Indigenous businessman and managing director of Gunggandji Aerospace, Daniel Joinbee, has been recognised as the Indigenous Space Leader of the Year at the Space Connect Australian Space Awards.
A defense force veteran and a proud descendant of the Gunggandji People of Yarrabah, Mr Joinbee has emerged as a trailblazer, providing non-traditional career pathways and support for First Nations people and other disadvantaged communities into emerging sovereign industries.
His recognition highlights his outstanding achievements and dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the sector.
Mr Joinbee said he began Gunggandji Aerospace to create an opportunity for mob within this sector.
"I was always looking around going what are some of these ways that we can get mob engaged and involved in the professional services side or in roles that are forward leading in the industry," he said.
"Our cultural connection to space is so strong. Mob have been sleeping under the stars, navigating the stars, hunting by the stars for years.
"We've got a place here I want to show some leadership in this industry."
This award for Mr Joinbee comes at a time when Australia's space industry is poised for rapid expansion, capitalising on the nation's geographical and geopolitical advantages within the international space arena.
Within his role at Gunggandji Aerospace, Mr Joinbee finds that a lot of Australians don't consider the space industry as a feasible career.
"All Australians don't think that they can work in the space industry," he said.
"But if we take it back to mob as well, I don't think it's part of that discourse or the conversations at the dinner table.
"And not everything is going into space, there's so many jobs you can be involved in doing."
Gunggandji Aerospace is only 12 months old, but Mr Joinbee is confident we will see the first Indigenous astronaut within the next ten years.
"We have a place where we have a role to lead there and I want to inspire other Indigenous entrepreneurs to take the space industry," he said.
Mr Joinbee said he hopes to use Gunggandji Aerospace as a way to help fill the critical skills gap and bolster future jobs within the space industry in Australia.
