Andrew Cawthorne

Bio

Andrew Cawthorne is Managing Director of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), bringing over two decades of experience in pioneering space missions and commercial innovation.

After earning a Master’s degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University, Andrew began his career at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. As part of ESA's Aurora programme, he contributed to a range of visionary projects including the conceptual design of a human mission to Mars and early-stage development work for the ExoMars rover.

He joined SSTL in 2004 as a systems engineer on TopSat, a high-resolution Earth imaging demonstrator, before becoming the technical lead on NigeriaSat-2—a complex imaging satellite delivered to the Nigerian government. His leadership in Earth observation (EO) saw him appointed Head of EO in 2012 and Director of EO in 2016, where he oversaw major programmes including the DMC3 constellation and the trailblazing Carbonite series of small, low-cost video-capable satellites.

In 2019, Andrew took on the role of Director of Business Development and Sales, driving SSTL’s growth through a broad portfolio of missions spanning commercial, institutional, and international markets. He became Managing Director in July 2024.
That same year, Andrew was awarded the prestigious Sir Arthur C Clarke Award for Space Achievement – Individual, recognising his outstanding contribution to the UK space industry.