UKPF committee nominations

Please note, voting has now closed and election results will be announced during our AGM on 12th November at 13:30 (GMT).
Below are the candidates for the new UKPF committee (in surname alphabetical order) along with the roles which they are running for. Voting will close at 9am on the 12th November and election results will be announced during the UKPF AGM at 13:30 (GMT) on 12th November.
Ben Attwood
Master's graduate from the University of Aberdeen
Running for EDIA Rep and E-mail Master
I'm a Master's graduate in Planetary Sciences from the University of Aberdeen with a background in Astrophysics. I'm looking to pursue a PhD and specialise into planetary space weather and magnetosphere-ionosphere physics. I'm running for the EDIA Representative and Email Master positions. I believe I’m particularly well suited for the EDIA representative position, having lived my whole life with Autism and dealt with many neurodivergent people, I’m wholly familiar with the challenges the neurodivergent community face, and if elected, I aim to serve those across the UK Planetary Science community at all stages of their careers who are neurodivergent. I also believe that my excellent organisational skills would hold me in good stead for the Email Master position.
Eloïse Brown
Previously at Okayama University
​Running for Secretary
Hi, I’m Eloïse and I’m running for secretary. My research so far has specialised in thermal infrared spectroscopy and spectral unmixing algorithms for planetary surfaces such as asteroids. I am well organised and have experience taking meeting minutes for student rep meetings and Comet Interceptor MIRMIS meetings. I’d like to be part of the UKPF committee as secretary as I want to be more involved behind the scenes so we can get the best science out, and to give back to the planetary science community. As I’m currently in between postdocs, I’d have the time to dedicate to the UKPF and additionally help out with many other aspects, and would bring a fresh enthusiasm to the committee. This opportunity would undoubtedly bring me new skills and I hope my existing skills can be used to benefit the UKPF.
Peter Fawdon
Senior Research Fellow at the Open University
​Running for Co-Chair
The UK has an illustrious history of exploration, and the forefront of that today is the planetary science we are all engaged in. Over the past two years, I have co-chaired the transitional committee that established UKPF as a special interest group. This reflects the maturity of our community and aims to better represent those involved in planetary science in the UK. Academically, I have grown up through the UK ECR community, so I am well placed to bring my appreciation of your journey to my leadership. I wish to continue in this role for the next year to cement our vision for UKPF: an open mailing list for anyone to engage with the community; annual, ECR-led “Research in Progress” meetings; the biannual BPSC community meeting; and, going forward, a platform to enable greater public and stakeholder engagement.
Mark Fox-Powell
Senior Lecturer at the Open University
Running for Meetings and Sponsorship Co-ordinator
I am a Senior Lecturer at The Open University, where I research icy worlds of the outer Solar System. I am motivated to join the UKPF committee by a desire to feedback to the community that has supported my own career, and to help foster its continued growth. As a member of the transitional committee, I helped guide the UKPF's reinvigoration over the past two years. I have direct experience of the operations of national societies thanks to my experience as Chair of the Astrobiology Society of Britain (2022-2023), where I oversaw a brand refresh, coordinated ECR internship funding, and co-ran our biannual conference. Having co-organised the 3rd British Planetary Science Conference, I am well-positioned to serve as UKPF liaison for future BPSCs, ensuring continuity in our flagship meetings. I look forward to drawing my experience of securing sponsorship to develop new opportunities that advance our vibrant and diverse community.
Helen Grant
​PDRA at the University of Canterbury
Running for EDIA Rep
I recently began a PDRA at the University of Kent investigating the extent and effect of impacts on sample capture, within the framework of future volcanic and icy plume sample return missions. Prior to this, I completely my PhD at the University of Manchester looking at water and H-isotopes in UOC meteorites, and a postdoc at INAF-IAPS in Rome investigating space weathering on returned samples and experimentally weathered meteorites. I am interested in Solar System evolution, meteorite and sample science, astrobiology, and the links between astrophysics and planetary science. Now that I am back in the UK I am hoping to extend my contributions within the planetary science community. By joining the UKPF as an EDIA rep I intent to help provide support to anyone who may need it and work to improve representation across our rapidly growing field.
