead for the Melbourne office and also the agency’s Disability champion. Prior to this Kelly was a senior executive with Austrade leading customer experience, product design and technology teams. Kelly was Austrade’s inaugural LGBTIQ+ Executive Champion and established the Pride@Austrade global network. She returned to Australia in late 2018 after spending over 12 years abroad with the Australian Government as Trade and Investment Commissioner in San Francisco, New York City, and Frankfurt. Kelly has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) from University of Wollongong, a Masters of Management from ANU, and completed the Executive Leadership program at Columbia University in New York City.

Eleanor is the founder of Your Best Asset and is a committed developer of leaders and teams. She is an engaging and experienced facilitator who has held a lifelong fascination with what makes people ‘tick’ and brings a unique perspective on human behaviour with a 20-year career in this field across the corporate, law enforcement, mental health, education, and not-for-profit sectors. She is passionate about working with people to find their ‘fit’ and to create psychologically safe environments and cultures which enable individuals to flourish and the business to thrive.

Eleanor holds an MSc in Forensic Psychology and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, is an ICF accredited coach, and combines her background with other qualifications in training and design to create and deliver customised programs. These programs have a focus on engagement and implementation through which she works with individuals, teams, and leaders at all levels and then supports them to apply their learnings in the workplace.

Outside of her work, Eleanor is an ardent supporter and advocate of causes relating to child protection, human trafficking, and refugees and helps to run her local branch of the Disabled Surfers Association.