Martin Barstow joined the University of Leicester in 1979, becoming Professor of Astrophysics & Space Science (2003), Head of Physics & Astronomy (2005-09), Pro-Vice Chancellor/Head of Science & Engineering (2009-16) and Pro-Vice Chancellor/Director of the Leicester Institute of Space & Earth Observation (2016-19). He researches hot white dwarf stars and the interstellar medium and he has published more than 500 papers and has 27,000 citations. He has been involved in many space missions, including Voyager, Hubble, JWST and ESA’s Gaia astrometry mission. He has been a member of the ESA Astronomy Working Group, member of STFC Council and President of the Royal Astronomical Society (2014-16). In 2019, he chaired the programme committee of the UK Space Conference. He chaired the Space Telescope Institute Council, was a member of the board of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy and Chair of the UK Space Agency Science Programme Advisory Committee (2019-2022). He is the originator of the concept of Space Park Leicester, creating an economic space cluster with industry partners, a leader in its development and is Director of Strategic Partnerships for the project. He led the SPRINT SME growth project and is PI of the Midlands Space Cluster.