SPEAKERS

HEAR INFLUENTIAL VOICES

The 2023 Organising and Programme Committee are delighted to welcome the following speakers at the UK Space Conference in Belfast.

Please use the below tabs to view all speakers across all session tracks; Plenaries, DISCOVER, GROW and SECURE.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

We would like to shine a spotlight on some of our must-see speakers for the UK Space Conference 2023. These people have so much valuable insight and unique perspectives to share throughout our programme. 

FULL SPEAKER LINE UP

More speakers to be announced.

Current Plenary Speakers

Josef Aschbacher
Josef Aschbacher
European Space Agency
Director General
Dr Paul Bate
Dr Paul Bate
UK Space Agency
CEO
Lucy Edge
Lucy Edge
Satellite Applications Catapult
Chief Operations Officer
Rebecca Evernden
Rebecca Evernden
DSIT
Director of Space
Aarti Holla-Maini
Aarti Holla-Maini
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Director
Tim Just
Tim Just
Innovate UK
Head of Portfolio for AI and Data economy
Annelies Look
Annelies Look
UK Space Agency
Deputy CEO
Alastair McGibbon
Alastair McGibbon
Space Forge
Head of Business Development
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou
University of Bristol
Professor and Director, Smart Internet Lab

Track Speakers

Professor Adam Amara
Professor Adam Amara
University of Surrey
Professor
Yuri Andersson
Yuri Andersson
ANGOKA
CEO
Matthew Archer
Matthew Archer
UK Space Agency
Director of Launch
Martin Barstow
Martin Barstow
Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Anita Bernie
Anita Bernie
MDA Space and Robotics Limited
Managing Director
Portia Bircher
Portia Bircher
UK Space Agency
Business Support Lead
John Bone
John Bone
e2e Group
COO
Craig Brown
Craig Brown
UK Space Agency
Director of Investment
Louise Butt
Louise Butt
Space South Central Enterprise Network
Director
Justin Byrne
Justin Byrne
Airbus
Head of EOS UK & NEO Projects
Dr Carmine Clemente
Dr Carmine Clemente
University of Strathclyde
Reader
Nafeesa Dajda
Nafeesa Dajda
Satellite Applications Catapult
Director of National Capabilities
Charles Davis
Charles Davis
Earth-i
CEO
Florian Deconinck
Florian Deconinck
Open Cosmos
VP Growth
Dr Emma Egging OBE
Dr Emma Egging OBE
Jon Egging Trust
CEO
Rebecca Evernden
Rebecca Evernden
DSIT
Director of Space
Andrew Fournet
Andrew Fournet
CGI
Consultant
Patrick Francis
Patrick Francis
Airbus Defence and Space
Special Advisor
Dr Kathryn Hadler
Dr Kathryn Hadler
European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC)
Director
Simone Hartless
Simone Hartless
Satellite Applications Catapult
Head of Cluster Growth
Euan Harvey
Euan Harvey
GlobalTrust
Business Development Manager
Michael Healy
Michael Healy
European Space Agency
Head of Science Projects
Mark Hewer
Mark Hewer
Telespazio UK Ltd
CEO
Jill Hutchinson
Jill Hutchinson
Thales Alenia Space in the UK
Head of Communications
Avril Jolliffe
Avril Jolliffe
Ministry of Defence
Director-General Industry, Trade and Economic Security
Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB
Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB
Satellite Applications Catapult
Non-Executive Director
Doug Liddle
Doug Liddle
In-Space Missions Ltd
CEO
Annelies Look
Annelies Look
UK Space Agency
Deputy CEO
Pat Malaviarachchi
Pat Malaviarachchi
MDA
Principal Mission Architect
Kevin Mcloughlin
Kevin Mcloughlin
DSIT Space Directorate
Head of Space Security, Resilience and Regulation
Kelly Murphy
Kelly Murphy
Invest NI
AME Sector Manager & Space Lead
James Myers
James Myers
Aerospace Corporation
Senior Vice President
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
UK Space Agency
Director for Engagement, International and Inspiration
Professor Máire O'Neill
Professor Máire O'Neill
Queen's University Belfast
Director, Centre for Secure Information Technologies
David Parker
David Parker
European Space Agency
Special Advisor
Dr Eric Rees
Dr Eric Rees
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Data Scientist
Professor John Remedios
Professor John Remedios
National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO)
Director
Helen Roberts
Helen Roberts
UK Space Agency
GSTP Programme Manager
Barry Ross
Barry Ross
e2E Services Ltd
CEO
Harshbir Sangha MBE FRSA
Harshbir Sangha MBE FRSA
UK Space Agency
Director Missions and Capabilities (EO, LEO & Space Security and Resilience)
Thomas Santini
Thomas Santini
Lodestar
Co-Founder & CTO
Professor Eamon Scullion
Professor Eamon Scullion
Northumbria University
Elizabeth Seward
Elizabeth Seward
BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Head of Space
Nick Shave
Nick Shave
Astroscale Ltd
Managing Director
Kevin Shaw
Kevin Shaw
UK Space Agency
NEM
Dr Marianne Shelton
Dr Marianne Shelton
UK Space Conference
Space to Learn Lead
Christina Smith
Christina Smith
Space Hub Yorkshire
Space Technology Lead
Stephen Straughan
Stephen Straughan
UK Space Agency
Head of Security & Resilience
Sean Sutcliffe
Sean Sutcliffe
Oxford Space Systems
Chief Executive
Professor Sir Martin Sweeting
Professor Sir Martin Sweeting
SSTL
Chairman
Gertrud Talvik
Gertrud Talvik
European Space Agency
Industrial Policy Officer
Peter Trussell
Peter Trussell
UK Space Agency
Future Workforce Lead
Chris White-Horne
Chris White-Horne
UK Space Agency
Deputy CEO

