What does business partnering look like in practice for you day to day?
It means being involved in a wide range of conversations across the organisation. I work with teams across multiple disciplines, helping bring financial context into decisions, whether that is around new projects, business opportunities, resource planning, or long-term strategy.
It is not just about finance in isolation. It is about understanding the business and supporting it from a commercial and performance perspective.
How do you support the company’s future growth and investment decisions?
A big part of my role involves investment appraisals. That could be new capital equipment, new projects coming into the business, or opportunities we are considering bidding for. We always look at the technology, the customer need, and whether something fits strategically, but my role is to ensure it also makes commercial sense. That includes understanding margins, profitability, and the long-term value for Teledyne Space Imaging.
Are you also involved in areas like R&D and product planning?
Yes, very much so. I work closely with teams across the business to understand what can be afforded, how we plan budgets, and where investment should be prioritised. It is important to understand enough of the technical and strategic context so that financial planning supports the right outcomes.
Do you work with a wider finance team on site?
Yes. We have a central finance team that supports accounting activities not only for Chelmsford, but also for other sites across Europe and parts of North America.
On site, I also have a small team consisting of an analyst and a senior finance business partner, and the three of us work closely with the business day to day.
What has it been like stepping into the space sector in this role?
It has been a steep learning curve, but a very rewarding one. I did not come from a space background, so joining Teledyne was definitely being thrown into the deep end. What has made it so positive is the people. We have an incredibly talented pool of engineers, and they are always keen to explain what they do if you ask the right questions. I am constantly learning.
What has surprised you most about working at Teledyne Space Imaging?
I think what surprised me most is just how much heritage and capability exists here in Chelmsford. When you walk around the site and see the programmes we have supported, and the reliability of the technology we have delivered into space, it is genuinely impressive. It is a very special environment to be part of.
How does finance contribute to such a highly technical space environment?
Even though my role is not to understand every technical detail, I do need to understand enough to put proper context around the numbers and decisions we are making.
Finance plays an important role in helping the business prioritise opportunities, manage risk, and ensure we are investing in the right areas to support both innovation and long-term sustainability.
What is one key lesson you have learned since moving into the space industry?
One of the biggest lessons is how important collaboration is. Space projects require so many different disciplines working together, and finance plays a role in supporting that by helping bring structure, planning, and commercial understanding into the process.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Teledyne Space Imaging?
The part I enjoy most is being embedded in the business. I have chosen to work on site five days a week because I really enjoy being part of the environment and interacting with such a wide range of people and topics every day. It is motivating, and it keeps the role varied and interesting.
Has working in the space sector influenced your interests outside of work?
Yes, definitely. You become much more aware of space and imaging in everyday life. I will see an image from space on the internet and immediately find myself wondering, did Teledyne create that sensor? Did we build that in Chelmsford?
We also try to celebrate launches and major moments here on site, so it naturally becomes something you stay interested in outside of work as well. I also really enjoy being able to tell people what we do. It is a fascinating industry, and I find myself much more enthusiastic about sharing the Teledyne Space Imaging story than I ever was in my previous sector.
How do you see the business evolving commercially in the years ahead?
We are absolutely seeing more growth in commercial customers alongside our traditional agency programmes.
Ideally, in the future, we will have a balanced portfolio, with a strong mix of commercial work and legacy agency work. That shift is already accelerating, and it is an exciting direction for the business.
What developments are you most excited about for the future of Teledyne Space Imaging?
Historically, Teledyne Space Imaging has been very heavily reliant on CCD technology. Now, we are moving further into CMOS technology and infrared capability, and we are doing that by leveraging partnerships across Teledyne, including collaboration with teams in California and Grenoble.
At the same time, we are seeing strong momentum as we expand further into commercial markets and broaden our technology portfolio. It is a very exciting time as we strengthen our position in the space market and continue to grow the business.
What does the longer-term future look like for Teledyne Space Imaging?
We are increasingly working as part of a broader one space market approach across Teledyne. It is about bringing together capability across business units and continuing to grow our impact in the space sector.
There is a real sense of momentum, and it is exciting to be part of that journey.
