Reinventing Space Speakers & Programme

More details on the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards ‘Arthurs’ to come…

Student Careers Day – The Marshall of Cambridge Room

More Information can be found HERE.

Opening Keynote Speaker

Prof. Carole Mundell – ESA Director of Science.
Prof. Mundell is an internationally renowned scientist with extensive experience in inclusive leadership, operational management, strategy and international science policy development.
She joined ESA from the University of Bath where she held the Hiroko Sherwin Chair in Extragalactic Astronomy, was founding Head of Astrophysics, and served as Head of the Department of Physics until becoming the first woman Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2018 and first Chief International Science Envoy in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office until 2021. 
Working at the interface of theory, observation and technology development, Mundell has pushed the frontiers of technology to open new windows on the Universe to test long-standing theoretical predictions in extragalactic astrophysics and probe the black-hole driven, dynamic Universe. She has published over 170 peer-reviewed papers, presented her work to expert and lay audiences around the world and supervised and mentored early-stage career researchers who now hold senior positions in academia and industry
Her research interests encompass ground- and space-based research and technology development across the electromagnetic spectrum and new technologies and policies for space sustainability. Prof. Mundell is a vocal advocate for equity and diversity in science and a soughtafter public speaker.

Prof. Mundell will also be a panellist on Helen Sharman’s Expert Panel.

Keynote Speaker

Prof Bernard Foing is President of Space Renaissance International, Executive Director of ILEWG, CEO LUNEX EuroSpaceHub and EuroMoonMars Earth Space Innovation, Qomosys Chief Scientist. ERA chair at Riga Latvia, guest Prof at Leiden observatory, ISU, IPSA and formerly EPFL, VU Amsterdam.
Prof. Foing is also a Member of IAF committees (IPC, space exploration, astronomy, space habitats, traffic management, ITACCUS former chair), Founder of ArtMoonMars and MoonGallery, Full member of International Academy of Astronautics since 2010, vice-chair COSPAR planetary and PEX Panel on Exploration Panel, co-director IMA International Moonbase Alliance, founder Moon Village & MVA, EGU space instrumentation officer. Former ESA Chief Scientist, senior advisor to DG, chair of ESTEC staff association committee (2012-2017) & SMART-1 Lead scientist. Co-Investigator of SOHO, XMM, BIOPAN, SMART-1, Mars Express, COROT, ISS/Expose, BIOMEX, ExoMars.

He has been working at CNRS, and as post-doc astronomer ESO European Southern Observatory Chile, PhD astrophysics & space techniques (CNRS, Lockheed, SacPeak, Boulder, Harvard), Prof agrégé Physics, Ecole Normale Supérieure ENSET Paris-Saclay. 

Keynote Speaker

Prof. David Parker has become one of the UK’s leading space programme experts. Following engineering roles in industry studying new astrophysics and planetary missions, he later secured UK leadership for projects such as Aeolus and LISA Pathfinder. Joining the Research Councils in 2004 to represent the UK in ESA’s science and exploration programmes, he helped create the UK Space Agency in 2010, becoming its Chief Executive in 2013.

As a Director of ESA (2016-23), he established its space exploration programme and doubled its budget. Now a visiting Professor at the University of Southampton, he consults for ESA and is a non-executive member of the UK Space Agency’s Board. Holding a BSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD sponsored by NASA, in 2019 he received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Geoffrey Pardoe award for long and valued service to the space sector.

Keynote Speaker

Colin Baldwin is UKspace’s Executive Director – a role that he took up in July 2024, having originally joined the organisation as Head of Policy in 2022. Prior to joining UKspace, Colin was Head of Local Growth Strategy at the UK Space Agency where he was responsible for developing space clusters across the country, fostering university-business collaborations and supporting space start-ups and scale-ups.

UKSpace is the official trade association of the British space industry and has been its leading voice for over 35 years. 

Keynote Speaker

Annamaria Nassisi is the Manager Space Economy Observation and Navigation for Thales Alenia Space Italy.