Current Plenary Speakers

Major General Philippe Adam
Major General Philippe Adam
French Air and Space Force - Space Command
French Space Commander
Brigadier General Mike Adamson
Brigadier General Mike Adamson
Royal Canadian Air Force
Commander, 3 Canadian Space Division, and Joint Forces Space Component Commander
Dr Alice Bunn OBE
Dr Alice Bunn OBE
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
CEO
Massimo Claudio Comparini
Massimo Claudio Comparini
Thales Alenia Space Italia
CEO
Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey
Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey
UK Space Command
Commander UK Space Command
Tony Holt
Tony Holt
BAE systems
CSIO
Anushka Sharma
Anushka Sharma
Space Academic Network
SPAN Liaison Manager
Professor Mark Sims
Professor Mark Sims
University of Leicester/Space Academic Network
Space Projects & Instrumentation Lead
Major General Michael Traut
Major General Michael Traut
German Armed Forces
Commander German Space Command
Group Captain Scott Woodland
Group Captain Scott Woodland
Royal Australian Air Force
Air & Space Advisor

Track Speakers

Rob Adlard
Rob Adlard
Gravitilab Aerospace Services
Founder, CEO & CTO
Peter Anderson
Peter Anderson
AAC Clyde Space
Chief Commercial Officer
Allen Antrobus
Allen Antrobus
Serco Ltd
Head of Strategy Air and Space
Antonios Atlasis
Antonios Atlasis
European Space Agency
Head of Systems Security Engineering Section (TEC-ESS)
Julie Black
Julie Black
UK Space Agency
Director of Missions & Capabilities, Discovery & Sustainability
Joshua Broom
Joshua Broom
Department for Business & Trade
Head of Space
Rob Brougham
Rob Brougham
Braided Communications Limited
Co-Founder
Dr Alice Bunn OBE
Dr Alice Bunn OBE
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
CEO
Dallas Campbell
Dallas Campbell
National Geographic
Television Presenter
James Carpenter
James Carpenter
European Space Agency (ESA)
Moon and Mars Science Lead
Yun-Hang Cho
Yun-Hang Cho
AMRC
Engineer and Space Sector Engagement
Peter Davies
Peter Davies
Thales
Director - Security Concepts
Rob Desborough
Rob Desborough
Seraphim Space
General Partner
Frankie Devlin
Frankie Devlin
KPMG
Partner, Indirect Tax
Paul Eccleston
Paul Eccleston
RAL Space - UKRI STFC
Chief Engineer
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
techUK
Programme Manager - UK SPF and Satellite
Duhita Govindji
Duhita Govindji
PA Consulting Group
Associate Partner
Della Granville
Della Granville
Maxar Technologies
Director, Business Development and Government Relations, UK
Steve Greenland
Steve Greenland
Craft Prospect Ltd
Managing Director
Major Jeremy Grunert
Major Jeremy Grunert
United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps
Joanna Hart
Joanna Hart
Space Partnership
Space Partnership Director
Mark Hewer
Mark Hewer
Telespazio UK Ltd
CEO
Robert Hill
Robert Hill
Northern Ireland Space
Director
Libby Jackson OBE
Libby Jackson OBE
UK Space Agency
