Caroline Harper

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT CAROLINE HARPER

Caroline joined the Space Agency at its creation in 2011, transferring into the new organisation from the Science & Technology Facilities Research Council. She became Head of the Agency\'s Space Science Programme in April 2020. This Programme provides support for the design, development and operation of innovative scientific instrument payloads and data processing capabilities for European Space Agency missions. Caroline\'s role includes working with the space R&D community in academia and industry to develop the sector through strong, focused participation in missions within ESA\'s Space Science Programme. She also leads a new science and exploration bilateral programme for the UK Space Agency, working with other national space agencies such as NASA, JAXA and CSA to develop and enable international partnerships for the UK on science missions around the world. She has also been responsible for the Agency\'s first national cubesat programme, launched successfully in July 2014, and for managing some of the Agency\'s International Partnership Programme (IPP) overseas development aid projects. She is the UK lead delegate at a number of international committees and was appointed Vice Chair of ESA\'s Science Programme Committee in 2023. Caroline is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. She is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and a Respect at Work champion, offering support and mentoring to colleagues as part of the Agency\'s staff well-being initiative.