Annamaria has a Master’s degree in Physics and Geophysics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza.” Research fellow in thermodynamic models. Developed software for new products at GEPIN. She began her career in the space sector at Selenia Spazio (now Thales Alenia Space) and has held a variety of positions in engineering, management, strategy, and marketing, including Head of Satellite Data Exploitation Units, New Initiatives, Business Development for Security, Market Intelligence, EURASIA Commercial Area, and Strategic Marketing. She has managed and coordinated strategic business plans for Observation, Exploration, and Navigation, reporting directly to the CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italy.

She serves as Vice President of the Earth Observation (EO) Committee and as Technical Session Chair at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). She is also a member of the National User Forum as an EO expert and leads the technical-scientific committee of the industrial association for Defense, AFCEA. She is involved in strategic initiatives for Defense related to Climate Change. Additionally, she has been actively involved in teaching as an independent lecturer for the International Master’s program (Italy-Kenya) in Space Mission Design and Management, and for the LUISS Business School in Space Economy. She is a mentor for young graduates in Political, Economic, and Legal Sciences, and the author of numerous technical-scientific publications and multi-award winner.

Keynote Speaker

Andreas Hein is the Executive Director and Director of Technical Programmes of the UK-based not-for-profit company Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is), where he is coordinating and contributing to research on diverse topics such as missions to interstellar objects, laser sail probes, self-replicating spacecraft, and world ships. Notably, he founded Project Lyra, exploring the feasibility of missions to interstellar objects and Project Hyperion, which recently resulted in the most detailed concepts for interstellar generation ships via an international design competition.
Andreas is also an associate professor of space systems engineering at the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Center for Security, Reliability, and Trust (SnT).
He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Technical University of Munich and conducted his PhD research on space systems engineering there and at MIT.
He has published over articles in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences, including a paper with the SF author Stephen Baxter on AI in interstellar travel.

Keynote Speaker

Patrick Wood is a Space sector executive champion with ~30 years at the heart of UK, European & Global space companies. Roles as SVP at Airbus Space Systems (Airbus Group Executive), CEO at Surrey Satellite and Technology Ltd and Lockheed Martin Space UK & Global Advanced Programmes Director.

Patrick is UK’s leading Milsatcom industrialist ~30 years: Skynet 4, Skynet 5, Skynet 6A and Skynet EC. Known for being Skynet 5 System Integrator (Milsatcom) Programme Director for space and ground infrastructure from BAFO to in orbit delivery, 2001 to 2009, £3.6Bn, delivering 4 GEO satellites into orbit, maritime terminals, land mobile terminals, Satellite Operation Centres, Network Operations Centres and Ground stations. Skynet team won the RAeS GOLD Team award in 2008.

He has been a part of shaping the UK Space sector, is a previous UKSpace trade association chair and member of Executive and Council.

Patrick is also the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Vice President for their Stevenage Branch, and is a visiting Professor of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing at Cranfield University.

Patrick Wood will also be a panellist on Helen Sharman’s Expert Panel.

Spotlight Speaker

Antonia Yendell is the Head of the Space Ecosystem Development team at the UK Space Agency with a focus on driving prosperity for the national space economy and catalysing investment through strengthening capabilities and growing the space ecosystem. Her team is responsible for Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund, PuMA2, the Space Ecosystem Development Programme, the Cluster Network, the UK Space Agency Accelerator, Fusion Connect with Capital and Accelerating Investment Export Pathway programmes.

She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Melbourne and previously sat as a member of the UK Australia Space Bridge as part of her role as Investment Director for Space and Cyber at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in London. She has previously held corporate roles within innovation, finance, technology, infrastructure arenas along with trade and investment roles overseas including at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department of Business and Trade, Scottish Development International and advising businesses via her own consultancy.

Sponsor Speaker

Having transitioned from senior roles in finance, Derek brings a rich blend of strategic thinking, coaching, and communications expertise. His interdisciplinary approach helps Skyrora deliver technical excellence with public impact—making space more accessible, sustainable, and inspiring for the next generation.

Expert Panel Session Host

Helen Sharman is the first British astronaut and a world-class inspirational speaker.

Helen was an industry chemist, working at GEC and Mars Confectionery, before being selected from 13,000 applicants for astronaut training. Helen spent 18 months in intensive spaceflight training at Star City, Moscow, and she became the first person form the UK in space on 18 May 1991, when she launched into space for an eight day mission orbiting the Earth, mostly on board the Mir Space Station. 

