Defence Space Conference 2023

12 December 2023

Venue:

IET, London and Online

Details

Description

Defence Space: The leading UK Defence event for Space professionals

Welcome to Defence Space Conference 2023

UK Space Command’s Defence Space Conference is the leading platform for all those who seek to influence emerging thinking on the UK’s military space capabilities.

Bringing together senior UK military and government officials, alongside industry, academics, and leaders in disruptive technologies, the conference coheres military space strategy and operations with space technology and innovation. It is the UK’s primary platform for sharing and shaping future UK space domain strategic thinking and operational delivery.

The programme for DS2023 is being delivered in partnership with UK Space Command and the Freeman Air & Space Institute. Key contributions will also be made from Strategic Command and the Ministry of Defence’s Security, Policy & Operations department, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Business and Trade, and the UK Space Agency.

The conference will feature a range of topics including:

  • Delivering the National Space Strategy together: Representatives from different government departments will discuss the cross-government relationships and responsibilities for space and identify how the private sector can engage to support the delivery of the National Space Strategy.
  • Space sector Industry and Innovation: A panel will address how the UK plans to unlock growth in the space sector and the roadmap for unleashing the UK’s space potential to deliver the UK’s National and Defence Space Strategies.
  • Diversity in Space: Speakers from the military, industry and academia will examine how and why a diverse space workforce is critical for delivering the best security outcomes for the UK.
  • Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce: UK Space Command will chair a session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce. This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

The conference will include a keynote session with Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, who will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.

“The Defence Space Conference presents a unique opportunity to bring together all the critical stakeholders across the space community to share ideas and new initiatives to protect and defend the UK and harness the technology pipeline we need to deliver leading capabilities and generate the necessary skills to conduct space operations.”
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander, UK Space Command

Defence Space Conference 2023 will be a one-day conference on Tuesday 12 December 2023. It will include an exhibition and an exclusive reception in the evening. The event will be held at The Institution of Engineering & Technology in London. 

We are sorry but In-person tickets at the venue are now sold out, but you can still register to take part in the conference online by registering through the Virtual Access tab above. We look forward to you joining us on Tuesday.

Virtual attendees will be able to access the conference via a dedicated link to the livestream.

Next year’s two-day Defence Space Conference 2024 will be held on 24-25 September 2024 at The Institution of Engineering & Technology in London as well as online.

For sponsorship details please contact clive@airspacepower.com

Event Details

Date: 12 December 2023

Start time: 09:00 GMT

End time: 17:00 GMT

Venue: IET, Savoy Place, London

Agenda

12 December 2023
0800Venue registration opens
0830Coffee and Networking
0930Welcome and Conference IntroductionsAir Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst
0935Opening AddressAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
0945Stage change
0950Session 1: Delivering the Space Strategy together:

Space in the UK is a cross-department strategic endeavour. The first ever National Space Strategy brought together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, trade, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision: to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, growing the UK as a space nation.

The aim of this session is for the leading government departments to expose the cross-government relationships and responsibilities, and identify how academia and the private sector can engage to support delivery of the national space strategies. The session includes representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade, with an academic perspective from RUSI and industry perspective led from In-Space Missions, part of BAE Systems.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Doug Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

Group Captain Dave Keighley
Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations, UK MOD Space Policy Team

Juliana Suess
Research Analyst and Policy Lead, Military Sciences, RUSI

Joshua Broom
Head of Space, UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT)

Mark Bacon
Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
1100Morning Coffee & Networking
1130Session 2: Industry and Innovation: Collaborating for Success

This session will focus on how to unlock growth in the UK space sector and the collaborative routes for industry to turn innovation and new technologies into world-leading space capabilities. Panellists from across the space industry and science and technology sector will discuss how best to work with government bodies and Defence to deliver the national space strategy as well as work together with international partners to unleash the UK’s space potential.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

Dr Matthew Broadhead
Chief Consultant, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Systems Programme

Dr Michael O’Callaghan
Head of Future Programmes, Airbus Defence and Space UK

David Pile
Regional Director – UK, Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems
1210Stage change
1215Session 3: Diversity in Space

This session will discuss the importance of diversity not just on moral grounds but because research shows time and again that diversity improves decision-making and appropriate risk appetites.
Panellists from military, industry and academia will discuss how a lack of diversity in the space sector could hamper delivering the best security outcomes for the UK. They will ask why diversity matters, what opportunities are we missing, and is the route to diversity more challenging for the military sector?
This will be a briefing session before lunch with facilitated Q&A in the afternoon.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Carissa Bryce Christensen
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

Melissa Quinn
Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

Wing Commander Sas Duffin
Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

Julia Balm
Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
1300Networking & Lunch
1400Session 3: Diversity in Space Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Carissa Bryce Christensen
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

Melissa Quinn
Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

Wing Commander Sas Duffin
Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

Julia Balm
Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
1430Stage change
1435Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce:

UK Space Command will lead this session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce.

