2021 Programme

Prof. Dr. Michael Smart (BE, MEngSc (UQ); PhD Aeronautics and Astronautics (NYU)) is a world leader in scramjet and hypersonic technology with over 10 years experience as a research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center (Scramjet Branch), as well as serving as a professor and Chair of Hypersonic Propulsion at UQ since 2007.

Martin Sippel is the head of DLR's Space Launcher System Analysis (SART) division with a background of 25 years in Reusable Launch Vehicle studies. Sippel is the coordinator of two EC-funded research projects (CHATT and FALCon) and chief designer of SpaceLiner.

Tim is a passionate Aerospace Engineer with experience in aerodynamic and aircraft design across a range of Mach numbers (low-Reynolds number regimes up to hypersonic). He is currently studying accelerated optimisation and design methods for low-boom supersonic wing design using surrogate-assisted techniques for his PhD at the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, under a Japanese government scholarship. Previously, he worked as an Aeromechanics Engineer at Airbus Group Innovations, developing methods for rapid buffet prediction and coupled aero-structural design and simulation of high aspect-ratio and folding transonic wings. Prior to that, he completed his MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University in 2014.

Pramudita Satria Palar (PhD; University of Tokyo) is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung. Prior to his current position, he was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University. He completed his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Tokyo in 2015 and was a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge in 2015 and at Leiden University in 2017. Pramudita's research interests are primarily in the areas of computationally expensive optimization, surrogate model / statistical learning, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and their applications on aerospace design optimization. He has published his research in top journals such as AIAA Journal, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, and Aerospace Science and Technology.

Dr David Bacci is part of Oxford Thermofluids Laboratory (University of Oxford), where he holds a position of Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Heat Transfer and Aerodynamics. He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at Cranfield University, working as researcher in Military Aircraft Design and Defence Analysis. He completed his PhD (2017) at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom focusing on the characterisation of Transonic Aeroacoustics of Weapon Bays. From 2009 to 2014 he maturated industrial experience working on UCAV design and military flight simulators development for Leonardo Company. His aerospace career begun in Italy where he completed a BSc in Aerospace Engineering (2007) and MSc in Aeronautical Engineering (2009) at the University of Pisa, including in the process, the attainment of Private Pilot Flight License. Bacci's research interests include: aerodynamics & aeroacoustics, thermo-fluid-dynamics, computational fluid dynamics and aircraft & missile design.

Prof. Dr. Michael Smart (BE, MEngSc (UQ); PhD Aeronautics and Astronautics (NYU)) is a world leader in scramjet and hypersonic technology with over 10 years experience as a research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center (Scramjet Branch), as well as serving as a professor and Chair of Hypersonic Propulsion at UQ since 2007.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Luize graduated in 1982 from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (now Bucharest University) – Faculty of Aerospace, with the Engineer Diploma. She worked for INCREST – the National Research Institute in Bucharest until 1994 as an aerospace engineer. In 1992 she completed a post graduate certificate in Management and Administration of an Aeronautical Enterprise from ESC – Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Toulouse, France, following a scholarship granted by GIFAS. In 1994 she immigrated to Canada, working first for Pratt and Whitney Canada and then for the Canadian government as an aviation regulatory authority. She also worked for EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) in Cologne, Germany, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation in Nagoya, Japan. Presently she is working for Transport Canada as an Aircraft Certification Engineer. She has been a regulatory authority in civil aviation for more than 20 years.

Fay is the Associate Director for Flight Strategy, Integrated Aviation Systems Program for NASA Aeronautics.  In this capacity he leads planning and formulation of large flight demonstrations.  He is currently focused on pre-formulation of a sustainable flight demonstrator.  From 2016 to October 2020, he led formulation of a Megawatt-class electrified powertrain system flight demonstration with the industrial base, other government, and academia.

Previously, from 2009-2016, Fay was the Project Manager of the Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project within NASA’s Integrated System Research Program.   In this role, he directed the formulation and execution of NASA’s integrated system research project focused on the subsonic transport sector, working in partnership with Industry, FAA, AFRL and other government agencies.  The technology development  project was focused on research, development and integration of engine and airframe technologies that enable dramatic improvements in noise, emissions, and performance characteristics of future subsonic aircraft operating in the air transportation system.  The six-year, $420M project closed out in March 2016, meeting all technical objectives. During the 6-year life cycle, ERA over 1000 individuals from government and industry collaborated on the project.  The ERA Team was awarded the Aviation Week Laureate Award for Technology in 2016, the Royal Aeronautical Society Team Specialists Gold Award in 2017.

Fay is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Aerospace Engineering, B.S., 1981, M.S., 1982, Ph.D., 1988) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.B.A., 1997).   He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a Fellow of the AIAA.

Norris Tie is the co-founder and CEO of Exosonic, Inc. Since childhood, he has been passionate about making the world smaller through faster transportation. In pursuit of this mission, Norris studied aerospace engineering at UCLA. He spent three years working in the aerospace industry as a propulsion engineer, all on vehicles that break the sound barrier, such as SpaceShipTwo and NASA's X-59 low boom demonstrator. After his time in industry, he determined low boom supersonic travel was the future and attended Stanford's Graduate School of Business to found Exosonic with his co-founder and CTO Tim MacDonald. Now they're on the mission to provide supersonic travel everywhere by muting the sonic boom.

