Dr Simon Berry is Deputy Director General at the SKA Observatory (SKAO), an IGO responsible for the development and operation of cutting-edge radio telescopes that will transform our understanding of the Universe and deliver benefits to society through global collaboration and innovation. 

Headquartered in the UK, SKAO’s two telescope arrays under construction in Australia and South Africa will soon be the two most advanced radio telescope networks on Earth. With state-of-the-art research facilities SKAO’s telescopes will explore the unknown frontiers of science and deepen our understanding of key astronomical processes, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, fundamental physics in extreme environments and the origins of life.

As a key member of the SKAO Executive Leadership Team, Dr Berry works closely with the international SKAO government members to lead the strategic, legal, international relations and communications and outreach activities of SKAO within the Director-General’s Office. 

Prior to joining SKAO in 2014, Dr Berry worked in a variety of international programme management roles at the Science and Technology Facilities Council for over ten years.  During this time, he managed the Council’s contributions to the UK’s space science mission programme, the ground-based astronomy facilities programme, represented UK interests at several international astronomy facilities at Board/Council level and coordinated several major programme and facility strategic reviews.