After her spaceflight, Helen became a science communicator, winning prizes for radio and TV programmes. She later managed operations at the National Physical Laboratory and in academia.

Now, Helen is UK Outreach Ambassador at Imperial College London, President of the Institute of Science and Technology, and a member of the Science Museum Advisory Board. She hosts the Zero Pressure podcast (now in its 3^rd series) for Imperial’s Institute of Security Science and Technology and Saab, looking at how science and technology can contribute to solving global, interrelated challenges of today and tomorrow. With Astronaut Nicole Stott, Helen recently hosted the podcast Discover your inner Astronaut, talking with other astronauts and well-being experts to use spaceflight to help build on our everyday skills and emotions.

Panel Expert

Doug Millard is Deputy Keeper, Technologies & Engineering for the Science Museum, London.

Doug graduated in Environmental Sciences at the University of Warwick in 1981. He qualified as a secondary science teacher in 1983 and then joined the Education Department of the Science Museum in 1985.

Between 1987 and 1991 he curated the chemical industry, gas, plastics and space technology collections. In 1992 he managed the Museum’s main collections’ store and then coordinated the procurement and installation of the Museum’s new computer network. In 1994 he returned to curatorial work and is now Deputy Keeper Technologies and Engineering.

He has produced many space exhibitions, written articles, papers and books including a history of the Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle and its engines, lectured widely and appeared on television and radio. In 2006 he gained his MSc in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the University of London. In April 2012 he co-organised with the UK Space Agency a conference held at the Science Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ariel 1 satellite.

He worked on the ‘Information Age’ gallery at the Science Museum (2014) and was senior curator for the ‘Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age’ exhibition (2015) and editor of the associated publication. His book ‘Satellite: Innovation in Orbit’ was published by Reaktion Books early 2017.

In 2016 he curated the acquisition and display of the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module – used by Tim Peake, Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra during their mission to and from the International Space Station, 2015-16 – along with the associated virtual reality experience Space Descent VR.

In 2019 he organised the Culture Space research programme of three workshops that investigated new ways of representing space exploration in the museum gallery. In 2020 he contributed to a BBC Radio 4 programme on the life of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. He is currently working on a number of space-related future projects for the Science Museum including exhibitions, new galleries and associated research programmes and is seeking to add examples of new space technologies to the Museum’s national collection. He is researching a history of UK space activity and working with colleagues towards the establishment of a national centre for space history.

Panel Expert

Dr Jill Stuart is an academic based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is an expert in the politics, ethics and law of outer space exploration and exploitation. She is an award winning lecturer and teacher, and a frequent presence in the global media (print, radio, television, documentary). She is endorsed by the UK Home Office as a World Leader in her Field/ Exceptionally Talented Migrant. 

Dr Stuart’s research focuses on the governance of outer space, including (but not limited to) satellite regulations; the ethics of colonisation; the reasons for states developing space programmes; the history of outer space law; the nature of state sovereignty for objects in space; the regulation of mining celestial resources; space debris and the orbital environment; military activity and competition in space; commercial actors in space; the philosophy behind potential contact with extraterrestrial life; insurance and liability issues; the threat from comets and asteroids. She has secondary interests and expertise in the global commons more generally (the high seas and Antarctica). 


Panel – Space Clusters

After co-founding the Northern Space Consortium CIC to promote the economic opportunity of the space sector in the north of England, Alan was appointed by Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) as the European Space Agency (ESA) Business Applications Regional Ambassador, supporting the commercial uptake of space applications across North Wales and the North West of England. During this time, he co-authored the North West Space Strategy alongside UKRI-STFC colleagues.

With the formation of the North West Space Cluster, Alan was appointed as its manager and is now responsible for driving the growth and diversification of the space economy in North West England. He also plays a key role in ‘Space North’, a collaborative initiative uniting the North West Space Cluster, Space Hub Yorkshire, and Space North East England, to build an internationally competitive pan-Northern space economy.

With a professional background as in the performing arts, a role he maintains alongside his work in the space industry, Alan brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight to his role in the UK’s evolving space sector.  


