On 6 November, at the conclusion of the 2025 CEOS Plenary in Bath, hosted by the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), Team Australia (comprised of Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and the Bureau of Meteorology) was honored to become the 2026 CEOS Chair. This marks a significant milestone for Australia, as it returns to the Chair position after nearly a decade, building on the momentum and achievements of previous Chairs.
The headline theme of Australia’s 2026 Chair period is “Positioning for success in a rapidly changing context”. Under this theme, Team Australia will bring environmental adaptation and resilience into focus, supported by a new CEOS Handbook that will be produced and published by ESA for presentation at COP31 in November 2026. The 2026 CEOS Handbook will outline the role and value of satellite Earth observations in supporting adaptation to, and resilience in the face of, environmental change. The second theme will aim to increase the impact and ambition of the CEOS Analysis Ready Data (ARD) strategy and interoperable, trusted, easy-to-use ARD is a key enabler of greater CEOS impact. The Future ARD Strategy will aim to expand access to high-quality Earth observation datasets, promote consistency across platforms, and accelerate the adoption of ARD in diverse applications, empowering users worldwide to make informed decisions based on reliable satellite data.
This is driven by a motivation to lower barriers to full and successful utilisation of Earth observation data, but which now seek to utilise the growing volume of space-based EO data for local, regional, and national decision-making. During 2026, the Chair and Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) Chair – NASA – will jointly facilitate dedicated water quality workshops. The aim is to share best practices and methodologies, increase collaboration among CEOS Agencies, and transform knowledge into actionable insights to enhance decision making. The use of Earth observation for water quality and bushfires, will also be brought to the classroom via a continuation of the “CEOS in Schools” initiative. This was begun by the UKSA, and Australia is excited to continue this work, bringing Earth observation into classrooms and inspiring the next generation of scientists and leaders.
Australia’s Chair year will conclude during the hosting the 40th CEOS Plenary in Hobart, Tasmania – Australia’s gateway to Antarctica. We invite all CEOS principals to join us for the “Antarctica Plenary Experience,” a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the vital role of satellite Earth observation in understanding polar environments and global climate dynamics.
Team Australia is dedicated to supporting the progression of existing CEOS priorities, building on the foundations laid by our predecessors, and ensuring that new initiatives are resourced appropriately and sustainably. The Australian Chair Team will work closely with CEOS Agencies, partners, and stakeholders to develop information products that showcase the value of satellite data for environmental monitoring, disaster response, and environmental adaptation and resilience.
2025 UKSA Chair team & 2026 Australia Chair team during the handover ceremony
As Team Australia begins this journey, we invite the CEOS community and our partners to collaborate with us, share insights, and contribute to the advancement of Earth observation for societal benefit.
With best regards,
The Australian CEOS Chair Team
