Chris Newlands

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2024.

Based in Glasgow, Chris is a leading UK entrepreneur in the space sector, and the founder of Space Aye. The company is building a platform merging real-time satellite imagery with data from billions of IoT devices, to provide insights about what's happening in the world.

Chris's career began in the Royal Navy, followed by a stint in financial services. Over the past decade, he has earned multiple awards for his IT innovations. He founded Spelfie, a platform that captures live events from space, integrating real-time satellite imagery with user-generated content strategies.

As Co-Chair of the Open Geospatial Consortium in the UK and Ireland and an affiliate member of the Scotland International Space Advisory Committee, Chris is at the forefront of geospatial technology. He holds a US patent for merging IoT data with real-time Earth Observation Satellite imagery.

Chris is also a member of the GlobalScot network, promoting Scottish businesses globally. Academically, he graduated as a Professor of Practice from the E2 (Educating Entrepreneurs) programme in 2021 and supports the Strathclyde Inspire programme.

Driven by the potential of IoT and satellite imagery, Chris continues to lead innovations with significant societal, commercial, and climate benefits.