Susan Charlesworth

Susan Charlesworth is a psychologist, astronaut trainer, and expert on human performance, leadership, and communication. With over 15 years of experience at the European Space Agency, she has worked at the highest level of aerospace, training astronauts and ground teams to thrive in extreme and unpredictable conditions. Her expertise has taken her from mission control rooms to Antarctic research stations, preparing professionals to adapt, perform, and succeed when the stakes are at their highest. Susan has also become a TEDx Brighton speaker and co-author of ‘Handbook of Mental Performance: Lessons from High Performance Domains’.

Susan’s path into human performance began early, shaped by her fascination with both psychology and aviation. Before earning a BSc in Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol, she gained her Pilot’s Licence at the age of 17. This milestone inspired her to combine flying with her interest in how people think, behave, and perform. She completed an MSc in Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics at Cranfield University, researching how pilot training and cockpit design influence safety. Her professional journey began in education, where she taught psychology and soon became Head of Psychology at Oaklands College, winning ‘Lecturer of the Year’. These formative years honed her skills as both a teacher and leader, giving her the foundation to step into the demanding world of astronaut training.

Her career has been defined by high-level roles across the space and aerospace sectors. As Human Behaviour and Performance Specialist at the European Astronaut Centre, Susan trained astronauts, flight directors, and ground control teams in critical skills such as teamwork, communication, and decision-making. She also supported crews living for a year in isolation in Antarctica, applying human factors research in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. At the UK Space Agency, she delivered national education programmes, presenting British astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission to thousands of students and leading the Agency’s careers outreach. Alongside this, she has contributed to the advancement of diversity and professional development through her leadership roles with Women in Aerospace Europe. In 2021, she founded Charlesworth Human Performance Ltd and created Launchpad, a leadership programme for technically brilliant professionals navigating high-pressure careers. Recognition for her work includes delivering the prestigious Institute Lecture for the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, a mark of distinction within her field.

Organisations worldwide hire Susan because she translates the lessons of space into practical strategies that drive success on Earth. She speaks on leadership under pressure, human performance, communication, and problem-solving in uncertain environments. For companies seeking to strengthen resilience, improve team culture, and build high-performing leaders, Susan offers unrivalled expertise shaped by years of preparing astronauts and mission-critical teams for the toughest challenges imaginable.