Geoscience Australia Leaders Visit USGS to Advance Collaboration
The U.S. Geological Survey welcomed senior leaders from Geoscience Australia (GA) to Reston, Virginia, on April 15–16 for strategic discussions, technical exchanges, and visits with USGS program teams. The delegation included Melissa Harris (Chief Executive Officer), Alison Rose (Chief of the Space Division), and Andrew Heap (Chief of Minerals, Energy, and Groundwater).
The meetings reaffirmed more than four decades of partnership between the two agencies and provided an opportunity for new leaders on both sides to connect around evolving national priorities.
Strengthening a Longstanding Partnership
Throughout the visit, USGS and GA experts shared program updates, discussed long‑term strategy, and reaffirmed ongoing cooperation on the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative and preparations for the Landsat 10 mission. During their time in Reston, the GA delegation met with USGS experts across minerals, energy, water, and Earth observation mission areas. They toured several USGS facilities, including select minerals laboratories, water laboratories, and the Reston Library. The delegation also visited the Department of the Interior, where discussions with Assistant Secretary Andrea Travnicek underscored strong alignment between U.S. and Australian priorities related to critical minerals, energy security, and Earth observations.
