Exclusive Interview of John Moody, Chairman/CEO of Pacific Joint Space Facility, Australia, by Umair Aslam (Editor in Chief, Global Defense Insight)
Q 1: Can you tell us about your journey in the aerospace industry and how you became the Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Joint Space Facility?
Answer: I joined the Space Industry in 2015 and started the company Spaceport Australia, not really knowing much about the space industry it took me a few years to learn this new industry and its demands but basically the business model is the same as any other business model and then I had to fine-tune that business model to find a balance of what really could be achieved on an economic level but also on a technical level that could work with my vision. Then that became Moody Space Centre, another learning curb to finally Pacific Joint Space Facility.
Q 2: As the Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Joint Space Facility, what is your vision for the organization, and what key strategies do you have in place to achieve it?
Answer: To create a truly international Space Facility encompassing all areas of the industry and academia with a global focus on the advancement of technology and maintaining relevance and return on investment. We work with a large number of international companies that have a large degree of cultural differences by doing this we establish friendships first and then talk business after a friendship has been established this brings our company diversity and adaptability. There are so many different Geo political ideologies and cultures to understand it’s much easier to go the friendship route if you wish to have a long and mutually beneficial relationship.
Q 3: The space industry is rapidly evolving. How do you ensure that the Pacific Joint Space Facility stays at the forefront of technological advancements and international collaborations?
Answer: Always keeping an open mind allows me to see possibilities of what could be and what could not be and it’s from these points I draw my evaluations in regards to international collaborations there are many rapidly changing events in our region that shape involvement these factors also need to be taken into consideration when looking at international collaborations In regards to technology again keeping an open mind again allows for the possibility to see what could be in shaping one’s judgments in one owns belief system should see you keep ahead of the technology and collaboration sector.
Q 4: What are the main challenges you face in your role, and how do you address them to drive innovation and growth within the organization?
Answer: The main challenges in my role are keeping beyond the curb of technology versus profit and maintaining that edge, there are new things being invented every single day and an organization must keep up with those developments to be competitive understanding local cultures and beliefs while integrating those beliefs into an overall business model definitely helps.
Q 5: Australia’s space industry has been gaining momentum in recent years. How does the Pacific Joint Space Facility contribute to the country’s space exploration and research efforts?
Answer: We contributed from the beginning by putting forward our recommendations to the Australian Space Agency’s Australian Space road map our company was there at the beginning of the Australian Space Industry. We’ve seen the industry grow into a fruitful thriving collaboration and what we offer is a joint collaboration heavy lift facility in Australia. We bring joint collaborations with local, regional and truly international partners to bring Australia capability, industry and employment while also adaptability with its neighbor’s and integration into a global space industry.
Q 6: Collaboration is crucial in the space sector. Could you highlight some of the key partnerships or joint ventures the Pacific Joint Space Facility has established with other organizations or countries?
Answer: Our key partners are the Mexican aerospace company Antares Aerospace and Turkish RF manufacturer IVEO, While working to establish a working relationship with ISRO and are currently in partnership with the Office of the Principle Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. We are also reaching out to many developing countries to establish our footprint and pull an aspiring global community together as we move forward..
Umair Aslam is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Defense Insight. He has worked as a defense journalist reporting on military modernization programs, defense industry, arms procurement, and emerging technologies.
