Katherine Courtney

Katherine is a former CEO of the UK Space Agency, a Strategic Advisor, Chair of the Global Network on Sustainability in Space, and Mentor for Creative Destruction Lab’s Global Space Stream.

Her private sector career spans business innovation, start-up and growth in the UK, Europe, North America and other geographies - developing new ventures for Cable & Wireless, BT and a series of international tech start-ups.

Over nearly 15 years as a Senior Civil Servant, she led landmark UK Government tech-enabled transformation programmes and marshalled five cross-cutting pieces of legislation through Parliament.

While at the UK Space Agency - she initiated the UKLaunch Programme, introduced the Space Industries Act to modernise the regulatory environment, and led €1.4bn investment in collaborative space missions through theEuropean Space Agency.

Her advisory portfolio spans a broad range of sectors from quantum to space to education. She is also an active STEM Ambassador and the founder of www.PrimarySpace.org.