Speakers

Ane Aanesland is a physicist, entrepreneur, and pioneer in iodine-based space propulsion. Co-founder and CEO of ThrustMe, she spent nearly twenty years in top-level research, including as Research Director at CNRS and École Polytechnique. With ThrustMe, she turned that scientific expertise into developing and growing a deep-tech company at the forefront of the industrial space era. In 2020, ThrustMe made the world’s first successful demonstration of an iodine electric propulsion system in space, and their products are now the most produced and most used ion thruster in history. She was awarded the CNRS Innovation Medal in 2019 and was appointed Ambassador for the French government’s France 2030 space strategy in 2022.

ROBERTO ACETI – SHORT BIOGRAPHY After graduating in Aeronautical Engineering at the Politecnico of Milano and a brief period at Aermacchi, Roberto Aceti in 1989 joined ESA – European Space Agency, in the Dutch operating centre as Project Manager and Programme Manager for ten years. In 1999 he was called in the Compagnia Generale dello Spazio (now OHB Italia) as Marketing Director and within a decade he reached the top of the company. In 2013 he has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, a position he still holds today at OHB Italia SpA, since 2009 part of the German OHB SE Group.

Dr. Victor Aguero, co-Founder of Cambrian Works, serves as CEO and CTO for the company, and has over 40 years of Space Industry experience as a researcher and contractor working across Civilian, Defense, and Intelligence sectors. Cambrian Works is a startup focused on transforming space connectivity through networking, edge-computing, and generalized manipulation to normalize space system reconfigurability, modularity, interoperability and interconnectivity. Prior to co-founding Cambrian Works, he spent 23 years at SRI International leading development of new technologies and architecting new space system concepts. He holds multiple patents and has published in journals across a variety of disciplines. He has worked on over a dozen missions, multiple constellation developments, and many novel space programs varying from Space Sciences for NASA to new capability missions and technology developments for DoD and IC entities. His last 15 years have focused on coordinating teams implementing constellation architectures and generalizing approaches to physical mobility and manipulation in space to develop the infrastructure for the dynamic, inter-connected eco-system that Space is becoming.

Sabrina currently serves as Space Lead within the SnT Technology Transfer Office at the University of Luxembourg, where she supports the translation of space technologies into real-world applications. She is also the Founder and CEO of Matter Space and Defence and previously served as a Director leading KPMG’s EU Space Practice, working across government, institutions, and industry on a wide range of space and defence initiatives. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Theoretical Physics, Sabrina entered the space sector through a Master’s at the International Space University in Strasbourg. Her career includes roles at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the European Space Agency (ESA/EAC), before she specialised in sustainability within the space sector and completed an MBA. She has held senior roles at SES Satellites and BDO, where she established and led new departments. Sabrina is also Chair of the Space and Defence Working Group at the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg. Alongside her professional work, she is actively engaged in education and sustainability, lecturing on space and sustainability at institutions including the International Space University, EPFL, the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS), Leiden University, and institutions across the UK. She has also served as Technical Manager for Space4Climate, a group chaired by the UK Space Agency, and is a mentor for the UN Space4Women programme.

Jeanne Allarie serves as the Chief Investor Relations Officer at Exolaunch, the global leader in satellite launch mission management, integration services, and deployment technologies. Dedicated to bringing Exolaunch’s mission — access to space, constellation launches, satellite deployment, and integration services — to an even greater scale, she leads the company’s activities with the investment community.

With over a decade of experience in commercial satellite launches, Jeanne previously served as Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, where she spearheaded Exolaunch’s business development and launch strategy, driving exceptional growth and solidifying the company’s leading position in the New Space industry.

Jeanne has played a pivotal role in successfully launching over 750 customer satellites for commercial satellite operators, space agencies, universities, and scientific institutions. Her efforts have expanded Exolaunch’s global customer base, facilitated partnerships with industry giants, and enabled the company to support large constellation deployments, unlocking valuable data from space.

Johan Åman is an executive known for his leadership in the semiconductor industry. Currently serving as the CEO of Unibap Space Solutions, he brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles as the CEO of Scienta Scientific and as the VP of R&D at Mycronic. With a proven track record of driving innovation and growth, Åman has established himself as a prominent figure in the technology sector. His tenure at Mycronic was particularly influential, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s advancements in the semiconductor industry. Today, as the head of Unibap Space Solutions, Johan Åman continues to spearhead initiatives that push the boundaries of technological innovation within Edge and Cloud computing in Space.

Eric Anderson is President of And One Technologies and a startup investor across multiple business areas. He emphasizes delivery of data and services via new technologies, channels and business models including facilitating government access and use of emerging commercial space products and services. Eric contributed to dozens of space systems, missions and programs as Chief Technologist for Space at Moog, at CSA Engineering, where he served several years as President, and at JPL. He earned degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT.

