Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, served as the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy between 2009 and 2014. Previously she was EU Commissioner for Trade, served as a Minister in the Departments of Education and Justice, and was Leader of the House of Lords and President of HM Queen's Privy Council. Baroness Ashton served as Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars and is senior advisor to the Geneva based organisation, Humanitarian Dialogue, and  author of the book “And then What?” She has received many awards, most recently the Order of the Garter, bestowed by HM King in June 2023. She chaired the House of Lords inquiry into UK engagement with Space.