Guidance

The Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC)

The Space Exploration Advisory Committee is composed of UK-based experts across scientific and technical disciplines related to space exploration.

From:
UK Space Agency
PublishedPublished:
24 March 2025
Last updated:
14 September 2026 — See all updates

Documents

Meet the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC)

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Details

The Space Exploration Advisory Committee’s members are external to the UK Space Agency and are expected to represent the views of the community.

It advises the UK Space Agency on the UK’s Space Exploration programme, including participation in European Space Agency programmes and associated national activities, and any other related matters.

Find out more about the Space Exploration Advisory Committee’s members and their careers.

Committee

SEAC role Committee member Role
Chair & HESAC Representative ProfessorDr CarolineSarah SmithBeardsley HeadDirector of CollectionsRutherford andAppleton PrincipalLaboratory Curator(RAL) of Meteorites, Natural History MuseumSpace
Vice Chair & LSWG Representative Professor Karen Olsson-Francis Director of Astrobiology OU, Open University
Mars Science and Exploration Dr Joel Davis Lecturer in Planetary Science, Imperial College London
Microgravity (Life Science) Dr Li Shean Toh Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham
Microgravity (Physical Science) Professor Phil Williams Professor of Biophysics, University of Nottingham
Lunar Science and Exploration Dr Hannah Sargeant Planetary Scientist, University of Leicester
Industry (Large Scale) - Technology Mr Remi Challamel Senior Business Development and Sales Manager, Thales Alenia Space
Industry (SME) - Technology Dr Mark Woods Chief Strategy Officer / Head of Robotics, Autonomy and AI Group, CFMS Services Ltd.
Academia representative - technology Professor Andrea Cammarano Professor in Space Mechanisms, University of Southampton

Early Career Researchers

SEAC role Committee member Role
Mars Early Career Researcher Dr Frances Butcher Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sheffield
Lunar Early Career Researcher Dr Romain Tartese Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester
Microgravity Early Career Researcher Dr Samantha Jones Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Liverpool

Working Group (WG) Representatives

SEAC role Committee member Role
UKSpace Space Science and Exploration (SSEC) – Chair Marie-Claire PerkinsonHead of Mission and Spacecraft Chief Engineering, Airbus Defence and Space
UKSpace Space Science and Exploration (SSEC) – Vice-ChairSteven Kay Robotics Engineer, GMV
ESA Solar System and Exploration WG (SSEWG) Dr Manish Patel Professor of Planetary Science, The Open University
ESA Physical Science WG (PSWG) Dr Ruth Bamford Senior Research Scientist, UKRI/ STFC/ RAL Space
ESA Physical Science WG (PSWG) Professor Peter Lee Professor of Materials Science, University College London
ESA Life Science WG (LSWG) Professor Damian Bailey Royal Society Wolfson Research Fellow; Professor of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of South Wales
ESA Life Science WG (LSWG) Professor Karen Olsson-Francis Director of Astrobiology OU, The Open University
ESA Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) Professor Caroline Smith Head of Collections and Principal Curator of Meteorites, Natural History Museum
ESA Solar System and Exploration WG (SSEWG) - Vice ChairDr John CoxonSTFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow, Northumbria University
UK Space Agency Discovery Advisory Committee on Science (DACS) – Chair Vacant -

Former members:

Prof Mahesh AnandOpen University
Prof Martin BarstowLeicester University
Dr Neil BowlesUniversity of Oxford
Prof John BridgesLeicester University
Dr Katharina BrinkertUniversity of Warwick
Dr Frances ButcherUniversity of Sheffield
Mr Justin ByrneAirbus
Andrew CaldwellSTFC
Mr Matthew CosbyGoonhilly Earth Station Ltd
Prof Ian CrawfordBirkbeck University
Prof Dave CullenCranfield University
Dr Timothy EtheridgeUniversity of Exeter
Dr Jennika GreerUniversity of Glasgow
Dr Lydia HallisUniversity of Glasgow
Dr Patrick HarknessGlasgow University
Dr Katie JoyManchester University
Dr Min Kwan KimUniversity of Southampton
Dr Mirco MagniniUniversity of Nottingham
Prof Marco MarengoUniversity of Brighton
Prof Matthew MiddletonSouthampton
Prof Anu OjhaNational Space Centre
Marie-Claire PerkinsonAirbus
Dr Thomas SmithKings College London
Prof Fred TaylorOpen University
Mr Paul ThompsonQinetiq
Roger WardTAS-Space
Dr Clare WattUniversity of Nottingham
Will WhitehornChair of Seraphim
Dr Iya WhiteleyUniversity College London
Tom WorsleyReliance Precision Ltd

Updates to this page

Published 24 March 2025
Last updated 14 September 2026 — Show all updates

  1. Committee members updated. Meet the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC) - HTML attachment updated

  2. First published.

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