Sabrina has been working for more than 12 years in the Space industry, from Engineering to Project Management up to Strategy and Business development for New Business Initiatives. She was the Head of On-Orbit Servicing for Thales Alenia Space from 2020 before joining ClearSpace in 2023 where she is now the Managing Director for ClearSpace Luxembourg. Sabrina has a Master of Telecommunications and holds several awards such as the Trophy of the Women in Industry as a promising newcomer in 2017 and the Stars of Europe award in 2019 with her work with European Projects. In 2021, she gave a TedX talk in Cannes titled ” Space Pollution: are we really going to make this mistake?” She is currently one of the French major broadcast “TF1” experts on space topics.

Fabio Angellotti has 20 years of hands-on experience in the space industry, with a strong background spanning both institutional organizations and the private sector. He has contributed to a broad range of international space projects, including the International Space Station, deep space missions, earth observation, telecommunication, and navigation satellites. Since 2020, Fabio has been with EUSPA (formerly GSA), where he serves as Space Segment Leader. In this role, he leads activities related to the space segment and launch services entrusted to EUSPA across the various components of the EU Space Programme. Previously, Fabio worked at ESA/ESTEC on the EarthCARE mission, focusing on system-level engineering and following the development of the ATLID transmitter and CPR payload provided by JAXA. At Thales Alenia Space, he contributed to the Herschel and Planck missions, and later led the production and launch of the first Globalstar Second Generation satellites. He began his career in 2005 at the Microgravity Advanced Research and Support Center in Italy, supporting space operations for the FSL payload on the Columbus module of the ISS.

Stefano Antonetti is Vice President of Strategy & Growth at D‑Orbit, where he leads corporate strategy, growth initiatives, and long‑term market positioning across institutional and commercial segments. With a background in space engineering and nearly two decades of experience in the space sector, he has played a key role in D‑Orbit’s evolution from early‑stage startup to a global space logistics and services provider. His focus is on translating strategic vision into scalable portfolios, partnerships, and long‑term growth paths across European and international markets.

Anthony Baker is the CEO of SatVu, the UK-based leader in high-resolution thermal Earth observation. The SatVu HotSat constellation uses mid-wave infrared (MWIR) sensors to deliver a unique, very high-resolution ‘activity’ information layer into the intelligence picture of national security, economic intelligence and climate resilience applications. Whilst optical and radar-based satellites provide the information as to what is on the ground, the HotSat constellation will capture the thermal signature of human activity and hence will provide insights into what is operational on the ground. Anthony has over 20 years’ experience in innovative satellite companies with roles in both commercial and government organisations.  He has held roles as first CEO at Es’hailSat – The Qatar Satellite Company, Vice President at SES of Luxembourg, and employed at AsiaSat in Hong Kong, NATO in the Netherlands and OFCOM in London.

Dr Adam Baker, Visiting Fellow, Cranfield University; Royal Academy of Engineering visiting Professor at Sheffield University; Head of Project Engineering, Magdrive

Dr Adam Baker has almost 30 years of experience in the space industry, with a career covering spacecraft propulsion, small spacecraft, launch services and related technologies. He has an MEng in materials engineering and a PhD in aerospace composite materials from Oxford University; and is a graduate of the International Space University. Dr Baker worked in both industrial and academic capacities for a range of entities across the UK, including QinetiQ, Virgin Galactic, Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd and Kingston University London. He has also consulted widely within the UK Space industry in areas of launch and propulsion and is a visiting fellow at Cranfield University and a Royal Academy of Engineering visiting Professor at Sheffield University. He is a qualified teacher in UK higher education. He represents small companies on the UK Space Agency’s Space Technology Advisory Committee and co-founded the UK’s space propulsion industry-academia-government working group. Dr Baker is also working with Magdrive since 2020, co-developing next generation propulsion technologies to improve UK competitiveness in the global market. He is the Head of Project Engineering, responsible for multiple research & development projects in support of production flight systems.

Dr. Gianluigi Baldesi is the Head of the Ventures and Financing Office at the European Space Agency, where he leads initiatives to enhance access to investors, financial institutions, and deal-flow opportunities for the space sector through the ESA Investor Network. His work includes fostering collaborations with the European Investment Bank, national development banks, and the European Commission. He also plays a key role in helping companies scale up by driving commercial growth and investment readiness through various initiatives, including the ESA Marketplace and ESA Business Accelerator. With over 20 years of experience in business and technology leadership for future aerospace missions in cross-cultural environments, Gianluigi has held various positions within ESA, including in the Technical and Space Transportation Directorate and the Strategy Department under the Director General. He holds a PhD in Systems Engineering from Supaero and Sapienza University of Rome and an Executive MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School.

