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.
ICEE.Space
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.
Further career
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.
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.
