Trailblazer in Space Science leaves a remarkable legacy

SANSA’s Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell

(30 December 1970 - 19 August 2023)

Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell, Managing Director of the South African National Space Agency’s Space Science Programme in Hermanus and a Sandbaai resident, passed away on Saturday 19 August 2023 after a short illness.

Lee-Anne played a crucial role in the establishment of the Space Agency, as a board member and an executive. Many of the students she supervised are now full-time researchers at SANSA (South African National Space Agency) and around the world. She served as SANSA’s Space Science Managing Director for 12 years and during this time made a tremendous contribution to the space science, skills development, and science engagement fields.

The Space Weather Project was her crowning achievement which produced a Space Weather Capability for the country in three years, on time, and budget. The launch of the 24/7 Space Weather Centre in November of last year was a highlight for her and the SANSA team. Lee-Anne was a space weather advocate and custodian of the unique SANSA Hermanus facility which she loved and is now a National Key Point, thanks to her continued efforts to protect the site.

Lee-Anne served on numerous international committees and working groups, including as the Space Weather co-chair for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), ensuring Africa’s interests are maintained in the field of space science and related technology. She also received a long list of awards for her contribution to the Space Science field. Lee-Anne was appointed to the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) in 2004 as a researcher and was then appointed as the Acting Managing Director in 2010, after which she moved to Hermanus part-time. She and her husband, John McKinnell relocated permanently to Sandbaai in 2012 when the HMO was incorporated into the newly established SANSA.