About

Dr. Stephen Galsworthy is a data leader skilled at building high-performing digital teams and passionate about developing data-powered products with lasting impact for users, business and society.

He is Senior Director of Software Engineering at Planet, a global leader in commercial Earth observation that delivers daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. His teams develop solutions that leverage actionable measurements derived from satellite data to inform decisions on security, sustainability, crop management, deforestation, and urban development.

Previously as Head of Data at TomTom, a leading provider of mapping and location technology, he drove the company’s data transformation.

Before that he was the Chief Data Officer at Quby, an Amsterdam based tech company offering data-driven energy services. He oversaw its transformation from a hardware-based business to a digital organisation with data and AI at its core.

Stephen has a Master’s degree and PhD in Mathematics from Oxford University and has been leading data science teams since 2011.

He lives in Utrecht, The Netherlands with his wife and two children and holds dual British and Dutch citizenship.

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digital-native executive

Specialities:

• Creator of business and end-user value through innovative analytical products
• Effective communicator connecting technology and data with commercial, product and design domains
• Experienced driver of organizational change and the adoption of new technologies and methodologies
• Promoter of a collaborative and supportive environment enabling individuals and teams to reach their full potential
• Engaging public speaker, including several keynote talks and podcast interviews

Experiences

Senior Director of Software Engineering at Planet (2024-present)
I lead the Engineering department focused on advancing our analytical and AI capabilities, enabling businesses, governments, and nonprofits to leverage satellite data for critical decisions on security, sustainability, crop management, deforestation, and urban development.

Director of Software Engineering at Planet
(2023-2024)
Leading the Planetary Variables department.

Head of Data at TomTom
(2021 – 2022)
Driving the company’s data transformation and leading the central Data Unit.

Chief Data Officer at Quby
(2019 – 2021)
Management board member overseeing the company (120 FTE) with a specific focus on the creation of value from data and product strategy.

Head of Data Science at Quby
(2016 – 2019)
Built and led the Data Science team, which became a core strategic capability allowing Quby to accelerate its transition to a services driven business model.

Smart Energy Consultant at TNO
(2014 – 2016)
International consultancy work focused on smart energy projects for TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. Projects included creating standards for asset flexibility and interoperability of EV charging.

Manager Technology Development & Data Science at Open Energi
(2012 – 2014)
Led the team that developed and deployed the algorithms, software and hardware that enabled Open Energi to become the first provider to offer commercial demand side balancing services in the UK. As of 2016, this market had grown to over £100m annually.

Senior Data Scientist at Open Energi
(2011 – 2012)
Developed smart grid control algorithms and produced prototypes allowing the company to enter new markets.

Academic Researcher at Universiteit Utrecht
(2010 – 2011)
Development of mathematical models to study the effect of bird migratory behaviour upon the spread of avian influenza in collaboration with scientists at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO)

Civil Aircraft Aerodynamicist at QinetiQ
(2004 – 2005)
Designed novel analytical and computational techniques for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) including optimisation of legacy FORTRAN code via the implementation of parallel computing using C++ and MPI

EDucation

PhD in Mathematical Biology at University of Oxford
(2005 – 2009)
Publications in peer-reviewed journals and featured in the New York Times. Development of novel mathematical modelling and computer simulation techniques to predict the spread of plant species.

Master’s degree in Mathematics at University of Oxford
(2000 – 2004)
Scholarship for academic excellence at St. Catherine’s College