RASNZ Conference 2027
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Meet our 2027 Keynote Speakers
The RASNZ conference is an annual event that brings together astronomers, astrophysicists, and other professionals in the field to discuss the latest developments and advancements in astronomy. Our esteemed speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from academia, research institutions, and industry, and are guaranteed to provide engaging and informative presentations. From keynote speakers to university students, there is something for everyone at this year's conference. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn and connect with other astronomy enthusiasts!
One of the highlights of the conference is the keynote speakers who are invited to share their expertise and insights with the attendees.
Dr Yvette Perrott
Astrophysicist and Senior Lecturer
Victoria University of Wellington
Yvette did her undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland, gaining a BA, BSc and BSc(Hons) majoring in Physics, Italian and Spanish before moving to Cambridge University on a Rutherford PhD Scholarship in 2010. She completed her PhD in the Cavendish Astrophysics Group in 2013 and was awarded a Trinity College Junior Research Fellowship in the same year. In 2017 she was awarded a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship which she took up at VUW in 2018.
Her main research interest is the study of clusters of galaxies. Galaxy clusters contain hot gas which interacts with the leftover radiation from the Big Bang, producing a signal in the radio frequency range known as the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect. Her research involves observing the SZ signal with radio telescopes and using this to infer the total masses of galaxy clusters, which as a function of distance can be used to study the expansion history and properties of the Universe.
Prof Warrick Lawson
Astrophysicist
UNSW Canberra
Born in Blenheim and raised between Marlborough and the Central Hawkes Bay before moving to Christchurch for university studies, Professor Warrick Lawson has a BSc with majors in Mathematics and Physics, a MSc with Honours in Astronomy, and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Canterbury. His doctoral thesis entitled ‘The characteristics of cool hydrogen deficient carbon stars’ was a multi-year photometric and spectroscopic study of pulsational variability and dust formation events in R Coronae Borealis variable stars that used facilities at Mount John Observatory including the 1-m McLellan telescope and the 0.6-m Optical Craftsmen and Boller & Chivens telescopes. His doctoral supervisor was (now Emeritus) Professor Peter Cottrell.
Warrick is an astrophysicist whose research centres on star formation, young stellar populations, stellar evolution, circumstellar disks, and the early stages of planet formation. His work includes observational studies of nearby star‑forming regions using major Australian and international facilities, complemented by space‑based data from missions such as NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
He has held senior academic leadership roles at UNSW Canberra, including Associate Dean for Research and Head of the School of Science, reflecting his long-standing commitment to advancing astronomical research and mentoring emerging scientists. Professor Lawson has authored more than 100 journal articles and supervises postgraduate researchers, offering PhD and Masters opportunities in stellar astrophysics at UNSW Canberra.
Prof Sergei Gulyaev
Radio Astronomy Modelling and Statistics
Auckland University of Technology
Sergei Gulyaev is Professor of Astronomy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He holds PhD and DSc degrees in Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics from Moscow State University and moved to New Zealand in 1998.
At AUT, Sergei founded the Institute for Radio Astronomy and Space Research in 2004 and led the development of the Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory, New Zealand’s first modern radio astronomy observatory and an important Southern Hemisphere facility for both astronomy and space geodesy.
His research spans radio astronomy, astrophysics, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), space science, and geodesy. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and has contributed to numerous international collaborations involving major observatories and space missions. In recognition of his contributions to radio astronomy, Earth science, space science, and science education, he was awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi Thomson Medal.
Sergei is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (London) and a Senior Member of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). His current research focuses on pulsars and radio transients, including the recently discovered phenomenon of Phase-Locked Intermittent Brightenings (PLIBs) in the historic pulsar PSR B1919+21, the first pulsar ever discovered.