UAS Scholarship Winner Profiles 2025
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Airservices Australia in partnership with the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) is providing a scholarship fund to support Australia's rapidly growing uncrewed industry. The purpose of the UAS Industry Scholarships is to foster greater participation and diversity of participants in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry.
The scholarship will be used to pay for costs of training and related activities undertaken by individuals to promote the benefits and generate interest in entering the UAS industry, or to gain additional qualifications or experience in the UAS industry, with a focus on increasing the diversity of those seeking to enter the UAS industry.
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - John Fejo
"I completed the Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate (AROC) training, which included both theory and practical operational components for multirotor drones up to 25kg. This training equipped me with the knowledge and legal certification to operate drones safely and professionally under Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations. The training was delivered by a CASA-approved provider specialising in drone operations for environmental, cultural, and remote fieldwork applications."
"As a Goondoi Ranger, completing the RePL and AROC training was an important step in combining cultural knowledge with modern drone technology to care for Country. This qualification gives me the legal and technical ability to fly drones up to 25kg, which is critical for monitoring land and sea Country across remote and sensitive areas. We use drones to track mangrove health, collect data for Blue Carbon projects, monitor invasive species, and support fire and water management — all through a Traditional Owner-led lens. This training helps strengthen self-determined ranger work by giving us more control over how data is collected, analysed, and shared. It also opens doors for career development, cultural mapping, and training the next generation of young rangers in digital tools while staying grounded in Larrakia and broader First Nations values. It's about walking strong in both worlds — cultural and technological."
"Now that I’ve completed my RePL and AROC training, I hope to expand our drone program across more Goondoi Ranger projects and train other First Nations rangers and youth in drone operations. My goal is to support Traditional Owner–led monitoring programs that collect our own data, on our terms, and strengthen cultural decision-making around caring for Country. I want to use this qualification to support Blue Carbon, fire management, and biodiversity surveys, especially in remote areas where drones can reduce risk and save time. I also see this as a step towards building a First Nations-led drone and AI workforce in Northern Australia — one that respects cultural protocols, creates real job pathways, and ensures our communities are leaders in emerging tech on Country".
John is currently in the process of obtaining his ReOC through CASA to expand his AI First Nations drone business. "Our focus is on supporting cyclone and flood response, feral animal detection, mangrove monitoring, weed eradication, and fire management. A key part of our mission is to train and empower First Nations people to carry out this work on their own Country".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Miryam Piechocinski
"I completed my BVLOS OCTA Exam Training with Aviassist. BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) training is essential to advancing my career in surveying, as it significantly expands the capabilities of drone operations. With BVLOS certification, I can capture data over larger and more complex areas efficiently, improving project scope and deliverables. It allows access to advanced surveying applications such as corridor mapping, infrastructure inspection, and remote area assessment, which are often not feasible under standard VLOS limitations".
"BVLOS also demonstrates a higher level of regulatory compliance and technical skill, making me more competitive in the industry. I’ve really enjoyed entering the drone industry—it combines my love for technology with the practical aspects of surveying. Flying weekly has become something I genuinely look forward to, offering both challenge and reward. I'm excited by the potential of BVLOS to unlock even more ambitious, large-scale applications in the near future.
Now that I’ve completed the BVLOS training, I feel well-prepared and confident to sit the CASA exam. The course has equipped me with a solid understanding of airspace regulations, risk management, and operational procedures. I'm ready to formalise my education and take the next step toward full BVLOS certification."
As a Survey Cadet on the Eastern Freeway upgrades in Melbourne, Miryam assists with spatial data collection through weekly drone flights for site measurements and monitoring.
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Kyle Stead
"I completed the Chief Remote Pilots Course with Aviassist. Completing my Chief Remote Pilot (CRP) course is an important step in my career, as it allows me to move beyond completing individual technical missions and inspections and into building something larger and more impactful. In my new role at Core Inspection Services, this qualification gives me the chance to lead the development of a safe, compliant, and effective drone program that will add real value to the business and support its growth into new opportunities".
"Now that I’ve completed my Chief Remote Pilot (CRP) training, I want to help in developing Core Inspection Services Drone, ROV, and Robotics capabilities. My focus is on putting all the compliance and safety systems in place so that we can operate professionally and at scale. Beyond that, I’m aiming to build a program that not only supports our current inspection and non-destructive testing work but also positions us as a leader in how new technologies are applied in the industry".
Kyle currently works for Core Inspection Services, a NATA accredited full-service Inspection and testing business. They use the latest in technology and methodology to produce the best outcomes for their clients on a national level. "We're now adopting Drone and ROV technologies to collect data in a safe and effective manner, giving our clients the information required to best support their operations".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Kristie Lawrence
Kristie completed her CASA RePL 25kg Licence course with Air Radio Operators Certificate, run by UASNT (Unique Aerial Solutions NT)
"It has provided a formal training opportunity and certification. Increasing my aviation and safety knowledge, enhancing my existing RPA skillset and enabling me to further develop my use of RPA's for research purposes in a professional setting".
"This training and license have been invaluable, I hope it will increase my capacity to perform drone monitoring surveys for inshore coastal species and further enhance my skillset".
Kristie's current role is with Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), where she works as a fish ecologist technician. "We use various methods to undertake fish surveys in the Northern Territory, often working closely with ranger groups to survey their sea country".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Janice Wong
Janice completed the RePL and Sub-25kg training with Toll Aviation. She also passed her AROC exams.