Panel – Space Clusters

Robert Hill is the Director of the Northern Ireland Space Office and NI Space Cluster Manager, supported by the UK Space Agency. He is Chair for the Department for Economy Matrix NI Science Industry Panel and is nominated Chair of the Northern Ireland Space Leadership Council and the Northern Ireland Space Special Interest Group (NISSIG) hosted by ADS.  

He has spearheaded the campaign to bring space sector opportunities to the region and authored and coordinated the development of the Northern Ireland Space Strategy,  

Robert is well recognised within the UK space sector and has actively assisted the development and direction of the UK Space Innovation and Growth Strategy. He is a Space Industry Trade Advisor to InvestNI, the Regional Business Development Agency for N Ireland. Robert has helped to successfully create new programs of space activity in the region in both the upstream and downstream space sector.  

In 2019, Robert was recognised internationally and awarded the Sir Arthur C Clarke Foundation ‘Space Achievement: Special Award’ for his work in developing the Northern Ireland Space Cluster and catalysing growth in the UK ecosystem. 

Robert is a proud Ambassador for Visit Belfast, encouraging engagement and investment into the region and in 2024 received the Ambassador Circle Lifetime Achievement Award.

Panel – Space Clusters

Dr. Natasha Nicholson, PhD, FRSA is the CEO of Space Scotland, an organisation that shapes sector-wide innovation, fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, and aligns industry, academia, and government to deliver regional and national space strategies. With scientific expertise in physics and biology, and a proven record in cluster management, funding development, and technology commercialisation, she is a leading voice in Scotland’s space innovation ecosystem.

After completing a PhD preparing microbiology and hardware for an ISS experiment, Natasha joined Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, acting as a liaison across three innovation clusters. She returned north to establish interdisciplinary academic cohorts across Scotland and into Europe, before being head-hunted to transition the Scottish Space Leadership Council into Space Scotland. Having completed this objective and brought in funding to secure future activities, she left to found an R&D company. Through this, Natasha led multiple collaborations across the UK, EU, and the US, translating terrestrial technologies into the space market. Returning to Space Scotland as CEO in 2025, she has ambitions to position Scotland as a globally recognised hub for space innovation and commercial success. 

Panel – Space Clusters

Stuart Catchpole is the Regional Director for Space East, the UKSA supported Space Cluster for the East of England. As one of the 14 such organisations around the UK, Space East is dedicated to developing a thriving, innovative, and engaged community of cross-sector businesses eager to explore the opportunities within the UK space sector. Stuart has grown the cluster to 280 members and £4m of project money in the first 24 months of operation.

Stuart is an experienced Senior Manager with a background in both public and private sectors, spanning industries such as Bioscience, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, and Education. Before joining Space East, he served as an Inward Investment Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited. He has a passion for innovation, collaborative working and business development.

Panel – Space Clusters

Rebecca Huffee is Cluster Manager for Space West which covers the geographies of Swindon and Wiltshire, Bristol and Bath and Gloucestershire having taken up the post based at the National Composites Centre in 2023.   
Rebecca works collaboratively with her Space Cluster colleagues from across the UK to accelerate innovation and grow the space sector in the UK.  Prior to this she was a programme manager for Space and Net Zero at the University of Bristol, engaging with industry and policymakers to support the university’s academic community to understand industrial and policy challenges to help deliver innovation for real world problems.

Panel – Space Insurance

David Todd is Lead Space Analyst at Slingshot Aerospace with nearly 30 years of experience in the space industry. He works mainly on the Seradata launch and spacecraft database which is extensively used by the space insurance market as well as by satellite operators and launch providers. David is also a senior contributor to Slingshot’s Space Intelligence (SSI) news service. David has been a space analyst and consultant since 1997, acting as the ‘midwife’ for the birth of the original version of Seradata, then published as SpaceTrak by Airclaims. He subsequently worked on the database for Ascend, Flightglobal, Seradata Limited, and now Slingshot Aerospace. David holds three engineering degrees including a Master of Science degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University. He also holds a science teaching qualification. During his engineering degree studies, David won the British Airways prize for Air Transport Engineering and a Guinness Peat Aviation Fellowship. David is a lifetime member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society. 