Stephanie Halwa
PhD student at the University of Manchester
​Running for Secretary and EDIA rep
I am a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Manchester. My research focuses on the sources and signatures of volatiles species (H, N, noble gases) in lunar regolith samples returned by the Apollo 16 mission, in order to provide context to the results from ESA’s upcoming PROSPECT payload. Since joining the transitional committee, I have helped with the upkeep and updating of the website, supported the running of the 2024 ECM and helped with the organisation and planning of the elections and upcoming ‘Impact of UK Planetary Geosciences’ meeting. I have held the role of secretary in undergraduate societies and would bring organisational skills, previous experience and knowledge of the current workings of the committee into both roles. I am very keen to keep supporting the community and would be excited to carry on within UKPF.
Huma Irfan
PhD student at the Centre for Planetary Sciences, University College London/Birkbeck University
​Running for Webmaster and Social Media Rep
Huma is a PhD Researcher at the Centre for Planetary Sciences, UCL/Birkbeck, University of London, where her research is focused on lunar science and exploration. This includes site selection for lunar outposts and landing sites for future robotic and human missions, as well as lunar resource prospecting through lunar orbital remote sensing data, lunar geology, GIS, and 3D modelling. Huma completed her MSc from UCL, specialising in GIS and remote sensing, and professional training in New Space Economy from the MIT. Huma is a Fellow of the GeolSoc, Fellow of the RAS, and a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She previously served on the Committee of the Geological Remote Sensing Group (GRSG), a joint special interest group of the GeolSoc and RSPSoc, where she contributed to website and IT development, membership management, editing newsletter, and organising UK and international conferences, workshops, and events.
Chloe Kadir
PhD student at the University of Manchester
​Running for Early Careers Meeting Rep
​I am a PhD student in the Planetary Science research group at the University of Manchester. My PhD project is focused on reducing uncertainty in meteorite dark flight models, to better refine our understanding of how meteorite fragments travel through the atmosphere and to improve the efficacy of meteorite searches following the observation of a fireball. I am also very passionate about science communication and outreach. I enjoy working at Jodrell Bank’s Centre for Engagement on weekends, where I am a Science Explainer, and give talks to visitors of all ages about the science and history of Jodrell Bank. I had a fantastic time at this year’s UKPF ECM 2025 at the University of Oxford, and would be very excited to help with the organisation of future meetings.
Kit-Hung Mark Lee
PhD student at the Open University
​Running for Awards Officer
Hi, everyone! I’m Mark and I’m a 2nd year PhD student at the Open University studying Martian meteorites. As an organic chemist by training with an interest in astrobiology, the UKPF welcomed me into this wonderful community, where the connections I made and the resources on offer led me to achieving my dream of doing research in planetary science. I hope to be your next Awards Officer on the UKPF Committee because I’m passionate to help you access the opportunities that will contribute to your success! I would be delighted to give something back to the community that helped me so much and also contribute to representing early careers members in our community!
Mark Nottingham
PDRA at the University of Glasgow
​Running for Communications Co-ordinator
I’m currently a postdoc at the University of Glasgow, working on volatile inventory sample analysis of asteroid and regolith materials to further develop our understanding of space weathering and the space radiation environment. I have extensive experience of the technical platforms the UKPF uses to fulfil its work and, for this reason, I hope to continue my support of our growing community in the role of Communications Co-ordinator. Beyond my role in UKPF, I am also a member of the ESA Prospect mission science team as well as being keenly involved in public engagement and championing EDIA initiatives. I have been a part of the UKPF committee since 2019, and have been involved in many of the changes it has adopted over that time – from ensuring the community stayed well connected while in-person meetings were not possible, through to the recent affiliation with the Geological Society.