Jordi is the CTO for Open Cosmos, with over 10 years’ experience in the smallsat industry. Jordi has proven knowledge and hands on experience in mechanical, structural, space systems, AIT, propulsion, thermal disciplines, and quality assurance, as well as programmatic, team and resource management. Jordi has actively participated in delivering more than 10 satellites – from concept to orbit – in earth observation, tech demonstrators and communications.

Dr Ingo Baumann is co-founding partner of BHO Legal, a technology law firm based in Cologne, Germany. Ingo leads the space & satellite team of BHO Legal. Ingo has almost 25 years of experience in the space industry. He wrote his PhD at the Cologne Institute of Air and Space Law on the international law of satellite communications. Before establishing BHO Legal, he was legal adviser within the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), becoming later the Head of the DLR Galileo Project Office, and administrative CEO of DLR GfR mbH, the operating company of DLR for the German Galileo Control Centre. Ingo is advising ministries, agencies, large prime contractors, operators, SME and start-up companies across the entire value chain and application areas. He also advises clients from geospatial and defense sectors. Dr Ingo Baumann is member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL), the Space Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) and various other professional organisations. He mentors at SpaceFounders, Starburst Blast, EUSPA Academy, NATO Diana and other accelerators and programs.

Valentin BENOIT founded RIDE! in 2020, and since then a growing number of launch missions have come to life, shaping the company into a team of expert launch mission managers serving satellite operators and manufacturers worldwide. Through a network of 35+ launch providers across the United States, Europe, India, and China, RIDE! now supports clients in over 50 countries, with 45+ executed launch contracts and 21 satellites currently in orbit. The company has built hands-on experience across 7 different launch providers—Falcon 9, PSLV, Vega-C, Ariane 62, Mira, Kinetica-1, and Vigoride—and is set to expand to 10 with upcoming missions on Miura 5, Spectrum, and SpaceVan. Along the way, RIDE! has contributed to major programs such as the IRIDE constellation with Argotec HEO satellites, the Atlantic Constellation, and the Moonlight program with Telespazio.

Chris Blackerby is Group Chief Operating Officer for Astroscale Holdings, the global leader in securing the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. In the role of COO, Chris oversees the operations and expansion of the growing international company, including strategic planning and internal coordination of entities spread across five countries. Prior to joining Astroscale, Chris was the NASA Attaché in Asia and the senior space policy official at the U.S. Embassy Tokyo from 2012-2017. In that capacity he identified opportunities for cooperation, served as strategic space advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and negotiated agreements and resolved disputes with partners. Chris began working for NASA as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2003. While at NASA he was a leader in forging international cooperative partnerships around the world in the fields of Earth science, space science and human space exploration. From 2005- 2007 Chris was the Executive Director of the NASA Advisory Council, a group of senior officials that provides feedback to the NASA Administrator on future policies and plans. Chris received a B.A. in History and Education from the University of Richmond (Va.) in 1995 and an M.A. in International Relations from the University ofRhode Island in 2002. In 2009 Chris earned an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

Curt Blake is Senior Of Counsel in the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the corporate practice. Curt is an attorney and senior executive with more than 25 years of experience leading organizations in high-growth industries—and over 10 years as CEO of Spaceflight, Inc.—at the forefront of the NewSpace revolution. He has extensive expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, legal strategy, M&A, and space commercialization, with deep knowledge about the unique challenges of NewSpace growth and the roadmap to success in the that ecosystem. He has forged relationships with key commercial, civilian, and defense-related customers. Milestones include opening the Indian PSLV to U.S. commercial customers, the first dedicated rideshare Falcon 9 launch vehicle mission deploying a then-record 64 satellites, and launching the first non-governmental mission to the moon (SpaceIL), as well as developing, launching, and orbiting several flavors of Sherpa, the Spaceflight OTV.

Daniel Bock is the CTO, Co-founder, and Managing Director of Morpheus Space, the pioneering company redefining how spacecraft move and operate in orbit. He co-founded Morpheus in 2018 after breakthrough research at the Dresden University of Technology, turning academic innovation into commercially viable propulsion technologies that are reshaping the future of space mobility. Under his leadership, Morpheus Space has delivered industry-first advancements in FEEP propulsion, including early successful propulsion demonstrations and the first collision avoidance maneuver performed by a nanosatellite using this technology. These achievements established Morpheus as a leader in high-precision and high-efficiency in-space mobility solutions. Today, Daniel drives the company’s mission to set a new standard for intelligent, scalable, and sustainable spacecraft propulsion. Morpheus Space’s flagship product, the GO-2 Electric Propulsion System. GO-2 is a compact and modular solution built on advanced Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology. It enables satellite operators to navigate an increasingly congested, contested, and regulated orbital environment with exceptional agility and control.

