Industries of the Future: Space

Mike Curtis-Rouse

Head of In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing, Satellite Applications Catapult

Mike leads a team of roboticists, manufacturing engineers and business development experts. With the state-of-the-art RPO simulator at Westcott Venture Park, that is collocated with large scale metal additive manufacturing and other processes, and with the ability to test new and novel propulsion systems experimentally, the Satellite Applications Catapult is boldly building new capabilities to validate and verify the engineering needed to bring about the vast opportunities of commercial space.

: https://sa.catapult.org.uk/
: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mike-curtis-rouse-0a826

Rory Daniels

Chair and Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, techUK

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, semiconductors, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

Polly Gardiner

Chief Financial Officer, Space Forge

Space Forge is a UK startup leading in the clean industrial revolution by using the unique conditions only found in space to create supermaterials.

: https://www.spaceforge.co.uk/

Daniel Jones

Future Markets Lead, UK Space Agency

Since 2014 Dan has led the UK’s involvement in the two EU-funded research clusters for space, in robotics and electric propulsion. He is currently co-chair of the UK Task Force for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, and was Chair of the Advisory Board to the Future AI & Robotics Hub for Space for five years, and sits on the cross-Whitehall group for the Horizon Alternative Programme.

Prior to that Dan worked at the trade body ADS Group writing technology roadmaps for the UK civil aerospace sector, underpinning the Aerospace Growth Partnership and the creation of the Aerospace Technology Institute.

Outside of work he is a science-fiction author, he runs the science-fiction podcast Chronscast, and is a musician, playing in the rock band Sky Empire.

Imogen Ormerod

Associate, Linklaters LLP

Imogen is an Associate in the London Energy & Infrastructure practice at global law firm, Linklaters and also forms part of the space group as one of their space industry experts.

Before re-training as a lawyer, Imogen worked for the government for a number of years, most recently at the UK Space Agency where she was the head of Galileo policy. Her role (pre-Brexit) was to develop the UK’s policy in respect of this EU satellite navigation system, negotiating with the European Commission, other Member States and the European Space Agency to deliver the UK’s objectives.

Since joining Linklaters, Imogen has continued to be involved in the sector from a legal perspective, working with colleagues across the firm to provide space regulatory and wider advice to clients.

: https://techinsights.linklaters.com/u/102gxla/imogen-ormerod
: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imogen-ormerod-5089911

Martin Soltau

co-CEO, Space Solar

Martin is co-CEO of Space Solar, an exciting space start-up developing Space Based Solar Power to provide an era-defining new clean energy source from space. He is an entrepreneurial and highly experienced business and engineering leader in the Aerospace and Renewable Energy sectors. 

He directed the recent UK government study into the viability of Space Based Solar Power as a new energy technology which could help the UK deliver Net Zero. He co-founded the Space Energy Initiative, a collaboration between Government and UK space and energy organisations promoting the advancement of this technology. 

Martin gained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol University. He studied aerospace systems with Martin Marietta in Orlando, before joining W. Vinten to lead the development of fast jet tactical reconnaissance systems for a number of air forces around the world. He then took up a role with Smiths Aerospace becoming Head of Programmes, developing aircraft systems and equipment, before joining Frazer-Nash Consultancy to develop and lead their Aerospace and Space business. 

Martin is a member of both the International Academy of Astronautics permanent committee on Space Solar Power, and International Astronautical Federation Space Power Committee. He is also a founder member of the UAS Challenge committee, an international student competition run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 

: https://www.spacesolar.co.uk/