On 9 October 2025, the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) hosted a webinar addressing the topic of talent in the European space sector, as a complementary initiative to its new report, Talent in the European Space Sector: Bridging Gaps, Building Futures. The webinar brought together a panel of experts who explored topics related to:
- The growing demand for hybrid, “T-shaped” professionals with cross-disciplinary skills
- The shortage of mid-level talent and the increasingly competitive landscape for junior roles
- The evolution of STEM programmes to better integrate interdisciplinary education
- Strategies to attract, retain, and inspire top talent in an increasingly competitive environment
Thank you to our speakers:
- Professor Chris Rapley – Professor of Climate Science, University College London (UCL)
- Lucy Van der Tas – Head of Talent Acquisition, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Joseph Dudley – Director, Space Skills Alliance
- José Pedro Ferreira – Project Groups Coordinator, SGAC
- Jérôme Barbier – Coordinator, YEESS – Young European Enterprises Syndicate for Space
- Sien De Neve – Student, advanced master’s degree in Space Science from KU Leuven, and a master’s degree in Chemistry from Ghent University