This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

A facilitated Q&A will follow after Tea & Networking.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Dr Joanna Hart
Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

Dr Heidi Thiemann
Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

Charlotte Petrides
Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

Andrew Ratcliffe
Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
1510Afternoon Tea & Networking
1540Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Dr Joanna Hart
Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

Dr Heidi Thiemann
Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

Charlotte Petrides
Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

Andrew Ratcliffe
Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
1610Stage Change
1615Keynote

In his Keynote Address Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
1630Keynote Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command

Doug Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
The Air & Space Power Association

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Carissa Bryce Christensen
CEO and Founder, BryceTech
1700Closing RemarksAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
1715-2030Drinks Reception in the Riverside Room
  • 12 December 2023
    0800Venue registration opens
    0830Coffee and Networking
    0930Welcome and Conference IntroductionsAir Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst
    0935Opening AddressAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    0945Stage change
    0950Session 1: Delivering the Space Strategy together:

    Space in the UK is a cross-department strategic endeavour. The first ever National Space Strategy brought together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, trade, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision: to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, growing the UK as a space nation.

    The aim of this session is for the leading government departments to expose the cross-government relationships and responsibilities, and identify how academia and the private sector can engage to support delivery of the national space strategies. The session includes representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade, with an academic perspective from RUSI and industry perspective led from In-Space Missions, part of BAE Systems.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Doug Liddle
    Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

    Group Captain Dave Keighley
    Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations, UK MOD Space Policy Team

    Juliana Suess
    Research Analyst and Policy Lead, Military Sciences, RUSI

    Joshua Broom
    Head of Space, UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT)

    Mark Bacon
    Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
    1100Morning Coffee & Networking
    1130Session 2: Industry and Innovation: Collaborating for Success

    This session will focus on how to unlock growth in the UK space sector and the collaborative routes for industry to turn innovation and new technologies into world-leading space capabilities. Panellists from across the space industry and science and technology sector will discuss how best to work with government bodies and Defence to deliver the national space strategy as well as work together with international partners to unleash the UK’s space potential.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

    Dr Matthew Broadhead
    Chief Consultant, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Systems Programme

    Dr Michael O’Callaghan
    Head of Future Programmes, Airbus Defence and Space UK

    David Pile
    Regional Director – UK, Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems
    1210Stage change
    1215Session 3: Diversity in Space

    This session will discuss the importance of diversity not just on moral grounds but because research shows time and again that diversity improves decision-making and appropriate risk appetites.
    Panellists from military, industry and academia will discuss how a lack of diversity in the space sector could hamper delivering the best security outcomes for the UK. They will ask why diversity matters, what opportunities are we missing, and is the route to diversity more challenging for the military sector?
    This will be a briefing session before lunch with facilitated Q&A in the afternoon.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

    Melissa Quinn
    Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

    Wing Commander Sas Duffin
    Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

    Julia Balm
    Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
    1300Networking & Lunch
    1400Session 3: Diversity in Space Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

    Melissa Quinn
    Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

    Wing Commander Sas Duffin
    Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

    Julia Balm
    Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
    1430Stage change
    1435Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce:

    UK Space Command will lead this session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce.

    This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

    A facilitated Q&A will follow after Tea & Networking.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Dr Joanna Hart
    Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

    Dr Heidi Thiemann
    Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

    Charlotte Petrides
    Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

    Andrew Ratcliffe
    Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
    1510Afternoon Tea & Networking
    1540Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Dr Joanna Hart
    Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

    Dr Heidi Thiemann
    Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

    Charlotte Petrides
    Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

    Andrew Ratcliffe
    Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
    1610Stage Change
    1615Keynote

    In his Keynote Address Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.
    Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    1630Keynote Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command

    Doug Liddle
    Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

    Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    The Air & Space Power Association

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    CEO and Founder, BryceTech
    1700Closing RemarksAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    1715-2030Drinks Reception in the Riverside Room

Speakers

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey OBE

Commander
United Kingdom Space Command

Mark Bacon

Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Julia Balm

Doctoral Researcher
Freeman Air and Space Institute, King’s College London

Dr Matthew Broadhead

Chief Consultant
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Space Systems Programme

Joshua Broom

Head of Space
UK Department for Business & Trade

Carissa Bryce Christensen

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
BryceTech

Wing Commander Sas Duffin

Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre
Combined Force Space Component Command

Dr Joanna Hart

Space Partnership Director
The Space Partnership

Group Captain John Hetherington

Deputy Head Space Enablement
UK Space Command

Group Captain Dave Keighley

Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations
UK MOD Space Policy Team

Doug Liddle

Chief Executive Office
In-Space Missions

Dr Michael O’Callaghan

Head of Future Programmes
Airbus Defence & Space UK

Charlotte Petrides

Director of Engineering
Viasat UK

David Pile

Regional Director – UK
Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Melissa Quinn

Managing Director of Seradata
Slingshot Aerospace

Andrew Ratcliffe

Chief Engineer
UK Space Agency

Air Commodore Mark Roberts

Chair
The Air & Space Power Association

Juliana Suess

Research Analyst and Policy Lead
Military Sciences, RUSI

Susannah Streeter

Broadcaster & Analyst ​

Dr Heidi Thiemann

Co-founder & Director
Space Skills Alliance

Sponsors

Strategic Partners

sponsors

professional services partner

Media

Strategic Media Partners

Media Partner

Media Partner

Details

Description

Defence Space: The leading UK Defence event for Space professionals

Welcome to Defence Space Conference 2023

UK Space Command’s Defence Space Conference is the leading platform for all those who seek to influence emerging thinking on the UK’s military space capabilities.

