Melissa Quinn stepping down as head of Spaceport Cornwall
She's been in the role since 2014
The head of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa Quinn has announced she's stepping down.
She'll be leaving the role at the end of the month, after nine years.
Melissa joined the Spaceport team in its early stages, providing support for the UK Space Agency bid, and she took on the head role in January 2021.
The first-ever UK took place from the Spaceport in January 2023.
Despite the satellites not reaching their final orbit, the Spaceport and Cornwall Airport Newquay teams flawlessly executed ground operations, securing the UK's first spaceport license.
Prior to her role as Head of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa played a key role in the success of Cornwall Council's Aerohub project, securing Enterprise Zone status and providing support to multiple aerospace businesses across Cornwall.
'This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life'
Melissa says, ‘This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life, and absolutely no reflection on Spaceport Cornwall, but a personal decision believing it is the right time to move on.
"It has been a huge challenge, professionally, and personally, to deliver this project, and I am incredibly proud of what my small dedicated team, and I have achieved.
"Mostly I am proud of our work with local young people, especially girls, inspiring them to get into STEAM careers, as well as challenge the status quo.
"With the Cabinet approval last week, I am leaving Spaceport Cornwall at the start of an exciting new chapter, and I will be cheering it on from the side lines.
"I want to say thank you to my team, my family, our partners and to the county of Cornwall for helping to deliver our purpose of Space for Good, and putting Cornwall on the world’s stage.
"Ad Astra."
She will be announcing a new position in the space industry in the coming weeks, further contributing to the advancement of space exploration.
Plans are underway to fill the vacant Head of Spaceport role over the summer.