King's College London

Baroness Dr Sophy Antrobus MBE, Senior Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI) at King’s College London was appointed to the House of Lords as a Labour Peer in January 2026. This is a truly outstanding achievement and is a clear testament to Sophy’s commitment to public service over many years. The FASI team is delighted for and extremely proud of Sophy as she takes this next step in her career. We have no doubt she will continue to make an outstanding contribution in Parliament. With expanding commitments in the House of Lords, the growing demands on Sophy’s time mean she is no longer able to continue in her full-time capacity as FASI Co-Director and Senior Research Fellow role at King’s.

Sophy joined FASI at the very start in 2020 and has been a central figure in the Institute’s development ever since. Her energy, insight, leadership and unwavering support have played a critical role in shaping FASI’s direction, growth and impact. We are very pleased that Sophy will stay on in an affiliate capacity and remain very much a part of the extended team.

As Sophy steps down, we are delighted to announce that Dr Julia Balm, Research Associate at the Freeman Air & Space Institute will take on the role of Co-Director, joining FASI’s Senior Leadership Team working alongside Professor Wyn Bowen, and Dr David Jordan, Senior Lecturer in Defence Studies.

Julia joined the Freeman Air & Space Institute in 2020, holding the first fully-funded FASI PhD studentship until 2023 for a thesis building a theoretical framework for the New Space Age. Julia has advocated for an interdisciplinary approach to the space domain, working across the House of Lords, Ministry of Defence, Secretary of State's Office for Net Assessments and Challenge, and the Defence Academy to deliver research on cross sector strategy and pan-governmental approaches to security challenges. As Julia steps into the role of Co-Director, she will draw upon her over six years of experience within the Institute, helping to lead FASI forward and continue to lead and shape vital air and space research.

Since its inception, FASI has been committed to a singular mission: to provide independent and original research and analysis of air and space power issues. The institute has come a long way since it’s online launch during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and this year we are proudly hosting our sixth Annual Chief of the Air Staff Lecture, the second of which with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth. FASI continues to run a host of in-person, hybrid and online events. Amid this continued growth, with over 30 events delivered in 2025 and 35 anticipated in 2026, FASI’s operations have increased considerably. In response to this growth, the Institute is pleased to announce that Georgie Lucas, who has previously served as Senior Communications Officer at FASI since 2024, has been promoted into the role of Centre Manager, reflecting the Institute’s continued expansion.

Together, these changes mark an important moment in the FASI’s development, strengthening leadership while building on a strong foundation for future success.

As FASI continues to expand its research, partnerships and convening power, we remains committed to delivering rigorous, policy-relevant work on air and space power, alongside identifying, developing and nurturing the next generation of air and space thinkers

To keep informed about the latest research, opportunities and events from FASI, subscribe to their mailing list or contact the team at FASI@kcl.ac.uk.