Panel – Space Insurance

Lee Davis, Deputy Space Underwriter and Consortium Manager – Atrium Space Insurance Consortium 

Lee started his career with JR Charman and Others in 1989. There followed a period of nine years with SE Spinney & Others (subsequently Duncanson & Holt) during which time Lee became directly involved with the Space account in addition to an Operational role. Lee joined Atrium in 2000 as Syndicate Operations Manager (609) and in addition managed the Syndicates Space portfolio, including participations on the Brit Space Consortium and SATEC Binding Authority. In addition to these facilities Lee also oversaw the underwriting of direct market placements. At the beginning of 2007, Lee moved across to form the Atrium Space Insurance Consortium and took the position of Deputy Space Underwriter, where he participates in the underwriting as well as the management of the Consortium through his role as Consortium Manager. In July 2007 Lee studied at the Aeronautics & Astronautics School of Engineering Sciences University of Southampton where he attended the Space Systems Engineering Course. In July 2013 Lee also attended a Spacecraft Systems Design Bespoke Training Course at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Surrey.

Panel – Space Insurance

Morten Pahle was born in Norway and spent the formative years of his life in Rotterdam and subsequently studied in the UK. This ultimately gave him a B.Eng. in Aeronautical Engineering and an M.Sc. in Statistics and Reliability from City University in London.  

He started his career in the space industry 30 years ago as a Reliability and Safety Engineer on MetOp – a series of 3 meteorological satellites for the European Space Agency.  

His final role in industry was Group Risk and Insurance Manager at Astrium Satellites (now Airbus) managing the spectrum of insurance covers held, covering 8 sites in Germany, France, the UK and Spain. 

After leaving Airbus, he held various underwriting roles over more than 15 years covering Space, Aviation and Property and was the UK Branch manager for Glacier Insurance. In 2012 he founded ViVet, which became one of the leading London Space insurers. 

At the end of 2018 he joined Volante Global, establishing Aesir Space. In 2025 he took Aesir Space out of Volante and set it up as a separate company. 

In his spare time he flies light aircraft – sometimes upside down, likes challenging cryptic crosswords and looks after bees. He is passionate about aerospace technology and enjoys what he does. 

Panel – Space Insurance

Stephen Monks is Managing Director, Marsh Space London. As Managing Director of Marsh’s space operations in London, Stephen leads day-to-day operations in London, bringing deep expertise and leadership to the team.

Stephen holds a university degree in Aerospace Engineering and has focused on technical and insurance coverage design roles for the first part of his career at Marsh Space.

Stephen’s key experience in technical and insurance coverage including:

• Development of innovative insurance coverage designs for GEO and LEO Electro-Optical and SAR remote sensing satellite programs.
• Creation of “constellation cover” launch insurance schemes for multiple fleets of MEO/LEO communication and remote sensing satellites.
• Introduction of numerous new satellite bus, payload, and launch vehicles to the insurance market. 
• Design of advanced “fleet” in-orbit policy structures for satellite operators, resulting in substantial premium savings.

Stephen’s technical acumen and strategic approach continue to drive excellence and deliver significant value to clients in the space sector.

Panel – Space Insurance

Neil Fleming is Senior Risk Analyst, Nebula Space Consortium, responsible for evaluating Space risk for the Nebula Space Consortium. He has been involved with Space Insurance since 2005 but has also been involved in several other classes of Specialty risks. He has presented to international conferences on various topics including the risks associated with Space Debris and Lunar Landers. Before he started working in insurance he flew in the Royal Air Force and worked in Defence Intelligence. He holds masters degrees from Cambridge, Oxford and Clemson universities and in his spare time he rides recumbent bicycles and races aircraft.

Southampton University Session

Reinventing Space – A showcase of Space Educations and Innovation

Facilitated by Frances Clarke 

Frances Clarke is the Business Engagement Manager for the Space Sector at the University of Southampton. She connects companies to researchers with expertise and facilities that can help them to speed up the commercialisation of their new technologies. With 15 years’ experience at Southampton, she has unique knowledge of the Univerity’s expertise in space (and many other research areas) and works across disciplines to promote fresh opportunities.

