Martin has been a space scientist for 40 years and is a Professor of Astrophysics and Space Science at the University of Leicester. He also holds the titles of head of Physics & Astronomy, founding head of the College of Science & Engineering and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Science Projects and Director of the Leicester Institute of Space & Earth Observation. He was President of the Royal Astronomical Society from 2014 to 2016. He has been involved in many space missions and published almost 400 research papers. He is the originator of the concept of Space Park Leicester and a leader in its development, and leads the SPRINT project, supporting SME growth.

Sarah Cruddas is a Space Journalist, TV Host and Author with an academic background in astrophysics and is a global thought leader in the new space sector. 

In the US, Sarah is the host of a major new series on the Discovery Channel. In the UK, Sarah can be seen on BBC News, Sky News, ITV and Channel 5 and heard across various national radio stations.

She also writes about commercial spaceflight for various international press.

A passionate advocate for the commercial space sector, Sarah speaks internationally, working with high profile organisations, people and various heads of agencies. 

Sarah is also a board member of Space for Humanity through its citizen astronaut program.

Jeremy Curtis trained as an engineer and leads the UK Space Agency's space education programme, which uses space to inspire interest in STEM subjects and to address the skills needs of the growing UK space sector.
He chairs the ESERO-UK Steering Group and is a member of the steering group of the National Space Academy and the ESA Advisory Committee on Education.  He led the team that delivered the Principia education programme in support of Tim Peake’s mission to the ISS, which reached over two million young people across the UK.
He has chaired the Organising Committee for the UK Space Conference since it began in Warwick in 2011.

Dickie joined Welsh Government in 2012 after 30 years in the Army. Appointed Deputy Director for the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Sector in 2013, Dickie and his team has helped create, assist or safeguard over 10,000 jobs in the Welsh manufacturing sphere, directly supporting 380 Wales based companies. Under new arrangements following the implementation in 2018 of the Welsh Government’s new Economic Action Plan, Dickie was appointed Deputy Director, Thematic and Foundation Division, which supports regional economic growth across the whole of Wales.

As Vice President of Business Development at Virgin Orbit, Stephen Eisele is responsible for leading all sales and the strategies around business efforts and advanced concepts. His primary focus is to engage with the civil, commercial and new space small satellite community as well as lead Virgin Orbit’s growth opportunities through strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Virgin Orbit, Eisele served as a senior business development executive for Surrey Satellite Technology US, where he was responsible for engaging with commercial and government customers and collaborating with them on advancing their key programs from subsystems to platforms and mission fulfillment. He also helped lead Surrey’s business growth opportunities through strategic partnerships, enterprise marketing, and advancing new space technology and innovation developed from within the company’s core offerings.

Adina is a Principle Consultant to Kispe and Business Development Director (Europe) for GHGSat. She is responsible for delivering strategic advice and guidance in the application of Earth Observation (EO) technology. Adina has more than 15 years’ experience developing and delivering New Space programmes and policy for industry and government. 
Adina has served on the EO Advisory Committee to the UK Space Agency and chaired the Industrial Advisory Group on Commercial EO Regulations. She is currently serving on the Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, the Regional Catapult Advisory Board, the UK Space Agency Regulatory Advisory Group and the Spatial Finance Initiative (SFI) Advisory Board. 
 

Andy Green is President of UKspace, co-chair of the UK Space Leadership Council and a member of the CBI President's Committee. He holds a number of Chairman, NED and advisory roles, linked by his passion for how technology transforms business and our daily lives.

He chairs IG Group plc, a global leader in online trading, and the Digital Catapult, an initiative to help grow the UK Digital Economy. He is NED and Chair of the European Advisory Forum at Link Administration Holdings, an international provider of financial administration services. He is a National Infrastructure Commissioner and a Trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee and WWF UK.

Bhavya Lal leads strategy, technology assessment, and policy studies and analyses at the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She is also involved with the National Space Council, and Federal space-oriented organizations including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community.

She has applied her expertise in engineering systems and innovation theory and practice to topics in space, with particular focus on commercial activities related to small satellites, space nuclear power, on-orbit servicing assembly and manufacturing, human exploration, and space science. 

David Parker has been ESA's space exploration director since April 2016. He led the creation of the European Exploration Envelope Programme, approved by Ministers at the 2016 Lucerne space conference. Highlights include astronaut missions to the International Space Station, the first Mars life-search rover and the power and propulsion system that will take astronauts back to the Moon. He has worked in the space sector for nearly thirty years and from 2013 to 2016 was Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency. Trained in aeronautics and astronautics at Southampton University, Dr. Parker was awarded a PhD for aeronautical research supported by NASA.

Graham Peters is Chair of the UKspace trade association, VP space for ADS and Chair of the Space Growth Partnership. He holds a BSc in Physics from London University and has spent over 30 years in the space industry.

His career has included technical, commercial and general management positions at British Aerospace, Vega Group, IGG Component Technology and Avanti Communications. These roles have provided experience in research and development, growing businesses and exporting around the world in the domains of satellite manufacturing, navigation & communications, spacecraft operations, electronic parts procurement, training & simulation, and applications.

In July 2019, Graham joined ArQit Ltd to help establish the world’s first global Quantum Key Distribution network.

Ken Skates was born in 1976 in Wrexham, educated at Mold Alun School and went on to study Social and Political Science at Cambridge University. Previously, Ken was a journalist at the Wrexham Leader newspaper, and BBC Wales in Wrexham and PA to Mark Tami MP. In 2008, he was elected a community councillor. Ken’s policy interests include manufacturing, mental health, sport and leisure, eliminating poverty and political economy. Ken was appointed to the Welsh Government as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in 2011, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism in 2014 and promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in May 2016.

Nik Smith is the UK Country Director for Lockheed Martin Space.  He is responsible for the growth strategy in the UK, seeking opportunities for the entire portfolio of the company’s capabilities as well as providing leadership for the current programmes.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin Space, Nik served in the Royal Air Force fulfilling a range of roles focused on information technology, communications, information and cyber policy, intelligence capability and spacecraft operations. 
 

Graham Stuart was elected Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness in 2005 and more recently, appointed Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade. Graham’s Parliamentary career has seen him serve as Chair of the Education Select Committee (2010-15) and as a Government Whip with responsibility for the Department of Health, and later for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence. In his role as Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade Graham focuses on encouraging foreign investment into the UK economy and promoting overseas investment opportunities to British companies.

Graham has been CEO at the UK Space Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) since March 2017. Prior to this he led the Better Regulation Executive, a unit within BEIS. He holds a PhD in Particle Physics from Cambridge University for theoretical work at CERN.

Graham also holds a diploma in public administration from the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA). He has extensive experience across Whitehall and at a European level – a key priority for the Agency’s head. He has worked in the European Commission and held several other posts in the UK Civil Service with a strong European element, including the Treasury’s lead on the EU budget.