When asked to write down three different career options in high school, Katherine Bennell-Pegg onlywrote down one-astronaut–and refused to add any others.

In 2023, as an employee of the Australian Space Agency, Katherine was invited by the EuropeanSpace Agency to undertake Basic Training in Germany, becoming the first international astronautcandidate to do so. In April of this year, she made history by becoming the first qualified astronautunder the Australian flag!

Now back at the Australian Space Agency here in Australia, she shares the knowledge she gainedfrom her training with Australia’s growing space and tech sectors.

As part of the Ngalang Koort (“Our heart”) Conversation series, hear her in conversation with Sinead Mangan to explore why space matters to Australia and why Australia needs to play an active role inspace exploration.

A Q&A session will follow the conversation. The Ngalang Koort Conversations international lecture series has been created by the Foundation forthe WA Museum and is supported by Founding Partner, Wesfarmers.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg visits WA for the Forrest Research Foundation and the International SpaceCentre at The University of Western Australia.