Team Overview
Executive Board
GEDG Chairman and Policy Lead
Matjaz Vidmar FRAS, FBIS, MInsPhy is a Lecturer in Engineering Management at the at the University of Edinburgh. His background is in Physics and Astronomy (BSc Hon), Science and Technology in Society (MSc) and he holds PhD in Science and Technology Studies on organisational learning and innovation processes within high-tech domains.
His research is examining new product development, intermediation, innovation networks, entrepreneurship and futures design. He is working in particular with the satellite and space data industry and artificial intelligence. He lectures and mentors students on Technology Entrepreneurship, History and Sociology of Innovation and Futures Design in Systems Engineering. He is also involved in many international initiatives to develop the future of these fields, including several start-up companies and an extensive public engagement programme on STEM and arts, and futures literacy. Find out more about Matjaz.
Business Development Lead
Andrew Luers is a member of the “Gateway Earth” development group and serves as the groups business development lead while also exploring relevant technical aspects of power, propulsion and in-space manufacturing. Andrew currently leads a software and data start up and is completing a PhD in Atomic and Laser Physics from the University of Oxford. Previously Andrew was a Principal with the Boston Consulting Group where his focus was energy and sustainability. Andrew holds masters degrees from MIT in Aerospace Engineering and in Technology Policy and a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Economics from TCU.
Andrew is a member of AIAA and serves on the emerging technologies in Space committee and volunteers his time with the Oxford Physics outreach program encouraging local students’ interest and involvement in the sciences. Andrew’s primary interests are in bringing technology and business models together to address the challenges of sustainable energy production here on earth and to further the exploration of space beyond.
Technical Lead
Katy Voisey is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. She is a materials scientist with experience working with a wide variety of materials including metallic glasses, superalloys, carbon fibre composites and thermal barrier coatings. Her main areas of research are laser materials processing, coatings and corrosion. She is the space lead at the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Aerospace Technologies, where she is working to increase the university’s engagement with the challenges of the growing UK space industry. Katy is particularly interested in in-space manufacturing and in-space re-use and recycling of resources.
Communications Lead
Arun S Venkataraman is a Robotics engineer and Innovation Management professional with multidisciplinary international research and patent consulting experience. He works with technology companies and academic institutions in managing their innovation through R&D consulting, building and managing patent portfolios, providing training on intellectual property and strategizing best innovation practices.
Honorary Chairman
Derek Webber, a former satellite and launch vehicle systems engineer, Head of Procurement at a satellite services organization, and Managing Director of a satellite broadband provider, has citations in “Who’s Who in Science and Engineering” and “Who’s Who in the World”, and has made contributions to the creation of the space tourism industry and commercial space exploration initiatives for nearly two decades.
Research Team
Programme Director for On-orbit Operations
Jeremy (Jez) Turner is a Teaching Associate at The University of Nottingham. He spent over 15 years in the motor industry while completing an Astronomy and Planetary Sciences Degree at night. He has taught Physics, Astronomy and Engineering in a spaceflight and space context for over 14 years. Jez has also worked on Mars Society projects, worked with IOP, The National Space Centre, NASA and ESA people/resources to deliver content to students. His research interests include the potential for reusing, repurposing and recycling space debris as well as studies into human led on-orbit servicing/construction of satellites and architecture for humans exploring the Solar System.
Programme Director for Market Analysis
Maureen Cohen is an MPhys student in Mathematical Physics at Heriot-Watt University. She plans to do a PhD in Astrophysics after finishing her MPhys in 2020. Her interests lie in planetary science, especially terrestrial worlds and exoplanet detection, imaging and image processing, and space access solutions. Prior to studying physics, Maureen worked for over a decade as a freelance legal and technical translator and editor. She has previous degrees in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley and in Mediterranean Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh, as well as professional qualifications in paralegal studies and translation. At GEDG, she is leading on Market Analysis research within Policy/Business Development group on our comprehensive commercial strategy.
Programme Director for Systems Integration and Human Factors
Christian Wilhelm MRAeS is a Human Factors Specialist with background in Nuclear, Aviation (operations), Construction and Manufacturing. He is currently working in nuclear decommissioning of a former nuclear research site. As Gateway Earth’s Systems Integration and Human Factors Programme Director, his role is focusing on the socio-technical aspects of the project, bringing together human capabilities and engineering. Christian is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Resilience Engineering Association. Having a broad professional understanding of human factors and ergonomics his focus is on socio technical systems and complexity theory. He also has an interest in cognitive diversity and promotes the Human Centred Organization principles (ISO 27500) in support of a more humanistic way of utilising the human resource.
Gateway Earth 