For a professional working in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector, acknowledging their outstanding achievements and contribution to the sector.

 

Opening and Closing Dates

The prize is open for applications between the following dates:

Opens: 12 May 2025
Closes: 3.00pm 10 July 2025

Value:

This Prize is valued at $100.000.

 

Eligibility:

  • This Prize is for an individual working in the space and/or advanced aviation companies and research institutes.
  • The individual applicant must be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand permanent resident, currently domiciled in New Zealand, and be active in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector.
  • The business activities and/or research behind the achievement must have met current standards of ethical practice and have been carried out largely in New Zealand.

 

Criteria:

Judging of the prize will be decided by the Ministry based on the recommendations of selected panel members. Recommendations will consider applicants based on the extent to which a significant impact, contribution, and/or transformative achievement in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector has led to significant economic, health, social and/or environmental impact on or for New Zealand, or internationally. This can be evidenced in a variety of ways, for example:

  • Successful development and deployment in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector of new or improved products, processes, or services (including public services) based on the research.
  • Major changes to practice in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector at a national level.
  • Significantly increased investment in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector, over an extended period of time by potential or actual technology transfer partners or end users.
  • Significant changes in the way a body of knowledge relevant to the space sector, advanced aviation sector, and/or the field of aerospace research is organised and used (as a result of challenging previous conventional wisdom).
  • Development of new methods that have advanced research practice in the space sector and/or, advanced aviation sector.
  • Inspired the next generation into the space sector, and/or advanced aviation sector.

This list is non exclusive, and not all evidence forms will be appropriate for any particular application. Each applicant should set out in the application statement the nature of the significant impact, contribution, and/or transformative achievement. The statement should cross reference to an attached evidence portfolio (maximum10 pages)

Assessment may include, at the panel’s discretion, consideration of referee’s statements and/or interview of key personnel.

 

Referees:

The applicant’s entry must be endorsed by two referees who will give their expert opinion about the significant impact, contribution and/or transformative achievement in the space sector and/or advanced aviation sector, that has led to significant economic, health, social and/or environmental impact on or for New Zealand, or internationally.

 

Recommendation:

Selection of this Prize will be decided by the Ministry based on the recommendation of selected expert panel members. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.

 

Panel Members:

2025 Expert Panel members are: 

Professor Guglielmo Aglietti, University of Auckland (Co-Chair)

Anna Kominik, Director, Dawn Aerospace  (Co-Chair)

Professor Andy Koronios, SmartSat Research Centre, Australia

Robin McNeill, Space Operations New Zealand.

Professor Anna Moore, Director, ANU Institute for Space

Tim Searle, Pacific and Strategic Advisor –  Axiom Space

 

Expert panel members are appointed by the Pou Whakahaere Chief Executive of Royal Society Te Apārangi. Panellists can be appointed for more than one year.  Panellists must be experienced in the appropriate field to this particular Prize and can be drawn from outside of New Zealand if necessary.

In considering the suitability of potential panellists, the following requirements for panel composition is considered as appropriate:

  • Mix of discipline/expertise
  • Sector and institutional balance
  • Geographic representation
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender balance.

The selection panel will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the Secretariat. Note that information on matters such as ranking, or names of unsuccessful entrants, will not be disclosed.

Conflicts of Interest – Panel Members

It is recognised that occasionally members of the selection panel will know applicants or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all such knowledge and conflicts of interest. In cases where an applicant is the colleague of a panelist, the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this conflict is significant enough for the panelist to be stood down from the panel for that entry. (In the case of the Chair having a conflict of interest the decision will be made by another member of the panel who has been identified in this role at the beginning of the process).

 

Announcement:

It is expected that the announcement will be made in October or November 2025 at an event.

 

Applying for Prize:

If you have read the details above and would like to know more about the application process and how to apply then you can either click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on the home page or click on the following link.  Applying for Space Prize for Professional Excellence

 

NEED HELP?  HAVE OTHER PĀTAI QUESTIONS?

The Secretariat for The Prime Minister’s Space Prizes is Royal Society Te Apārangi.  Contact details are:

The Secretariat
The Prime Minister’s Space Prizes
Royal Society Te Apārangi
PO Box 598
Wellington

Waea telephone: (04) 470 5762

Īmēra email:  pmspaceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz.

 

 

Supported by the New Zealand Government with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.  Nā Te Hīkina Whakatutuki te mana hāpai.