Aine O'Brien
​PDRA at the University of Glasgow
Running for Webmaster
I'm a meteoritics postdoc at the University of Glasgow mostly studying organics and isotope ratios. I am also part of the UK Fireball Alliance working to detect and retrieve meteorites in the UK. I'm keen to join the UKPF committee to support the wider planetary ECR community. During my PhD I established and led the RAS Early Career Network for Astronomy and Geophysics, running the online poster conference in lockdown, which involved designing and managing the website, uploading > 300 posters, and troubleshooting with the external developers. I also worked part time as Diversity Officer for the RAS; one part of this role was to lead an accessibility audit of the RAS website. I'm keen to build on these skills and experiences by helping manage the UKPF site, ensuring it is up to date and designed with the community in mind.
Louisa Preston
Lecturer at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London
​Running for Co-Chair
​I am Head of the Planetary Science Group at MSSL. As such I have created and implemented our long-term strategy, drawing upon both our strengths and weaknesses, and developing opportunities for the future, focusing not only on our diverse research topics but also the support and development of our ECRs, as well as our outreach goals. I am also the Treasurer for the Astrobiology Society of Britain, having helped implement multiple outreach grants and bursaries, and the ECR summer internship program. As a cross-disciplinary ECR I relied on the UKPF for information, support, and opportunities to connect with other researchers across the UK. Now as a mid-career researcher I strive to pay this positive experience forward and through working with the UKPF, continue to support the planetary science community.
Auriol Rae
Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh
​Running for Treasurer
I am a Lecturer in Structural Geology at the University of Edinburgh, where my research focuses on the processes and consequences of impact cratering using numerical simulations, geological observations, and rock mechanics experiments. I completed my PhD at Imperial College London in 2018, followed by postdoctoral positions in Freiburg and Cambridge. Alongside my research, I have been active in GeolSoc and MinSoc communities, serving as an ECR representative on the Tectonic Studies Group committee and currently as an ordinary member of the Mineral Physics Special Interest Group. From 2022–2024, I was trustee and treasurer of a charity with an annual turnover of around £150k, gaining valuable financial management experience. I am standing for the role of Treasurer and am excited to support and strengthen the UK’s planetary science community.
Ben Rider-Stokes
PDRA at the Open University
Running for Social Media Rep and E-mail Master
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at The Open University, specialising in planetary materials and asteroid science. My current research integrates laboratory spectroscopy with meteorite microanalysis to interpret the mineralogy of asteroids, providing ground truth for astronomical observations and supporting ongoing and future space missions. I focus on linking differentiated planetesimals and their meteorite analogues to asteroid spectral properties, with implications for planetary formation, resource utilisation, and the evolution of the early Solar System. Looking ahead, I aim to build an academic career that advances our understanding of planetary bodies through chemical and spectroscopic techniques, while contributing to the teaching and mentoring of the next generation of planetary scientists.
Jodie Sutherland
PhD student at the University of Manchester
Running for Early Career Meeting Rep
I’m a PhD student at the University of Manchester. My research focuses on volatiles in primitive carbonaceous chondrites and how they are affected by aqueous and thermal alteration processes. I’d like to join the UKPF committee as I’m keen to help contribute towards the growth of planetary science within the science community and am passionate about helping inspire the younger generation into pursuing planetary sciences. I’m running for one of the ECM rep positions as I’d love to be involved in helping organise the ECM meetings, I went to my first one in 2024 at Imperial as an undergrad and loved it. During my undergrad I was heavily involved in society committees in both geology and astronomy during all 5 years. I also have experience in understanding how conferences are run by helping organise 2 student run interdisciplinary science conferences with other STEM societies which were very successful.
Niamh Topping
PhD student at the University of Leicester
​Running for Awards Officer
I’m Niamh, a final year PhD student at the University of Leicester, running for the role of Awards Officer. I study water-rock interactions in carbonaceous chondrites and Martian nakhlite meteorites, using electron microscopy and related techniques. I’ve been a member of UKPF since I started my PhD, attending many of the events hosted or co-hosted by UKPF, and have seen thebenefits that having accessible and affordable conferences provide for early career researchers. As Awards Officer I would continue to uphold fair and equal opportunities for access to funds for attending UKPF-affiliated events, and ensure recognition is awarded for outstanding research where deserved. I have previously served on the organising committee for BPSC 2024 and believe my experience from this will allow me to bring valuable contributions to UKPF as a new committee member.