THE PROGRESS REPORT: From curiosity to career – breaking into the space industry

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

What does it really take to find your place in one of Australia’s most niche industries – and how do you turn curiosity into a meaningful career?

What does it really take to find your place in one of Australia’s most niche industries – and how do you turn curiosity into a meaningful career?

In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect’s Tash Taylor sits down with Mary Pillay, a space and robotics engineer and ambassador of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance. Mary shares how her journey began with a chance industry night at university, her experience cold emailing companies to land her first internship, and the mentorship that helped her grow into a confident professional.

From being thrown into the deep end during her first week to guiding students and young professionals into the space sector, Mary opens up about the importance of putting yourself out there, seizing opportunities, and surrounding yourself with supporters who believe in you.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia’s sovereign capability reckoning – why the system is no longer fit for purpose
Episode 10: PODCAST: Defence export ambitions, drone technology and defence manufacturing hubs
Episode 9: PODCAST: Offshore manufacturing, defence procurement and industrial resilience, with Philippe Odouard and David McLaughlin
Episode 8: SPOTLIGHT: Cyber warfare, autonomy and the future of defence, with Palo Alto Networks’ Tom Scully and MAJGEN (Ret’d) John Davis
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: Fortune favours the bold – building a national security strategy for the 21st century, with Marc Ablong
Episode 6: PODCAST: Developing Australia’s ability to take a hit and keep fighting, with the honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability
Episode 5: PODCAST: AUKUS expansion, artillery manufacturing and Australia’s regional defence role
Episode 4: SPOTLIGHT: Building mass, capability and trust with autonomous and uncrewed systems, with Michael Mitchell, Elysium EPL director
Episode 3: PODCAST: Defence policy, domestic manufacturing and military culture, with Senator Malcolm Roberts
Episode 2: SPOTLIGHT: LAND 156, counter-drone warfare and electronic warfare capability, with Department 13’s Ben Westgarth