Episode #18

• Anny is 35, married with a young daughter.  She is an avid netballer and has given herself a reading challenge – to read the “top 100 books”… she’s down to number 14! 
• Has been camping at the Bathurst 1000 (v8 supercar races) every year for the past 8 years 
• Was inspired by Dr Andy Thomas at a young age who is a mechanical engineer from Adelaide.
• Decided to follow in Dr Andy Thomas’ (Australia’s 3rd astronaut) steps and become a mechanical engineer, she quickly discovered she preferred getting a civil and environmental engineering degree… Although after the Spaghetti challenge she realised where her true talents lied!  Watch more about this fascinating challenge here. 
• Anny is Executive Director, Australian Space Agency. Looking after the coordination, finance, media, administration and communications for the Australian Space Agency. Anny is particularly interest in how to inspire Australians and promote STEM engagement.

• Space 2.0 – accessibility of space. How space impacts every part of society and how it inspires so many Australians. Accessing space is now cheaper and more readily available. 
• Australia is not new to the space race.  The 3rd country in the world to launch a satellite, after Russia & USA. 
• Australia Space Agency is very industry focused agency, recognising that space is now a commercial opportunity, no longer purely in the domain of Government – this is Space 2.0.
• Need to grow the space industry in Australia – opening up jobs for smart intelligent engineers to work in Australia.
• To find out more about the Australian Space Agency, refer to the ‘Welcome’ document on the Agency’s website.

• First project Anny worked on was assessing water efficiency opportunities for a dairy farming organization. 
• Has had the opportunity to work in Indigenous Affairs and worked on infrastructure for remote Indigenous communities. Whether it was housing, water, energy or building infrastructure Anny found it incredibly rewarding and soul-searching. 
• The future of engineering is changing and new engineers will need to adapt to the jobs of the future. In space, traditional engineering skills are being adapted. For example – farming practices (use of satellites to make farming significantly easier and more ‘intelligent’). 
• New engineers need to be curious and not afraid to be an entrepreneur. SpaceX was a startup once too! 
• Young professionals need to be involved in your industry.  “you can’t get experience necessary in the workplace that fast, but you can chair board meetings…” 
• Anny recommends everyone should check out Space Camp for Adults 
• We are been introduced to Space Beer!  Go check it out and learn about the story here.

An engineering item for discussion. The Saturn V5 shuttle engine – “that is beyond cool, there are no words”.  SpaceShipOne, which won the award for the Ansari X Prize

An engineer to admire. Dr Andy Thomas was such an inspiration to Anny, he has even signed Anny’s Space Camp suit.

Website: www.engineeringheroes.com.au 

Facebook: @BeerWithAnEngineer

Instagram: @BeerWithAnEngineer.podcast

LinkedIn: Beer With An Engineer

Melanie on LinkedIn

Dominic on LinkedIn 

Our drinking game.  You can’t have a beer with an engineer without having a drinking game!!  Anytime Dom says “ummm” or Mel says “so”… drink up!