Rob Spurrett
Current position or job title:
Managing Director, COM DEV Europe Limited
Areas of expertise (Brief summary)
Rob’s experience is in supplying hardware components and subsystems for satellites and launch vehicles to major Prime contractors around the world. He has worked upon a wide range of technologies including: space power subsystems, infrared and microwave Earth observation equipment, UHF communications antennas, and spacecraft propulsion systems.
Qualifications & Accreditations
Rob has worked in the Space industry for over twenty years. He has a Master of Engineering degree from City University London, and an MBA from Warwick Business School and has over thirty published academic papers.
Career History Summary
Prior to joining COM DEV Europe Limited in April 2009, Rob was the Director responsible for the Space Products division of ABSL Power Solutions Limited. He has a track record of growing small to medium space companies and at ABSL he was also responsible for successfully establishing a start-up operation in Colorado, USA.
Key Achievements
Development of high-precision calibration systems that were critical to the performance of many earth observation spacecraft. Such spacecraft were central to research into global warming and other climate issues.
Development of the first Lithium-ion batteries to fly in space.
Personal interests and Hobbies
Listening to live music, cooking and drinking (but not at the same time!).
Trivia: What would you say is the most interesting thing about you? Or to happen to you?
I used to be a very enthusiastic match fisherman, taking part in national competitions. I won my way through to the final of one particular competition that clashed with the football world cup final in 1998. I had tickets for the football final but decided to go fishing instead. The fishing tackle company that used to sponsor me leaked the ‘story’ to the press. I suddenly found myself in newspapers, writing magazine articles and doing radio interviews. I gave fishing up about a year later …