Bringing together senior UK military and government officials, alongside industry, academics, and leaders in disruptive technologies, the conference coheres military space strategy and operations with space technology and innovation. It is the UK’s primary platform for sharing and shaping future UK space domain strategic thinking and operational delivery.

The programme for DS2023 is being delivered in partnership with UK Space Command and the Freeman Air & Space Institute. Key contributions will also be made from Strategic Command and the Ministry of Defence’s Security, Policy & Operations department, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Business and Trade, and the UK Space Agency.

The conference will feature a range of topics including:

  • Delivering the National Space Strategy together: Representatives from different government departments will discuss the cross-government relationships and responsibilities for space and identify how the private sector can engage to support the delivery of the National Space Strategy.
  • Space sector Industry and Innovation: A panel will address how the UK plans to unlock growth in the space sector and the roadmap for unleashing the UK’s space potential to deliver the UK’s National and Defence Space Strategies.
  • Diversity in Space: Speakers from the military, industry and academia will examine how and why a diverse space workforce is critical for delivering the best security outcomes for the UK.
  • Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce: UK Space Command will chair a session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce. This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

The conference will include a keynote session with Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, who will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.

“The Defence Space Conference presents a unique opportunity to bring together all the critical stakeholders across the space community to share ideas and new initiatives to protect and defend the UK and harness the technology pipeline we need to deliver leading capabilities and generate the necessary skills to conduct space operations.”
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander, UK Space Command

Defence Space Conference 2023 will be a one-day conference on Tuesday 12 December 2023. It will include an exhibition and an exclusive reception in the evening. The event will be held at The Institution of Engineering & Technology in London. 

We are sorry but In-person tickets at the venue are now sold out, but you can still register to take part in the conference online by registering through the Virtual Access tab above. We look forward to you joining us on Tuesday.

Virtual attendees will be able to access the conference via a dedicated link to the livestream.

Next year’s two-day Defence Space Conference 2024 will be held on 24-25 September 2024 at The Institution of Engineering & Technology in London as well as online.

For sponsorship details please contact clive@airspacepower.com

Event Details

Date: 12 December 2023

Start time: 09:00 GMT

End time: 17:00 GMT

Venue: IET, Savoy Place, London

Agenda

12 December 2023
0800Venue registration opens
0830Coffee and Networking
0930Welcome and Conference IntroductionsAir Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst
0935Opening AddressAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
0945Stage change
0950Session 1: Delivering the Space Strategy together:

Space in the UK is a cross-department strategic endeavour. The first ever National Space Strategy brought together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, trade, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision: to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, growing the UK as a space nation.

The aim of this session is for the leading government departments to expose the cross-government relationships and responsibilities, and identify how academia and the private sector can engage to support delivery of the national space strategies. The session includes representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade, with an academic perspective from RUSI and industry perspective led from In-Space Missions, part of BAE Systems.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Doug Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

Group Captain Dave Keighley
Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations, UK MOD Space Policy Team

Juliana Suess
Research Analyst and Policy Lead, Military Sciences, RUSI

Joshua Broom
Head of Space, UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT)

Mark Bacon
Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
1100Morning Coffee & Networking
1130Session 2: Industry and Innovation: Collaborating for Success

This session will focus on how to unlock growth in the UK space sector and the collaborative routes for industry to turn innovation and new technologies into world-leading space capabilities. Panellists from across the space industry and science and technology sector will discuss how best to work with government bodies and Defence to deliver the national space strategy as well as work together with international partners to unleash the UK’s space potential.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

Dr Matthew Broadhead
Chief Consultant, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Systems Programme

Dr Michael O’Callaghan
Head of Future Programmes, Airbus Defence and Space UK

David Pile
Regional Director – UK, Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems
1210Stage change
1215Session 3: Diversity in Space

This session will discuss the importance of diversity not just on moral grounds but because research shows time and again that diversity improves decision-making and appropriate risk appetites.
Panellists from military, industry and academia will discuss how a lack of diversity in the space sector could hamper delivering the best security outcomes for the UK. They will ask why diversity matters, what opportunities are we missing, and is the route to diversity more challenging for the military sector?
This will be a briefing session before lunch with facilitated Q&A in the afternoon.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Carissa Bryce Christensen
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

Melissa Quinn
Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

Wing Commander Sas Duffin
Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

Julia Balm
Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
1300Networking & Lunch
1400Session 3: Diversity in Space Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Carissa Bryce Christensen
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

Melissa Quinn
Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

Wing Commander Sas Duffin
Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

Julia Balm
Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
1430Stage change
1435Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce:

UK Space Command will lead this session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce.

