Pyrkon’s Guests

NASA astronaut Eileen Collins reveals encouraging perspective and insight on the leadership skills needed to break barriers and become a
successful pioneer in your field.

One of America’s most admired women, Col. Collins became the first female to pilot a U.S. spacecraft with the Discovery shuttle flight in 1995, and the first female commander on the 1999 Columbia shuttle flight. In 2005, NASA tapped Col. Collins to command the space shuttle Discovery’s historic “Return to Flight” mission, NASA’s first piloted flight following the loss of space shuttle Columbia in 2003.

While logging 872 hours in space, Col. Collins earned a reputation for coolness under pressure. With that same calm demeanor, she shares how her career as an astronaut took shape, from her early years in the U.S. Air Force to her ground-breaking experience with NASA. Her memoir, Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars, was published in 2021. In 2022, Col. Collins was awarded the National Aeronautic Association’s Wright Brothers Award for her inspirational career as an astronaut, teacher and leader. She is also honored as a 2025 inductee into the Living Legends of Aviation.

Drawing from her career experiences, Eileen reveals valuable insights learned from both her successes and her failures. From the importance of working with others to achieve lofty goals, to successful leadership in dynamic environments, her perspective inspires you to embark on your own original journey. For audiences interested in space exploration, she can also provide insight into the future of space travel as the world turns to exciting new space frontiers.

From Finnish Hall of Fame & frontwoman of the multi-platinum selling Nightwish to After Forever, one of the pioneers of symphonic metal, Floor Jansen has enjoyed major national and international success. Her voice transcends genres, allowing her to deliver passionate performances that resonate with audiences far beyond the metal scene.

Floor’s solo career took off explosively in 2019 when she captivated the Netherlands with her masterful rendition of “The Phantom of the Opera” on the TV show “Beste Zangers”. That same year, she was honoured with the prestigious Dutch Pop prize award, recognizing her significant contribution to Dutch pop music. The announcement of her first solo tour generated unprecedented excitement, with tickets (~18,000) selling out in less than 24 hours – a testament to her dedicated fanbase.

The release of her first solo single “Fire” in 2022 marked a new chapter in her musical journey. As the Dutch ambassador for Record Store Day, she championed the importance of physical music in the digital age. Floor also participated in the internationally acclaimed TV format “Sing Meinen Song Germany”, where she impressed viewers with her versatile renditions of songs by artists like SDP, Clueso, and ELIF.

In a moment of national pride, Floor performed the Dutch national anthem at the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix in September 2022, reaching hundreds of thousands in person and millions watching worldwide.

In October 2022, Floor was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a successful operation, she quickly returned to the stage with Nightwish for their European tour, performing two sold-out shows at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. This exemplifies her resilience and steadfast commitment to her craft.

March 2023 brought the release of Floor’s debut solo album “PARAGON”, followed by a successful, sold-out tour across the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Remarkably, Floor embarked on this tour while pregnant with her second daughter, Lucy.

2024 saw Nightwish release their album “Yesterwynde”, adding another milestone to Floor’s illustrious career. Looking ahead to 2025, Floor is set to embark on her first-ever theatre tour, where she’ll share her personal journey of overcoming breast cancer, experiencing pregnancy, and balancing her touring career.

With over 1.5 million followers across social media platforms and an avid fan club of more than 8,000 members, Floor continues to inspire and connect with her audience. Her ability to evoke deep emotions through her performances and her remarkable range across musical styles have established her as one of the most versatile and respected vocalists of her generation.
Personal: Born on February 21, 1981, in Goirle, she currently resides in Sweden with her husband Hannes van Dahl, drummer of the band Sabaton, and their two daughters, Freja and Lucy.

Photo by; Laura Zalenga

Dominic McDowall co-founded and leads Cubicle 7 Entertainment, best known for their award-winning Warhammer, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who and 5e roleplaying games. He heads-up game and narrative design for the studio, and was lead designer on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition, Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Maledictum, Adventures in Middle-earth and many more.

He is delighted to be coming to Pyrkon 2026 – “I’ve heard many great things about Pyrkon so I’m very excited to experience it for myself and meet you all next year!”

Andrew Wincott is an award-winning actor with an extensive body of work across video games, audiobooks, radio, and theatre. He is best known for his BAFTA-winning performance as Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3, where he also voiced four other characters, including Haarlep and the Kuo-Toa tribe. In addition to narrating hundreds of audiobooks—such as 1984 and The Wind in the Willows—he is a frequent collaborator on Warhammer 40k projects, including the Night Lords trilogy and the video game Space Marine 2. His other video game credits include Metaphor: ReFantazio, The Witcher, Sherlock Holmes, Dying Light 2, and Divinity: Original Sin. He has audio drama credits ranging from The Archers, the world’s longest running radio serial, to Doctor Who, David Copperfield and Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.

Twilight Force has become both a staple and a guiding light in symphonic power metal; revitalizing the genre and pushing it to new, cinematic heights with their signature blend of fantasy storytelling and musical virtuosity. With soaring melodies, bombastic orchestral arrangements, and lightning-fast performances, they conjure epic tales and fantastical realms from their mythical world – The Twilight Kingdoms. Their musical adventures transport the listener to a land of dragons, magic, and ancient prophecies. Whether on stage or on record, Twilight Force delivers a full-scale fantasy experience; equal parts concert and quest. So, sharpen your swords, dust off your magic tomes, and brew your strongest potions. It is time to join Twilight Force on their quest for the eternal glory of the Twilight Kingdoms.