Meet our new Space Leadership Team

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.

What will Doug’s new role involve?
Doug will head up the new Space Leadership team and business unit. As part of this, he will work closely with both BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and BAE Systems more widely to deliver the space vision for the organisation.

Elizabeth has over 20 years’ experience in the space sector. Prior to joining BAE Systems, she was Senior Strategist for the Space Systems division of Airbus Defence and Space. Previous roles at Airbus included business development, marketing and communications, thermal engineering and mission systems engineering in the future programmes team, where she worked on projects such as the first study for the ExoMars rover and a mission to return a sample from an asteroid.

Elizabeth was a founder member and past leader of the Women in Aerospace Europe UK local group, and previous executive board member. She is also active in the International Astronautical Federation, sitting on the Entrepreneurship and Investment committee, the Honours and Awards committee and the GEOSS committee. In addition, she is a previous vice chair and continuing committee member of the Workforce Development and Young Professionals Committee.

As a STEM outreach ambassador, Elizabeth has presented to groups and schools, and has made appearances as a space expert in various media. She has an MPhys degree in Physics with Space Science & Technology from the University of Leicester.

What will Elizabeth’s new role involve? 
Elizabeth will be responsible for defining the strategic direction and market growth of our space business across defence and civil space.

Following a degree and post graduate studies in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Richard worked as a GIS consultant and a front end developer on numerous transport and traveller information systems and websites for a Canadian technology consultancy.

Richard joined Detica – a company acquired by BAE Systems – in 2005 and worked as a business analyst, management consultant and project manager for a range of clients before taking on the Transport Account Director role. The work delivered was predominantly helping customers transform their businesses to be able to gain the maximum value from the increasingly vast volumes of data that they were dealing with.

Prior to moving into the Defence and Space sector and the formation of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Richard worked in the Financial Services and Commercial business units for BAE Systems Applied Intelligence as Delivery Director. Here, he was responsible for delivering anti-money laundering, counter-fraud and cyber security services for a variety of customers.

What will Richard’s new role involve? 
Richard will cover the delivery leadership for all major programmes and projects delivered in the space sector.

Over the course of her 25 year career, Kathryn has held various technical and delivery leadership positions within the space and cyber security domains across In-Space Missions Limited, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and other divisions of what is now Airbus Space.

Kathryn holds a PhD in Astrodynamics, an MSc in Spacecraft Engineering, and graduated from the University of Cambridge (King’s College) with an MA in Astrophysics, where she worked on the University Women’s Executive. She is passionate about gender equality and equity, particularly in relation to STEM activities and tries to instil this passion in her young daughter with varying degrees of success.

What will Kathryn’s new role involve? 
Kathryn will be responsible for Business Operations and will lead programmes that underpin the growth of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence Space Services, including Spacecraft Operations, Rideshare Missions and Data/Digital services. 

Elaine was previously Chief Engineer of QinetiQ Space UK, responsible for the spaceflight hardware portfolio. She has in depth experience in Earth Observation spacecraft operations, electric propulsion product development for interplanetary missions, and engineering transformation.

Since joining BAE Systems Digital Intelligence two years ago, she has been the Chief Engineer for the Azalea programme and C5ISR Space.

What will Elaine’s new role involve? 
Elaine will be responsible for the leadership of the engineering capability, including resources, tools and processes.

A highly experienced spacecraft system engineer, Ed has held leading technical roles on satellite programmes from cubesats to geostationary orbit communications for over 25 years. He joined In-Space Missions as Chief Engineer shortly after it was founded, where he was part of the Leadership Team with the responsibility of technical delivery.

Prior to that, he was Head of Mission Solutions and Innovation at Surrey Satellites, the world’s leading small satellite developer. Here, he ran the organisation’s internal product development, as well as managing its systems (such as its attitude control orbit system), software, and assembly, integration and testing (AIT) engineering departments.

Ed began his career in radio frequency, AIT and launch. He has worked on, led and managed every part of the satellite design, development, build, test and launch chain.

What will Ed’s new role involve? 
Ed will focus on the assurance and product integrity aspects of technical delivery.

Matthew is an R&D leader with 30 years’ experience across government, industry and academia. As In-Space Mission’s Chief Technology Officer, Matthew was responsible for technology strategy and development, fostering links to academia and with other research providers.

With a depth of experience in space enabled C4ISR, space technologies and the space environment, Matthew previously worked at QinetiQ where he led the ionospheric modelling team. He has also been the Head of the Space Environment Group at the University of Birmingham and Director of Space Weather at Spire Global.

He has an MA in Physics from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the University of Leicester. A chartered Engineer and Physicist, he is also Fellow of the Institute of Physics and is a visiting professor at the Surrey Space Centre.

What will Matthew’s new role involve? 
Matthew will retain the responsibilities he held at In-Space Missions, leading the technology strategy and development for space.

Tony has over 30 years’ experience in the space industry working for several major spacecraft manufacturers and ground system providers. His first role was as an engineer at British Aerospace Space and Communications and he later worked at Surrey Satellite Technology, where he was responsible for all spacecraft and ground segment engineering on project delivery and R&D.

He then co-founded In-Space Missions alongside Doug Liddle in 2015, initially holding a role as CTO before moving over to the business development side of the business.

Tony started his career in systems and AOCS engineering and has taken every opportunity to expand his capabilities in technologies across avionics, operations, software and ground segments. He has been involved in missions and payloads spanning Earth observation, science, telecommunications and navigation. His experience ranges across institutional, experimental and commercial missions, and has included two patents and a NASA Group Achievement Award.

Tony sits on the STEM ESERO-UK steering board and is active in the strategy for growing the Hampshire and M3 LEP region.

What will Tony’s new role involve? 
Tony will focus on defining our space propositions to the market and engaging with current and prospective customers. 

Markos has over two decades of space sector experience across both academia and industry. Prior to joining BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Markos was at Airbus Defence and Space for more than 10 years, where he held the role of Head of UK Future Military Space programs. Before that, he spent over 10 years between RAL Space and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics working on various science missions, including NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and ESA's Herschel Space Observatory.

He is also a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Seapower and Strategy at the University of Plymouth. In this position, he focuses on threats to critical spaceborne infrastructure and their impacts to naval and maritime operations.

Markos holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College London. He has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications and has more than 11,000 citations to his work.

What will Markos’ new role involve? 
Markos will lead all our space activities for national security.

Sarah has worked in the space industry for over 25 years and held the position of Chief Financial Officer at In-Space Missions, where she was responsible for finance, commercial and other support services.

Previously, she was both Finance and Managing Director of Surrey Satellite Technology. Her experiences have equipped her with the skills and insights required to navigate pitfalls and capitalise on opportunities pertaining to business growth in the international business environment.

A Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Sarah has deep financial monitoring expertise with a solid understanding of the governance and controls required to ensure financial strength and business performance. She also has extensive experience of enabling disruptive innovation in heavily regulated technology environments.

What will Sarah’s new role involve? 
Sarah will be responsible for the Space division’s financial performance and delivery of budget, as well as leading on our financial strategy.