Australia's First Astronaut Named 2026 Australian of the Year

A woman who spent her childhood lying in the grass and gazing at the stars just became Australia's biggest role model for 2026.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg, an Adelaide-based space engineer and astronaut, was named Australian of the Year at a ceremony in Canberra. She made history in 2024 when she became the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag after completing the grueling European Space Agency training program.

The 12-month program pushed her to learn Russian, practice spacewalks for hours in scuba gear, and endure time in oxygen low-pressure chambers. Now back at her job as director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, she could potentially become the first person sent into space as part of an Australian mission.

But it's what she's doing on the ground that earned her the nation's top honor. She spends her time speaking to schoolchildren and industry leaders about space, trying to spark the same wonder she felt as a kid looking up at the night sky.

In her acceptance speech, she connected Australia's space ambitions to something deeper. "Australia's First Nations peoples' deep connection to sky country reminds us that looking up has always been part of who we are," she said.

She also shared a powerful lesson from astronaut training called the overview effect, the cognitive shift that happens when you look back at Earth from orbit. "You can't see borders from up there, just a fragile shared home and a powerful truth: we're all in this together," she explained.

The Ripple Effect

Bennell-Pegg isn't just inspiring kids to dream about space. She's tackling a real problem: young Australians are stepping away from science, technology, engineering, and math before they discover what they're capable of.

Her message is simple and uniquely Australian. She wants young people to bring the same "give it a go" attitude they have for sports to science and math. No matter their gender, background, or postcode, every curious mind matters.

"For Australia to be able to influence and to contribute to addressing the global issues of the next years, the next century, we need every curious mind engaged," she told the audience.

She believes that unlocking young people's aspirations matters far more than any technical breakthrough. After spending the past year traveling across Australia and meeting people young and old, she says she carries their hopes on her shoulders, right alongside that Australian flag.

Space isn't about escaping Earth, Bennell-Pegg reminds us, but about helping us see our shared home more clearly.