Charlotte Pouwels is a physicist, Galileo satellite system engineer and speaker. As CTO of ICEE.Space, she is a strong advocate for women in STEAM. In 2019, Charlotte became an analogue astronaut during the ESA EuroMoonMars EMMIHS-II mission at HI-SEAS in Hawaii.
Charlotte as a speaker
With hands-on experience at leading space organizations and missions in extreme environments, Charlotte takes her audience on a compelling journey into the future of exploration and technology. Her dynamic keynotes combine in-depth knowledge with immersive storytelling, perfect for events that want to highlight science, innovation and adventure in an inspiring way.
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ICEE.Space
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One of the key projects of ICEE.Space, CHILL-ICE, is an analogue mission in Iceland. During this mission, prototypes of space habitats and suits are tested by setting up an inflatable, pressurized habitat in a lava tube within an 8-hour extravehicular activity (EVA), simulating emergency situations on the moon. ICEE.Space organizes multiple analogue missions each year in extreme environments as part of STEM education programs.
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Further career
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Between 2020 and 2021, Charlotte worked as a test engineer at Airbus Defence & Space in the Netherlands. She also delivers guest lectures and keynote talks and achieved 3rd place in the ESA Champion 2021 public speaking award. In 2022, she started as a Galileo Security system engineer for the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA) in Prague, representing CGI and working on multiple launches with SpaceX. At the same time, she pursued a master’s degree in Space Studies at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, where she conducted research on the use of Augmented Reality Heads-In Displays in next-generation space suits.
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From 2024, Charlotte works on the Galileo Launch & Space segment and is involved in upcoming launches with the Ariane 62 rocket. Currently, Charlotte is transitioning into a new role as a Galileo Space System Engineer in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
