I acquired a BSc (H)  in Avionic & communications systems at Cranfield University & MSc in Telecommunication at University College London.  I have held various senior technical and executive roles over the past 30 years which included R&D Chief Technical Officer for Orange / France Telecom R&D. In 2009 I joined  Airbus Space & Defence formerly EADS Astrium  as their Head of Payload systems engineering running the telecommunications payload engineering division  the group was responsible  for the design and  delivery of advanced communications satellites . I have recently taken on a new role as head of Domains for the Satellite Applications Catapult.