Daniel Odion Iyinomen received his B.Eng. (Hons) 2007 in Materials and Production Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Nigeria. Iyinomen later progressed to receive an MSc 2012 in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Greenwich (UOG), Chatham-Medway Campus, Kent, England, United Kingdom. He has recently earned a PhD 2019 in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering along with a Doctoral Research Excellence Award for achieving the highest possible result for a Higher Degree by Research thesis examination 2019 at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Australia. He is currently working with Wagners Composite Fibre Technology (CFT) company in Australia with the potential of developing future aerospace composite materials.

An Aerospace Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the aerospace industry. After finishing studies in aeronautical engineering and aerospace manufacturing, Vasileios worked as a structural design consultant at Rolls-Royce for a bit more than three years. He is now a PhD candidate at the University of Surrey looking into high-temperature materials for supersonic and hypersonic applications on behalf of Chelton Limited. He is also working as an analysis technical consultant on a part-time basis for Element Materials Technologies.

Mike is the Head of Manufacturing for Space at the Satellite Applications Catapult. With a background in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, he is an expert and thought leader on disruptive technologies across multiple sectors.  Currently, his focus is the development of the UK’s space manufacturing eco-system, covering spaceports, launch vehicles and orbital manufacturing. Mike works extensively with nascent and established rocket companies, as well those organisations exploring manufacturing in LEO, and beyond. He is an advisor to several launch vehicle companies, an NED for Space Store, and CTO for two disruptive technology companies. Previously, Mike worked for Reaction Engines, Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, and several technology start-ups, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a senior officer in the British Army Reserves.

Richard has an extensive background in aviation that spans over 30 years. A qualified Aircraft Engineer and Private Pilot, Richard joins JPA from British Airways, where he held various technical and management roles and was most recently responsible for the design and development of aircraft cabin interiors as part of the customer experience team.

Richard studied at London’s City University, graduating with a B.Eng. (Hons) in Air Transport Engineering before gaining an MBA from Lancaster University. Richard’s mixed Spanish and Indian background coupled with his extensive airline travel give this London native an international perspective and appreciation of global cultural needs. At JPA, Richard focusses on developing the aviation portfolio, where he uses his airline experience and market knowledge to help serve the unique needs of aviation clients.

American industrial designer Elliott Koehler brings complete travel experiences to life with a holistic approach to the overall transport environment coupled with a passionate attention to product finishes and details.

A graduate from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Elliott Koehler leads JPA’s London studio as Creative Director. The studio is uniquely positioned to deploy its extensive hospitality experience to place more emphasis on elevating the customer journey and creating future travel experiences driven by human centred research. Since its founding over 30-years ago, JPA has developed innovative products for Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, JAL, American Airlines, Air China and flydubai, many of which have shaped the industry and won awards from Red Dot to Crystal Cabin. Completed hospitality projects such as the Venice Simplon Orient Express, Taj Hotels, Hilton Hotels have fed into JPA’s aviation work and differentiates the company’s approach to transport design.

With over 10 years of industry experience from the in-house design team of Fortune 500 leader GE to the diverse product design studio LAYER, Elliott has developed hundreds of products from strategy to production ranging from tech products, furniture, and aviation cabins for global brands including Airbus, Google, Vitra, NIO, Bang & Olufsen and Adidas. Elliott's focus is creating a studio that will define the way we work, live and communicate in the future, exploring the possibilities of transportation, materials and the next generation of human interactions.

Joana is currently pursuing an engineering doctorate degree, as part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing. This is a unique collaboration between the Universities of Cranfield, Warwick, and Exeter, working to address industry-driven research challenges. As a research engineer, Joana works directly with Airbus on a project related to the improvement of fatigue strength and life in friction stir welded aircraft fuselage using laser peening.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Luize graduated in 1982 from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (now Bucharest University) – Faculty of Aerospace, with the Engineer Diploma. She worked for INCREST – the National Research Institute in Bucharest until 1994 as an aerospace engineer. In 1992 she completed a post graduate certificate in Management and Administration of an Aeronautical Enterprise from ESC – Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Toulouse, France, following a scholarship granted by GIFAS. In 1994 she immigrated to Canada, working first for Pratt and Whitney Canada and then for the Canadian government as an aviation regulatory authority. She also worked for EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) in Cologne, Germany, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation in Nagoya, Japan. Presently she is working for Transport Canada as an Aircraft Certification Engineer. She has been a regulatory authority in civil aviation for more than 20 years.

An Aerospace Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the aerospace industry. After finishing studies in aeronautical engineering and aerospace manufacturing, Vasileios worked as a structural design consultant at Rolls-Royce for a bit more than three years. He is now a PhD candidate at the University of Surrey looking into high-temperature materials for supersonic and hypersonic applications on behalf of Chelton Limited. He is also working as an analysis technical consultant on a part-time basis for Element Materials Technologies.

Dr David Bacci is part of Oxford Thermofluids Laboratory (University of Oxford), where he holds a position of Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Heat Transfer and Aerodynamics. He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at Cranfield University, working as researcher in Military Aircraft Design and Defence Analysis. He completed his PhD (2017) at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom focusing on the characterisation of Transonic Aeroacoustics of Weapon Bays. From 2009 to 2014 he maturated industrial experience working on UCAV design and military flight simulators development for Leonardo Company. His aerospace career begun in Italy where he completed a BSc in Aerospace Engineering (2007) and MSc in Aeronautical Engineering (2009) at the University of Pisa, including in the process, the attainment of Private Pilot Flight License. Bacci's research interests include: aerodynamics & aeroacoustics, thermo-fluid-dynamics, computational fluid dynamics and aircraft & missile design.