David Willetts appoints first members of new UK Space Agency Steering Board
The Steering Board’s role is to advise Ministers on the strategies to be adopted by the UK Space Agency. The Board also provides advice and …
The Steering Board’s role is to advise Ministers on the strategies to be adopted by the UK Space Agency. The Board also provides advice and guidance from a commercial standpoint to the Chief Executive and the senior management team on the UK Space Agency’s performance, operation and development, including its management of risk.
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:
“I’m delighted to welcome such high calibre members to the new UK Space Agency Steering Board. Their expertise will be vital in helping the Agency realise its ambitions for our rapidly growing space sector.”
Rob Douglas, a business consultant with extensive experience of the space sector, is also chairman of the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) and sits on the Space Leadership Council as the representative for the Regional Development Agency (RDA) network.
On his appointment, Rob Douglas said:
“The UK has a strong and globally competitive space sector with ambitious targets for growth. The UK Space Agency has a pivotal role in ensuring that the UK meets those targets and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of that.”
David Southwood has had a highly respected career in the space sector ranging from working in academia around the world to leading the space science programme of the European Space Agency. In July 2011, David Southwood was awarded a prestigious Sir Arthur Clarke Award for exceptional space achievement.
Sally Cantello has experience in the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors, including spending a number of years working on market and development projects for high technology sections of the space industry. From 2001 until 2008, Sally Cantello was Chief Executive for the Whitehall and Industry Group.
Baljit Dhillon is a chartered engineer with a range of industry and public sector experience. With a background in finance and engineering and experience of working on and chairing audit committees, Baljit Dhillon will chair the Space Agency Audit Committee as well as sit on the Steering Board.
Notes to editors
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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. For more information see http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency.
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The UK’s thriving space sector contributes £7.5bn a year to the UK economy, directly employs 24,900 and supports a further 60,000 jobs across a variety of industries.
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BIS’s online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
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BIS’s online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Notes to Editors
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