Exploring in Extreme Environments

The Experts

• More details about Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian astronaut

  Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian astronaut

  Katherine Bennell-Pegg is an Australian astronaut and space systems engineer. She is the first professional astronaut to officially represent Australia and the 2026 Australian of the Year. In 2024, she graduated from the European Space Agency’s 13-month Astronaut Basic Training as one of six members of “The Hoppers” class, selected through ESA’s 2022 astronaut intake from more than 22,500 applicants. Katherine is a Director at the Australian Space Agency, where she has played a key role in growing Australia’s space capability. Her work has included technical leadership on the Moon to Mars Trailblazer “Roo-ver” lunar mission, advancing national space strategy, and managing programs to strengthen satellite, infrastructure and launch capabilities. With 15 years’ experience across space agencies and industry in Australia, Europe, the UK and the US, Katherine has contributed to major international missions, including the Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis program, space station facilities, Earth observation missions and robotic satellite capture technologies. She holds four degrees across physics, space and aeronautical engineering, and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering. A Group Captain in the Air Force Reserve and former Australian Army officer, she received the Sword of Honour at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Katherine is passionate about using space to expand opportunity for researchers and industry, grow Australia’s STEM workforce, and inspire the next generation. Photo credit: Andy Roberts

  • Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian astronaut's website
  • Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian astronaut's linkedin
• More details about Doctor John Cherry, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Antarctic Division

  Doctor John Cherry, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Antarctic Division

  Dr John Cherry is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and a Field Leader for the Australian Antarctic Division where he leads the space analogue research undertaken by the Polar Medicine Unit. He is a Councillor for the Centre for Antarctic Remote and Maritime Medicine, the Vice-President of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ASAM) and the Chair of ASAM’s Space Life Science Committee. Within the space sector he is the Australian Space Analogue representative to the Joint Expert Group on Human Biology and Medicine, a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Applied Space Medicine and Life Sciences Technical Advisory Group, a former delegate for the Agency’s Australian Civil Space Delegation to the European Space Agency, and a member of Human Aerospace’s Technical Consultancy Group. He is a Senior Lecturer in Space Medicine for the University of Tasmania’s Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments program, a Supervisor and Examiner for the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine, and he previously worked for NASA and the European Space Agency developing medical support models and training for astronauts. Dr Cherry specialises in the fields of emergency medicine, anaesthetics and rural and remote medicine and has Fellowships with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Geological Society, and an Associate Fellowship with the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine. Dr Cherry completed an over-winter deployment in Antarctica with the Australian Antarctic Program in 2021, and he has experience with multiple summer deployments including leading a team in a deep field expedition to Little Dome C, one of the most isolated and challenging environments on Earth. Prior to medicine, he worked as an astrophysicist, commercial helicopter pilot, high school science teacher, and expedition leader. FACRRM, FRAeS, FRGS, FRSA, FGS, FRAS, A/FACAsM, MBBS, MTrauma, MMed (Crit Care), MHlthRemExtEnv, BSc(Hons), BTeach, DCH, DipRGA, JCCA, CCPU, CPL(H)

• More details about Professor Andrew Cole, Professor of Physics, University of Tasmania

  Professor Andrew Cole, Professor of Physics, University of Tasmania

  Professor Andrew Cole's research focuses on the stellar populations of nearby galaxies, including our own. He works on a wide range of questions related to how the observable properties of groups of stars can be understood as tracers of the formation and evolution of structures in the Universe, on distance scales from planetary systems to groups of galaxies, and on timescales from the first stars to form after the Big Bang up to the present day. By combining data from a wide range of ground and space-based observatories with computational models of stellar structure and atmospheres, he investigates questions about the ages, chemistry, and motions of stars. Professor Cole is also Director of the Greenhill Observatory, the University of Tasmania's home of optical astronomy research. At the Greenhill, staff and students use the Harlingten-127 and 50-cm telescopes in a variety of projects related to the search for exoplanets, transient/time-domain astrophysics, and Solar System/near-earth object studies.

• More details about Doctor Alicia Tucker, Tasmanian Emergency Medicine Physician, Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH)

  Doctor Alicia Tucker, Tasmanian Emergency Medicine Physician, Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH)

  Dr Alicia Tucker is a Tasmanian Emergency Medicine Physician, with additional Specialist qualifications in Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine and Aerospace Medicine. Dr Tucker is a Senior Lecturer in Space Medicine at the University of Tasmania and has a particular interest in the development of protocols for ‘fitness for spaceflight’ and risk modification for commercial spaceflight participants, as well as finding solutions for assessing and managing acute illness and injury beyond Low Earth Orbit.  Dr Tucker recently completed an analogue lunar mission at the wellbeing Research Station in Poland where she served in the role of Commander and was responsible for the crew of seven's health and well being throughout the two week, fully isolated, mission.  Analogue missions allow research, human performance and systems integration to be tested before reaching orbit with the aim to increase mission success.

• More details about Facilitated by Dr Tara Martin, Director, Antarctic Tasmania

  Facilitated by Dr Tara Martin, Director, Antarctic Tasmania

  Dr Tara Martin is the Director of Antarctic, Science and Technology with the Tasmanian Department of State Growth, where she seeks to grow the Antarctic, space, science and technology sectors in Tasmania. Tara's prior professional expertise is in Antarctic and marine science, geophysics and research infrastructure management.