Professor Christopher Lawrence

Professor Chris Lawrence is a proud Wadjak/Ballardong man from the Noongar Nation and Founder and Lead of the first National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) with the Australian Space Agency and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Former Dean and Professor of Indigenous Engagement at Curtin University, Professor Lawrence has a strong track record of creating greater opportunities to support Aboriginal students, staff, partners and community members. With exemplary experience, networks and academic performance across research, education and engagement – particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – Professor Lawrence drives contributions from the Faculties of IT and Engineering to the broader University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework: 2019 – 2030 and Impact 2030.

Underpinning his work at Monash is a focus on collaborating with Aboriginal communities in Victoria – using technology and innovation to improve their health, wellbeing and education while fostering more ‘tech-smart’ communities through co-design. Working with researchers across the faculty, he also engages Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in schools and high schools to nurture the next digital and space explorer workforce of the future.

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