Maria brings a wealth of experience, having served as the Head of ESA Policy at UKSA for nearly a decade, bringing great knowledge of policy, innovation and the dynamics of the space industry. She played a pivotal role in steering four successful investment rounds at ESA ministerial meetings, evidenced by UK ESA investment almost doubling in this period, and the UK going from eighth largest funder in ESA to one of the influential big 4 nations. She credits the success in growing space budgets, even over times of fiscal austerity, with the ability to work closely well with analysts on all aspects of socio-economic research.