To Infinity and Beyond - Conrad Pires [MBA '16]

Conrad Pires has had a life-long fascination with technology and what the future might hold. What started as a childhood dream of being an astronaut has evolved into a vision of making space accessible and affordable for everyone. Following an international career in emerging technologies and the completion of his MBA at UWA, he co-founded Western Australia’s first space company building small satellites, Picosat Systems. It takes advantage of advances in technology that has seen space become more commercialised in recent years. Conrad is excited to be a part of Australia’s growing space economy, which will bring benefits to the nation as a whole. Conrad is a strong advocate for space. He’s a space consultant, a member of the advisory council of the Space Industry Association of Australia and co-ordinator of Space Hub Perth. He’s also a public speaker, speaking about all things space at conferences, schools and through his TEDxUWA talk. He won the 2016 Perth NASA Space Apps Challenge and the 2017 Woodside Oil and Gas Encouragement Award at the WA Innovator of the Year Awards. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Curtin University, and he’s also a graduate of the International Space University and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Conrad is currently a not-for-profit board member and he is also an educator, teaching entrepreneurship, innovation, design thinking and governance.