Michael Holden to lead DSEI 2021 space strategy and development

The appointment of Dr Holden as the first space adviser for DSEI cements the event’s position as a leading defence exhibition, and further expands its growth as a truly multi-domain event across the aerospace, land, naval, and cyber domains.

“The UK Government recognises the space sector’s critical role in supporting many parts of the economy. DSEI is the leading event which highlights the interconnection of the Space sector to the land, sea, air and cyber sectors to provide a truly multi-domain approach to generating military capability,” said Dr Holden.

Dr Holden will lead the collaboration with the space community to support these requirements. This will include supporting prime contractor and supply chain exhibitors, strengthening international delegation engagement, and attracting high-level military and industry speakers for the 2021 event.

DSEI 2021 is shaping up to have the strongest aerospace zone to date, with the Space Hub to complement fixed, rotary wing and unmanned platform displays, developed in partnership with the UK MoD.

The UK Government has an ambitious target of increasing UK industry’s share of the global Space sector to 10% by 2030. It has started putting the foundations for this in place across government: the UK MoD appointed a director of space in 2020 and revealed plans to establish a new Space Command in 2021; the UK Space Agency is developing a programme for a UK-sovereign Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) capability and has a target to launch satellites from the UK in 2022 supported by a new national satellite propulsion test facility.

These advances demonstrate the UK government’s commitment to the Space sector as a key enabler to national prosperity, national security and international collaborations.

Dr Holden’s expertise and insight into the space domain is extensive, having provided consulting services across several key UK aerospace projects. This includes working on the Skynet 6 Service Delivery Wrap and Enduring Capability, organising top-level UK Space Symposiums and close collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.

“Dr Holden’s appointment will help establish DSEI as the leading event that helps stakeholders mine the rich seam of innovation in the emerging space supply chain,” Grant Burgham, DSEI event director, Clarion Defence and Security, commented. “I am very pleased to welcome him into the team as we look toward the growth of UK sovereign space capabilities and supporting the incoming UK Space Agency.”

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