Biography
Dr. Garry Hunt, OBE, FRAS, is a British astrophysicist and space scientist known for major contributions to planetary exploration and science communication. He was awarded his PhD in Mathematical Physics by University of London after studying at UCL, later holding research positions at Oxford and UCL in planetary and atmospheric science. In 1972 he was selected to join NASA’s Voyager mission imaging team, becoming the only UK scientist involved and contributing to landmark discoveries at the outer planets. Garry is also widely recognized as a communicator of astronomy, having presented space science on the BBC for more than two decades. His later career included senior leadership roles in technology and innovation across industry and government advisory boards. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was appointed OBE for services to space science and business.
For more detail see Garry’s extended biography below his talk synopsis.
Synopsis
From Space Exploration to Space Exploitation and beyond:
Garry E Hunt shares 50 years of experience in space science, Voyager and business, in conversation with Lucie Green.
Garry Hunt shares 50 years of experience in space science, Voyager and business, in conversation with Lucie Green. The wide ranging discussion will take us back to Voyager’s Uranus encounter – noting the 40th annivesary of this landmark event and discussing with Garry his experience working on the Voyager mission. Including the science of the extended mission phase that saw Voyager becone the first humanmade objects to reach interstellar space. In 2026, the Voyager spacecraft are so distant from the Earth that it takes a day for the spacecraft’s faint signal to reach us. The discussion will end with a look to the future. Will we ever have another mission to Uranus? And if so, what would be political drivers be to take on such an ambitious mission again?
Extended biography
When Voyager 1 and 2 sent their breathtaking first images of the outer planets back to Earth, one of the scientists poring over those ghostly photographs was Dr. Garry E. Hunt. As the only British scientist on NASA’s Voyager imaging team, Hunt helped the world see Jupiter’s swirling storms, Saturn’s mysterious rings, and Neptune’s windswept surface with fresh eyes. For many in the UK, he became the public face of planetary exploration. A scientist who could explain the mysteries of space with clarity and excitement. But for Hunt, the story did not end at the edge of the Solar System. He went on to navigate an entirely different universe: the world of global business.
From the Lab to the Boardroom
Hunt’s early years were steeped in academic research. After earning his PhD and DSc in atmospheric sciences, he took up a post at University College London, where he developed a reputation for rigorous yet imaginative work. His Voyager role gave him not just scientific prestige, but also a rare talent for communication. He was able to make the complexities of planetary atmospheres accessible to business leaders, governments, and the general public alike. That ability to translate between worlds, science, strategy, and society, became the hallmark of his later career. In the early 1990s, he joined IT Partners Ltd. as Director of Business Development, marking his first big step into the commercial sector. From there he took on executive roles at Logica plc and ICL plc, two of Britain’s powerhouse technology companies at the time.
A Global Footprint
Business, like space, knows no borders, and Hunt’s career quickly took on an international dimension. He worked across India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, and Indonesia, advising governments and corporations on how to adapt to the tidal wave of technological change. Whether it was helping shape IT strategies in emerging markets or guiding multinationals through digital transformation, Hunt became a sought-after voice in boardrooms from London to Colombo to Sydney.
The Advisor’s Advisor
Alongside executive posts, Hunt also became a trusted advisor to some of the world’s largest companies. His portfolio includes EDS, Ernst & Young, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, and GlaxoSmithKline. He also served with HW Group plc and built a strong reputation as a non-executive director who could challenge assumptions and broaden strategic horizons. His election as a Fellow of the Institute of Directors recognised not only his business acumen, but also his ability to mentor and influence the next generation of corporate leaders.
A Career of Two Halves; With a Common Thread
What ties together a career that spans Voyager’s epic journey and the high-stakes world of consulting? For Hunt, the common thread has always been perspective. In science, he sought to understand Earth’s place in the cosmos by studying alien worlds. In business, he encouraged leaders to look beyond the immediate, to think long-term, anticipate change, and embrace innovation before it became unavoidable.
Legacy
Today, Garry E. Hunt stands as a rare example of someone who has not just reinvented himself, but carried his core strengths of analysis, communication and vision, into entirely new arenas. To some, he will always be the scientist who brought Saturn’s rings into their living rooms. To others, he is the boardroom advisor who helped organisations across continents find their own way through the turbulence of technological change. Either way, his career is a reminder that the skills that unlock the secrets of the planets can just as easily unlock the secrets of business success.
