Hamish McNamara is a doctoral researcher at Adelaide Law School examining the legal and social licence implications of the emerging spacecraft returns economy. He brings an industry-informed perspective to his research, focusing on how regulatory frameworks intersect with social licence and security considerations, particularly as the frequency of spacecraft returns to Australia is expected to increase over the coming decade. His work engages with gaps in existing licensing regimes and the broader academic discourse addressing these challenges.

Hamish completed a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce (International Business) at the University of Adelaide as well as is an LLM Candidate at the University of Melbourne.

 Alongside his PhD, he works with Southern Launch, where he contributes to regulatory processes, compliance frameworks, and stakeholder engagement relating to space launch operations. This professional experience informs his research, grounding it in the practical realities of Australia’s evolving space regulatory environment.

His research interests include space law, environmental governance, sustainability, and human rights considerations. He is particularly interested in the ESG dimensions of emerging industries, and how actors engaging in new frontiers such as space can develop credible, transparent, and responsible regulatory and governance practices.

During his studies, Hamish has been involved in research initiatives across institutions including RUMLAE, Plants4Space, ENREL, and the Wildlife Crime Hub, contributing to projects spanning sustainable procurement, biodiversity, and commercial space law.