Anders Bohlin works in the Digital Infrastructure Division at the Projects Directorate of the European Investment Bank (EIB) based in Luxembourg. He works with a team of experts involved in project due diligences related to the EIB’s lending activities in the Space sector. He also works on the Bank’s business strategy with respect to financing of Space and terrestrial broadband infrastructure, innovation policy and the digital economy in general. Anders has also contributed to defining new financial instruments for digital infrastructure jointly with the European Commission, national promotional banks and the private sector. Before joining the EIB, Anders held senior positions in the telecommunications industry. Anders holds a Master’s degree from the Stockholm School of Economics.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, specialising in space technology, as well as an MBA in Management and Entrepreneurship. Following the end of my involvement with my own space start-up company in 2021, I joined the German Space Agency, where I now oversee small satellite technology activities as part of the German government’s national small satellite initiative.

Giuseppe Borghi is leading the Φ-lab Division since June 2020, with the mission to “accelerate the future of Earth observation.” He holds a PhD in robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as a Master’s degree in executive general management. After a few years in AI and robotics research at Politecnico di Milano, he transitioned to the space industry in 1998, dedicating about 30 years to driving global innovation. Throughout his career, he has held numerous executive and managerial roles, with a steadfast commitment to advancing the space industry by leveraging transformative innovations in technology and business models as key enablers of success

Entrepreneur and investor with over 5 decades of international executive experience with Satellite, PayTV, and Consumer Electronics industries. Successfully conducted business in dozens of countries. Clients and project implementation for companies that included: Airspan, ARSAT, AT&T, GloboSat, Glowlink, Lucent, Motorola, NahuelSat, RuralWeb , SuperCanal , Tdh SA, Telesat , among others. Currently Founder and Managing Partner – Advantage IT International Inc. International Telecom Consulting since 1999. Previous Projects Founder and Managing Partner – Clarke Belt 2.0 an NGSO Communications Satellite Project. International Advisor – nexTenna – A low cost electronically steerable flat panel antenna technology for cell phones to football sized antennas for Satellites. VP & Satellite Advisor Astrapi – Spiral Modulation company Prior employment VP at Oak Communications-TV/Com-Hyundai , assisted transition company from Analog Cable – Satellite /PayTV hardware vendor, to focus on a digital development of an industry 1st demonstrable 1-45Msps variable consumer Satellite modem and a 256 QAM cable modem. The development resulted in the industry’s 1st deployed Satellite DVB compliant systems in both the Americas and Europe. Total of 6 new DTH Projects launched, 5 in Americas and 1 in Europe. VP Uniden USA, Ft Worth consumer electronics company, Regional, National Accounts and International sales, marketing and business development responsibilities. Within Satellite division launched 1st successful Analog Satellite PayTV network in Brasil ( became GloboSat). Launched 1st Satellite delivered PPV utilizing AT&T Satellite and ANI system (TVN). Regional Sales Fla – Motorola C&E – Two way communications equipment sales. Other Activity Former Member of Board of Directors of (SBCA) Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association Speaker and panelist at numerous Industry trade events, and Governmental Regulatory bodies including ITU in Geneva. Mr. Brady has earned Bachelors of Technology degree from University of North Florida and is based in Jacksonville Florida and a US Citizen. Loves Family, Friends, Football, Flyfishing, and Florida.

Kees Buijsrogge obtained his degree in Science and Policy at Utrecht University (M.Sc., distinction). He has been with TNO for 18 years and has served in various roles in applied research in High Tech Systems applications within TNO. He started his career at TNO in business development, then moved towards management of research groups in the defense domain of TNO. Since 2012 he has been Research Manager of the Optics Department in Delft, which includes the Optics Manufacturing unit. Since September 1, 2017 he has been appointed Director Space & Scientific Instrumentation. As Director, he is responsible for the strategic vision of the unit: ensuring that the unit’s objectives align with both society’s needs on Satellite Communication, Earth Observation and Astronomy, and boosting Dutch commercial competitiveness within international value chains. Since 2023 he is also involved in TNO’s Defense unit for the military use of Space. In addition to his role at TNO, he is a Supervisory Board member at Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, a Board Member at SpaceNed, member of the Supervisory Board at TU Delft Space Institute and Board Member at Space Expo Noordwijk.

