Hypersonix Launch Systems has announced the appointment of former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos to the position of chairman of the board. Sinodinos’s strategic appointment to Chair of the Board, effective 18 March 2024, is testament to the company’s recent momentum and global ambition to become the world leader in hypersonic technology.
Sinodinos is a leading expert in Australian foreign policy, bringing a wealth of public and private sector experience that spans national security, industry innovation and commercialisation, economic policy, and new market opportunities. Sinodinos served as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States between 2020 and 2023. He was previously Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and Senator for New South Wales from 2011 to 2019 and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard from 1997 to 2007.
In his capacity as Ambassador, Sinodinos took a key role in the finalisation of the AUKUS trilateral defence agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and has a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s sovereign capability and national interests as it pertains the private sector.
Hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities are one of the designated advanced technologies under Pillar 2 of the AUKUS framework. He is also currently co-chair of the AUKUS forum which is a skilled team of entrepreneurs, innovative leaders and visionary change-makers, supporting the trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Sinodinos will bring strategic direction and a wide network of connections from his tenure in Canberra and Washington to his role as Chair to the Board at Hypersonix, as the company enters its next phase of growth and development off the back of its success in key U.S. markets.
Previous Chair and Hypersonix Co-Founder, David Waterhouse, remains on the board in the role of Deputy Chair. Waterhouse joined Co-Founder Michael Smart in 2019 to form the company with a vision for how airbreathing scramjet propulsion could revolutionise high speed flight and access to space. Mr. Waterhouse’s leadership and expertise helped the company secure contracts with the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit.
“It is a privilege to take on the role of Chair of the Board with Hypersonix and I would like to thank David for his stewardship through the early stages of the company,” said Sinodinos. “When I first learned about Hypersonix in 2022, I was amazed by the access-to-space technology and “green-fuelled” launch vehicles that they were developing. There is a critical need for hypersonic technology in defence, and an equally significant potential for commercial applications. Hypersonix has the right leadership team in place and I look forward to guiding and supporting them to maximise growth potential and bring the product line to market.”
Hypersonix is moving to the next stage of growth in anticipation of increased demand following the upcoming first DART hypersonic aircraft flight, and conducted an extensive executive search to lead the board and guide the company into this future.
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