Awards

2015-2016 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Section (small section)
  • 1st: Career and Professional Development Award (small section)
  • 1st: Communications Award (small section)
  • 1st: Young Professional Activity Award (small section)
2014-2015 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Section (small section)
  • 1st: Outstanding Activity Award (small section) (tied)
  • 1st: Communications Award (small section)
  • 1st: Young Professional Activity Award (small section)
  • 1st: Membership Award (small section)
  • 1st: Public Policy Award (small section)
  • 1st: STEM Activity Award (small section)
2013-2014 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Section (very small section)
  • 1st: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section)
  • 1st: STEM Activity Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Career and Workforce Development Award (very small section)
  • 2nd: Communications Award (very small section)
  • 2nd: Membership Award (very small section)
  • 3rd: Public Policy Award (very small section)
  • 3rd: Precollege Outreach Award (very small section)
Member Awards:
  • AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award
    Dr Kimberley Clayfield

Dr Kimberley Clayfield

AIAA member and immediate past chair of the Sydney Section, Dr Kimberley Clayfield, was recently awarded the AIAA’s Lawerence Sperry Award. This award is presented for a notable contribution made by a young person, age 35 or under, to the advancement of aeronautics or astronautics and honours Lawrence B. Sperry, pioneer aviator and inventor, who died in 1923 in a forced landing while attempting a flight across the English Channel.

Dr Clayfield is currently the Executive Manager of Space Sciences and Technology at CSIRO. She received this award in recognition of her significant and sustained contributions to the development of the Australian aerospace sector through national public policy development, scientific leadership, and education activities.

The Lawrence Sperry Award is an international honour bestowed by the AIAA and includes a certificate and medallion. Dr Clayfield is the first Australian to receive this award. Previous recipients include Gene Kranz (former NASA Flight Director, including of the Apollo 13 mission), David Thompson (founder and CEO of Orbital Sciences Corporation), Sheila Widnall (the first female Secretary of the US Air Force) and Robert Braun (former NASA Chief Technologist). Congratulations to Dr Clayfield on this prestigious award!
2012-2013 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Section (very small section)
  • 1st: Outstanding Activity Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Communications Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Career and Professional Development Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Membership Award (very small section)
  • 2nd: Public Policy Award (very small section)
2011-2012 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Section (very small section)
  • 1st: Outstanding Activity Award (very small section)
  • 1st: Communications Award (very small section) (tied)
  • 1st: Career and Professional Development Award (very small section) (tied)
  • 1st: Public Policy Award (very small section) (tied)
  • 2nd: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section)
  • 2nd: Membership Award (very small section)
  • 2nd: Precollege Outreach Award (very small section)
2010-2011 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Communications Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Outstanding Section (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Public Policy Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Membership Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Precollege Outreach Award (very small section*)
Member Awards:
  • AIAA Sustained Service Award
    Dr Kimberley Clayfield



Dr Kimberley Clayfield has been awarded an AIAA Sustained Service Award 2011 for service and leadership in AIAA Region VII, representing Australian members and International Young Professional members, from 1999 to 2010. Dr Clayfield was the founding Chair of the University of Adelaide AIAA Student Branch, and is a Past Chair of the Sydney Section and Deputy Director Young Professionals Region VII. She was also responsible for having the Tidbinbilla, Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley space tracking stations in the ACT recognised as an AIAA Historic Aerospace Site in 2010.

Prior to the 2011 AIAA Distinguished Lecture in Canberra, Dr Clayfield was presented with her award and pin by Dr Michael West, the current AIAA Sydney Section Chair, and Mr Michael Drake from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the 2011 AIAA Distinguished Lecturer.
2009-2010 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Public Policy Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Career and Workforce Development Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Outstanding Section (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Communications Award (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Membership Award (very small section*)
2008-2009 Section Awards:
  • 1st: Outstanding Activity Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Outstanding Section (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Membership Award (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Communications Award (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Public Policy Award (very small section*)
2007-2008 Section Awards:
  • 2nd: Young Professional Activity Award (very small section*)
  • 2nd: Membership Award (very small section*)
  • 3rd: Public Policy Award (very small section*)
  • Honorable Mention: Outstanding Section (small section)
  • Honorable Mention: Communications Award (small section)