Gregg Burgess is President and General Manager of Orion Space Solutions, and Arcfield Company in Louisville Colorado USA. Orion Space Solutions designs, builds and operates small satellites and payloads for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), LEO, and Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO). Orion’s technology portfolio spans ionospheric sensing and modelling, high frequency RADAR and radios, Electro-optical and Infrared sensors for terrestrial and space applications, and spacecraft power and digital electronics. Mr Burgess has led high growth space businesses at General Atomics and Orbital Sciences Corporation, developing foundational space systems including the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness System (GSSAP), ANGELS, EAGLE, MiTEx, Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP), Gazelle, and the EO/IR Weather System (EWS). The organizations he led designed and delivered space payloads for advanced RF communications, laser communications, space situational awareness, rendezvous and proximity operations, and missile warning. He also served as Chief Technology Officer at Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space business which during his tenure developed the Surface Mount Technology solar panels, advance rocket propulsion systems, and the Dream Chaser spaceplane. Mr Burgess earned an MS and BS in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the General Manager’s Program at Harvard Business School and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Patrick Butler is the Executive Vice President of Engineering & Programs at Sidus Space where he is responsible for leading the company’s engineering organization and program execution, as well as overseeing the 24-hour on-orbit operations of Sidus’s satellite constellation and the management and growth of the company’s product lines. Prior to joining Sidus Space, Patrick was the Director of Launch Execution for Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket where he was responsible for launch and recovery mission planning and external regulatory coordination, in addition to operations management of the launch pad and the launch team’s training and certification program. Previous roles at Blue included management of the New Glenn Supply Chain at Blue Origin’s Orbital Launch Site. Prior to joining Blue, Patrick worked for Bell Helicopter’s Innovation Team supporting the development of new unmanned aerial vehicles. Patrick began his career as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps flying the UH-1Y Huey for over ten years. He held a series of major leadership roles including the Logistics Department Head during a combat deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan and Operations Officer for the Marine Aviation Training System Site in Hawaii where he led the operations of all aircraft simulator systems for Marine Aircraft Group 24. Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy and two master’s degrees in Aeronautics/Astronautics and Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nicolas Capet is the Founder and President of ANYWAVES (www.anywaves.com), a space technology company specializing in high‑performance antennas and electronics for critical space and defense applications. He holds a PhD in electromagnetics and has built his career at the intersection of advanced RF engineering, satellite systems, and strategic industrial development. Prior to founding ANYWAVES, he worked as an antenna engineer in the French institutional space ecosystem, contributing to numerous satellite programs and more than 20 patents. Since creating ANYWAVES, Nicolas Capet has led the company’s growth from deep‑tech innovation to international markets, positioning it as a key player in NewSpace, sovereign space infrastructures, and defense‑oriented space systems. His current work focuses on enabling resilient, high‑performance RF payloads for next‑generation satellite constellations and contested space environments. He is actively involved in the European NewSpace ecosystem as YEESS vice president and regularly contributes to strategic discussions on space policy, industrial competitiveness, and defense space capabilities, both in Europe and internationally.

Gabriele is a Partner at PwC Strategy& focused on AD&S sector and part of the leadership team of Strategy& Italy. With over 18 years of experience in strategy consulting, he works at the intersection of space, aerospace and technological transformation, advising both industry leaders and public institutions. Since joining Booz & Company in 2012, Gabriele has supported space agencies, defence organizations and aerospace primes across Europe on ecosystem design, industrial strategy, supply‑chain resilience and technology-driven growth, with increasing focus on upstream and downstream applications. His perspective blends strategic depth with hands‑on advisory experience, supporting the development of a robust and competitive European space value chain.

Romeo graduated in 2017 with an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, completing part of his studies at TU Delft and obtaining a double degree with Politecnico di Milano thanks to the Alta Scuola Politecnica honor program. In 2024 he obtained a PhD in Statistics (Analytics for Economics and Management) from the University of Brescia, with a focus on artificial intelligence and multi-criteria decision-making. He currently works at AIKO as Senior Product Manager for orbital_OLIVER, an onboard AI-driven autonomous planning and data processing solution. In this role, he also serves as Project Manager for multiple space programs, including the recently launched AIX — a testbed advancing the satellite-as-a-service paradigm. Prior to AIKO, he worked at Apogeo Space as Program Manager, overseeing the company’s satellite missions from design to operations (worth a venture capital investment of 5M€). At Apogeo Space he coordinated cross-functional engineering teams, and worked closely with institutional clients such as the European and Italian Space Agencies. He also led digital innovation initiatives, including the integration of process automation across the organization. Beyond his career in the aerospace sector, Romeo worked for a nearly two years as a consultant within the automotive sector across Switzerland and Belgium.

Dr. Laetitia Cesari is a researcher and a legal practitioner working on the law and policy of digital technologies and outer space, with a focus on security and safety aspects, and particularly cybersecurity, space traffic and space situational awareness. She is a Fellow at UNIDIR’s Space Security Programme. Laetitia works for legal organisations, international institutions and private actors. Before that, she supported the work of national authorities on space-related topics. Laetitia has been a Visiting Researcher at UNSW Canberra in 2024 and at the University of Leiden in 2022.

Kateryna Chernohorenko is the architect of Ukraine’s digital transformation and the former Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine (2023-2025). During her government tenure, she initiated the creation of Ukrainian Space Policy Directorate, and spearheaded reforms that moved the needle on the defence sector’s digital transformation and redefined modern warfare.

