Katherine Bennell-Pegg Receives Nation's Highest Civilian Honor for Space Ambitions

Katherine Bennell-Pegg, a South Australian aerospace engineer, was named 2026 Australian of the Year for her pioneering work as Australia’s first qualified astronaut. The award comes after she completed Basic Astronaut Training at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany and became the first person to train under the Australian flag. Bennell-Pegg has been advocating for Australia’s space sector and inspiring students to pursue STEM careers, according to National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser.