The sky is not your limit
Strategic Leadership Advisor
Space Ambassador - Speaker - Author
VISIONARY STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ADVISOR & KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Today, Nancy Vermeulen brings her aerospace expertise into the business world. As a strategic leadership advisor, she supports leaders and organizations in navigating complexity and shaping human-centered, future-oriented leadership inspired by experiences in extreme operational environments.
Through her strategic advisory platform NVE Strategic Leadership, she works at the intersection of technology, governance and innovation ecosystems, helping organizations translate complexity into clear strategic direction.
Her personal mission is to bring the universe closer to people — and vice versa — enabling them to reconnect more deeply with themselves, with others, and with their environment.
She is a former commercial pilot-instructor, holds a Master’s degree in theoretical physics and astronomy, served as commander of a Mars simulation in Utah, and participated in the ESA astronaut selection process in 2008. In 2018, she launched the Space Training Academy, where she prepares private astronauts and suborbital scientists for their first spaceflight.
Nancy is an international keynote speaker and guest lecturer and has spoken at, among others, TEDx events, Deloitte University, and the European Commission. In 2021, she published "Iedereen Ruimtevaarder" (Lannoo), and in March 2025 her book "AEROSPACE Attitudes" (Pelckmans) was released, focusing on communication and personal leadership. She is also active as an independent board member and is a member of Rotary.
SPACE AMBASSADOR
In 2011, Nancy Vermeulen personally met one the greatest pioneers of the commercial space travel industry, Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, which offers space voyages. Sir Richard inspired Nancy Vermeulen not only to apply her knowledge and expertise to science, but to share it with the public at large too. Nancy Vermeulen is now a highly sought after speaker on international platforms.
SCIENTIST
As a scientist, Nancy Vermeulen conducted research at the University of Antwerp (Biomedical Physics) and at Delft University of Technology (new technologies for greener air traffic). Nancy Vermeulen was involved in working on a new instrument for measuring climate change from space for the Royal Belgian Meteorological Institute / Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence. She also lectures in physics and mathematics.
COMMANDER - ANALOG ASTRONAUT
Nancy Vermeulen was the commander and chief organizer of the "MDRS90" mars simulation mission. She developed this project, presented it to NASA’s Mars Society and obtained permission to train a team in a "Mars simulation mission" at the "Mars Desert Research Station" in Utah, U.S.A.
During the mission, Nancy learned how to carry out scientific experiments during a mission and what to do in an emergency.
PILOT
To increase her chances of becoming an astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA), Nancy first wanted to learn to fly within the atmosphere. She therefore trained as an airline pilot at the Flight Academy of former Royal Belgian Airline Sabena.
As one of the few female commercial pilots, Nancy flew large Boeing 727s and Airbus 300s.
She also flew an Airbus 300 cargo plane to Baghdad during wartime, risking her own life. For this, she received a special military operations award from the U.S. government. Later, she became responsible for VIP passenger flights and trained professional commercial pilots herself.
CANDIDATE ASTRONAUT ESA
In 2008, the space adventure could begin! Nancy was able to participate in the European Space Agency’s stringent astronaut selection process. Only one in ten candidates was female. To prepare for the extensive astronaut training program, Nancy Vermeulen learned scuba diving, followed a high-altitude training and became an aerobatics pilot.
QUALIFICATIONS
Nancy Vermeulen already knew as a child what she wanted to be: "an astronaut". She worked at the observatory and planetarium of Antwerp in her free time. She completed her studies in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Antwerp magna cum laude / with high distinction.
Nancy Vermeulen has a Master of Science in Physics.
BRINGING SPACE CLOSER TO PEOPLE AND VICE VERSA, THAT IS MY MISSION
From an early age, I was fascinated by astronomy, aviation and space. Not only by the technology, but by what people can achieve when they dare to look beyond their own horizons.
As a young girl, I spent hours gazing at the stars. In my imagination, I travelled through space, discovered new worlds and wondered what might exist beyond the horizon. It was during those moments that my dream of becoming an astronaut was born.
That fascination never left me. It guided me from studying astrophysics to becoming an airline pilot, from Mars simulation missions and space projects to leadership, education and innovation.
Along the way, I discovered that space is about much more than rockets, satellites or distant planets. It is about curiosity, courage, collaboration and the determination to explore what is possible. It teaches us to see our planet, our challenges and our opportunities from a broader perspective.
Today, my mission is to bring space closer to people — and people closer to space. Not only by sharing knowledge about aviation and spaceflight, but by inspiring others to think bigger, explore new possibilities and become pilots of their own future.
Because the greatest journeys of discovery do not begin in space.
They begin in the human mind.
CAPTAIN OF MY OWN LIFE: "THE SKY IS NOT MY LIMIT"
The dream was clear. The path to get there was far less so. The journey proved to be long and not always easy. It pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, both physically and mentally. Along the way, I was fortunate to meet inspiring people who believed in me, encouraged me and opened new doors. But I also faced misunderstanding, prejudice and moments when others doubted whether my ambitions were realistic.
Those experiences taught me an important lesson: no one can define your limits except yourself.
At a certain point, I decided to stop letting my future be shaped by the expectations of others and take the controls of my own life.
That decision took me to places I could only dream of as a child. From the cockpit of a commercial airliner to ESA astronaut selections, from international space projects to leading a Mars simulation mission in the Utah desert.
Each experience brought valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork, resilience and dealing with uncertainty. Above all, they reinforced a simple truth: growth begins when we are willing to look beyond our current reality.
Today, I work as an international keynote speaker, strategic leadership advisor and space ambassador. At the heart of my work lies a simple belief: people are capable of far more than they often realize.
That is why I help individuals and organizations broaden their horizons, discover new possibilities and shape their own future with confidence.
Because in the end, it is not only about the destination we reach, but about the person we become along the way.
