SaxaVord Spotlights
SaxaVord Spotlights
Bryden Priest - 30/6/2025
Elizabeth Johnson - 16/6/2025
Robin Huber - 2/6/2025
Debbie Strang - 16/5/2025
Scott Hammond - 2/5/2025
SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know Bryden Priest
What is your job title?
Community Projects Officer
What does a day in your life look like?
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
I have two types of days—some days, I’m based in the office or at home, planning projects and meeting with our education partners online. On other days, I’m out and about, having a fantastic time visiting young people at events or in their schools.
My favourite thing about SaxaVord Spaceport is the people. I couldn’t be happier with the team I work with, both within SaxaVord and across the wider space sector. It’s such a friendly and welcoming industry!
Exciting, Inspiring, Family.
What does your job title mean?
My job title means I get to focus on Education and Outreach, working on exciting projects with amazing people. I have the fantastic job of talking to people of all ages about the inspiring space industry in Scotland.
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
When I left school, I went to university to study Education and went on to teach in a primary school in Glasgow before starting this job. I always knew I wanted to work with young people and in education, and I feel so lucky to be in a job that I love.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
My favourite space-related song is Space Man by Sam Ryder!
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
If I had to go to space, I’d take a piano, a phone, and a lifetime supply of Beef Hula Hoops!
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is the incredible educators I’ve met throughout my career—those who go above and beyond to inspire young people and make learning exciting. Their passion and dedication constantly motivate me in my own work.
SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know Elizabeth Johnson
What is your job title?
External Affairs Manager
What does a day in your life look like?
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
I spend a lot of time on calls with various folk. I also go out and about to meet with people to discuss whats happening at the Spaceport and meet with visitors to the site and give tours etc. I am working on a plan for all visitors that want to watch launches to make sure the local residents are not affected.
It is a very interesting project to work on. This is a first for the UK and we get to meet a lot of very interesting people.
interesting, challenging, hectic
What does your job title mean?
It means that I deal with all sorts of folk outwith the Spaceport and speak to landowners, planning people and lots of other people on a daily basis
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
I thought that I would be living and working in Lerwick. My first job was working in an office in the local Council.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
Apollo 13 film
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
Reading glasses, photos of family, camera to capture all the beautiful views
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My hard working parents
SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know Robin huber
What is your job title?
Head of Europe
What does your job title mean?
It means that I am transporting the capabilities of SaxaVord spaceport to the European space industry and community and that our launch capabilities are to be seen as European launch capabilites, despite us being located in the UK. It also means that I am engaging with the European space community to attract partners and customers to lauch from SaxaVord and use our facilities.
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
Grow a career in investment banking so as to support and shape innovation and technological developments, so as to constantly improve our daily lives.
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
SaxaVord allows me to have a very fulfilling job which includes meeting a lot of interesting people and be engaged in exciting topics. Of course, our team and my colleagues make this place worthwhile, as much as the diversity of our ideas and thoughts.
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
Family and friends, opportunities but also frustrations
What does a day in your life look like?
Luckily, there is no such thing as a typical day in my role.
Typically though, is for me to stay informed about the developments in the space industry and get a good understanding of how SaxaVord can better serve the space community. This by reading news, reports or books and publications, but also in attending conferences and exhibitions. Above all, it is to talk to as many people as possible to listen to their views, but also re-enforce SaxaVord is the right place for all their needs.
Other topics include to make sure the SaxaVord teams stay engaged with our partners and that we can cater for their demands. This includes reading and understanding a lot of technical documents.
Finally, it is also to develop new business opportunities for SaxaVord. This may reach from new customers/partners to developing new services/products to be offered and understand how SaxaVord should be positioned in 10-15 years time.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
Spaceballs or First Man
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
Pictures of family, survival kit, some delicacies from Bavaria
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Richard Feynman, André Kostolany and my kids
SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know DEBBIE STRANG
What is your job title?
Chief Operating Officer
What does a day in your life look like?
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
I spend quite a bit of time in the office or on virtual meetings on my laptop, but I also spend time travelling to different parts of the UK for meetings or conferences, helping to raise awareness about the spaceport.
I love that there is something so modern, so new, so important that now exists in the stunning and remote island of Unst, Shetland.
Exciting, Important, Thrilling
What does your job title mean?
It means I work with all the teams, I oversee the team members who work on education, sustainability and tourism.
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
It's a long time since I finished school and I wanted to join the Royal Air Force, which I did. I never imagined I would be one of the people that said 'let's build a spaceport' and then did.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
The Toy Story films
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
Photos of my family, Yoga mat and my cat
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Amelia Earhart the first British woman to fly solo across the atlantic in 1932
SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know Scott Hammond
What is your job title?
Operations Director
What does a day in your life look like?
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
Mad, I spend the day talking to the whole team to make sure they understand their job and that they have what they need to do it.
That we are doing something so exciting and seeing the progress each day.
Exciting, different, challenging
What does your job title mean?
I am responsible for the safe operation of the spaceport in a run up to launch and during launch.
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
I wanted to be pilot in the air force.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
Interstellar
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
Camera, phone and death ray! :-)
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Spock from Star Trek