Susan Charlesworth

Susan Charlesworth is an internationally recognised keynote speaker on High Performance, leadership, and human factors. A psychologist by training and a seasoned astronaut trainer, she has spent over 15 years preparing elite teams to excel under the most extreme conditions imaginable. Drawing on her background in aviation and psychology, she translates lessons from space missions and Antarctic expeditions into practical strategies for leaders and organisations navigating complexity and pressure. Susan is known for her engaging, story-driven talks that combine the drama of astronaut training with clear, actionable insights for business.

Susan’s career began in education, where she rose to Head of Psychology at Oaklands College, leading a department of four and teaching over 100 students, while winning awards such as Lecturer of the Year. With a growing passion for human performance, she pursued a master’s in Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics at Cranfield University, building on her early achievement of gaining a pilot’s licence at 17. This path led her to the European Space Agency, where she became Human Behaviour and Performance Specialist at the European Astronaut Centre. In this role, she trained astronauts, mission control, and flight directors on communication, teamwork, and situational awareness, and prepared crews for the psychological and operational challenges of living in isolation, including Concordia research teams in Antarctica.

Beyond ESA, Susan expanded her influence as Education and Outreach Manager and Space Careers Lead at the UK Space Agency, where she delivered national programmes linked to Tim Peake’s Principia mission and inspired the next generation of scientists and engineers. She also played a leadership role with Women in Aerospace Europe, serving on its committee and as Director of Individual Memberships and Professional Development, driving greater inclusion and professional growth in the sector. In 2021, she founded Charlesworth Human Performance Ltd and created Launchpad, a leadership programme for technically brilliant professionals who want to grow their influence, lead high-performing teams, and build resilient careers without sacrificing wellbeing.

Susan has been widely recognised for her contribution to human performance. She was awarded the prestigious Institute Lecture by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, is co-author of the Handbook of Mental Performance: Lessons from High Performance Domains, and delivered a TEDx Brighton talk titled “Let’s Teach Our Children to Problem Solve Like Astronauts”. Today, she brings her expertise to conferences and corporate events worldwide, helping leaders and teams unlock their potential, improve culture, and thrive under pressure. With striking visuals from astronaut training and real-world case studies, Susan leaves audiences both inspired and equipped to raise their own performance in the most demanding environments.