Come to an illuminating conference on space law – chaired by Dr Joel Lisk, Lecturer in Space Law at Flinders University. Delve into the significance of space for Australia with Prof. Steven Freeland, who will explore the international framework governing space activities and future governance challenges. Donna Lawler from Azimuth Advisory will discuss the nuances of commercial space transactions and the unique considerations that drive them. Finally, Dr Stefan Paterson will illuminate the intersection of space law and intellectual property, providing strategies for protecting space technology. This event is a must for anyone interested in the dynamic field of space law and its real-world implications. Secure your place today.

Presenters

Dr Joel Lisk, Lecturer in Space Law, Flinders University
Dr Joel Lisk is a Lecturer in Space Law in the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University. Joel principally researches the laws applicable to private and commercial activities in new operating domains with a particular focus on the use of outer space. Joel’s main research focuses on how domestic laws are designed and their consequential impacts on commercial activities. Beyond outer space, Joel also looks to how laws can be used to regulate emerging technologies to avoid risks to end consumers. In addition to his academic work, Joel specialises in providing regulatory compliance advice across a range of areas including competition and consumer law, data and privacy, charities and not-for-profits, and space business.


Donna Lawler, Principal, Azimuth Advisory
Donna Lawler (BA, LLB) is a Co-Founder and Principal at Azimuth Advisory, a member of the International Institute of Space Lawyers and a fellow of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law. She is an experienced commercial space lawyer specialising in complex transactions in the space and telecommunications industries. During her twenty-five years in the satellite industry she has led negotiations for eleven geostationary satellite build and launch programs in Australia and Asia and assisted on a range of commercial space and research missions, including lunar activities, operation of launch services and spaceports, satellite manufacture, geo-spatial services and satellite constellations.


Dr Stefan Paterson, Principal, Integrated IP (IIP)
Stefan specialises in the intersection of space law and intellectual property (IP) law, exploring how evolving space law frameworks impact the protection of IP for in space-related technologies. He advises clients on navigating the unique legal challenges involved in safeguarding IP assets critical to space exploration and commercialization. A recognised thought leader in this area, Stefan has authored numerous articles and journal publications addressing the complexities of IP protection within the context of outer space activities, focusing on how companies and inventors need to make a more holistic approach to IP protection compared with ‘traditional’ fields.


Benjamin Bek, Associate Director (Program Delivery and Operations), ANU Institute for Space
Benjamin Bek is an Associate Institute Director of the ANU Institute for Space where he is responsible for program delivery and operations. He also serves as Bid Chief Operating Officer for the Future of Space Cooperative Research Centre Bid; and had served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Agrifood Innovation Institute (formerly known as the Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology). As part of his present Associate Institute Director role, Benjamin is responsible for ANU program delivery relating to the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre as well as the Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics Trailblazer (“iLAuNCH Trailblazer”). Benjamin is also commencing a Board Director role with a Centre for space governance.


Em. Prof. Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor, Western Sydney University and Bond University
Steven Freeland (PhD, LLM, LLB, BCom) is Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, where he was previously the Dean of the School of Law, and Professorial Fellow at Bond University. He also holds Visiting or Adjunct positions at various other Universities/Institutes in Copenhagen, Vienna, Toulouse, Hong Kong, Montreal, Kuala Lumpur, Vancouver, Mumbai and London. Prior to becoming an academic, he had a 20-year career as an international commercial lawyer and an investment banker. He was a Member of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board (2020-2024) and has been an advisor to the Australian, New Zealand, Norwegian and several other Governments on issues relating to national space legislative frameworks and policy. He represents the Australian Government at Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) meetings and, in June 2021, was appointed by UNCOPUOS as Vice-Chair of a 5-year ‘Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities’. He has also been a Visiting Professional within the Appeals Chamber at the International Criminal Court, and a Special Advisor to the Danish Foreign Ministry in matters related to the International Criminal Court. He is a co-Principal of specialised space law firm Azimuth Advisory, a Member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Future Council on the Future of Space, a Member of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate Strategy Council, an Honorary Director of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), a Member of the Advisory Board of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), and a Member of the Space Law Committee of the International Law Association. In 2022, he was presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the International Institute of Space Law, the highest accolade awarded by that institution. In addition to co-Editing the Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals book series, he also sits on the Editorial Board / Advisory Board of several internationally recognised academic journals.