Sydney reaches for the stars: hosting the International Astronautical Congress 2025
Estimated $47 million to the NSW economy
12,000 registrations for IAC’s Space Day – Powered by LEGO®
7,400 conference delegates from 99 countries
More than 4,000 abstracts submitted
200+ sponsors and exhibitors
More than 40 international space agencies represented, including NASA
In September 2025, Sydney became the global centre of the space community when it hosted the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The meeting brought together more than 7,400 delegates from 99 countries. In a significant milestone, it marked the largest international meeting held at ICC Sydney since the pandemic.
IAC 2025 was secured by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) in partnership with Investment NSW, the Australian Space Agency and the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). It showcased New South Wales’ growing role in the global space ecosystem and demonstrated how collaboration between government, industry and academia can create lasting economic and social impact.
Securing lift-off through collaboration
Hosting IAC 2025 was the culmination of a four-year effort that began with a shared vision to position Sydney and Australia at the forefront of the global space sector. For SIAA Chairperson Jeremy Hallett, the partnership with BESydney was key.
“It was really important to partner with Business Events Sydney as the engine room of our bid,” he said. “We didn’t have the resources to do it all on our own. The Business Events Sydney team was emotionally invested in what we were trying to do, which was really meaningful for us.”
Jeremy Hallett
Chair, SIAA
The bid united a national alliance that reflected Australia’s growing confidence in the sector. Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency, said the success of the bid was built on partnership.
“It’s really been a Team Australia effort,” he said. “BESydney, the Australian Space Agency, Investment NSW and SIAA all worked together to make this happen. Hosting the Congress in Sydney allowed us to showcase not only the nation’s growing space capability but also our collaborative spirit.”
For Amber Stanley, Executive Director at Investment NSW, the decision to pursue IAC 2025 was driven by the potential for long-term impact.
“We worked very closely across government, with Investment NSW, the Australian Space Agency and BESydney, to make sure that this meeting delivered value well beyond the week itself,” she said. “For us, it was about inspiring the next generation, driving trade and investment outcomes and showcasing NSW as a global leader in space and innovation.”
The Sydney Science Festival, delivered in collaboration with IAC is a great example of how the event’s impact extended far beyond the conference floor. By aligning with IAC’s Space Week program, the festival created a public platform that brought the excitement of space science to life for students, families and emerging innovators. Through hands-on exhibits, youth showcases, and educational talks hosted by Powerhouse, it offered young people a rare opportunity to interact directly with scientists, engineers, and astronauts — transforming global scientific dialogue into accessible, inspiring experiences for the local community.
A global launchpad for ideas and innovation
Over five days, the Congress became a hub for international collaboration, bringing together more than 40 international space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
During the Congress, the Australian Government announced a mandate to initiate negotiations on a Cooperative Agreement with the European Space Agency, marking a new chapter in partnership. Australia also signed a landmark treaty-level Space Framework Agreement with the United States, while new conversations were sparked around sustainable space practice and deeper cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
These agreements strengthened Australia’s position as a trusted collaborator and signalled a growing appetite for joint missions, research exchanges and technology partnerships.
Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director of the International Astronautical Federation, believes IAC 2025 clearly demonstrated why Australia is an increasingly important host nation for major global space conferences – and how convening the Congress in Sydney strengthened international engagement across the region.
“We’d seen that the broader Indo-Pacific region had really leant into space and there were growing space economies across Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Sydney, being a global city, we really wanted to capture an ambition – which I believe we’ve done successfully – of hosting all of the Indo-Pacific space sector here in Sydney as a global city, then bringing the rest of the world here.”
“The International Astronautical Federation, being headquartered in Paris, is very European-centric but also has strong engagement from the US and less so traditionally here in the Indo-Pacific. By hosting it here and bringing the whole region in, we could help them achieve their ambitions around communicating about space globally.
“It was a great pleasure to convene the entire global space community in such a beautiful city as Sydney,” he said. “As for every IAC, we expect to leave a legacy – so that the delegates who come here go back with an understanding that in Australia the space ecosystem is booming, that there are programs around and opportunities for partnerships and investment. By doing so, we contribute to the development of the national and local space ecosystem.”
Lisa Vitaris, Director of IAC 2025 Sydney at SIAA, said the Congress helped reshape public perception of space and its relevance to everyday life. The IAC 2025 program highlighted how space technology underpins everyday life in Australia – from GPS and telecommunications that drive navigation and logistics, to satellite imagery that supports agriculture, drought management and soil health. It showcased how Earth-observation data strengthens disaster response and climate resilience, and how satellite-based timing systems secure financial transactions and global trade, underscoring space’s vital role in Australia’s economy and daily life.
“Australians are not entirely aware of just how important space is to everyday lives, in terms of GPS, but also financial transactions, crop productivity, and so many different applications beyond that,” Ms Vitaris explained. “It was our goal to shift that public perception of space.”
The Congress featured more than 200 technical sessions and received over 4,000 abstracts from researchers, agencies and private industry – a testament to the depth and diversity of global expertise it attracted.
The event also delivered a major economic return, injecting an estimated $47 million into the local economy, filling hotels, restaurants and attractions across Sydney. Beyond its economic impact, it reinforced the city’s reputation as a destination where business events drive innovation and connection.
Space Week lights the way for future innovators
A defining feature of IAC 2025 was its strong focus on public and educational engagement. Community outreach included Space Week and the record-breaking Space Day powered by LEGO®, which drew more than 12,000 visitors. These initiatives, delivered in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and the Powerhouse Museum, created new pathways for young Australians to engage with STEM and imagine careers in the space industry.
“It’s been incredible to see how the partnerships across government have extended the benefits of IAC beyond the space sector, through education, culture and community engagement,” said Amber Stanley. “Space inspires like no other industry, and this meeting really showed that.”
Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, a keynote speaker at the event, said IAC showcased how far Australia’s aspirations have come. “This is a huge milestone for Australia’s space ambitions,” she said. “We are demonstrating to the world what we’re capable of. It was only in 2017 that Australia last held an IAC, and our industry has gone from strength to strength since then.”
The Congress also attracted more than 200 sponsors and exhibitors from around the world – representing leading aerospace companies, research organisations and emerging startups – creating a vibrant showcase of innovation and opportunity.
Sydney’s space legacy takes off
IAC 2025 delivered tangible outcomes for New South Wales and Australia. It forged new relationships, inspired the next generation and reinforced Sydney’s role as a hub of innovation.
As BESydney CEO Amanda Lampe said, “Meetings like IAC 2025 give us the chance to showcase our world-class research ecosystem, provide a global platform to our brightest minds to share their ideas and breakthroughs and spark new collaborations between local industry and the global community.”
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