Space Discovery Centre management

[Music plays and an image appears of the Earth against a night sky, and inset hexagonal images appear showing a female working on a computer, a satellite dish, and a female working in a Space lab, and text appears: Space Careers Wayfinder]

[Image changes to show a view of the Australian Space Discovery Centre]

[Image changes to show Brenan Dew sitting in the Australian Space Discovery Centre and talking to the camera, and text appears: Brenan Dew, Manager, Australian Space Discovery Centre]

Brenan Dew: My name is Brenan Dew. I work at the Australian Space Agency, where I’m the Manager of the Australian Space Discovery Centre.

[Image changes to show displays in the Australian Space Discovery Centre, an Australian map with pinpoints, Alice and Brenan taking two older males through the gallery, and displays in the gallery]

The role of the Australian Space Discovery Centre, one is the display of what Australia is doing in the space industry. There’s a lot of work we’re doing that Australia is leading the world in and we like to showcase that here.

[Images move through to show Brenan talking to the camera, a close view of a robotic vehicle, a close view of a model satellite, and a close and then medium view of Brenan talking to the camera]

The other one which I think is a little bit more important is showing young students, particularly secondary students, that a STEM education and a STEM background can lead to a very fruitful career in the space industry and all of that can happen here in Australia.

[Image changes to show a revolving sign in the Centre, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

My career path has been very varied up until today and my interest is very much a balance. Sometimes it leads towards sciences, other times, it’s history or other avenues.

[Images move through to show a rocket being launched, a close view of SpaceX rockets, a close view of the Moon’s surface, and then Brenan talking to the camera]

The ever-expanding space industry and the excitement of SpaceX and launches getting back towards the Moon is what has driven me into my path today.

[Image changes to show a close view of Brenan talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a side view of Brenan working on a computer]

I’m currently 32 years old. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but I think I’m in a really great workplace and want to keep doing what I’m doing.

[Image changes to show the Tumbi Umbi Campus, and then the image changes to show the Macquarie University grounds, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

School for me was on the Central Coast in New South Wales, Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College. I then went to Macquarie University and since then have sort of followed where the work is which has brought me to Adelaide which is where I am today.

[Images move through to show columns from an ancient building’s ruins, a group of students looking at a world map, and Brenan talking to the camera]

I do have some memorable teachers and I think Mr Jewel, my history teacher, will be proud to know he sent me down the history path.

[Images move through to show a model Space vehicle, people looking at computers and at a large screen displaying a SpaceX rocket]

On the Space side of things, I’ve always just liked the connection and finality of the hard sciences. There was always an answer to things.

[Images move through to show Brenan talking to the camera, three satellite dishes turning, and Brenan talking to the camera again]

I’ve always had a fascination with space, in terms of astronomy more so than any other aspect of the space industry and I think that’s been driven by the curiosity of what we don’t know.

[Image changes to show Brenan and two older males looking at a display in the gallery and the camera zooms in on the display]

Trying to explore that and share that with the public has inspired me. I did do some space-related work before joining the agencies.

[Image changes to show to Brenan talking to the camera]

I have been a Space communicator, or a casual astronomy educator.

[Images move through to show a close view of a satellite dish, a view of the Australian Anglo Observatory, and Brenan talking to the camera]

I also did some work experience at the Australian Anglo Observatory, so I bring quite a bit of astronomy specifically background to my role.

[Image changes to show a close view of Brenan talking, people and camels moving over the desert towards some pyramids, Egyptian carvings on a large stone gateway, and Brenan talking again]

If I didn’t have my current role, I’ve always been driven by passion and also curiosity, so I actually studied Egyptology for about a decade. I’ve been to Egypt seven or eight times, participated in many excavations and I believe that also helped me being a manager.

[Image changes to show a rear view of an adult and child walking towards the Space Discovery Centre, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

In a management role, I often find things don’t go to plan, or don’t go as expected and my mitigation for that is to plan ahead.

[Image changes to show Brenan walking down a corridor in the building, and through a sliding glass door, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

If I do find myself in those situations, I think the keys are to stay calm and relaxed, but also to rely on those around you, whether it’s my manager, my team or those others. Lean upon your colleagues to find the right solution and to work through any troubles that you have.

[Images move through to show a presenter talking to a group, the audience listening, Brenan talking to the camera, and a close view of Brenan and three others seated at a table talking]

So, in difficult times, we often have to manage different groups who have come together, so VIPs with school groups, with other things, with tech issues and it’s about relying on those around you.

[Image changes to show a medium view of the group at the table, and then the image changes to show a close view of a display, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

So, delegating to others to take one group, while you fix an issue, thinking on your feet and I think ensuring that everything constantly continues moving forward.

[Image changes to show the entrance to the Australian Space Discovery Centre]

There are a lot of long hours in being a manager.

[Images move through to show a medium and then close view of Brenan talking to the camera, and then a split screen showing Percy the dog on the left, and Percy and Brennan on the right]

To switch off work, it’s very important I think, to get away from any digital device, to be able to read a book, to be able to explore some of my other passions, so back into history and reading, and also time with my dog Percy. He’s a whippet. He loves zoomies and we have a lot of fun together.

[Image changes to show Brenan and Alice looking at a display in the Centre, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

My favourite display in the Space Discovery Centre is our Space Debris Tracker.

[Image changes to show Brenan and Alice looking at the Space Debris Tracker and the camera zooms in on the screen, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

So, it’s this screen that displays 26,00 objects larger than 10cm by 10cm, and it’s really just mind blowing to know what currently is in Space and how important it is to know what’s out there.

[Image changes to show Brenan and a male looking at a display in the Centre, and then the image changes to show a close view of the display showing a machine in operation]

I think what excites me most about the Australian Space industry is just the opportunity, what’s coming in the future, and the jobs that don’t exist now that will in the future.

[Image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

We provide insight to these Space industry companies who are building the rockets, who are building the Space technologies, providing a pathway and providing the communication of exactly what it looks like to be in a Space career and how do you get there?

[Image changes to show a screen displaying the Andy Thomas Space Foundation vision statement, and then the image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera]

Through education through STEM, you can find your way to be the astronaut, to be the Space doctor, the Space lawyer.

[Image changes to show a close view of an EDSCOM satellite model, and then the image changes to show a display of photos of various people who have worked in the Space sector]

There’s a lot of opportunities that will come into the Space sector, and some not necessarily down the university pathway.

[Image changes to show Brenan talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a spacesuit]

We will need metal fabricators, we will need software designers, welders.

[Images move through showing various displays in the Centre, and then the image changes to show students talking to staff seated at the information area in the Centre]

We will need Space communications people, marketers. Every aspect you can think of with our current workforce will need a Space equivalent.

[Images move through to show Brenan talking to the camera, students talking to staff in the information area of the Centre, and then Brenan talking to the camera again]

For a student in Year 10 thinking about a career in Space, my advice would be to talk to a lot of people, start to build your network, talk to us, talk to industry, talk to your careers advisors, build that network and find opportunities to volunteer, to join events, to join conferences, to really start to explore the Space industry.

[Music plays and the image changes to show the CSIRO logo and text: CSIRO, Australia’s National Space Agency, Space Careers Wayfinder 2022 except where otherwise indicated, The Space Careers Wayfinder materials may be used, reproduced, communicated and adapted free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes provided all acknowledgements associated with the material are retained, Space Careers Wayfinder is a collaboration between the CSIRO and ANU]

 

[Image changes to show Australian National University logo]