Rocketing to Space in New Zealand with Sarah Blyde
In this episode we talk to Sarah Blyde, the National Point of Contact for New Zealand with the Space Generation Advisory Council.
Sarah is a real-life rocket woman based in Auckland, New Zealand. After starting out making cardboard rockets, Sarah now spends her days helping to build the real thing at Rocket Lab. She also volunteers for Rocket Women, an international organization working to inspire the next generation of young women to pursue careers in STEM. In addition, Sarah is one of two National Points of Contact in New Zealand for the Space Generation Advisory Council, a global non-profit organization and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Auckland in Engineering and Commerce and the International Space University in Space Studies.
After her undergraduate degree, Sarah worked as an engineer in the energy industry before deciding to transition her career to the space industry by completing a master’s degree in France. After several years abroad, Sarah is pleased to be back home in New Zealand and is excited to be part of the growing space sector. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her at the beach kitesurfing, out training for her next marathon, or hiking up a mountain somewhere.
The Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is a global non-governmental, non-profit (US 501(c)3) organisation and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals ages 18–35 to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the SGAC network of members, volunteers and alumni has grown to more than 15 000 members representing more than 150 countries.
SGAC was conceived at UNISPACE III in 1999, whereby states resolved, as part of the Vienna Declaration, “To create a council to support the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, through raising awareness and exchange of fresh ideas by youth. The vision is to employ the creativity and vigour of youth in advancing humanity through the peaceful uses space”. SGAC holds Permanent Observer status at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) and regularly takes part in the annual meeting, as well as its Legal and Scientific and Technical Subcommittees. SGAC holds consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), contributing to discussions on the role of space in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
If you’d like to contact Sarah, please refer to the links below:
Sarah’s Recommended Reading:
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