Dr Alice Bunn named new UKspace President

Dr Alice Bunn OBE, CEO of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), has been named as the new President of UKspace, the trade association of the British space industry. She will formally take over the role from Will Whitehorn in early September.

Alice joined IMechE in July 2021, moving from her role as International Director at the UK Space Agency, where she was responsible for increasing the UK’s global influence in science, security and trade through space. Alice sits on the Board of Directors at the US Space Foundation, as well as on the World Economic Forum Future Council on space technology. She is a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society, and sits on the board of trustees at the charity SwimTayka. In June 2022, Alice was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to the UK space sector and to charity.

Alice said: “I’m honoured to become President of UKspace and to promote the extremely important role the space industry plays in the UK’s civil and defence capabilities. Our space industry showcases engineering excellence, and by supporting the companies in the sector, we put the UK at the forefront of global space technology development.”

Will, who has been President of UKspace since September 2019, added: “I am delighted to be passing the baton at UKspace to Alice, with the confidence I couldn’t have a better or more appropriate successor. Both her talent and depth of international space industry knowledge are renowned, and will help all of us continue to truly globalise our outlook as the industrialisation of space unfolds. I look forward to formally handing over the role to her in early September at the first domestic satellite launch event in UK history at Spaceport Cornwall!.”

ENDS

About UKspace

UKspace is the trade association of the British space industry, representing and promoting space to government and other key stakeholders nationally and internationally. UKspace works closely with ADS and techUK, encapsulating both the upstream and downstream nature of the space sector. For more information, visit www.ukspace.org.