Community
15 June, 2023
Proud Yarrabah role model
AN INNOVATOR of the Indigenous aerospace industry, Gunggandji Aerospace Consultancy founder Daniel Joinbee, has become the first winner of the Indigenous Space Leader of the Year award at the Australian Space Awards last month.
A proud Yarrabah descendant and Defence Force veteran, Mr Joinbee was awarded for his work providing career opportunities in the aerospace industry for First Nations people across Australia through nontraditional pathways.
The 2023 Space Connect’s Australian Space Awards, held in Sydney last month, celebrated up-and-coming leaders and stakeholders driving the development of Australia’s space economy.
This year, the awards added the category Indigenous Space Leader of the Year.
“It was quite humbling,” Mr Joinbee said.
“As the inaugural award winner, I feel like there’s a lot of responsibility on my shoulders to work across Australia to represent, not only the space industry, but our First Nations people and champion our engagement in the industry.
“For Gunggandji, this is a recognition of our non-traditional pathways approach to workforce solutions for the space industry and awareness that there’s an Aboriginal business out there that’s pushing the boundaries and creating generational change.”
Mr Joinbee last visited Cairns in April and said his eyes were set on FNQ and its promising emerging aerospace industry solidifying a partnership with Space Centre Australia.
