Melvin Hoare is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Leeds, UK. After obtaining a PhD in Astrophysics at University College London, he carried out research at the University of Oxford, UK and Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany. Specializing in the study of how massive stars form he now focusses on radio observations and is a member of the Science Working Group for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). He leads the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project that is training African citizens from the SKA partner countries in radio astronomy and related skills. Working with industrial partners from the space sector, DARA utilizes the UK's overseas aid budget to generate economic benefit in developing countries.