Graduation 2025: Making critical space infrastructure more secure

After more than two decades working in cybersecurity, Syed Shahzad was ready for a new challenge. That challenge turned out to be out of this world…literally.

Graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy, Syed’s research focused on how we can secure critical space infrastructure - such as satellites - from cyber-attacks. 

“I developed a framework that helps engineers make stronger design decisions early in the process, when systems are most complex and vulnerable,” Syed says. 

Syed’s career journey began at UNSW Canberra, where he completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering. His studies then took him to the University of Oxford’s St Hugh’s College.

With this strong educational base, Syed went on to build a diverse career spanning banking, defence, entrepreneurship, and education. He founded and sold startups, worked across industries, and trained thousands of educators and entrepreneurs, but after more than 20 years in the field, Syed noticed a new frontier opening up: space.

“I became involved in space projects and saw not only the complexity of the field but also the shortage of skills in Australia. Combined with the rapid growth of the local space sector, it just made sense to focus my research on space cybersecurity,” he says.  

It’s a pathway he’s determined to continue post-graduation. 

“I want to keep contributing to Australia’s sovereign space capability. I’m now working as a research officer at UNSW Space and have been teaching as an Assistant Professor in the US and Turkey. I hope to keep teaching here in Australia alongside my research,” Syed says. 

When it came to choosing where to pursue his PhD, the answer was simple. 

“The quality of the research environment, the facilities, the supervisors, and the university’s strong global standing all made UNSW Canberra the right choice,” Syed says.

Once at UNSW Canberra, Syed found it hard to adjust to the PhD environment but credits his supervisors and describes them as exceptional mentors who helped him transition from industry to academia.  

“The biggest challenge was adapting to academia - learning how to publish and how to manage a PhD, which is mostly self-directed,” he explains.

“I overcame this by creating a clear four-year plan from the start, setting publication goals, and having regular discussions with my supervisors. Asking questions without hesitation was crucial."

“I enjoyed working with world-class researchers, attending conferences on campus, and collaborating with colleagues from around the world. Being part of UNSW Space Engineering is just amazing.”

Outside of research, it was important for Syed to remain grounded and focus on activities that allowed him to balance both his professional and personal life, to avoid becoming isolated by study.  

“I ran a cybersecurity consulting practice and taught part-time while studying, which kept me connected to industry. I’m also an avid reader, and that gave me balance and perspective,” he says.  

Syed’s advice to future engineering and higher degree research students is to take a proactive approach. 

“Plan your research journey from the beginning. Work closely with your supervisors, but also find an industry mentor so your work stays relevant,” he says.

“Expect rejections: treat them as guidance, not failure. Persistence is key, and in the end, it’s absolutely worth it. If I could, I’d do it again.”