Katherine Bennell‑Pegg Named 2026 Australian of the Year

Katherine Bennell‑Pegg, 41, hails from South Australia and became the country’s first astronaut under the national space program in 2026. She graduated from Basic Astronaut Training in 2024 at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany as part of a six‑person class, becoming the first international member selected from over 22,500 applicants. On 25 January 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented the Australian of the Year awards, with Bennell‑Pegg receiving the national title while Henry Brodaty (Senior), Nedd Brockmann (Young), and Frank Mitchell (Local Hero) were also honored. Bennell‑Pegg has served as director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency since 2022 and actively promotes space science to students across the country.