"This training is really important for me and my career because it opens up a lot of opportunities within my company. The UAV industry is growing fast, and my company works with many UAV partners and projects. Even outside of my company, more organizations are starting to use drones. For example, Surf Life Saving is using UAVs for safety and surveillance. By completing this training, I’ve built the skills I need to be part of these exciting projects. It also makes me more valuable to the team as we design and build drones for different companies. This experience has really strengthened my knowledge in this space and opened doors for me to work on more advanced projects in the future. I feel more confident now to contribute to UAV development and support my company’s growth in this industry".
"I’ve already emailed a few line managers to let them know I’m interested in getting involved with upcoming projects. I asked them to keep me in mind and involve me where possible. I’m really looking forward to putting my new skills to use and contributing to future UAV projects".
Janice currently works at Nova Systems as an aerospace engineering consultant. "I’ve always had a strong interest in aviation and was fortunate to join Nova as a graduate, which opened the door to exciting flight-test and system integration opportunities in both the commercial and defence sectors. I’m also looking forward to getting my private pilot licence, which will give me a deeper operational perspective and help me contribute even more effectively to test and evaluation activities".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Emily Howman
Emily completed the ReOC, BVLOS/OCTA theory, and <150kg T40 license with Aviassist.
"As I'm planning for rural applications and conservation I need to be able to operate under full licensing for my business and with agricultural drones".
Moving forward, Emily aims to complete a Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management and expand her work hours so she can buy more drones and equipment. "I'd like to see 'Emily M Howman Drone Services' become a leader in conservation and agricultural drone usage"
Emily does occassional seasonal work with Surf Life Saving, doing wildlife surveillance at beaches around Forster NSW. She also does some contract work for drone related businesses in both customer support and post drone sale instructions.
"My business on the other hand, is pushing towards using drones and green energy to support conservation efforts, good farming practices and bush regeneration. It sounds wide-spread now but all three of those things often overlap. My services would be part of studying the land to see what sorts of flora and fauna they have, assisting them in ensuring healthy and appropriate bush management on their properties with the instruction and collaboration with bush regeneration specialists. I would also be tying in and recording as much data as possible for conservation purposes with the appropriate stakeholders.
Further to this, to fill in any gaps I will be learning drone herding in the near future from SkyKelpie.com using their Aerial Stockmanship Course and SkySim".
"I intend to also be able to assist farms in difficult times with assessment of assets like dams, fences, livestock, windmills etc. Having just been through some crazy floods I realised how much I could assist in times of need with the rural community".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Yamila Fernandez
Yamila completed the “Ag Survey and Mapping" course with Dronestar.
"This training was very useful because it gave me the opportunity to operate different types of drones and become familiar with agricultural (Ag) work. It allowed me to better understand how drone operations are applied in an agricultural environment, which is quite different from the traditional survey work I am used to.
The exposure to agricultural operations is important because it expands my skills as a pilot. Flying over crops and farmland requires a different approach in terms of planning, altitude management, and situational awareness compared to standard surveying missions. This experience helped me adapt to new flying conditions and improved my overall confidence when operating drones in diverse environments. Overall, this training has contributed positively to my professional development and has broadened my capabilities as a drone pilot".
Moving forward, Yamila would like to start offering services or consulting support to farmers, allowing her to gradually enter and gain experience in the agricultural sector. "This approach will help me build practical knowledge, develop industry relationships, and apply my drone skills in real agricultural operations".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Amos Wallis
Amos completed a 'Remote Pilot License (RePL) multi-rotor up to 25kg MTOW' and an endorsement for a 'XAG P150 medium RPAS multirotor up to 150kg'. These were both completed through Aviassist. Amos says this training was important to him as he works in an agricultural business that has both spray drones and mapping drones that "allow us to do contracting work and this training has given me the needed background and licensing to fly the drones".
"I have learnt a great deal about the aviation industry and in particular UAVs and their operations. It has also licensed me to use UAVs that can do amazing things in agriculture!".
Now that he has completed his training, Amos "hopes to continue to expand my expertise in the drone industry, using my training and skills as a useful asset in the agricultural industry. Flying both small and medium RPAS as part of my work". He currently works using RPA's to gather data for crop health in cereal crops to use for research purposes. "I am also part of a business that is using a drone for field surveying to use for prescription mapping and using an agricultural drone for both prescription application and broadacre spraying and spreading".
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2025 Scholarship Winner Profile - Kasey Williams
Kasey completed the 'Drone Remote Sensing and Mapping' (online through University of Tasmania), and 'AIT225 - Advanced Drone Surveying & Mapping' (in person through Air Inspect, Port Melbourne).
"I've been grateful to have an exciting career which heavily involved using drones for photogrammetry purposes as well as using photogrammetric outputs in GIS programs for environmental management and research, however data processing and handheld LiDAR capture tools are knowledge gaps that I've been keen to explore for several years now. The AAUS Industry Participation scholarship has enabled me to fill these knowledge gaps that I can use directly in the field and office in my role at the Australian Antarctic Division."
Kasey says she's looking forward to applying her new skills in both the field and office to capture high quality data with RPAS and LiDAR handheld devices, process this data using processing platforms and subsequently create maps, digital twins, figures and obtain valuable data sets.
"These outputs will assist in environmental management and decision making, environmental remediation and biodiversity research and support multiple scientific and operational programs in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic".
She says the courses have "equipped me with additional skills such that I now have the capacity to go through the entire process from data acquisition using RPAS and LiDAR handheld tools, to data processing right through to producing outputs in GIS software to contribute to research papers, project decision making and regulatory reporting".
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