Professor David Parker

Over a thirty-six year career in industry, government and international space management, David Parker has become one of the UK’s leading space programme experts. Following engineering roles in industry studying new astrophysics and planetary missions (Herschel, Newton, MORO and Rosetta), he was a business development manager winning major projects such as Aeolus and LISA Pathfinder for UK industry. Having joined the UK Research Councils in 2004 to lead their European Space Agency (ESA) science and exploration programmes, he then helped create the UK Space Agency, becoming its Chief Executive in 2013. During his tenure, Tim Peake’s ISS mission, a big increase in UK satcoms and EO programmes and the National Space Technology programme were all secured. As Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA (2016-23), he doubled the budget, established Europe’s role in Artemis and helped select the latest ESA astronauts including the first with a physical disability, John McFall. Now a visiting Professor at the University of Southampton’s Space Institute, he is also a Council member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Holding a BSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD sponsored by NASA’s Langley Research Center, he was the 2019 recipient of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Geoffrey Pardoe award for long and valued service to the space sector and the 2024 UK Space and Satellite Personality of the Year.