About me

I am an internationally recognised expert in space governance and space law, with nearly two decades of experience in academia and strategic direction of research centres and NGOs. I have published widely on space law and space policy, and I speak often at national and international conferences and high-level fora. I am multi-lingual, and have strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead teams from diverse disciplines, to direct expert roundtables towards concrete outcomes, and to provide highly motivational executive education and university teaching.

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I have an independent consultancy practice in space security, space policy and space law. Currently I am also CEO and founder of the Australian Centre for Space Governance and Expert Affiliate at the National Security College in Canberra, Australia. I have consulted to the UN Institute of Disarmament Research; international law firms; the Australian, Canadian and US departments of Defence; the Australian Space Agency; the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and the Department of Home Affairs. I regularly present at the Australian War College and the Australian National University’s National Security College on issues of space security.

I am privileged to have lived, studied and worked in six countries on four continents, which has given me a comparative perspective and an understanding of cultural and regional differences in approach to law and policy. I speak English, French and Dutch and have a basic understanding of Spanish.

Research Expertise

My research interests focus on space security writ large, including space arms control, responsible behaviours in space, traffic management, space situational awareness, and the law of armed conflict applied to space. I also work on bringing the Women, Peace and Security agenda to space operations.

My teaching and research has led to an emerging body of work on “space citizenship“: the notion that we are all in space, dependent on space, impacting space, and therefore have a vested interest in the good governance of space. We must learn lessons from the impact of our activities in our near-Earth environment, to develop truly sustainable governance models for space and space-based technologies, including our imminent activities on the Moon.

My previous background in public international law and international criminal law focused on State and individual responsibility for internationally unlawful acts. I had a specific focus on leadership liability for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as State breaches of the laws of armed conflict and use of force. I have a strong background in comparative law and legal research methods.

see my publications

Professional Expertise

Formerly I have held positions as Deputy Director for Mission Specialists at the Australian National University Institute for Space (InSpace); Executive Director of Women in International Security (WIIS)-Canada; Acting Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Ethics and Rule of Law; and Executive Director of the McGill Centre for Research in Air and Space Law.

In 2011 I was a Fulbright Scholar, visiting at Cornell Law School. I was a visiting scholar in 2012 at the Universidad Torquato di Tella in Buenos Aires, and in 2013 at the McGill Faculty of Law and the University of British Columbia Law School.

My previous academic appointments include Senior Lecturer at the Universiteit van Amsterdam Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid (Faculty of Law) in the Netherlands; Erin. J.C. Arsenault Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill Institute of Air and Space Law; Wainwright Junior Fellow at McGill Faculty of Law; and Senior Lecturer at the Australian National University College of Law.

Professional Affiliations

I am

  • A founding member of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance
  • A member of the International Institute of Space Law
  • A member of Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia
  • A member of the Space Traffic Management Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics
  • A member of the Space Security Committee of the International Astronautical Federation

From 2020-2023 I was a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Technical Advisory Group for Space Situational Awareness.

From 2016-2020 I was the member for Canada on the International Law Association’s Space Law Committee. 

In 2018-2019 I led the International Space Policy sub-group of the Canadian Space Society Space Policy Committee.

I was an Associate Expert on the Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Activities in Outer Space (MILAMOS) in its founding years, and led early funding applications. I was also an Associate Expert on the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Operations.