TEAM

Anna Hazlett

― FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Since 2017, Anna is a recognized voice and contributor to the global space industry, As founder of AzurX, the company is focused on space and strategic technologies based on the foundation that space plays a unique role in addressing the world’s most pressing problems, and represents a $Trillion investment opportunity shaping the future, today.

Anna serves as a Member of the Fund Advisory & Decision Committee of the prestigious Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) helping to oversee the Space and Transport vertical. MBRIF is a AED 2 billion fund to support the innovation ecosystem of the UAE. Anna was appointed as a Mentor to Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space & Technology Commission Space Entrepreneurship Bootcamp; and as a Member of the Advisory Committee of Scotland International Space Advisory Committee (SISAC).

Anna has diverse experience in the space, financial services, and sustainability sectors in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Anna's journey has largely focused on building and growing businesses and developing new markets, networks and strategic partnerships. She leverages this experience to originate new investment and commercial opportunities and drive new market expansion for both the civil and commercial space sector.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Anna moved to Singapore in 2001, and enjoyed living, studying and working across South East Asia, moving to the United Arab Emirates in 2014.

An Alumna of Tanglin Trust School (TTS), United World College (UWC), The University of Leeds, UK and Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

Dr. John Sheldon

― PARTNER

John B. Sheldon, Ph.D., has over 25 years experience in the space, cyberspace, and defence sectors in and outside of the Middle East, having worked for both commercial and government entities in the UK, United States, Europe, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

As a Partner at AzurX, John’s focus is space, cyber, Web3, and other strategic technologies and their critical roles in developing economies and accessing untapped human potential. From October 2021 through to March 2022 John was seconded to the Saudi Space Commission where he drafted the Saudi space policy and was part of the team that audited the Saudi space strategy. Since April 2023 John is also assisting senior leadership at EDGE Group PJSC in the UAE in developing the company’s space strategy and build out its space business.

John has advised numerous governments on space and cyber issues, to include governments in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Poland. John has also published extensively on strategic matters, to include space and cyberspace policy and strategy, in various trade and scholarly publications.

John holds BA (Honours) and MA degrees from the University of Hull, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in International Politics and Strategic Studies from the University of Reading, United Kingdom. Originally from the United Kingdom, John has lived for many years in Germany, the United States, and has lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates since 2016.

MARK ALLWORTHY

― ASSOCIATE PARTNER

With over 20 years of experience in international affairs, defence, and security, Mark advises governments on the changing global strategic landscape to help them understand, evaluate, and acquire emerging capabilities and advanced technologies.

He has worked in Abu Dhabi as an Advisor to the Emirati government on defence policy and strategic planning. Previously he established and was the Director of IISS Middle East in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he was also responsible for the annual Manama Dialogue Defence Summit. This followed an early career in geopolitical risk analysis.

Having read Arabic and Persian at the University of Oxford and having lived in the Middle East for over 15 years, he has a particular expertise and deep interest in the region.

MANEL KERIOUI

― SPECIAL PROJECT MANAGER

Manel has a professional background in Tourism, Travel and Transport covering Airlines, Hotels, Rail, and Road. This passion has developed in to Human Space flight and Space Infrastructure. Based between Paris and Dubai, Manel specializes in strategic project management and deployment across the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Both a graduate of ESSEC Business School, Ranked 1st BBA in France, and KEDGE Business School, Manel has an ethos of lifelong learning and demonstrates strong analytical skills and appreciated for being a reliable, responsible and proactive team member.

KARL BAKER

― ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL PARTNER

Karl brings more than 35 years of aerospace experience in finance, telecom, observation, engineering, legal, and civil/military government sectors. He provides technical services and due diligence reviews supporting some of the world’s largest investment banks on the world’s largest commercial space programs involving investments worth billions of dollars.

Karl has direct experience leading the technical due diligence for multiple commercial satellite constellation programs. Karl led technical teams that successfully resolved many of the industry's most difficult spacecraft anomalies. He also established a successful record leading teams providing technical expert support for major space related litigation/arbitration cases, leading over 60 commercial satellite failure investigations. He has designed and built flight hardware for over 25 satellite programs. Karl led Karl also developed new space technology working at NASA and was NASA inventor of the year in 1992.

PULKIT BHUTANI

―  INVESTMENT ASSOCIATE

Pulkit brings distinguished experience in investment banking and corporate strategy. His tenure includes roles with  global investment banks including JP Morgan and Rothschild in India, where he successfully concluded deals exceeding USD 2 billion across consumer, technology, and healthcare sectors.

Notably, as Corporate Development Manager at noon, the Middle East's premier e-commerce platform, Pulkit spearheaded two acquisitions totaling over  USD 500 million and steered numerous strategic initiatives to fruition.

Rainer Schwarz

― INVESTMENT

Seasoned investment professional responsible for over $2bn of capital deployed to date in venture, private and public markets. Driven to create superior investment and societal impact returns. Built a US$80M net banking product business in EMEA for one of the largest Brazilian banks and a US$1.4BN AUM hedge fund operation for a Middle Eastern private investment office with US$700M of externally raised, third-party capital. 

Fahad Al Mheiri

― OPERATIONS & STRATEGY

Fahad is the former Acting Executive Director of the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) Fahad was responsible for overseeing Policy and Space Missions through collaboration with both local and international partners. Fahad served as a key member of the multilateral committee lead by NASA that launched the Artemis Accords. He supported the Global Space Industrial Accelerator program, as well as the Emirates Space innovation Group, and led the Arab Space Pioneer Program efforts within the UAESA which was initiated by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid.

Jennifer Warren

― INVESTMENT & STRATEGY

Jennifer brings more than 20 years of experience in financial services and management consulting. She has worked in the US, UK and Middle East for large financial institutions, including Barclays, Lehman Brothers and First Gulf Bank.

James Gordon

― LEGAL

James is a highly rated corporate and banking lawyer based in Gordon's London office. His expertise is in banking, securities, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial tie-ups generally. 

Khawar Mann Obe

― INVESTMENT

Khawar brings 20 years' experience in the investment sector and leadership of companies, specialising in growth investing, with a particular emphasis on identifying emerging market forces and opportunities.

Andrea Lang

― FINANCE & STRATEGY

Seasoned global finance, operations and strategy professional supporting through strategic business planning, early-stage ideation, market intelligence and financial forecasting. 

Aravind Ravichandran

― TECHNICAL & STRATEGY

Ravichandran, the founder of TerraWatch Space, is a highly regarded Earth observation industry expert and has worked on numerous strategic assessments for EO companies, space agencies, and investors globally.

Sahith Reddy Madara

― STRATEGY & VENTURES

Sahith acts as the UAE’s National Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council. He has worked as a Space Consultant for the Euroconsult Paris Office, Aerospace Researcher for the SAASST – UAE Space Agency projects, and Engineer for Collins Aerospace.