Head of Space Exploration
Professor Gary Jones
Professor Gary Jones
Rolls-Royce
Head of Manufacturing Innovation
Harriet Kennedy
Harriet Kennedy
UK Space Agency
Head of Education & Future Workforce
Volodymyr Levykin
Volodymyr Levykin
Skyrora
CEO
Richard Lowe
Richard Lowe
Satellite Applications Catapult
Director, Technical Services
Colin Macleod
Colin Macleod
UK Civil Aviation Authority
Head of UK Space Regulation
Kevin Mcloughlin
Kevin Mcloughlin
DSIT Space Directorate
Head of Space Security, Resilience and Regulation
Dr Peter Mendham
Dr Peter Mendham
Bright Ascension
CEO
Group Captain Karen-Anne Moran
Group Captain Karen-Anne Moran
UK Space Command
Deputy Head Plans
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
UK Space Agency
Director for Engagement, International and Inspiration
David Parker
David Parker
European Space Agency
Special Advisor
Marie-Claire Perkinson
Marie-Claire Perkinson
Airbus
Head of UK Exploration Future Programmes
Melissa Quinn
Melissa Quinn
Slingshot Seradata
Managing Director
Jaime Reed
Jaime Reed
CGI
Vice President Consulting Services
Simon Reid
Simon Reid
D-Orbit UK
Managing Director
Nick Shave
Nick Shave
Astroscale Ltd
Managing Director
Kevin Shaw
Kevin Shaw
UK Space Agency
NEM
Gertrud Talvik
Gertrud Talvik
European Space Agency
Industrial Policy Officer
Andy Titcomb
Andy Titcomb
Amberjack Consulting and Technology
Director
Jenna Tiwana
Jenna Tiwana
ispace inc
Senior Strategy Advisor
Enrico Tormena
Enrico Tormena
European Space Agency
System Engineer
Andy Vick
Andy Vick
RAL Space (UKRI/STFC)
Head of Disruptive Technology
Robert Walsh
Robert Walsh
University of Central Lancashire
Professor of Solar Physics, Academic Lead UCLan Space
Joanne Wheeler MBE
Joanne Wheeler MBE
Alden Legal
Managing Partner
Patrick Wood
Patrick Wood
Airbus Defence and Space
Head of Space Systems UK

Current Plenary Speakers

John Abbott
John Abbott
Satellite Applications Catapult
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Kathy Bass
Dr Kathy Bass
DSIT
Deputy Director Space Strategy and UK Space Agency Sponsorship
Dr Paul Bate
Dr Paul Bate
UK Space Agency
CEO
Sarah Beardsley
Sarah Beardsley
UKRI - Science and Technology Facilities Council
Director STFC-RAL Space
Craig Brown
Craig Brown
UK Space Agency
Director of Investment
John Hanley
John Hanley
CGI
Senior VP Consulting Services
Rafel Jorda Siquier
Rafel Jorda Siquier
Open Cosmos
CEO
Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm Macdonald
University of Strathclyde
Professor
Rt. Hon Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, MP
Rt. Hon Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, MP
Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science and Innovation
David Parker
David Parker
European Space Agency
Special Advisor
Kate Robson-Brown
Kate Robson-Brown
Space Academic Network
Co_chair SPAN
Patrick Wood
Patrick Wood
Airbus Defence and Space
Head of Space Systems UK

