Dr Sara Webb is a multi-award-winning astrophysicist, internationally recognised science communicator, and a leading voice on innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and society. As Associate Dean of Innovation and Engagement, her work spans across sciences, astronomy, AI, and space innovation, with a special research focus on rapidly evolving cosmic events and the growing challenge of space debris. By applying machine learning to real-world problems, Sara offers a unique perspective on how advanced technologies are reshaping discovery, decision-making, and global systems.

Sara leads Swinburne University of Technology’s microgravity research and education platform, Australia’s longest-running International Space Station experimentation program, where she has delivered multiple payloads to orbit. Through this work, she has built a model of innovation that integrates research, industry collaboration, and education, enabling students and partners to design and launch real experiments to space. Sara is known for her engaging storytelling and ability to make complex ideas accessible, relevant, and deeply human. Her talks explore innovation under uncertainty, interdisciplinary thinking, and what space can teach us about navigating rapid change on Earth.

Proudly hosted by the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, profits from the Australian Space Forum support the Foundation’s annual space education fund and student engagement programs to inspire the next generation of pioneers in Australian space.