Following an open tender process via EUMETSAT, Steven Ramage from Réseau Consulting has been chosen as the next CEOS Executive Officer (CEO). This role will take effect from 2 January 2024. Steven will take over from Marie-Claire Greening who is now at the European Space Agency.
The announcement was made at a CEOS Plenary session on Wednesday 15 November in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The Plenary was hosted by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the Thai space agency, and space research organisation.
Established in 1984, CEOS is now the primary global forum for international coordination of space-based Earth observations. CEOS agencies (currently 64) communicate, collaborate, and exchange information on Earth observation activities, enabling useful and valuable partnerships. CEOS also played an influential role in the establishment and ongoing development of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in 2005. Before setting up Réseau Consulting, Steven was Chief Engagement Officer at the GEO Secretariat for 6 years.
Eric Laliberté from the Canadian Space Agency, the 2024 CEOS Chair stated:
“We are very pleased that Steven will join CEOS and help support our objectives to coordinate Earth observation satellite missions on a global basis and help us to enhance the use and sharing of those data for societal benefit. We are grateful to Europe for securing the services of a CEO.”
Steven Ramage added:
“I’ve contributed to CEOS for several years, notably in climate, communication, disasters, sustainable development, and urban topics. In this new role, I will get to work across numerous virtual constellations, working groups, and ad hoc teams obtaining a helicopter view across the organisation to share good practice and knowledge from the community. I’m excited to take on the role since these are the organisations providing the underpinning satellite data for the entire Earth observation industry.”
Réseau Consulting partnered with Evenflow for their successful EUMETSAT tender, run on behalf of European agencies as members of CEOS. Evenflow is a Brussels-based small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a proven track record in project management and in-depth knowledge of the programmatic, strategic, business, and user uptake aspects related to Earth observation. They are providing CEO support services.
For additional information about CEOS and its transformative work, please visit their official website. The future is bright, and with the support of Steven Ramage, CEOS is poised to reach new heights and continue to make an impact on Earth observation missions worldwide.