Stephen Attenborough Keynote Speaker

Commercial Director for Virgin Galactic (2004–2022)
Former Director at Fund Managers, Gartmore
Keynote speaker on business innovation and technological growth

Stephen Attenborough's Biography

Stephen Attenborough is a keynote speaker who is at the forefront of space tourism. He joined Virgin Galactic as Commercial Director and the company’s first full time employee in 2004, and served with the business until 2022. Virgin Galactic, a company wholly owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, is the world’s first commercial spaceline. Stephen Attenborough joined Virgin Galactic as the company’s first full time employee in 2004 he led a team in London that covers sales, marketing, customer care, PR and communications for the space tourism business which has attracted around 800 future astronauts and more than $50m in deposits.

He also was responsible for workstreams that investigated the non tourism applications for the new space vehicles, particularly science research. During 2009 and 2010 he was a part of the deal team which secured Virgin Galactic’s first external equity partnership with a sale of 38% of the company to Abu Dhabi’s AABAR Investments PJSC for $380m, valuing Virgin Galactic at around $1bn. Stephen joined Virgin Galactic having escaped a career in investment management in the City of London.

Prior to joining Virgin Galactic, Stephen Attenborough worked for Gartmore Investment Management, a major London-based investment management firm, where he performed a number of management and senior management activities for more than 15 years. At Gartmore, his roles focused on the company’s relationship with sophisticated institutional and high net worth clients and prospective clients.

Stephen Attenborough explains to audiences the impact new technologies have on businesses and focuses on how to drive business innovation and growth through the right combination of innovative people and technology. Stephen also entertains his audiences with the enthralling Virgin Galactic Story. Immensely entertaining and highly enjoyable, Stephen’s presentations are a perfect mix of new ideas and sound business know-how. In 2021, he assumed the role of Chief Customer Officer. After 18 years service in 2022, having flown the company’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, to space and helped Virgin Galactic achieve its $3bn NYSE listing, he decided to step down to pursue other interests. He remains a Board Member and Trustee for Virgin Unite US. In October 2023 he joined Space Perspective as a part-time Strategic Advisor and European Lead.

Opening access to space for the benefit of humankind

Lessons learnt from the Virgin Galactic story

Making the impossible, possible

Forging a brand new industry and building a purposeful and innovative brand from scratch

INTERACTION WITH CUSTOMERS

Keeping customers on your side and by your side, regardless of the terrain

entrepreneurial culture

Creating and maintaining an entrepreneurial culture which survives and thrives on the challenging roads to business success

He helped build Virgin Galactic from its first full-time hire into the world’s first commercial spaceline, giving leaders a rare inside view of how entirely new markets are created.
He led the global commercial foundations of space tourism, attracting around 800 future astronauts and over $50m in deposits, and brings practical lessons on customer demand, brand trust and premium growth.
He was part of the team that secured Virgin Galactic’s landmark $380m equity partnership with Aabar, translating high-stakes dealmaking into clear insight on scaling innovation and funding frontier ventures.
He assumed the role of Chief Customer Officer as the business reopened reservations and expanded partnerships, sharing board-level perspective on delivering end-to-end customer journeys in breakthrough industries.
He now advises Space Perspective and remains a Board Member and Trustee for Virgin Unite US, helping organisations connect technological disruption with purpose-led leadership and long-term impact.

Videos of Stephen Attenborough

The Incredible Power of Purpose

Virgin Galactic's Stephen Attenborough on Future of Air Travel

Are You Virgin Galactics Next Passenger?

Comments & Testimonials

"Besides his ability to present the significance to humanity that private space exploration represents, Stephen shares valuable insights for companies at any stage of growth, from startup to global leader. He's assembled this knowledge through direct interactions with C-level executives at all Virgin brands as well as through close personal engagement with the diverse future astronaut community he's assembled at Virgin Calactic. I strongly recommended Stephen as a business speaker. We liked having him so much that we've done it twice."

Kevin Obarski Chief Revenue Officer of Transperfect International

"Our live audience of some of the UK's leading entrepreneurs at our flagship awards event loved Stephen's talk and presentation. He vividly shared both the dream and the reality of Virgin Galactic. A great motivational speaker."

Hamish Stevenson Founder of Sunday Times Fast Track