Passionate About Space

Our Mission

Equatorial Launch Australia’s (ELA) mission is to be the pre-eminent multi-user commercial Space Launch company, providing world-class launch services supporting testing, launch and recovery of space vehicles and payloads flown to and from all space orbits.

Our Purpose

ELA is dedicated to providing the most reliable launch facilitation services available on the market. Prioritizing customer satisfaction by offering clients world-class launch services to support testing, launching and recovering of payloads, specific to the space orbit they require. Through working together with top-line spacecraft engineers and aerospace experts, ELA is committed to setting itself apart from other providers by delivering exceptional quality and value for their clients.

ELA Team

The team at Equatorial Launch Australia is trusted leaders in the development of the space industry in Australia and the United States. Our experience spans across aerospace, commercial enterprise, regulation, asset development, and complex project management, along with space strategy and systems engineering and has been successfully demonstrated at major companies for decades.

ELA Board

Michael Jones

Group Chief Executive Officer

Michael has over 35 years of experience in space, aviation, corporate finance and general industrial management. An experimental Test Pilot turned successful entrepreneur and business executive as evidenced by roles as the Founder and CEO of the Aerospace Group (later acquired by and renamed Raytheon Australia); Founder and CEO of Regional Express Airlines (REX), and recently as the Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer for Virgin Australia. Michael is a graduate of the Royal Military College, he has a Bachelor of Arts/Economics from UNSW, Grad Dip in App Investment from FINSIA, is a distinguished graduate of the Empire Test Pilots’ School UK and was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Non-Executive Director

CEO & Founder of AMI Expeditionary Healthcare. Dr. Walker Co-Founded Aspen Medical. In 2016 Dr. Walker was Ernst & Young’s “Australian Entrepreneur of the Year,” and has been twice inducted into the EY Entrepreneur Global Hall of Fame. Prior to going into business, Dr. Walker served as an officer with the Australian Army. He has graduate and postgraduate qualifications in Medicine and Medical Science (Hons) from Newcastle University (with scholarships to both Oxford and Harvard) and has an MBA from Melbourne Business School. Dr. Walker has founded two Charities, the latest being the Insight Health Foundation which focuses on health issues in indigenous communities.
In addition, Dr. Walker has founded 16 companies and served on numerous Company Boards, both listed and private.

Non-Executive Director

David has 35 years of experience in professional services specializing in tax. David became a partner with Arthur Andersen prior to being appointed to PwC Melbourne to lead its Tax & Legal business. In 2017 he was appointed as Managing Partner of PwC’s worldwide private and family business sector. David has an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School, together with a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. David was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and was an affiliate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Garry Lowrey

Non-Executive Director

Garry is an experienced board director, coming from a background of investment banking, both as a professional and manager, and funds management. Garry professional experience includes a number of years as an executive director with domestic and international investment banking groups including SBC Warburg (now UBS) and as Head of Investment Banking at Wilson HTM than as managing Director of Wilson HTM. Garry has managed a number of small/boutique financial services companies including Shaw and Partners and Greenwich Capital.
Garry is now primarily a non-executive director, direct corporate advisor and investor, with interests in alternate assets and emerging companies. Garry has been an investment and corporate advisor to ELA since 2019. Garry has a Bachelor of Business and Masters of Applied Finance.

Jack Walker

Non-Executive Director

Jack Walker joined the AMI board in February 2020. Over the past 10 years, he has been active in a number of industries, including property investment, securities trading, and private equity.

Alongside his duties at AMI, Jack continues to be involved in a number of commercial enterprises. He serves as Managing Director of Aethon Properties, a Melbourne-based property development group, and Sydney-based medical-legal report funding business, Pinnacle Healthcare Pty Ltd.

Jack received his education at Monash University and Melbourne Law School.

Team

Group Chief Executive Officer

Michael has over 35 years of experience in space, aviation, corporate finance and general industrial management. An experimental Test Pilot turned successful entrepreneur and business executive as evidenced by roles as the Founder and CEO of the Aerospace Group (later acquired by and renamed Raytheon Australia); Founder and CEO of Regional Express Airlines (REX), and recently as the Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer for Virgin Australia. Michael is a graduate of the Royal Military College, he has a Bachelor of Arts/Economics from UNSW, Grad Dip in App Investment from FINSIA, is a distinguished graduate of the Empire Test Pilots’ School UK and was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

General Manager Operations and Launch

Ben has 15+ years of experience as an executive and engineer spanning areas such as Aerospace Engineering, Project and Program Management, PMO and Portfolio Management, Innovation, Strategy Development and Business Transformation. Over the last 10 years, Ben has worked in commercial aviation at Virgin Australia where he established a strong brand and reputation for being a people-focused leader and for delivering complex programs. Ben has a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Queensland.
Recently Ben was a finalist in the 2022 Australian Space Awards as a “Rising Star” Executive of the year.

Travis Marshall

Head of Business Development

Dr Alexander Wright

Launch Technology Manager

Bri Lambert

Launch Portfolio Manager

Deb Houlahan

Program Coordinator

Nishanth Madhavan

Launch Operations Engineer

Taylor Simpson

Launch Operations Engineer

Stephanie Marsh

Orbit and Launch Specialist

Amanda Hudswell Head of Marketing and Communications

Amanda Hudswell

Head of Marketing Communications and Public Affairs

Andrew Mead

Recruitment Manager

Cohen Creeper

Digital & Social Media Specialist

Jess Nugent

Executive Assistant

Barry McCulloch

Logistics Manager

Carly Smith

ASC Site Maintenance Assistant

Andrew Chalmers

Emergency Manager

Successful Launches

Full Time Staff

Contract Staff