Southampton University Presentor

Fabrizio Pisani is an aerospace engineer turned startup founder, on a mission to revolutionize in-space mobility as the CEO of Meta Futura Aerospace. He has secured funding, built prototypes, and convinced the UK Space Agency and ESA to test them (spoiler: they work). He previously worked in space propulsion at Dawn Aerospace and in advanced manufacturing at Zoppas Industries.

Fabrizio holds a master’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southampton, graduating in 2024.

Southampton University Presentor

Prof. Austin Taranta is a researcher and enterprise leader in the Hollow Core Fibres Group at the Unievrsity’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC). Austin received a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 and a PhD in Optoelectronics from the University of Southampton in 2024. Before joining the ORC, Austin was a Senior Optical Engineer in Honeywell Aerospace’s Strategic Sensors Group. There he focused on the design and manufacture of high-performance fibre-optic gyroscopes for defence and space applications.

Since joining the ORC in 2016, Austin has driven developments in several research areas, including fundamental investigations in fibre guidance properties, and application-driven research in emerging optical fibre sensors. His current research investigates polarization properties of hollow core antiresonant fibres, physics and chemistry of hollow fibres used in sensing, and development of novel sensors enabled by the unique performance characteristics of antiresonant fibres. In his time at the ORC, he has been responsible for a multitude of research awards and he serves as programme manager for key industrial partnerships.   He holds several patents and has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.

Prof. Austin Taranta is supported by research students; Amalie Gjelsvik, Matthew Bayliss, Grace Dobson

Southampton University Presentor

Prof. Charlie Ryan is a Lecturer in Astronautics, specialising in the research and development of low-cost micro-propulsion systems for small spacecraft. He has particular expertise in micro and mini electric propulsion, in particular electrospray thrusters and also low-cost small hall-effect like thrusters. Further, Dr Ryan has a growing interest in small chemical propulsion systems, particularly using hydrogen peroxide.

Dr. Ryan completed his PhD in 2011 from Queen Mary University of London, investigating the effect of applied voltage on the electrospray process, with a view to applying the findings the electrospray thrusters for spacecraft.

Southampton University Presentor

Prof. Jize Yan an expert in Sensor Technology and Microsystems at the University of Southampton, holds a BEng from Tsinghua University and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He’s been awarded over £30M in research grants (e.g. PI of the EPSRC Grant (EP/V000624/1, Integrated levitated optomechanical gravimeter) and its IAA Funds.

Co-I on several grants awarded in 2024: the £12M UK Semiconductor Innovation and Knowledge Centre, £1.3M+¥220M Japan-UK Semiconductor Collaboration Grant, (£1.1M Innovate UK Accelerating Trustworthy AI Grant, £0.5M UK ARIA Grant) and £0.24M UK Space Agency Grant. He published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and received multiple best-paper awards. He leads a research team of over 20 PhD students, Post-Docs and industry visitors, working with industry leaders to solve critical metrology challenges in infrastructure safety, space observatory, health care and quantum technology.

Jize’s pioneering research has set world records, driving innovations in areas such as meta-lenses, vortex-beam sensors, distributed fibre optic sensors, MEMS and optomechanical sensors, wireless sensor networks, energy harvesting, and cleanroom fabrication. His theoretical research interests, which bridges theory and practical applications, includes work on classically entangled light, optical hyper-entanglement, holographic duality, fisher information flow and optical computing.

Southampton University Presentor

Prof. Minkwan Kim is a Professor is astronautics. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Seoul University and PhD from Michigan State University. His specialties are in thermodynamics, physics modelling, MHD applications, fluid/plasma dynamics, flow control, propulsion, heat transfer, computational fluid dynamics(CFD), magneto hydrodynamics (MHD), hypersonic flow, and electric propulsion.

Recent research projects include a Plasma Water Purification System for In Situ Resource for future long duration crewed space missions and to explore the feasibility of using low-temperature plasma, in order to remove biological and chemical contaminants in extracted system water from extraterrestrial bodies.

Another project concerned the development of an automated active debris removal system, called Plasma thruster based Automated Deorbiting-Block system (PAD-B), advancing this technology to Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 4, and deliver flight hardware for a test of the underlying technology.

The Rapid Decontamination System of PPE and Medical Equipment for Reuse using Flexible Non-thermal Plasma Generator project aims to develop a method and procedure for decontaminating mask/respirators using non-thermal plasma for safely reuse.

