Space and Cyber

Australia-Japan Space & Cyber Forum

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australia-japan-space-and-cyber-forum-tickets-1983737241490
Dinner: https://events.humanitix.com/ajbwn-canberra-chapter-launch

Speakers

Chris Hewett is the General Manager of Space Policy at the Australian Space Agency (ASA), where he leads the development and coordination of national space policy across federal and state governments. His branch provides strategic advice and analysis to support Australia’s space sector through growth, public outreach and policy coordination.

Chris began his career in national security, spending over 15 years operating with space technologies. He has held Senior Executive Service roles at the Department of Defence and the Department of Finance, contributing to Australia's strategic and operational space capabilities.

He holds master’s degrees in strategic policy and space operations, as well as an honours degree in ancient history from the University of Sydney.

Mihoko Matsubara is Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT, Inc., Tokyo, being responsible for cybersecurity thought leadership. Mihoko worked at the Japanese Ministry of Defense before completing her MA at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on Fulbright. Most recently, Mihoko was the Vice President and Public Sector Chief Security Officer for the Asia-Pacific region at Palo Alto Networks.

She is Associate Fellow for Cyber at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London; and Non-resident Fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), and Non-resident Scholar at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, Washington D.C.

Mihoko is an author of three awarded books on cybersecurity and Ukraine. Her third book in September 2025 analyzes resilience lessons from Ukrainian critical infrastructure companies. It won an award in the category of security by the Ozaki Yukio Foundation, and also recognized as one of the best 100 books to read by Book First Shinjuku Bookstore in 2025’s resilience lessons from Ukrainian critical infrastructure companies. It won an award in the category of security by the Ozaki Yukio Foundation, and also recognized as one of the best 100 books to read by Book First Shinjuku Bookstore in 2025. Her chapter, “Japan’s 5G Security Strategy and Competition in Emerging Technologies,” is included CSIS Japan Chair’s book, Toward a U.S.-Japan Technology Alliance: Competition and Innovation in New Domains (Rowman & Littlefield, December 2022).

Isamu Yamaguchi was working on 5G and cyber diplomacy such as UNGGE and UNOEWG as responsible Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then in the time of Covid, he was transferred to the Director of Passport Division, the Consular Affairs Bureau, MOFA, and instrumental in introducing digital application system to the Japanese passports and migrating massive national data to the Cloud environment. From 2022 to 2024, he was the Head of the International Division of Japan’s National Cybersecurity Center (NISC) and proactively participated in the international conferences such as IISS Cyber Workshop, Cyber UK, Singapore International Cyber Week. Since 2024, Isamu has been posted in Canberra as Political Minister in the Embassy of Japan in Australia and his portfolio continues to include cybersecurity.

Kate Kitagawa is a Professor of Practice in Space Research and Education at La Trobe University. Before taking on her current role, Kate was an advisor to the Senior Vice President of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and served as Director of JAXA’s Space Education Office. Additionally, Kate chaired the International Space Education Board (ISEB) at the 2023 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Azerbaijan, a global initiative involving NASA, JAXA, CSA, ESA, KARI, AEM, and other agencies.

With a multidisciplinary background in mathematics and life sciences (BSc, University of British Columbia) and a PhD in history from Princeton University, Kate brings over a decade of teaching and research experience at universities across the US, UK, Germany, and South Africa. She is the co-author of The Secret Lives of Numbers: A Global History of Mathematics & Its Unsung Trailblazers, which was shortlisted for the 2024 British Academy Book Prize. Kate also occasionally works as a broadcaster, appearing on television, online news, and in documentary films to share her expertise on science, history, and space.

Natsuko Ogawa is one of the founders of the Australia Japan Business Womens Network and has previously served as the chair of the Gender Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee. She is passionate about nurturing and energising diverse and under-estimated talent beyond gender and is particularly active in promoting cultural diversity including First Nations. Born in Perth WA, Natsuko was raised to value her Japanese identity and, through the encouragement of family friends working for Japanese investors, pursued a career as a lawyer advising clients on strategic Australian transactions and projects in Japanese and English. A highlight was becoming the first resident partner of the Blake Dawson Tokyo office, which combined with the Ashurst Tokyo office in 2012 when Blake Dawson and Ashurst merged globally.
Now in her 30th year at Ashurst, Natsuko continues to find excitement in helping Japanese and Australian companies building new business opportunities together.

In October 2024, Natsuko was appointed by the Australian Foreign Minister as Chair of the Australia Japan Foundation. This has allowed Natsuko to expand her contribution to the Australia Japan relationship from business to all facets of people-to-people connection.
Natsuko Ogawa is one of the founders of the Australia Japan Business Womens Network and has previously served as the chair of the Gender Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee. She is passionate about nurturing and energising diverse and under-estimated talent beyond gender and is particularly active in promoting cultural diversity including First Nations.

Born in Perth WA, Natsuko was raised to value her Japanese identity and, through the encouragement of family friends working for Japanese investors, pursued a career as a lawyer advising clients on strategic Australian transactions and projects in Japanese and English. A highlight was becoming the first resident partner of the Blake Dawson Tokyo office, which combined with the Ashurst Tokyo office in 2012 when Blake Dawson and Ashurst merged globally.

Now in her 30th year at Ashurst, Natsuko continues to find excitement in helping Japanese and Australian companies building new business opportunities together.

In October 2024, Natsuko was appointed by the Australian Foreign Minister as Chair of the Australia Japan Foundation. This has allowed Natsuko to expand her contribution to the Australia Japan relationship from business to all facets of people-to-people connection.