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
• Published: 24 March 2025

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Meet the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC)

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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	Professor Caroline Smith	Head of Collections and Principal Curator of Meteorites, Natural History Museum
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 Perkinson	Head of Mission and Spacecraft Chief Engineering, Airbus Defence and Space
UKSpace Space Science and Exploration (SSEC) – Vice-Chair	Steven 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
UK Space Agency Discovery Advisory Committee on Science (DACS) – Chair	Vacant	-

Published 24 March 2025