Why Space is a Human Endeavour: Holly Worrall

Holly has joined Plextek as Senior Project Manager, bringing a unique blend of strategic thinking and space sector experience. With a strong background in space consultancy, science communication and technology commercialisation, Holly is focused on supporting our complex space projects to succeed.

Hi Holly, can you tell us about your role at Plextek?

Of course! I am a Senior Project Manager here at Plextek, with a focus on working primarily across our space projects. My role is to create the conditions for complex, ambitious work to succeed. This means I align people, priorities and timelines so that our brilliant teams here at Plextek can focus on solving some of the hardest technical challenges within the space industry.

I’m looking forward to helping to grow Plextek’s space activity at a time when space feels more relevant than ever. Space isn’t just about exploration anymore; it underpins how we understand our planet, how we communicate and how we plan for the future. Plextek operates in that space between long-term ambition and real-world application, and being able to help deliver projects that contribute to that future is something I find really exciting.

What excites me most is working at the intersection of people and technology. Behind every spacecraft, instrument, line of code, or system is a team of individuals doing something incredibly challenging. My role allows me to support our teams to make that innovation happen.

Can you share a bit about your background?

My route into space has been unconventional, and that’s something I see as a real strength. I started with a BA in Global Studies, where my final-year research looked at how artistic movements and subjective processing choices influence astronomical images produced for the public – particularly iconic images from missions like Hubble. What fascinated me was not just what we see in space, but how we choose to show it, and what that says about us as humans. That interest led me to an MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College London, where I began to see space as a deeply human endeavour.

For a long time, I didn’t think there was a place for me in the space sector because I wasn’t a scientist or an engineer. What changed was realising how much the industry relies on people, on communication, coordination, trust and long-term vision. Before Plextek, I worked at a space-focussed consultancy on projects ranging from space nuclear power to satellite communications and Earth observation. I was involved in technology road mapping, commercialisation and helping organisations turn ambitious ideas into viable programmes and business cases. Space may be vast, but the industry itself is surprisingly small, collaborative and optimistic, and that sense of shared purpose is something I really value.

What was it about Plextek that made you want to get involved?

I first heard about Plextek after a conversation with Aled Catherall, Plextek’s CTO, who spoke to me about all the work the company was doing. That chat stayed with me, and when I later saw a space project management role open at Plextek, I knew I had to apply. Initially, I was drawn to Plextek’s combination of technical depth and human focus. It’s a company that delivers highly complex engineering work, but doesn’t lose sight of the people behind it. I’d also heard some fantastic things about Plextek’s reputation, not just as a technical leader, but as a place to work.

​One moment that particularly stood out was reading about the leadership team and seeing some of the inspiring people working at the company – particularly Vicky, our Senior VP of Engineering. From my earliest conversations, I felt genuine enthusiasm, curiosity and openness. I got a  sense that Plextek is confident in what it does, but not afraid to evolve, learn and grow. And it was that energy that made me want to be part of the company.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

I love spending my time training at the gym. I started powerlifting nearly ten years ago and now focus on weightlifting and staying healthy. It’s been an important outlet over the years, and a brilliant reminder that good progress comes from consistency, patience and learning to push through moments when things feel difficult.​

I also love baking (which many people at Plextek already know!). I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, and there’s something very satisfying about the balance of precision and creativity; it feels a bit like running small experiments in the kitchen. I also try to stay connected to my creative roots through drawing and painting whenever I can, often on train journeys or in a café at the weekend. It’s a great way to unwind. I take a lot of inspiration from being creative, and it continues to influence how I approach problem-solving, even in highly technical environments like space.

Amazing. Finally, what is one thing you would like readers to know about yourself and Plextek that they might not know already?

Good question, one thing people won’t know about me is that my fascination with space actually started through looking at images rather than equations. I’ve always been interested in how we choose to represent space, for example, what we emphasise, what we simplify, and the stories we tell through technology.

What I want people to know about Plextek is that, since joining the business, I feel I have stepped into a highly technical environment filled with people who are experts in their fields. What’s been reassuring is how approachable and collaborative everyone has been, even when working at a very deep technical level. That balance, strong engineering foundations alongside openness to different ways of thinking, is something I’m really enjoying.