Meet the team
Bringing together expertise from aerospace, telecoms and hydrogen industries, read on to find out more about more about the talented team that drives SPL.

Richard Deakin
CEO
- Three decades of civil and defence aerospace experience at BAE Systems, Thales Air Systems Division and GKN working extensively on civil drones and unmanned systems
- Member of the UK government’s Drone Industry Action Group, previously CEO of NATS, a company providing air traffic management and airport operations around the world and Global Head of Aerospace for PA Consulting

Simon Scott
Chief Operation Officer
- Joined in 2023
- Over 25 years’ experience in Aerospace, Infrastructure, Transportation and Digital Services. Building and leading engineering teams in safety critical regulated industries.

Mark Busby
Finance Director
- Seasoned finance professional, experienced in complex manufacturing, engineering businesses within aerospace, defence, cyber security and telecoms sectors
- Previously Finance Director of Thales Aerospace Division (UK) responsible for Watchkeeper UAV system integration programme

Mariska Pronk
Head of Programme Management
- A senior Programme Manager with proven track record of successful trans-national, multi-disciplinary project delivery within commercial aerospace
- Experienced in delivery of concept, development certification of wing structures engineering Airbus commercial aircraft

Neil Taylor
Business Systems Analyst
- Experienced in design and manufacturing engineering in the UK, China and South Africa
- 10 years in financial services portfolio management and developing investment strategies

Dr Hilary Costello
High Altitude Platform Subject Matter Expert
- Specialising in long endurance aerospace technology designed to operate in the stratosphere, avionics and flight control systems
- Engineering, design, testing of high-altitude aerospace technology – balloon and fixed wing unmanned aerial systems