This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

A facilitated Q&A will follow after Tea & Networking.
Susannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Dr Joanna Hart
Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

Dr Heidi Thiemann
Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

Charlotte Petrides
Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

Andrew Ratcliffe
Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
1510Afternoon Tea & Networking
1540Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Dr Joanna Hart
Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

Dr Heidi Thiemann
Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

Charlotte Petrides
Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

Andrew Ratcliffe
Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
1610Stage Change
1615Keynote

In his Keynote Address Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
1630Keynote Q&ASusannah Streeter
Broadcaster & Analyst

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command

Doug Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
The Air & Space Power Association

Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

Carissa Bryce Christensen
CEO and Founder, BryceTech
1700Closing RemarksAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander, UK Space Command
1715-2030Drinks Reception in the Riverside Room
  • 12 December 2023
    0800Venue registration opens
    0830Coffee and Networking
    0930Welcome and Conference IntroductionsAir Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst
    0935Opening AddressAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    0945Stage change
    0950Session 1: Delivering the Space Strategy together:

    Space in the UK is a cross-department strategic endeavour. The first ever National Space Strategy brought together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, trade, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision: to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, growing the UK as a space nation.

    The aim of this session is for the leading government departments to expose the cross-government relationships and responsibilities, and identify how academia and the private sector can engage to support delivery of the national space strategies. The session includes representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade, with an academic perspective from RUSI and industry perspective led from In-Space Missions, part of BAE Systems.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Doug Liddle
    Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

    Group Captain Dave Keighley
    Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations, UK MOD Space Policy Team

    Juliana Suess
    Research Analyst and Policy Lead, Military Sciences, RUSI

    Joshua Broom
    Head of Space, UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT)

    Mark Bacon
    Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
    1100Morning Coffee & Networking
    1130Session 2: Industry and Innovation: Collaborating for Success

    This session will focus on how to unlock growth in the UK space sector and the collaborative routes for industry to turn innovation and new technologies into world-leading space capabilities. Panellists from across the space industry and science and technology sector will discuss how best to work with government bodies and Defence to deliver the national space strategy as well as work together with international partners to unleash the UK’s space potential.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    Chair, The Air & Space Power Association

    Dr Matthew Broadhead
    Chief Consultant, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Systems Programme

    Dr Michael O’Callaghan
    Head of Future Programmes, Airbus Defence and Space UK

    David Pile
    Regional Director – UK, Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems
    1210Stage change
    1215Session 3: Diversity in Space

    This session will discuss the importance of diversity not just on moral grounds but because research shows time and again that diversity improves decision-making and appropriate risk appetites.
    Panellists from military, industry and academia will discuss how a lack of diversity in the space sector could hamper delivering the best security outcomes for the UK. They will ask why diversity matters, what opportunities are we missing, and is the route to diversity more challenging for the military sector?
    This will be a briefing session before lunch with facilitated Q&A in the afternoon.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

    Melissa Quinn
    Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

    Wing Commander Sas Duffin
    Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

    Julia Balm
    Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
    1300Networking & Lunch
    1400Session 3: Diversity in Space Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech

    Melissa Quinn
    Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace

    Wing Commander Sas Duffin
    Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre, Combined Force Space Component Command

    Julia Balm
    Doctoral Researcher, Freeman Air & Space Institute, King’s College London
    1430Stage change
    1435Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce:

    UK Space Command will lead this session focused on how to generate and maintain a skilled space workforce.

    This session will address the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining space skills across the sector. Panellists will also discuss plans for the UK Space Academy, and discuss how defence skills may differ from the civilian sector.

    A facilitated Q&A will follow after Tea & Networking.
    Susannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Dr Joanna Hart
    Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

    Dr Heidi Thiemann
    Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

    Charlotte Petrides
    Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

    Andrew Ratcliffe
    Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
    1510Afternoon Tea & Networking
    1540Session 4: Attracting, Developing, and Retaining the UK’s Space Workforce Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Dr Joanna Hart
    Space Partnership Director, The Space Partnership

    Dr Heidi Thiemann
    Co-founder & Director, Space Skills Alliance

    Charlotte Petrides
    Director of Engineering, ViaSat UK

    Andrew Ratcliffe
    Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency
    1610Stage Change
    1615Keynote

    In his Keynote Address Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, will provide an update on UK Space Command’s progress and roadmap for 2024.
    Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    1630Keynote Q&ASusannah Streeter
    Broadcaster & Analyst

    Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command

    Doug Liddle
    Chief Executive Officer, In-Space Missions

    Air Commodore Mark Roberts (Retd)
    The Air & Space Power Association

    Group Captain John Hetherington
    Deputy Head Space Enablement, UK Space Command