The CubeSat de-orbit ALl-printed Propulsion System (Cube de ALPS) project aims to enable a fully standalone de-orbit and recovery architecture that uses additive manufacturing and printed electronics technologies to shorten a spacecraft’s orbital lifetime or enable controlled re-entry and safe recovery of CubeSats.

Southampton University Presentor

Prof. Hendrik Ulbricht is a Professor of Physics at Southampton where he leads the Quantum Nanophysics and Matterwave Interferometry research group.

His main research interests concern experimental tests of fundamental theories of Nature by table-top experiments but also in space. Some tests are concerned with the large mass limit of the quantum superposition principle, which forms the basis of quantum mechanics. Other experiments are concerned with testing the interplay between quantum mechanics and gravitation in the low energy limit.

His research group performs quantum experimental research on the preparation and analysis of massive systems in non-classical states by various techniques. They pioneer so-called levitated opto- and magneto-mechanics experiments, where light and magnetic fields are used to both trap and control nano- and micro-particles in vacuum. Please see the Ulbricht group webpages for more details.

He obtained his undergraduate degree in physics (Dipl.-Phys.) from the Technical University at Berlin (Germany) and the Albert Einstein Institute (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Golm) in 2000 with a theoretical work on Black Hole Thermodynamics. He graduated with a PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) from the Free University of Berlin and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (Germany) in 2003 with a work on experimental surface science in the group of Nobel Laureate Gerhard Ertl (NP in Chemistry 2007). After a postdoc position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, US on a Max Kade fellowship and as senior postdoc and Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna (Austria), he joined Southampton’s Department of Physics & Astronomy in 2008 as a Reader and was promoted a personal chair in 2014.

 

DAY 1:

Panel 1: Expert Panel

Host: Helen Sharman – First British astronaut and a world-class inspirational speaker.

Panellists:
Doug Millard – Deputy Keeper, Technologies & Engineering for the Science Museum, London.
Dr Jill Stuart – Expert in the politics, ethics and law of outer space exploration and exploitation.
Prof. Carole Mundell – ESA Director of Science

DAY 2
Panel 2: Space Clusters

Host: Alan Cross – North West Space Cluster

Panellists:
Robert Hill – Space Northern Ireland
Rebecca Huffee – Space West
Stuart Catchpole – Space East
Christina MacLoud – Space Scotland

Panel 3: Space Insurance: Questions and Answers

Host: David Todd– Lead Space Analyst Slingshot Aerospace

Panellists:
Lee Davis – Space Underwriter, Atrium
Stephen Monks – Managing Director, March Space Projects
Morten Pahle – Director, Aesir Space
Neil Fleming – Senior Research Analyst, Ascot Group

DAY 3
Panel 4: A Showcase of Education, Innovation and International Aspects – Panel by Southampton University

Facilitated by: Frances Clarke

Presentations by: 
Prof. Fabrizio Pisani – Co-Founder & CEO of Meta Futura Aerospace
Prof. Austin Taranta – Supported by research student: Amalie Gjelsvik, Matthew Bayliss and Grace Dobson
Charlie Ryan – Associate Prof. 
Prof. Jize Yan – Advanced Metalens Technology for Space 
Prof. Minkwan Kim – Plasma Propulsion and ISRU Technology for Future NHS Hospital Air Sterilisation
Prof. Hendrik Ulbricht – Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research (JUPITER)

SKYRORA – Diamond Sponsor

Skyrora Ltd is a trailblazing British space company headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 2017 by tech entrepreneur Volodymyr Levykin. With a mission to restore sovereign launch capability to the UK, Skyrora has rapidly emerged as a leader in small satellite launch technology, sustainable propulsion systems, and end-to-end space infrastructure.
The company designs, manufactures, and tests its launch vehicles entirely within the UK, positioning itself as a cornerstone of the nation’s growing space economy.

NI SPACE – Silver Sponsor

NI Space is a regional space cluster established to promote and support regional capabilities in both the national and international space sector.

The organisation facilitates meaningful knowledge exchange and develops collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders to maximise potential and drive innovation within Northern Ireland’s growing space industry.