Merek Chertkow is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Radiation Team, LLC, a radiation engineering firm supporting commercial and government space programs. With a background in physics and prior experience leading radiation efforts at SpaceX and Blue Origin, Merek played a key role in developing radiation qualification strategies that were adopted across multiple flight programs and approved by NASA, the Air Force, and The Aerospace Corporation. Under his leadership, The Radiation Team has supported many space programs, delivering critical optimizations from EEE parts selection to system-level mitigations. Merek now leads a multidisciplinary team of electrical, software, test, and radiation engineers focused on applying modern analysis and testing techniques to build space systems that are resilient to radiation effects and aligned with mission success criteria. 

With over 25 years of experience in satellite communications and regulations at international level, Mr Ciccorossi is the Head of the Space Strategy and Sustainability Division at the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau. His team is dedicated to monitor and ensure the effective and precise deployment of satellites in geostationary and non geostationary orbits in conformity with the Radio Regulations, as well as the treatment of cases of harmful interference affecting space services. Mr. Ciccorossi advises ITU Member States, Sectors Members and ITU intersectoral groups on technical regulatory matters of space services, including those related to space sustainability activities in the context of ITU and the Radiocommunication Bureau. He has also taken the following responsibilities: • Co-chair of the 39th Scientific Legal roundtable at the IAC 2025 in Sydney on “Lunar Operations and Orbital Management: Governance in Cislunar Space” • Chairman of the 22nd. International Space Radio Monitoring Meeting (ISRMM), September 2021. • Acting Chief of the Space Services Department and Head of the Satellite Systems Coordination Division at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). • Spokesperson on satellites issues representing the Radiocommunications Bureau at the World Radiocommunications Conference 2023 and at the Radio Regulations Board • Counsellor of DG-Plenary at the CPM-2023 and WG-6C at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012. • Represented the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau at WRCs since 2003, as well as at several regional and international fora, including Space Debris Conferences, CITEL, ICAO, International Astronautical Congress, Eurocontrol, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Munich Satellite Navigation Summit, Forum Europe, US Small Satellite Symposium, SmallSat Europe , the Regulatory Expert Group of the ISRMM, IEEE and ITU Study Groups. • Responsible for the analysis of GSO and NGSO satellite systems submitted to ITU for coordination and notification, and the treatment of cases of harmful interference. Mr. Ciccorossi has conceived the first (and unique) Intergovernmental Online Platform to Report RFI cases affecting Satellite System (SIRRS), assisting 194 ITU Member States in its resolution, as well as the Argus by ITU online system to visualize NGSO deployment of large constellations. He holds the degree of engineer in electronics from the National University of Technology (UTN) in Buenos Aires, an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, and has studied satellite communications and spacecraft design at the University of Surrey in the UK.

Mike Collett is Founder and Managing Partner of Promus Ventures, a DeepTech venture capital firm with offices in the US and Europe, investing in AI, space, robotics and other DeepTech early-stage startups. Mike has been a venture capital investor in software and hardware for more than 20 years. Mike has served on numerous Boards of Directors, including Rocket Lab, Spire Global, ICEYE, Halter, Lunar Outpost, Chef Robotics, Gauss Surgical, Recycleye, and others. Prior to Promus Ventures, Mike was Founder and Managing Partner of Masters Capital Nanotechnology Fund, a venture capital firm. While working at Masters Capital, a hedge fund, Mike invested in early-stage DeepTech startups. Prior to venture capital, Mike was a Vice President in Merrill Lynch’s Mergers & Acquisitions group. Mike holds a BA in Math and BA in English from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a MBA in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis. Mike and his wife Paige have four children and live in Chicago.

Massimo Comparini has been Managing Director of Leonardo’s Space Division since February 2025. Massimo Comparini has extensive experience and long track record in the space industry, from technology to services, as well as in the field of Earth observation, geospatial domain, space exploration and space connectivity.

In 2024, he was appointed Managing Director of Leonardo’s Space Business Unit and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thales Alenia Space. From 2020 to 2024, he served as Deputy CEO and Senior Executive Vice President for Observation, Exploration, and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and as CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia. In 2016, he was appointed Director of Telespazio Line of Business Geo Information, CEO of eGeos, a company owned by ASI (20%) and Telespazio (80%), an international leader in Earth Observation and Geospatial Information, and Chairman of both GAF and EarthLab Luxembourg.

In 2013, he was appointed CTO of Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%). He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering, Remote Sensing, and Radar Systems from Sapienza University of Rome, and a degree in Strategy from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University (USA). He began his career in 1983 at the former Selenia Spazio (later Alenia Spazio), where he held various managerial positions, including Chief Technical Officer (CTO). He is a member of the technical-scientific advisory board of the Center for Advanced Studies, Research, author of more than one hundreds publication and papers in the field of microwave technologies, space technologies, management of innovation. He hold a number of academic chair at University of Perugia, Bologna and LUISS University and business school. He is honored with the title of Commander at the merit of the Italian Republic and with the star to the merit of labor.