Track Speakers

Sam Adlen
Sam Adlen
Space Solar
Co-CEO
Rushanka Amrutkar
Rushanka Amrutkar
Environment Agency
Senior Advisor- Earth Observation and Remote Sensing
Dr Nick Appleyard
Dr Nick Appleyard
European Space Agency ESA
Head of Applications and Solutions
Matthew Archer
Matthew Archer
UK Space Agency
Director of Launch
Portia Bircher
Portia Bircher
UK Space Agency
Business Support Lead
James Black
James Black
RAND
European Lead - Space
Joshua Broom
Joshua Broom
Department for Business & Trade
Head of Space
Craig Brown
Craig Brown
UK Space Agency
Director of Investment
Neil Buchanan
Neil Buchanan
Queens University Belfast
Senior Lecturer
Gerald Buller
Gerald Buller
Heriot-Watt University
Professor
Clinton Clark
Clinton Clark
ExoAnalytic
Vice President of First Impressions
Shane Clark
Shane Clark
Astraius
Chief Technology Officer
Martin Coates
Martin Coates
Orbex
CEO
Matt Cosby
Matt Cosby
Goonhilly Earth Station
CTO
Alan Cross
Alan Cross
UKRI-STFC
North West Space Cluster Manager
Anuradha Damale-Day
Anuradha Damale-Day
Satellite Applications Catapult
Space Ecosystem Manager
Paul Febvre
Paul Febvre
Satellite Applications Catapult
Chief Technology Officer
Josh Fedder
Josh Fedder
Department for Science Innovation & Technology
Head of Space Strategy
Robert Fletcher
Robert Fletcher
Airbus Intelligence UK
Head of EO and satellite operations
Alex Godfrey
Alex Godfrey
Astroscale
Business Development Manager
Hugh Griffin
Hugh Griffin
IceMos Technology Corporation
Chief Strategy Officer
Mark Henry
Mark Henry
BT Plc
Director of Network Strategy & Spectrum
Robert Hill
Robert Hill
Northern Ireland Space
Director
Rory Holmes
Rory Holmes
ClearSpace
UK Managing Director
Jon Hulks
Jon Hulks
UK Space Agency
Space Ecosystem Development Manager
Libby Jackson OBE
Libby Jackson OBE
UK Space Agency
Head of Space Exploration
Ayesha Khalid
Ayesha Khalid
Queen's University Belfast
Senior lecturer
Dr Hina Khan
Dr Hina Khan
Space Scotland
Executive Director
Krupa Nanda Kumar
Krupa Nanda Kumar
Space4Climate
Climate Services Development Manager
Anton Monk
Anton Monk
Viasat
Vice President
Jonathan Nattrass
Jonathan Nattrass
Bullitt
Chief Product Officer
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
Professor Anu Ojha OBE
UK Space Agency
Director for Engagement, International and Inspiration
Claire Parfitt
Claire Parfitt
European Space Agency
Mars Exploration Study Lead
Sharon Parker-Lines
Sharon Parker-Lines
Astroscale
Deputy Managing Director & Senior Vice President Business Operations, Government & Regulatory Affairs
Dr Naomi Rowe-Gurney
Dr Naomi Rowe-Gurney
Royal Astronomical Society
EDI Officer
Rico Santiago
Rico Santiago
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland
Deputy Head of Business Development
Elizabeth Seward
Elizabeth Seward
BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Head of Space
Rob Spurrett
Rob Spurrett
Lacuna Space
CEO
Kristina Tamane
Kristina Tamane
University of Edinburgh
Space Sector Lead
Alan Thompson
Alan Thompson
Skyrora Ltd
Head of Government Affairs
Tim Tinsley
Tim Tinsley
National Nuclear Lab
Account Director
Jenna Tiwana
Jenna Tiwana
ispace inc
Senior Strategy Advisor
Dmitry Zelenchuk
Dmitry Zelenchuk
Queen's university Belfast
Senior Lecturer