Roger Franzen

Technical Program Manager
ANU Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Roger Franzen manages Australia’s investment in the Giant Magellan Telescope project.Previously, Roger has been involved in both civilian and defence space activities, specialising in space training and space systems engineering.

Roger was active in first the European and then the Australian space engineering industries for over 30 years.

In Australia, he worked with Auspace Limited on several national programs including the Endeavour Ultraviolet Telescope, the Southern Launch Vehicle, the ARIES commercial Hyper-spectral remote sensing satellite and the still orbiting Advance Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR). Contracted by Optus in 1997, Roger project managed the definition phase of the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Capability (ADSCC).

In 1998, Roger became Managing Director of Auspace until departing in late 2006.

Roger holds or has held several advisory and office bearer positions including

  • Chairman of IEAust National Committee for Space Engineering (retired)
  • Co-Deputy Chairman of the Space Industry Association of Australia (active).
  • Member Australian Astronomical Board of Management (concluded)
  • Member of the Defence RPD&E Board of Management (retired)
  • Member Australian GMT Advisory Committee (retired)
  • Member GMT International Board of Directors (active)
Roger Franzen