José Luis serves as Hispasat 5G Strategy Manager. In this role, he is building the development of the 5G connectivity strategy, leading initiatives that capitalize on new market opportunities. He actively contributes to the international 5G satellite ecosystem through three distinct roles: as a member of the NTN Forum Steering Board, as Hispasat’s 5G NTN design authority within Iris2, and as a delegate promoting standardization at 3GPP. José Luis is a Telecommunication engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in the Telco sector. He has navigated various segments of the industry, including roles at engineering companies, consulting firms, utilities, telco vendors, and mobile network operators (MNOs). His diverse responsibilities have spanned strategy, innovation, design, deployment, pre-sales and post-sales. In addition to his extensive technical expertise in 5G mobile communications, he holds a broad perspective on commercial trends in both terrestrial and satellite telecommunications.

Juan Carlos Cortés is the Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). He was appointed on May 15, 2024, following an open competitive process. Juan Carlos also serves as the Head of the Spanish Delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA) and is the elected Vice President of the ESA Council, as well as the head of the Spanish Delegation in the Administrative Board of the EU Space Agency (EUSPA), and the Spanish representative on the Horizontal Committee of the European Space Program. The AEE is a state agency overseen by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU) and the Ministry of Defense (MINISDEF), aimed at enhancing citizens’ lives through space. Under the presidency of Minister Diana Morant (MICIU), the Agency integrates and coordinates space activities in Spain. The AEE is the expert body to promote and coordinate activities and policies oriented at research, technological and industrial development, and innovation in the space sector, including the coordination of defense space programs. Among the Agency’s main objectives are contributing to national security, promoting bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements with other stakeholders, drafting a proposal for the Spanish Space Law, preparing a National Space Policy proposal, and designing and coordinating a National Space Strategy. Juan Carlos has an extensive professional career spanning over thirty-five years. He is an expert in R&D management and a specialist in the aerospace sector and dual-use programs. In various executive positions, Juan Carlos has been responsible for advancing Spanish contributions and leadership in space programs since 2004, playing a catalytic role in developing the Spanish Space Sector across all areas, from science and exploration to technology, industry, and applications, both bilaterally and multilaterally. As the Director of International Programs at the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), he was responsible for promoting and managing Spain’s participation in the EU R&D Program, in technological cooperation initiatives in Europe (EUREKA) and Latin America (IBEROEKA), as well as in major scientific infrastructures (CERN, ITER…). He was tasked with strengthening, expanding, and further developing CDTI’s international network. He began his professional career in 1990, after spending several years in the private sector in the aerospace field. He joined the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) as a flight test engineer, working on the Eurofighter Program, the development of remotely operated aircraft (drones), and at the Logistics Center for Armament and Experimentation (CLAEX) of the Spanish Air Force. Juan Carlos is Aeronautical Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), specializing in aircraft and propulsion, and has a master’s degree in Business Management. He has completed the Executive Development Program at the Institute of Higher Business Studies (IESE/PDD) and is a graduate of the Higher Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN) in the National Defense Course, in addition to being certified in program management and innovation. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of FIDAMC (Foundation for the Research of Composite Materials). He currently sits on the boards of directors of both Hispasat S.A. and Hisdesat S.A. In March of this year, he was appointed Chair of the ESA Council, taking effect in July 2026.

James is the founder of Orbital Insight. Since 2013 the company has been pursuing the mission of processing geospatial data at petabyte scale to help commercial and government customers understand what we are doing on and to the Earth. Orbital Insight was, and is, a leader in showing how AI can be used to process satellite data at a global scale. In 2024 the company merged with Privateer Space – an innovative space company co-founded by Steve Wozniak. In addition to being the founder of Orbital Insight, James works as Chief Strategy Officer for the combined company. Previously he was SVP of Science and Engineering at the Climate Corporation through its $1B acquisition by Monsanto. Before his time at Climate he was CTO and Software Architect at Moon Express — a startup with the goal of putting the first commercial robot on the Moon. Previous to that, he was engineering Director of Google Book Search where he was in charge of Google’s project to scan, index, and make searchable the world’s books. He also led autonomy and robotics at NASA’s Ames Research Center. James holds PhD and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin, and a BA in Math and Computer Science from Rice University.

Over the course of his career, Thys has built a unique blend of experience across the space, medical device, and software development industries. He began as an electronic systems engineer, contributing to the development of Earth Observation payloads for satellites—a role that immersed him in the high-stakes technical environment of the European and South African space sectors.

Transitioning into product leadership and business development, Thys served as CEO of a medical device startup, where he successfully led the company from concept to market launch in the United States with a practical, hands-on approach.

