Former Labor Education and Science Minister Grace Portolesi was employed as executive director of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation on February 1 following the resignation of former chief executive officer Nicola Sasanelli on January 31.

Now Portolesi also has resigned, saying: “Sadly, unresolved governance matters have rendered my role untenable”.

She would not provide further details about the governance issues.

“I’m disappointed, but have no choice but to leave. I love the energy and the excitement and the potential of the space sector. I felt I added value and made a contribution and will still be very keen to keep doing that in the sector.”

When Portolesi was employed by the foundation, it announced that she joined “us with an impressive record as a successful Member of the South Australian Parliament and former Minister in portfolios that included Education and Science”.

The foundation was started in 2016 and is based at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide. One of its key roles is to host an Australian Space Forum in Adelaide, and Portolesi said she worked hard to make this an important national event.

Portolesi said that when she started working at the foundation following the resignation of Sasanelli in February there were only 12 registrations for this year’s event in May and the Adelaide Convention Centre was not confirmed as a venue.

The 15^th space forum ended up attracting more than 1000 people along with international space partners.

When InDaily contacted foundation board chair Michael Davis for comment, he made a short statement but did not want to provide further information.

“The foundation is still in negotiation with Grace in an attempt to reach an amicable agreement,” Davis said in a statement.

He provided no confirmation as to whether the “amicable agreement” referred to her resignation or whether it was about her continuing to work with the foundation.

When the foundation announced Portolesi’s appointment it said: “This appointment follows the decision by Nicola Sasanelli AM to resign as CEO following his retirement from the South Australia Government on 31 January 2023.”

Portolesi said it was “a pleasure and an honour to serve the foundation and Andy Thomas in particular” and she believed the foundation was left in a strong financial and organisational position.

Andy Thomas Space Foundation executive director Grace Portolesi has resigned. Photo: supplied

“(During my time with the foundation we have) transitioned the foundation to a truly national status with the move of the Australian Space Forum to Sydney and the launch of the national Kids in Space Program,” she said.

She said it is the first national space education program – delivered in partnership with the Australian Space Agency – in the country and has taken the Andy Thomas Space Foundation to more than 10,000 school students and to school communities in every state and territory.

During this year’s forum, it was announced that the event that has always been held in Adelaide would be held in Sydney for the first time in its history in December.

At the time, Portolesi said this would not dilute SA’s pivotal role in the space industry but it was time for one of the biannual forum events to be “taken on the road”.

Defence and Space Industries Minister Susan Close said she was unable to comment on Portolesi’s position.

Close said the State Government, through the South Australian Space Industry Centre, has provided the foundation with seed funding and in-kind support over the past three years in addition to the licence to conduct the Australian Space Forum.

“The South Australian Government is committed to creating a thriving and enduring South Australian space sector that is focussed on creating exciting career opportunities that can start right here in South Australia,” Close said.

“The Andy Thomas Space Foundation has made great strides in advancing space education and outreach across Australia – igniting a curiosity for space.”