Francesca Fisher at the St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland.
Francesca recently completed a Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies through distance learning. She was selected from a global field of applicants for her thought-provoking essay examining the future governance of space amid rapidly increasing commercial activity.
The achievement marked a significant milestone for Francesca, who moved from Christchurch to Wellington in January and joined the New Zealand Space Agency earlier this year.
“Personally, winning the competition was incredibly rewarding as it marked the first time my work had been recognised on an international stage,” Francesca says.
“Having previously achieved success at the Australia-New Zealand regional level, it was validating to see my ideas resonate with a global audience.”
Her winning essay titled As Above, So Below: The Anthropocentric Beneficence Paradox and the Impact of Spacefaring on Earth and Future Generations explores how the long-standing principle of space as a domain that benefits all humankind can be put into practice in an era of accelerating commercialisation. Drawing on international space law and comparable global commons governance frameworks, Francesca introduced the concept of the Anthropocentric Beneficence Paradox (ABP) — a tension that arises when broad commitments to benefit humanity are not effectively translated into practical governance mechanisms.
Delegates at the 2026 symposium.
To investigate the issue, Francesca adopted a comparative legal analysis using Saccos Legal Formants Methodology, examining how legal norms are expressed across legislation, institutions and real-world practice.
The quality and originality of the research earned Francesca a coveted place at the symposium in Switzerland, bringing together emerging leaders, academics and decision-makers from around the world to discuss pressing global challenges.
Professionally, Francesca says the opportunity has been invaluable.
“Beyond being a prestigious achievement, travelling to Switzerland allowed me to connect with other emerging leaders from around the world, exchange ideas and build relationships that I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to develop.”
Francesca at a social function at the symposium.
The symposium also reinforced the value of diverse perspectives and collaboration across generations.
“The experience highlighted the importance of intergenerational dialogue in addressing complex global challenges. Engaging with leaders and fellow participants from around the world offered valuable perspectives on the challenges shaping our future.”
Francesca’s success demonstrates how research, critical thinking and a global outlook can open doors to international opportunities. It also highlights the impact Massey graduates are making on issues of global importance, including the governance of space and the responsible management of emerging technologies.
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Massey student represents New Zealand at global space conference
Master of Arts student Francesca Fisher has represented New Zealand at the world’s largest space conference after being selected by the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand (SLC-ANZ) to attend the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney.
