In this conversation, we talk with one of Australia's leading 'One-to-many' Chief Remote Pilots -Sue Osborne.

Starting her journey in the Army as a UAS team leader in multiple Afghanistan deployments, Sue has since left the Army to work in the Australian UAS industry where she's been instrumental in driving change and new use cases for UAS. In 2021, Sue teamed up with Andrew Crowe and built Skyshows, a drone light show company that delivered shows of over 600 drones controlled through a single laptop. In 2024 Skyshows was purchased by US company Nova Sky Stories, (owned by Kimbal Musk) where she now works as the CRP for Nova across Australia.

Sue shares her experiences operating drones in challenging environments, the importance of safety, and also emphasizes the need for more representation of women and veterans in the industry.

TAKEAWAYS

•  Sue Osborne's Defence background and operational experience in the army as a UAS operator and team leader gave her the foundational skills and knowledge to excel in the drone industry.
•  Sue talks about safety measures and risk management in drone light shows, and how robust processes are essential to ensure the safety and success of these complex shows.
• The drone industry is rapidly evolving, and there is a need for more representation of women and veterans in the industry. Sue wants to inspire the next generation of young women and men to pursue careers in the drone industry.
• The future of the drone industry holds exciting possibilities, including using drones for air mobility and transportation during major events like the Olympics.

Sue Osborne can be contacted through LinkedIn or via email at [email protected].