David Williams, Acting Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, will chair the ESA Council for the next year, effective from 1 July.
He was unanimously elected as Chairman of the ESA Council at the 215th ESA Council meeting, held in Paris, France, on 16/17 June. He will take over from Maurici Lucena of Spain.
David Williams leads the UK Space Agency, which manages all UK civil space activities. The UK Space Agency was launched on 1 April, replacing the British National Space Centre (BNSC), where Dr Williams served as Director General from May 2006. In taking up his post at the BNSC, he also became Head of the UK Delegation to ESA.
Before his appointment as Director General of BNSC, David Williams spent 10 years as Head of Strategy and International Relations with Eumetsat. His earlier experience includes previous work in the UK with the BNSC, the Natural Environment Research Council, industry and academia.
