Shahida is an independent space & defence expert with over 25 years engineering, business and strategy experience in the private and public sectors across civil, military communications, navigation, surveillance and life-extension space programmes.

Shahida’s experience, in addition to other organisations, spans across Airbus, Defence & Space where she was the youngest and sole female operations director during the Skynet 5B and C launch & early operations campaigns, European Space Agency when the first Galileo satellites were being prepared for launch to L3Harris Technologies where she was responsible for designing and prosecuting the roadmap for growing the company’s £multiB space portfolio in UK, Europe and across NATO.

Shahida is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Queen Mary, University of London and a Post Graduate Certificate in Conflict & Development in 20th Century from the Open University. A once keen mountaineer before injuries took over!