Rebecca Connolly

Biography

Dr. Connolly is a leading expert on the intersection of strategy and legal governance for outer space relating to commercialisation, militarisation and security.  She is the current Chair of the Board of the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Connolly is the 2025 McCain Fulbright Scholar at the United States Naval Academy where she taught on Space Power and International Law. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Law School where she leads the International Space Law research and teaching program. Dr. Connolly also holds the position of a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council (GeoTech Center). She was the Australian 2023 Thawley Scholar in International Security with a visiting research placement at both the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Lowy Institute for space policy and national security. Dr Connolly has published widely on international space law in academic journals and policy platforms. Dr Connolly has also guest lectured at Harvard University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She currently sits on the SIAA Space Industry Policy  Working Group and is a member of the International Institute of Space Law.