Festival Board

Dr Gail Iles is an Associate Professor in Physics and founder of the Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT University.  After gaining a PhD in experimental physics from Leicester University in England, Gail began her scientific career with the European Space Agency in France where she conducted research on board the ‘vomit comet’ experiencing “Zero-G” on board the Airbus A300. Dr Gail received the Bronze Novespace medal for having flown over 500 parabolas on this aircraft. In 2010, she became an astronaut instructor at the European Astronaut Centre training Expedition crew members how to operate equipment on the International Space Station.

 

Dr Gail is no stranger to the stage either. She has performed in countless concerts as a musician and actor in UK and Germany. Dr Gail has sung alto in classical pieces, solo with swing bands, and has performed various works on stage with a range of theatre troupes. In 2010, working with Unlimited Theatre in the UK, the play ‘Mission to Mars’ was written about Dr Gail and her spaceflight adventures. This work was awarded the WISE (Women in Science & Engineering) Champion Award in 2010 in UK.

 

In 2014, Gail moved to Australia to work at the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation, transferring to RMIT in 2017. In 2024 Dr Gail was named Female Space Leader of the Year – Enterprise, at the Australian Space Awards. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics, a private pilot and regularly appears on 3AW Mornings talking about science on the radio.