    Carissa Bryce Christensen
    CEO and Founder, BryceTech
    1700Closing RemarksAir Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Commander, UK Space Command
    1715-2030Drinks Reception in the Riverside Room

Speakers

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey OBE

Commander
United Kingdom Space Command

Mark Bacon

Deputy Director of Programmes, Direct Investments & Sector Policy
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Julia Balm

Doctoral Researcher
Freeman Air and Space Institute, King’s College London

Dr Matthew Broadhead

Chief Consultant
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Space Systems Programme

Joshua Broom

Head of Space
UK Department for Business & Trade

Carissa Bryce Christensen

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
BryceTech

Wing Commander Sas Duffin

Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre
Combined Force Space Component Command

Dr Joanna Hart

Space Partnership Director
The Space Partnership

Group Captain John Hetherington

Deputy Head Space Enablement
UK Space Command

Group Captain Dave Keighley

Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations
UK MOD Space Policy Team

Doug Liddle

Chief Executive Office
In-Space Missions

Dr Michael O’Callaghan

Head of Future Programmes
Airbus Defence & Space UK

Charlotte Petrides

Director of Engineering
Viasat UK

David Pile

Regional Director – UK
Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Melissa Quinn

Managing Director of Seradata
Slingshot Aerospace

Andrew Ratcliffe

Chief Engineer
UK Space Agency

Air Commodore Mark Roberts

Chair
The Air & Space Power Association

Juliana Suess

Research Analyst and Policy Lead
Military Sciences, RUSI

Susannah Streeter

Broadcaster & Analyst ​

Dr Heidi Thiemann

Co-founder & Director
Space Skills Alliance

Sponsors

Strategic Partners

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Media

Strategic Media Partners

Media Partner

Media Partner

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey OBE

Commander, UK Space Command

Paul joined the Royal Air Force in 1991 and has been a fighter pilot for most of his career. A weapons instructor on the Harrier and one of the first operational pilots on the Eurofighter Typhoon, he has flown on numerous operations and exercises with the RAF and undertook an exchange tour on the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the United States Air Force. He was also privileged to be a Spitfire and Hurricane pilot on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Other roles have included Typhoon requirements management at Defence Equipment and Support in Bristol, capability management at the Ministry of Defence and operational programme management within the F-35 Lightning programme. Between 2015 and 2017, Paul was Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth before moving to the Ministry of Defence as head of Carrier Enabled Power Projection, integrating F-35B fighters and Crowsnest helicopters with Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. He recently returned from Al Udeid airbase, where he was responsible for coalition air and space power across the Middle East within the USAF Combined Air and Space Operations Centre. He took control of UK Space Command in April 2021.

Mark Bacon

Deputy Director Capabilities, Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Mark Bacon leads the Capabilities team in the Space Directorate at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, working on a range of capabilities including spaceflight, satcoms and OneWeb, SDA, EO data, SBAS and in-orbit economy.  He has worked in the space sector for 13 years, first in the UK Space Agency and now in DSIT.

Julia Balm

Research Associate Freeman Air and Space Institute, School of Security Studies King's College London

Julia Balm is a Research Associate and PhD candidate in the Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI) in the School of Security Studies, King’s College London. Her research focuses on space power theory in the New Space Age, and she utilises interdisciplinary methods to approach the topic through a contemporary lens.

Dr Matthew Broadhead

Chief Consultant
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Space Systems Programme

Dr Broadhead is the Technology Strategy Leader and Chief Consultant for Space at the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl) based at Portsdown West near Portsmouth. He began a professional career in space after completing a PhD in early universe cosmology at the University in Liverpool in 2005. Matt spent three years in MOD head office as a programme manager and technical advisor to senior officials. He has been a senior advisor within Dstl since 2014 and in 2019 is the Technical Strategy Leader for the domain. This includes leading the strategic direction for the wider space capability within the lab. He is an advocate for the role that technology push and innovation can play in shaking up Defence thinking and has published on such cross-cutting issues as deterrence, mission assurance and space warfare. Across all areas, Dr Broadhead has a track record of technical and programmatic collaboration with the US, the wider 5-eyes community, NATO, and other nations in pursuing common Defence objectives in space. Matt is a Chartered Physicist and a mentor for the Institute of Physics. He is active in leading the development of a growing space capability in Dstl to serve Defence’s future needs. He is an avid board and war-gamer.

Joshua Broom

Head of Space
UK Department for Business & Trade

Joshua Broom is the Head of Space at the UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT). He leads the Department’s space engagement with UK companies looking to export to global markets, and international companies wishing to invest and locate in the UK space sector, as well as investors looking to invest into UK companies and capabilities. He also coordinates the Department’s contributions to cross-government space policy and governance working with the Department for Science, Innovation, & Technology (DSIT), the UK Space Agency, Ministry of Defence (MOD), Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office (FCDO), and Cabinet Office.

