Game-changing Australians join prestigious ATSE Fellowship

The first astronaut flying under the Australian flag, a pioneer of aerial robotics technology, an air quality expert who helped highlight the airborne spread of COVID-19, and a leading environmental campaigner and former federal minister are all among ATSE new Fellows elected in 2025.

The 35 leading innovators have been elected to join the prestigious group of Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), following outstanding achievement in the fields of applied Science and engineering.

ATSE’s 2025 new Fellows include:

• Katherine Bennell-Pegg FTSE – the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag and the first woman Australian astronaut.
• Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska FTSE FAA – a global authority on airborne particles who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded efforts to bring evidence of airborne transmission to public health authorities worldwide and was subsequently recognised as one of Time magazine’s most influential people for 2021.
• Professor Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh FTSE – a multidisciplinary engineer and entrepreneur known for significant contributions to transformative innovations like transparent conductive glass used in mobile phones, smart electronic windows for aircraft, and globally deployed hazardous gas sensors.
• Honorary Fellow: The Hon Peter Garrett AM FTSE – a renowned campaigner, musician and former politician – the lead singer of Midnight Oil, former president of the Australian Conservation Foundation and former federal Minister for the Environment who introduced Australia’s first e-waste recycling scheme and was instrumental in the campaign to end whaling in Antarctica.

ATSE President Dr Katherine Woodthorpe said that 2025’s new Fellows represented the breadth and depth of world-class Australian innovation.

“Our expert Fellows are world leaders – and are working on the game-changing tech and innovations that are helping to solve the most pressing and complex challenges,” said Dr Woodthorpe.

“This year we’re thrilled to welcome 35 new Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, drawn from a highly competitive field of nominees.

“The 2025 Fellows are a diverse group of people from across the country and from a range of sectors – experts in medical physics, sustainable engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and more.

“Our new Fellows are behind truly game-changing innovations – from augmented reality to green hydrogen production to the batteries of the future.

“We can’t wait to welcome this group of extraordinary Australians to the ATSE Fellowship.”

The new Fellows will join the 2025 New Fellows Showcase in Adelaide in October.

ATSE Fellows for 2025:

• Katherine Bennell-Pegg FTSE (SA) – pioneering engineer and first astronaut to represent Australia
• Professor Eva Bezak FTSE (SA) – powerhouse in medical physics
• Kerryn Coker FTSE (NSW) – sustainable engineering leader
• Dr Nick Fleming FTSE (VIC) – multidisciplinary problem-solver
• The Hon Peter Garrett AM FTSE (Honorary Fellow) – acclaimed voice for people and planet
• Dr Victoria Gordon FTSE (QLD) – pharmaceutical pathbreaker
• Professor Yuming Guo FTSE (VIC) – climate-health expert
• Professor Matthew Harrison FTSE (TAS) – change agent in sustainable agriculture
• Professor Susan Harrison FTSE (QLD) – bioprocess engineering groundbreaker
• Professor Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh FTSE (NSW) – cutting-edge engineer
• Professor Michael Kassiou FTSE (NSW) – leading-edge chemist
• Neil Kavanagh FTSE (WA) – global energy technology leader
• Dr Bruce Leslie FTSE (QLD) – solar energy changemaker
• Professor Christina Lim FTSE (VIC) – shaping optical-wireless communication technology
• Professor Robert Mahony FTSE FAA (ACT) – revolutionising aerial robotics
• Sarah McSwiney FTSE (VIC) – aerospace engineering leader
• Professor Bradley Moggridge FTSE (ACT) – Indigenous water management champion
• Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska FTSE FAA (QLD) – air pollution paradigm-shifter
• Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio FTSE (NSW) – leader elevating excellence and safety
• Professor Ian O’Hara FTSE (QLD) – Australia’s biofuture shaper
• Professor Maurice Pagnucco FTSE (NSW) – expanding ICT frontiers
• Professor Shi-Zhang Qiao FTSE FAA (SA) – catalysing next-generation energy
• Professor John Rasko AO FTSE FAHMS (NSW) – cell & gene therapy pathfinder
• Professor Federico Rosei FTSE (Foreign Fellow – Italy) – nanomaterials maestro
• Professor Yansong Shen FTSE (NSW) – forging sustainable innovation
• Professor Peng Shi FTSE (SA) – electrical engineering luminary
• Professor Cori Stewart FTSE (QLD) – supercharging AI & advanced manufacturing
• Kimberley Swords FTSE (QLD) – shaper of sustainability policy
• Professor Ying Tan FTSE (VIC) – robotics innovator
• Suzanne Thompson FTSE (QLD) – advocate for Indigenous knowledge
• Eric Vanweydeveld FTSE (ACT) – leader in remote water services innovation
• Distinguished Professor Guoxiu Wang FTSE FAA (NSW) – battery trailblazer
• Professor Hongxia Wang FTSE (QLD) – solar innovator
• Kathryn West FTSE (WA) – transformative engineering leader
• Professor Juliet Willetts FTSE (NSW) – inclusive water advocate

Media enquiries:

Director,  Strategic Engagement — Rebecca Rohan-Jones: 0448 488 474, rebecca.rohan-jones@atse.org.au