The South Australian Space Industry Centre’s executive team brings together a wealth of diverse experience and talents responsible for growing South Australia’s space industry by providing strategy and policy advice to government.
Matt Opie
Matt Opie commenced as Chief Executive of Defence SA in April 2024. Matt’s priority is to support and grow the defence and space sectors in South Australia to contribute to the state’s prosperity and national defence capability. His role also encompasses Chief Executive of the South Australian Space Industry Centre and responsibility for the Defence Innovation Partnership and Veterans SA.
An Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College Duntroon graduate, Matt has held senior defence positions across government, industry and academia over the course of his 35-year career.
He served as an officer in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in Australia, Europe and the Middle East.
Matt has worked on high technology defence projects in the Asia-Pacific, US and Europe with defence forces, governments, research organisations and the private sector.
Matt’s most recent role was at the University of South Australia as Director Defence and Space where he was responsible for the university’s research strategies and engagement with the defence and space sectors. Other previous roles included at Saab and BAE Systems in program management, business development and industry engagement.
Matt has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration.
Dr Catherine Grace
Joining SASIC in 2021, Catherine was appointed to the role of Director, Space in February 2023. Catherine is heavily involved in supporting the development of South Australia as the nation’s centre-of-gravity for space activity, leading industry and economic development activities for the state and guiding the development of South Australia’s space sector strategy.
Catherine has a strong focus on emerging opportunities in disruptive technology, and is committed to educational outreach and equity across the Space and Defence sectors.
Catherine is a (registered) physician who has held international roles in clinical research, partnership engagement and strategy development. A graduate of the International Space University (SHSSP22), Catherine has also studied Archaeology & Human Biology, holds an MBBS (Medical University of Warsaw) and Post Graduate qualifications in Research and Defence.
An enthusiastic speaker and multilingual orator, Catherine has also been recognised for contributions to medical research and gender diversity.
Christopher Amor
Chris joined the Department of State Development in January 2022 and is the International Business Development Manager – Defence & Space, within Invest SA. Chris has a focus on foreign direct investment and works with companies from around the world to support their establishment in South Australia.
Chris has a focus on working with international AUKUS and QUAD based partners focusing on the United Kingdom, United States, India, and Japan in efforts to grow South Australia’s economic development and defence and space capabilities.
Chris has qualifications in leadership and management, over twenty years of manufacturing industry experience and has completed additional studies in Defence Procurement, Policy and Framework, Australian Industry Capability Requirements and is undertaking further studies with the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
Having worked within the private sector for many years before joining the South Australian Government, Chris has been involved in delivering defence and local government infrastructure projects, and maritime, land and air projects along with pre-compliance test and evaluation missions for the South Australian space sector.
Chris is a Space Committee member with the American Chamber of Commerce.
Sumen Rai
Sumen Rai is Director of the Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP), a collaborative initiative of the South Australian Government, Defence Science and Technology Group and the three South Australian universities.
Sumen is responsible for leading national and international R&D engagement and collaboration between researchers, industry and government, to deliver innovative solutions to Defence as well as supporting research, development and innovation activities for Defence SA and the South Australian Space Industry Centre.
Sumen has extensive government experience in developing and delivering major initiatives across investment attraction, trade, and industry development in the mining engineering, services and technologies, cleantech, space, and defence sectors.
Sumen has been involved in driving novel initiatives such as the Convergence Series which foster conversations about major defence and national security challenges through transdisciplinary perspectives and collaboration.
Sumen has previously worked as a teacher and lecturer in Arts and Design & Technology, a science communicator, and coordinator of outreach and engagement initiatives including several open government hackathons such as the NASA Space Apps Challenge.
Sumen holds a Master of Sustainability, Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Bachelor of Education (Hons), and Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Spatial Science.
Dr Andrew Dunbar
Andrew is currently the Executive Director, Research and Innovation in the Department of State Development. Previous roles in the South Australian Government have included the Chief Operating Officer, Office of the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur and prior to this role, Director of the Office of Science, Technology and Research within the Department.
Andrew has more than 17 years’ experience working in the life sciences (biotech and pharma) industry both in Australia and Europe.
Andrew has a PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry from Flinders University, is an Observer on the Board of the SA Venture Capital Fund, an Advisory Board Member of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources (ISER) at the University of Adelaide and is a Director of SABRENet Ltd.
Previous roles included Board Director and Vice President of Childhood Cancer Association, Director Business and Corporate Development at Mayne Pharma Group and Senior Manager, Corporate Business Development and Acquisitions at Novozymes A/S, based in Denmark. He has also held senior roles at GroPep Ltd, Bionomics Ltd and CSIRO. Andrew is a Graduate Member of the AICD.