Josh has worked in the UK Government on space since he joined the Civil Service in 2017. He has held four different roles in the Department for the Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the UK Space Agency, and Department for International Trade – now DBT. He has tackled many complex issues such as negotiating with the European Union on UK participation in EU space programmes, mobilising space-based assets and expertise for emergency responses to international crises in Australia and elsewhere, establishing precedent-setting agreements and partnerships with strategic space-faring allies, and landing companies from abroad across the UK space ecosystem.
Prior to his career in the Civil Service, Josh studied at Loughborough University and Cranfield University to secure bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and environmental science respectively. He is a self-professed space ‘geek’, keen traveller, and rugby enthusiast.

Carissa Bryce Christensen

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
BryceTech

Carissa Bryce Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of BryceTech companies in the US and the UK. She previously co-founded defense contractor The Tauri Group, acquired by LMI in 2019, and quantum computing software firm QxBranch, acquired by Rigetti Computing in 2019. She is an active tech investor and has served on several early-stage boards. Ms. Christensen is an internationally recognized expert on the satellite and space industry, known for rigorous analysis and innovative, data-driven strategy. She co-chairs the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Space, chairs the US board of the UN-affiliated Space Generation Advisory Council, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy. She is a founding member of the Future Space Leaders Foundation and currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Board. She is a Senior Advisor to the annual US Space Force Schriever Wargame. Ms. Christensen previously served on the National Research Council Space Technology Industry-Government-University Roundtable, which advises NASA, and the Space Committee of the Defense Innovation Board. Ms. Christensen guest lectures at universities internationally, including Harvard Business School and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. She has testified before Congress and Parliament committees on space markets. She publishes extensively, is often cited by major media outlets, and has appeared in commercial space documentaries by The Financial Times and Bloomberg. Ms. Christensen is a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School, where she specialized in science and technology policy. She attended the London School of Economics and was a Douglass Scholar at Rutgers University. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Wing Commander Sas Duffin

Deputy Director and Branch Head Enablement, NATO Space Centre
Combined Force Space Component Command

Joining the RAF in Nov 2005, Wg Cdr Duffin initially served as a Personnel Officer. Her first tour was with Joint Force Harrier, followed by operational tours in Afghanistan and Al Udeid. Staff tours at HQ Air Command and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) exposed her to strategic command alongside policy and planning roles. A branch change in Jul 2018 enabled an opportunity to work in space operations. A Qualified Space Instructor (QSI), she established the Space Liaison network for UK Space Command and developed space training, education and awareness for Defence. She completed Advanced Command and Staff College at the Defence Academy Shrivenham in Jul 2021, gaining an MA with Distinction in Defence Studies. Subsequently selected as a UK Space Command Space Fellow, she began her PhD in Jan 2023, and her research considers the contribution of national cultures and international relations theory to the development of alliances, norms and responsible behaviours in Space. She moved to the NATO Space Centre in Oct 22 as Branch Head Enablement and Deputy Director. The Enablement Branch is accountable for all aspects of plans, policy, workforce development, training and exercise participation, and the implementation of the space domain to NATO.

Dr Joanna Hart

Space Partnership Director
The Space Partnership
Joanna thrives on bringing people together to address complex challenges and deliver change. Since March 2023, Joanna has brought together industry, academia and government to identify shared priorities and agree collective action to deliver the ambition contained within the National Space Strategy. After a first career in investment banking, Joanna started in the space sector in 2014 at the Satellite Applications Catapult. At STFC (part of UKRI) Joanna supported the growth of the Harwell Space Cluster from 80 to over 100 organisations and led the development of STFC’s Skills Factory proposal to address national technical skills shortages.

Group Captain John Hetherington

Deputy Head Space Enablement
UK Space Command

John Hetherington enjoyed tours across a broad range of roles, including recruit training, infrastructure and personnel as a junior officer.
In 2016 he was promoted to wing commander and completed Advanced Staff training before being posted to MOD Infrastructure Capability. This involved supporting Ministerial announcements in Parliament as the lead officer on the Defence Estates Optimisation Programme. He was assigned to command Base Support Wing at RAF Brize Norton in 2019 during which he supported the operations of the Air Mobility Force during COVID-19 and the evacuation of personnel from Afghanistan as part of Op PITTING. Promoted to Group Captain in 2022, he was assigned as Deputy Head Space Enablement in UK Space Command with responsibility for RAF Fylingdales, workforce, training, cyber, engineering, safety and through-life capability management.
He has deployed on various operations; Op RESONATE in Saudi Arabia, Op TELIC in Iraq and he served in Afghanistan on Op HERRICK.
John has a Masters in Defence Studies from Kings College London, is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development and a Fellow of CMI. He is Chairman of the RAF Officers’ Football Club, is a Director at the RAF FA and a Trustee of the Central Church of the RAF.

