Meet our new Vice Chair, new Board Member and 3 new industry members as Space4Climate continues to bring together UK academia, industry and policy to promote, support and develop the UK satellite Earth Observation community
A new Vice Chair, Board Member and three new organisations are being welcomed as Space4Climate reaches a record membership of 90, underlining its role in supporting and promoting the UK satellite Earth Observation community.
Dan Wicks, UK Managing Director of GHGSat and a leading figure in the international methane monitoring community, becomes Vice Chair, supporting Chair Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation and Climate at the UK Space Agency. Joining the Board is Luca Budello, Knowledge Transfer Manager, Geospatial Insights at Innovate UK Business Connect, who has a key role in engaging businesses with space-based innovation development funding opportunities.
The three new industry members are:
- Amelia Space Technologies – geospatial AI answering engine to build a more optimistic society
- Lyndsay Consulting – insights from geospatial and satellite data to drive business growth, and promote societal impact
- Richard Eyers Ltd – consultant in methane measurement and Earth Observation
Two universities – Bournemouth and Hertfordshire – have also become active members.
Key time for UK Earth Observation
The growth announcement comes at a significant time for the UK satellite Earth Observation community as it looks ahead to the CEOS (Committee on Earth Satellites) Plenary in Bath, November 4th-6th, as the UK’s year as Chair draws to a successful conclusion, COP30 in Brazil, November 10th-21st and the European Space Agency Council of Ministers Meeting, November 26th-27th.
Space4Climate, founded in 2014, is an effective and thriving group that brings together industry, academia and policy, giving equal voices to climate action organisations of all sizes from multi-national corporations to new enterprises. Hosted by the National Centre for Earth Observations (NCEO) and based at Reading University, Space4Climate promotes the community to new users and potential clients in the UK and internationally and members. It does this through a busy programme of events, collaborative opportunities and knowledge-sharing.
Krupa Nanda Kumar, Climate Services and Development Manager of Space4Climate, welcomed the new members. She said: “Our membership is heading towards the century mark , it’s incredible to see the rapid growth of the UK EO sector which is reflected by our increase in numbers.
Vice Chair has ‘wealth of industry knowledge’
“We are also thrilled to welcome Dan as our new Vice Chair. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge from his previous role with Satellite Applications Catapult and now leading GHGSat’s operations in the UK along. And I’m delighted that Luca has joined the Board after being an active member for many years, representing Innovate UK Business Connect, an important partner and advisor on all geospatial and space activities.”
Dan is excited to be taking up a strategic role after being an active S4C member on behalf of GHGSat. He said: “To unlock the full potential of Earth observation and drive meaningful climate action, the UK space sector must unite around a shared vision and urgency to collaborate at scale. Space4Climate provides an amazing mechanism to support these outcomes, and I’m pleased to be able to contribute to its strategic development and growth.”
Luca is driving business EO innovation
Luca is an influential figure in driving business innovations that exploit Earth Observation data. He said: “I am honoured to join the Space4Climate Board. S4C plays a vital role in connecting UK producers and global users of trusted EO data, helping to translate complex data into actionable insights for climate action across sectors. I look forward to supporting the organisation’s mission to convene and elevate the UK’s EO climate community, promote climate services and particularly drive the commercialisation and adoption of EO innovation for a climate-resilient future.”
Space4Climate members work together to drive the role of space in underpinning climate policy, action and services, enabling and encouraging the use of trusted climate data and the development and take-up of climate services and products. Members range from start-ups and entrepreneurs to multi-national corporations, world-leading research organisations and government departments, covering the entire supply chain of Earth Observation data for climate.
Industry members to share expertise
Donna Lyndsay, Founder of Lyndsay Consulting and a former Vice Chair of Space4Climate in her previous Ordnance Survey role, joins in her own right with her new consultancy service. She said: “Lyndsay Consulting is a specialist, thought-leading consultancy with extensive experience in business strategy and commercializing insights from geospatial and satellite data for people, planet, and profit. Our expertise empowers businesses and organizations to make informed decisions and create products with Earth intelligence, driving positive change.
“I have worked with S4C for several years now under other companies and have always been impressed with their ability to be a neutral broker whilst promoting key UK climate space capability across the globe. I am now looking forward to supporting S4C on their mission to drive space-derived climate services into the mainstream, within my own consultancy.”
Richard Eyers, Founder of Richard Eyers Ltd, said: “I bring more than 25 years of experience working in Earth Observation, with more than 20 years of that time in oil and gas, with the last five to six years focused on remote sensing methods for methane measurement. My consultancy works in the space between methane measurement providers and end-users. These are typically, but not always, oil and gas companies.
“As a sector we are making good progress using space technology to address climate issues, but change isn’t happening fast enough and I welcome the opportunity to work within Space4Climate. If we are to have any chance of meeting climate goals, we have to grow adoption of space technology and products, integrating measurements and information from other platforms and at different spatial scales. Increasing understanding and awareness of EO-derived climate services, and fostering the growth and development of new products and services in the UK is critical to us meeting ambitious climate targets.”
Allen Jiang, CEO of Amelia Space Technologies, said: “Amelia’s vision is to create a world where economic prosperity and planetary stewardship reinforce rather than oppose each other. Joining the Space4Climate community is the opportunity to enhance our business as a platform for positive change, working alongside partners and industry.”
Working for members and UK EO growth
Members benefit from direct access to cutting-edge climate science and data, new climate satellite missions and discussions about decisions on climate policy and funding initiatives. The group provides an active forum for collaborations, knowledge exchange and funding initiatives, responding quickly to emerging climate topics that can be informed and addressed using climate data from space.
Space4Climate provides high profile opportunities with exhibition and conference stands and speaking platforms at national and international events, ranging from the UK Space Conference to the COP global climate summits.
Find out more at www.Space4Climate.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Space4Climate Board Members:
- Chair Beth Greenaway, UK Space Agency
- Vice Chair Dan Wicks, GHGSat
- Alexandra Barker, Telespazio UK
- Prof John Remedios, National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO)
- Jonathan Shears, Business Development Consultant – Earth Observation, CGI
- Prof Chris Merchant, NCEO and University of Reading
- Prof Nigel Fox, National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
- Bradley Taylor, Ordnance Survey
- Oliver Vaughan, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government (Defra)
- Luca Budello, Innovate UK Business Connect
Space4Climate members are listed on the website: Members’ Directory