Board Observer Program: from pilot to adoption

A practical pathway to inclusive governance

Board experience is often described as essential to leadership. People assume it’s locked behind a Catch-22: you need experience to get on a board, but can’t get experience without already serving. In practice, many aspiring leaders begin their careers on not-for-profit boards. What has been missing is a way to gain that same exposure within the space sector itself—to see governance, risk, and strategy shaped in a domain with unique complexity and stakes.

The Australian Space Diversity Alliance launched its Board Observer Program Pilot to break that gap. The aim was simple: to provide promising leaders with structured exposure to governance in action, offering a view of strategy, risk, and decision-making that is typically hidden behind closed doors.

What happened in the pilot 

Applications came from across six states and territories, with nearly fifty people putting themselves forward. The strength of the applicant pool was striking. Many were already senior professionals who could credibly join a board tomorrow. Still, they saw value in testing the fit, building confidence, or using a six-month observership as a bridge into directorship. Others were earlier in their careers - students or young engineers - who recognised it was an ambitious step but wanted to start the learning curve early.

Two observers were placed with Aviation Aerospace Australia and EveryMan Australia. From there, outcomes accelerated: two participants were appointed as full directors with EveryMan, and one moved into a national committee role with ASDA itself. For a pilot designed as a safe trial of governance, the progression into genuine board roles was faster and more direct than expected.

Insights from the process 

Three points stood out.

• The program revealed that many capable leaders are hesitant to approach boards directly. Creating a structured entry point gave them permission to step in, test themselves, and often progress further than anticipated.

• Both senior executives and early-career participants applied. For the first group, observership provided confidence and cultural fit before committing to a board term. For the second, it planted seeds that will shorten the lag between technical expertise and governance contribution.

• One of the five traits we screened for was a genuine commitment to grow the space sector. That mattered more than CV polish. Profiles like Anne Bettens (Deneb Space CEO, academic, and engineer) and Anupam Kumar (ANU Institute for Space, Emerging Space Leader) showed what it looks like when technical depth and civic intent combine.

What this means for the sector

The program is designed to accelerate the development of exceptional future leaders, thereby strengthening the boards and executive teams they join.

The pilot demonstrated that the model is effective. Demand was strong, talent was evident, and placements quickly progressed into board and committee roles. The next step is scale: more host organisations, more observers, and a more straightforward path from short-term exposure to long-term contribution.

ASDA has begun expanding its working group for the 2026 Board Observer Program and is inviting host organisations to strengthen their boards, as well as sponsors who want to invest in the sector’s rising leaders.

Find out how to get involved as a host organisation.