Group Captain Dave Keighley

Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations
UK MOD Space Policy Team

Group Captain Dave Keighley is the Assistant Head for Strategy and Operations within the UK MOD Space Policy Team. During his 33-year Royal Air Force career, he has amassed over 20 years of space experience in areas such as ballistic missile early warning; space domain awareness; space tactics and training; and space policy and strategy. He has completed operational tours at Royal Air Force Fylingdales (a Ballistic Missile Early Warning and Space Surveillance radar site); and in the USA operating both the Defense Support Programme and Space Based Infrared System architectures. He also authored the original Concept of Employment for the UK’s Space Operations Centre and played a key role integrating space into frontline tactical air training. In his last appointment, he was the Director of Operations for the UK’s Air Surveillance and Control System (the tactical backbone of the UK’s integrated air defence system). He has also completed a tour at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium and operational deployments to the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan and Tunisia.

Doug Liddle

Director - Space, BAE Systems

With 30 years in the space industry, Doug has vast experience in leading complex space programmes. After leaving Oxford in 1993 with an MA in Physics, he joined the Defence Research Agency (now QinetiQ) to work on all things space, including radar surveillance, space radiation, spacecraft dynamics and military communications systems.

In 2001, he moved to Surrey Satellites to become a spacecraft systems engineer. Over the following years, he developed several new spacecraft including Europe’s first Galileo demonstrator satellite, GIOVE-A; ran the Science and Exploration business unit; and delivered multiple satellites and optical imaging payloads including the UK’s first cubesat.

In 2015, Doug created In-Space Missions, a company founded to develop new space-enabled services and offer expert consultancy to industry, academia and government. Since 2015, he has also run the UK’s rocket programme; led the technical development of a disruptive innovation centre; developed a commercial demonstration platform for space; and initiated a company delivering real time video and immersive experiences from space.

Doug is the Vice Chair of industry trade body UKspace, and also chairs the UK’s Space Skills Advisory Panel which provides pan-sector leadership to address the space sector’s skills challenges.

Dr Michael O’Callaghan

Head of Future Programmes
Airbus Defence & Space UK

Mike is a leader within the UK’s Defence and Space community, with experience across a diverse range of roles within both the public and private sector, working across industry and academia, and with national and international Governments and agencies. He is graduate from the University of Nottingham where he obtained his PhD in Chemistry, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 

Mike spent 15 years at Dstl, the research agency of the UK Ministry of Defence, undertaking a range of both corporate and technical leadership roles, and most recently leading their Space Systems Programme through a period of significant growth between 2017 and 2023. This supported the development of the Defence Space Portfolio, with both him and his programme team winning several awards including MOD Chief Scientist, Minister (Defence Procurement) awards, and commendations for international collaboration.

Mike moved to Airbus Defence and Space in early 2023 taking up the role of Head of Future Programmes, which includes leadership of the Airbus Research, Experimentation and Demonstration (RED) Hub, with responsibility for leading and growing business within the UK Defence S&T and R&D ecosystem across C4ISR and Space.

Charlotte Petrides

Director of Engineering
Viasat UK
Charlotte’s first passion was in Physics, but she realised that the solitary nature of theoretical particle physics didn’t fit her personality. She took a risk and stepped into a graduate scheme in engineering for a Space Imaging department at e2v in Chelmsford, Essex. When Charlotte completed the scheme, she moved on to work in systems at MBDA before joining Ultra as a Senior Systems Engineer. In 2 years, she was promoted to Head of Systems Engineering for the Cyber department. Charlotte joined Viasat UK as the Engineering Director in May 2023, leading a team of diverse engineers through the Information Assurance & Cybersecurity, Secure Communications and Space Systems Pillars. Charlotte’s passions include supporting STEM activities, as well as creating a future talent pipeline through strategic workforce planning, spotlighting the importance of Graduate Schemes and communities that promote Women in Engineering.

David Pile

Regional Director – UK
Europe & MENA at Northrop Grumman Space Systems

David Pile is the Regional Director of the United Kingdom, Europe, and Middle East geographies for Northrop Grumman Space Systems. He has been in this role since 2019, and leads the connectivity between our regional customers and suppliers with the business delivery teams in the United States. Prior to working at Northrop Grumman Corporation, David was the Strategy and Business Development Director for Rheinmetall Defence UK, and has held various executive roles with Raytheon UK, Thales, and PA Consulting. Before entering the aerospace, space, and defence industry, David served for twelve years as a British Army officer including a number of operational and staff appointments.

Melissa Quinn

Managing Director of Seradata
Slingshot Aerospace
Melissa Quinn is the Managing Director of Seradata, Slingshot Aerospace’s industry-leading space database, tracking every launch since Sputnik. Melissa leads the UK team to empower organizations with actionable insight and is driving the global expansion of Slingshot Aerospace to deliver the acceleration of space sustainability. Previously, as Director of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa’s purpose-driven leadership was instrumental in the first launch from UK soil earlier this year. Melissa is passionate about the role of space in improving life on Earth. She fosters this through outreach to young people, specifically young girls interested in STEM careers. She is part of TEC girls, Women in Aerospace and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Melissa holds a Master of Science Degree from the London School of Economics. She is a recognized thought leader in the space industry and has been a keynote speaker at numerous industry conferences and events. She has been featured in the New York Times, BBC World News, National Geographic and is a TEDX Speaker.

