Equatorial Launch Australia’s new head of business development is Nina Patz, who leaves Hypersonix Launch Systems after more than three and a half years.
Ms Patz moves to the Northern Territory-based spaceport operator as it prepares to launch a rocket made by South Korean manufacturer Innospace in mid-2025.
During Ms Patz’s stint at Hypersonix, the Queensland-based manufacturer secured a contract with the United States’ Department of Defense and signed a development contract with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
In her new role, Ms Patz will help develop contracts for “launch, launch support services, engine testing, payload and mission management, and mission planning”, leading the hunt for global commercial opportunities.
“We have worked with Nina in her previous role and always admired her style, industry knowledge and professionalism, we are very lucky to have her join us,” ELA chief executive Michael Jones said.
Advanced Navigation is expanding its United States presence with the appointment of Wayne Prender as global head of defence. Mr Prender moves from defence and space manufacturer Textron Systems where he was senior vice president of air systems.
The new chief executive of NBN Co is Ellie Sweeney, who has 20 years of senior telecommunications executive experience. Ms Sweeney was most recently the chief executive and chief operating officer at Vocus. She has been appointed on a five year term.
Scyne advisory, the former public sector consultancy arm of PwC Australia, has appointed Google’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand John Ball as its inaugural independent chief executive. Mr Ball spent the last 10 years at Google and previously worked at Microsoft for 17 years.
As previously reported, Government Services and NDIS minister Bill Shorten will resign in February to become the University of Canberra’s vice-chancellor.
Tom McMahon, Mr Shorten’s former economic adviser, has been made a partner at economic consultancy Mandala Partners. He has spent just over a year at Mandala having moved from his role as deputy chief executive at the Tech Council of Australia.
The Department of Finance’s new chief data officer is Nhi Nguyen, who has been promoted internally.
The new chief information officer of AUSTRAC, the Commonwealth agency monitoring financial crime, is Samuel Gouder. The role is also referred to as national manager for innovation and technology solutions.
Independent member of Western Australia’s legislative council and former software engineer Wilson Tucker has been appointed to the advisory board of the Curtin School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences.
The iLAuNCH university trailblazer has appointed five new advisory board members on a 12-month term, including the Australian Space Agency’s general manager of space capability Jarrod Powell. The other appointees are Veronica Bainton, Dr Katrina Sanders, Ravi Jain, and Professor Celine d’Orgeville.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has two new pro-vice-chancellors in Rebecca Hazell, who will oversee advancement and alumni, and Michael Blumenstein, who will oversee business creation and major facilities.
Ms Hazell moves from the University of Newcastle while Mr Blumenstein moves from his role as deputy dean for research and innovation at the UTS faculty of engineering and IT.
The board of Export Finance Australia has appointed Karina Kwan and Rahoul Chowdry. Ms Kwan has more than 35 years of international finance experience and is a mentor to FinTechs, while Mr Chowdry is a former PwC partner.
The Australian Registrars National Electronic Conveyancing Council appointed a new chair and deputy chair at the start of this financial year. They are South Australia’s registrar-general Jenny Cottnam and Victoria’s registrar of titles Melissa Harris.
Victoria’s small business commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith has been reappointed for another five years.
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