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 Architecture, Ecosystems & Program 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"
Space is a gateway to knowledge and a maindriver of innovation and social evolution.
Visionary Strategic Leadership Advisor and Space Ambassador Nancy Vermeulen shares her expertise through public talks and publications across diverse media. In this mission statement, Nancy Vermeulen explains how her childhood dream turned into a personal mission to change the world.
I WAS A GIRL WITH A DREAM
"When I was a young girl, I loved to look up at the sky. In my imagination, I could see myself do incredible things. Travel through space, discover new worlds. I felt a deep connection with the universe, the stars and everything around us. I couldn’t wait to find out what was waiting for us out there. So I started chasing my dream of becoming an astronaut.
I BECAME THE CAPTAIN OF MY OWN LIFE
Every decision I made from then on was inspired by that dream, from my hobbies to my career choices. And I had to be patient, as the road was long and filled with obstacles. Along the way, I faced enormous challenges, both physically and mentally. On my path, I came across amazing and supportive people. But I also faced judgement, prejudice, and discrimination. I felt the world was not ready for my ambitions. But I stood tall, and decided to become the captain of my own life.
TODAY, I AM AN INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ADVISOR
I obtained a degree in astrophysics, an airline pilot license, a ticket to the ESA astronaut selection programme. I worked for several well-respected scientific institutions. I even led a Mars simulation mission in the Utah desert.
Today, I am a strategic leadership advisor, international keynote speaker and space ambassador.
My true mission is to share the beauty of outer space with others. I want to spread the knowledge and skills that I have picked up along the way.
MY MISSION IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
As a strategic leadership advisor and public speaker, I want to touch and inspire those people who dare to follow their dreams in a world that is so eager to hold them back. And as a researcher, I want to contribute to interdisciplinary research that will make our world a better place. I want people to look up at the sky and see the bigger picture, even if it is just for a moment. We are all on this planet together and we will have to learn to work together if we want to survive as a species. Race, gender, religion, politics: these are all artificial problems and completely irrelevant when seen from space. More importantly, these things are distracting us from our real purpose. There is no you versus me. There is us, together in the vastness of space, trying to survive."
