Prof Jennifer Palmer
RMIT University - Associate Dean, Aerospace Engineering and Aviation
Prior to joining RMIT University, from February to July 2022, Prof Jennifer Palmer was the Director – Technology Program for the Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS) Defence Cooperative Research Centre, where her focus was on technologies supporting ADF land forces. Prior to that, she spent 15 years working in the field of aerial autonomy at the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Palmer’s research focussed on, amongst other things, hybrid power for small unmanned aircraft, flapping flight, autonomous systems for urban operations, and swarming. Dr Palmer has collaborated with a wide variety of national and international experts in autonomous-system technologies and, in her most recent role at DSTG, oversaw DSTG innovation programs and promoted innovation culture and collaboration across the Department of Defence. Dr Palmer holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, along with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering and a Master of Science in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.