Andrew Ratcliffe

Chief Engineer
UK Space Agency

Andrew Ratcliffe is Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency (UKSA) leading the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) which serves as principal advisor to the Deputy CEO on matters pertaining to the technical readiness and execution of UKSA programmes. Andrew also represents HMG as head of delegation at a number of international forums including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Science and Technical Subcommittee (UNCOPUOS) and Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Prior to joining the UKSA, Andrew worked for Airbus Defence and Space where his role included leading a number of mission studies and technology development activities for ESA across Science and Exploration including the development of a Harpoon for capturing space debris.

Air Commodore
Mark Roberts CBE MA MBA

Chair,
The Air & Space Power Association

Mark Roberts runs a small Space sector start-up, Gravitilab Aerospace Services.  Before this he was the Defence and Security Director for RHEATECH UK and Project Director for Spaceport 1. Previously an operational pilot in the Royal Air Force, he commanded both 12 Squadron and RAF Lossiemouth. Mark was also Director of the Air Staff with Space and Cyber Policy in his portfolio, and Head of Capability Deep Target Attack, with responsibility for Combat Air, Complex Weapons, Land Engagement and elements of the Carrier programme. Mark is the Chairman of The Air and Space Power Association.

Juliana Suess

Research Fellow, Space Security
Royal United Services Institute

 Juliana is the Research Fellow on Space Security as part of the Military Sciences team at RUSI and is the host of the podcast War in Space. She was previously Project Officer and Research Analyst at RUSI International. Her research interests include global space governance, sustainability, counterspace capabilities and space warfare.

Juliana holds an MA in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London and a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading. Prior to joining RUSI, she was an intern for the Development, Concept and Doctrine Centre, the independent think tank of the Ministry of Defence. There she researched varied topic areas, including geo-strategic, security and stabilisation topics, as well as future and contemporary trends in warfare.

Susannah Streeter

Broadcaster & Analyst

Susannah is a broadcaster, financial commentator and former RAF Reserve officer who has anchored flagship news shows on BBC TV and radio and hosts major conferences around the world.  At the BBC, Susannah was the anchor for World Business Report on the BBC World Service and BBC World TV. Prior to focusing on the financial news agenda, she was a reporter for the national BBC One Breakfast programme.  Between 1997 and 2007 Susannah served in the Royal Air Force Reserves, joining 7644 Squadron, a media operations unit, where she rose to the rank of Squadron Leader. She led the combat camera team on exercises and operations in the Middle East, the Balkans, the US and Eastern Europe. She was also UK representative on NATO’s Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers, and served on the Communications Commission for events in Strasbourg, Madrid and Berlin.  She has interviewed world leaders and central bankers on economic issues and green policies, including Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø, the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai, the International Banking Forum in Kuwait, the Sustainable Finance Forum in Abu Dhabi and Our Ocean in Oslo. She is currently the Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, where she provides analysis for investors and the media.

Dr Heidi Thiemann

Co-founder & Director
Space Skills Alliance

Heidi is the co-founder and director of the Space Skills Alliance, a think tank, consultancy, and backbone organisation addressing the space skills gap. Since co-founding SSA in 2019, Heidi has become recognised as a leader in the space skills landscape. Previously, she led the Cornwall Space and Aerospace Technology Training programme, developing the first national HNC/HND curriculum for the space sector and supporting local businesses to identify and fill their skills gaps. Heidi holds a PhD in Astrophysics from the Open University, and a MPhys in Physics with Space Science and Technology from the University of Leicester.

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With deep roots in defense and a modern, commercial-driven mindset, we use our 35+ years of experience in breaking down communications silos to help create seamless interoperability across complex forms of connectivity: Broadband Satcom. Tactical Networking. Advanced Cybersecurity. Viasat is on a mission to develop the ultimate global communications network to power secure and scalable connections our partners need to operate as a successful team – on the ground, in the air, at sea, or in space – and to maximize their collective strength when it’s needed most.

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Formed in 1866, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), is the world’s only professional body dedicated to the entire aerospace, space and aviation community. The award-winning AEROSPACE magazine is the flagship monthly publication of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is free to all members and Corporate Partner organisations as part of their membership. It is written for aerospace professionals by aerospace professionals. The magazine is available in print and digital version with each monthly issue delivering in-depth analysis, expert opinion and learned insight into the latest global industry news and trends in aviation, aerospace and spaceflight.
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Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries, serving 1.2 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week Network to help them understand the market, make decisions, predict trends, and connect with people and business opportunities. Customers include the world’s leading aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this worldwide marketplace. Aviation Week Network’s portfolio delivers award-winning journalism, data, intelligence and analytical resources, world-class tradeshows and conferences, and results-driven marketing services and advertising. Aviation Week Network is part of Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC. 

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