As Virgin Galactic’s first full-time employee, Stephen laid the foundations to turn one of the world’s most ambitious projects into a profitable business in tune with the parent brand. Working alongside technical and engineering functions, he’s responsible for sales and marketing, licensing and partnerships. Showing awe-inspiring film clips, Stephen describes the dawn of a new space age, and how huge innovations will affect conventional air travel.


Biography

Stephen Attenborough is the former Commercial Director of the world’s first commercial space travel business, Virgin Galactic.

Stephen left school and went straight into the City of London, eventually working in business management for Gartmore, one of the largest investment houses in the UK. After a decade and a half with Gartmore, Stephen left to work for Virgin Galactic, arguably one of the most exciting businesses prospects around. The company’s first full-time employee, Stephen was responsible for laying the commercial foundations to make one of the most ambitious business projects ever a reality.

Although in his own words Stephen is ‘not a space nut’, he was recruited to Sir Richard Branson’s brainchild to lead sales, business development, marketing, PR, licensing, commercial partnerships and customer retention. In short, to make the project a viable, commercial prospect.The Virgin Galactic business has two aspects: the technical and engineering, and the commercial. Stephen’s role was principally concerned with how a project as innovative and unusual as Virgin Galactic can make a profit.

Taking in areas of research and development, logistics, marketing and branding, Stephen looks at how to balance all of these vital elements to create a viable business that retains the values and reputation of a brand. With awe-inspiring footage and images, he speaks about making a spaceline a reality, the dawn of a new, commercial space age, and how the huge innovations taking place will affect conventional air travel.

Contact

We’re on hand to help you find the perfect speaker, presenter or performer for your events. Call or email our London office and use our agents' experience to expertly match you with the right person for your programme!


From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive these emails.

Don't miss anything!

We will never share the data you submit here with a third party. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but is deleted once it is no longer required. You may request to have this data removed at any time.

JLA Presents


Event - 30/04/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH

Event - 06/02/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Looking Ahead to International Women’s Day

Speakers
Samira Ahmed, Eniola Aluko, Julia Gillard, and Alex Mahon

We were joined by four fantastic speakers to look ahead at International Women’s Day. With the theme of this year’s event being #InspireInclusion, we were lucky enough to hear from four women who have each blazed a trail in their respective fields: CEO of Channel 4, Alex Mahon; the former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of Kings’ Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Julia Gillard; one of the leading voices in football, Eniola Aluko MBE; and broadcaster and journalist, Samira Ahmed.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, London

WATCH