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Dr Amy Parker

Director, Centre for Earth Observation

https://people.csiro.au/P/A/amy-parker

Biography

Dr Amy Parker is the Director of the CSIRO Centre for Earth Observation. In this role she oversees Australia’s NovaSAR-1 national research facility, CSIRO’s contributions to national and international Earth observation strategy, satellite calibration and validation infrastructure, plus advanced cloud-based Earth observation analysis technologies. Since 2020 Amy has also led a portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia funded by the Australian government and The Boeing Company to build Earth observation capability, trusted partnerships and economic opportunities.

Amy is an up- and down-stream Earth observation specialist with over ten years of experience spanning satellite operations, Earth observation R&D and data management, and Earth observation strategy development. Her award-winning research uses Synthetic Aperture Radar to measure displacements of Earth's surface linked to geohazards. Before joining CSIRO in 2018, Amy completed a PhD in volcanology and geophysics from the University of Bristol, UK, and an undergraduate first class honours degree in Geophysics from the University of Liverpool, UK. Amy has also previously held an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research fellowship at Curtin University, WA.

In addition to her role at CSIRO, Amy is a member of the international Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group Disasters, has represented CEOS on the inter-governmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) programme board, is currently Vice President of Earth Observation Australia Inc. and sits on the advisory board of the Australian Space Data Analytics Facility located in Western Australia.

Amy is passionate about implementing impactful, purpose-driven science, using space-based technologies to address global challenges, support economic growth and establish enduring and trusted partnerships. She seeks to ensure more equal sharing of the benefits of Earth observation to other regions and work together to use space to address environmental challenges that span geographic borders.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2015

    PhD
    University of Bristol

  • 2011

    BSc (Hons)
    University of Liverpool

Achievements and Awards

  • 2019-2019

    Rising Star of the Year - Finalist
    Australian Space Industry Awards

  • 2018-2018

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor Award for Research Excellence – Early Career Researcher
    Curtin University

  • 2018-2018

    34th International Travel Grant
    Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Geoscience Council

  • 2015-2015

    International Springer Thesis Award for outstanding PhD research
    Springer Nature

Professional Experiences

  • 2015-2021

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Curtin University

  • 2018-2018

    Postdoctoral Research Associate
    University of Bristol, UK

  • 2012-2013

    Visiting Researcher (Summer)
    U.S. Geological Survey

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