Iain Christie

PhD (Physics)

Iain began his career in the space business while still a graduate student at the University of Ottawa in 1991, when he took a part-time job at Neptec Design Group – then a young start-up company. Twenty-two years later he left Neptec Design Group after seven years as President and CEO. During the intervening time he worked in several positions including running the Space Vision System project office on-site at the Johnson Space Center where he trained astronauts and worked in the space shuttle mission control center. He also worked at different times as Neptec’s head of space operations and as director of research and development. During his time at Neptec the company designed, developed, tested, and flew six new sensor systems on board the space shuttle and the International Space Station. After Neptec Design Group he moved on to the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada where he worked as Executive Vice-President and handled the association’s space file. During that time he also served as President and Past President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. He now runs his own consulting company specializing in the space sector and, in particular, helping small companies grow and do business with the federal government. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management and the host of Terranauts – a podcast about going to space… without ever leaving the ground.

Please note that the CSA acts solely as an intermediary to provide the public with access to the contact information of experts and organizations listed on the Canadian Space Ambassadors page. The CSA does not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information provided therein, which remains at all times the responsibility of the originating experts and organizations. The CSA also takes no responsibility for the availability of the Canadian Space Ambassadors, the content of their presentations, or the coordination of travel or events. The Government of Canada offers no guarantee and assumes no responsibility regarding the accuracy, relevance or reliability of the content of external sites, nor does it express approval of these sites or their content. More details about the space Ambassadors roles and responsibilities.