The Space Leadership Council has been created in response to a recommendation by the independent, industry-led Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS). This strategy was published in February 2010 by the Space Innovation and Growth Team.
The duties of the Space Leadership Council will include:
- providing advice to the UK Space Agency on its work plan and future opportunities;
- offering advice on the areas of space activity in which the UK should seek to develop and maintain global leadership; and
- promoting the UK’s space industry and scientific excellence in space research, technology and applications and overseeing the implementation of agreed recommendations of the Innovation and Growth Strategy.
The members of the Space Leadership Council are:
- (Co-chair) David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science
- (Co-chair) Andy Green, CEO of Logica
- Will Whitehorn, President of Virgin Galactic
- Colin Paynter, CEO of Astrium
- Andrew Sukawaty, CEO of Inmarsat
- David Williams, CEO of Avanti
- Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Chairman, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Nigel McNair Scott, Finance Director of Helical Bar
- Craig Clark, CEO of Clyde Space
- Rob Douglas, Chairman of South East England Development Agency
- Professor Paul Monks, University of Leicester
- Professor Robert Gurney, University of Reading
- Professor John Zarnecki, Open University
- Sa'id Mosteshar, Director of London Institute of Space Policy and Law
- Brian Collins, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department for Transport
- & the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
- Mike Segal, Director of Strategy & Evidence Group, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Martin Meadows, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Energy and Climate Change
- Tim Wheeler, Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor, Department for International Development
- Peter Schofield, Director of Her Majesty’s Treasury 's Enterprise and Growth Unit
- Baz North, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence
- Patrick White, Deputy Director of Public Services, Cabinet Office
- David Clary, Chief Scientific Adviser of Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Neil Stansfield, Director, Home Office
- Alan Thorpe, CEO of Natural Environment Research Council
- Keith Mason, CEO of Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Iain Gray, CEO of Technology Strategy Board
- John Hirst, CEO of the Met Office
The UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space. It is responsible for all strategic decisions on the UK civil space programme and provides a clear, single voice for UK space ambitions. The UK civil space programme budget is currently in the order of £270m per year – about 76% of which is the UK’s contribution to European Space Agency (ESA) projects. Second only to the USA in space science, the UK's thriving space sector contributes £6.5bn a year to the UK economy and supports 68,000 jobs.
The UK Space Agency:
- Co-ordinates UK civil space activity
- Supports academic research
- Nurtures the UK space industry
- Raises the profile of UK space activities at home and abroad
- Works to increase understanding of space science and its practical benefits
- Inspires our next generation of UK scientists and engineers
