Mr Kevin Ferguson

Kevin Ferguson is the CSIRO Space and Astronomy’s Director of NASA Operations and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC). CDSCC is one of three (3) tracking stations that comprise the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN), with the other two stations located at Goldstone, California (USA) and Robledo, near Madrid (Spain).

Prior to becoming Director CDSCC, Kevin was the CSIRO Space and Astronomy’s Head of WA Operations, based in Perth, Western Australia and had responsibility for engineering and operations activities at the CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO), located in the Murchison region of Mid West WA. The MRO is home to both of Australia’s SKA precursor radio telescopes: the CSIRO’s Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Curtin University-led Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). The MRO will also host the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA_low) Telescope, the world’s largest radio telescope.

Kevin was also responsible for delivering CSIRO’s Maintenance and Operational Support contract for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Deep Space Tracking Station located at New Norcia, located approx 140km North-East of Perth, WA. ESA New Norcia is one of three (3) tracking stations that comprise the ESA Deep Space Antenna Stations, with the other two stations located at Malargue (Argentina) and Cebreros, Spain.

Kevin was previously the CSIRO Space and Astronomy’s Diversity Champion and Chair of the Space and Astronomy Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Kevin is an ally for others and a strong advocate for ensuring the workplace is inclusive, diverse and welcoming to all.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours Degree, in Electronic Communications Engineering, from Lancaster University (UK) and a Master of Engineering Science Degree, specialising in Project Management and Systems Engineering, from the UNSW (ADFA) in Canberra. Kevin also has a number of formal qualifications in the field of project management, is a Registered Project Manager (CPPD) and Member of the Australian Institute of Project Management.

Kevin has over 30 years’ experience in engineering and project/programme management including extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams across a variety of organisations, including the Ministry of Defence (UK), the British Army, the Australian Tertiary Education sector and both the Australian and the UK Public Sector.

Kevin is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Chartered Professional Engineer.