Dr Michael O'Callaghan

Mike is a senior leader within the UK defence and space sector, with experience spanning government and industry, and engagement with national and international partners. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He spent 15 years at Dstl, the UK Ministry of Defence’s research organisation, in a range of corporate and technical leadership roles. Most recently, he led the Space Systems Science and Technology Programme through a period of significant growth, supporting the development of the UK’s inaugural Defence Space Strategy and UK Space Command’s Defence Space Portfolio. In 2023, Mike joined Airbus Defence and Space. As Head of Geospatial and Future Programmes, he leads Airbus’s space-focused UK geospatial portfolio, including delivery of capabilities supporting the MOD’s emerging space-based ISR programme. This is alongside wider defence, institutional and commercial activities including future military space initiatives through the Airbus Research, Experimentation and Demonstration (RED) Hub. He also serves as Key Account Manager for UK Space Command, shaping strategic engagement and long-term partnership across operational space capabilities, research and innovation.