Australia’s Telecommunications Future: Optimising Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Capability to Ensure National Communications Resilience
Wednesday, 4th June 2025
Dan Lloyd, CEO, and Isobel Haddow, Head of Membership, Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA)
Australia’s Telecommunications Future:Optimising Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Capability to Ensure National Communications Resilience
TelSoc has pleasure in announcing its next online event on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, from 12.30 p.m.
“The future of Australia’s telecommunications system must be built on a strategic blend of terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructure. While the capability of terrestrial systems continues to improve, deployment is slower and more expensive — particularly in regional, remote, and First Nations communities. Meanwhile, the economics and accessibility of space-based infrastructure have transformed, with increasing capability in low Earth orbit, direct-to-device services, and sovereign launch and satellite capacity.
“Despite these changes, Australia’s policy and regulatory frameworks remain largely focused on outdated assumptions — treating space infrastructure as supplementary or foreign-owned, and funding key national programs like PSMB and CBNMS through purely terrestrial means. This ignores Australia’s growing domestic space industry and the geopolitical necessity of supply chain resilience, secure communications, and independent capability.
“Australia has a rare opportunity to integrate emerging space capabilities into national communications planning — not only to improve coverage and resilience but also to support sovereign innovation and security. With modest investment and strategic clarity, Australia can transition from passive customer to active contributor in the non-terrestrial communications future.” SIAA
Dan and Isobel’s presentation will give TelSoc members and colleagues a front-line understanding of the Australian – and global – space industry eco-system and of the massive challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Australian space industry. Much has been written and discussed about the way in which space operations and infrastructure will integrate with and impact on terrestrial investments and business models. This event will directly address those key issues and more.
As with all TelSoc lunchtime events, Dan and Isobel’s presentation will be followed by a Q&A session in which TelSoc members and industry colleagues will be able to raise questions and issues. Past experience suggests that these sessions can be incredibly interesting and informative. Given our presenters’ substantial and diverse experience, their presentation and participation in the Q&A will be well worth your time.
Registration process:
- Click on the website, TelSoc Online Event: Space Industry Association of Australia | Telsoc and follow the prompts for the Dan Lloyd and Isobel Haddow event. It will be easy to do so, if you are a financial TelSoc member. Click the “Book a Seat” button.
- If you are not a current financial member, you will be invited to join. Please consider doing so. The objectives of TelSoc and benefits of joining are set out elsewhere on the website at Membership | Telsoc.
- If you are not a financial member and do not wish to join right now, or if you are having any difficulty registering, please send your name and email contact to jim.holmes@telsoc.org and he will register you manually – provided he hears from you before 5 pm on 3 June 2025.
Date and Time
Wed, 4 Jun 2025
12:30 - 13:45 AEST
Location
Presenter(s)
Dan Lloyd is CEO at the Space Industry Association of Australia and brings extensive global and Australian executive, board and government experience across communications, technology, infrastructure, digital transformation, and AI. Dan’s executive leadership experience spans government and media, legal, strategy, wholesale and retail P&L leadership and growth, innovation and M&A. Dan has served as Vodafone Group’s Public Policy Director for Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific based in London; Head of Regulatory of Vodafone India based in Mumbai; Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Affairs Director of Vodafone Australia; Senior Adviser to the Communications Minister; and Senior Associate at leading Asia-Pacific technology law firm Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers. Dan has lived, worked or studied in 13 countries and brings extensive experience in international policy and business, including as a Director of the UK-India Business Council and GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officers Group. Dan is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and has Chaired the Vodafone and TPG Telecom Foundations and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA). Dan is currently a Non-Executive Director of Infoxchange.org, which delivers leading-edge IT, cyber-security and AI hardware, services and training to over 38,000 not-for-profits throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
Isobel Haddow is the Head of Membership at the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). She leads the membership team at SIAA, engaging meaningfully with all SIAA's corporate and foundation members and leveraging her thorough understanding of the Australian space ecosystem to support growth in the space industry. As part of the SIAA executive team, Isobel also plays a key role in SIAA's engagement with government and government agencies at both a departmental and ministerial level. She was also an integral member of the Australian bid team which won hosting rights for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney for 2025. Isobel has also led national SIAA conferences/events and led the delivery of the 2024 and 2025 SIAA United States Industry Study Tours and the delivery of the SIAA India Industry Study Tour to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Through facilitating a series of key business and government meetings, the Industry Study Tours supported SIAA member companies and Australian space businesses to meaningfully engage with international partners and customers of Australian space capability. Isobel is a member of the United States Studies Centre's Women in the Australia-US alliance.