Since 2018, Thys has returned to the satellite industry as Chief Commercial Officer at Simera Sense, a leading provider of optical payloads for small satellites. He was instrumental in positioning the company as the preferred supplier of optical payloads in the international small satellite market.

Daniele Dallari is the Sales & Customer Manager at PLD Space, where he leads the commercial strategy for orbital launch services and works closely with satellite manufacturers and operators to shape mission-ready launch solutions. With more than 15 years of international B2B sales experience and a strong technical background, he specialises in turning customer mission requirements into clear customer value focusing on launch readiness, reliability, and schedule confidence. Before joining PLD Space, Daniele was Sales Manager at Southern Launch, Australia’s privately operated spaceport provider. There, he gained direct experience in spaceport operations, launch campaign preparation, regulatory interfaces, and access-to-orbit design, while securing new launch customers and strengthening the company’s global commercial presence. Prior to that, he worked for the Government of South Australia on the Australian Space Park initiative, where he helped develop the strategy for a new space manufacturing hub in collaboration with Airbus Defence & Space and key industry partners.

Guy de Carufel is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cognitive Space, a Texas based startup which is redefining how space assets are orchestrated through AI for the effective use of Space. Guy has two decades of experience in the space industry, including working on the NASA Artemis program with safety critical software, building advanced simulation models, guidance software for launch vehicles and automation systems. Guy grew up in Canada, where he gained his master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Toronto.

Benoit Deper is the CEO and founder of Aerospacelab, Benoît Deper has been at the helm of the company since 2018. With his recognized experience in the space industry, this entrepreneur quickly succeeded in gaining the support of solid investors such as Airbus Ventures.​ After graduating from UCLouvain with a degree in mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering, Benoît Deper first joined the ranks of two iconic institutions in the sector: NASA and its European counterpart, ESA for a three-year stint before becoming CTO of a Swiss company specializing in space launch, Swiss Space Systems.​

Benoît knows the space industry and its key players inside out. His experience and network also enable him to recruit the best talent in technology and sales. The combination of these talents enabled him to design and manufacture a satellite in 2 years, from a blank sheet of paper. Since then, he has succeeded in rallying to his ambitious project renowned industry leaders such as Mr. Dordain (ex-director of ESA).​

Nick Destrycker is the CEO and CoFounder of EDGX, the Belgian spacetech company on a mission to build Europe’s sovereign compute layer in space. EDGX develops NVIDIA-based compute systems that enables satellites and general space infrastructure to process data directly in orbit. Backed by European private investors, ESA, the Belgian Ministry of Defence, NVIDIA, the European Commission and recognised as IMEC Future Unicorn (2024) and ESA Rising Star (2025)

Viney Dhiri leads the Space Cloud Business Unit at D-Orbit, driving the organisation’s transition into a new era of how business is conceived, delivered, and scaled in space. With over 25 years in the space industry, he brings a rare combination of technical depth, operational leadership, and commercial acumen. He is focused on shaping space as a fully integrated digital infrastructure -connecting orbital and terrestrial systems to enable faster, more relevant decision-making. He aligns strategy, product development, and execution to deliver scalable services that unlock new markets beyond traditional space applications. His work sits at the intersection of technology, business model innovation, and market transformation – positioning Space Cloud as a foundational layer for the next generation of global services.

B.Gen Donati is the Commander of Italian Air Force Command in Sardinia and Commander of Test and Joint Training Range since September 2025. B.Gen. Daniele Donati entered the Air Force Academy in 1994, with the course Rostro III. In 2001 was assigned to the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle, XII Squadron C.I., on the TORNADO F3, then he was assigned to the 4th Wing – 20th Operational Training Unit, as operational conversion instructor on Eurofighter Typhoon, and was 20th Squadron Commander from 2014 to 2016. Transferred to the Air Force Staff – 3rd Department in 2016, he held the position of Deputy Head of Office of the 2nd Office “Policy of Air Forces Generation and Offering” and Chief of the 4th Office “Air Force Foreign Policy”. In 2021 he was Task Force Air Commander for the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltics. From 2022 to 2024 Col Donati was Wing Commander for the 37° Air Force Wing in Trapani (Sicily) and Commander of the Air Force District for Western Sicily. In July 2024 he was appointed Chief of Space Policy Office within the Italian Defence General Staff. Promoted B.Gen. on July 2025, he has a Master’s Degree with honors in Political Science from the University of Trieste and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College, at the National Defense University in Washington DC.

Carsten Drachmann is the Chief Executive Officer of GomSpace, a position he has held since March 2023. He brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience across the global technology sector, spanning start-ups, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 companies. Before joining GomSpace, Mr. Drachmann held CEO roles at Zero Error Systems PTE LTD in Singapore, KebNi AB in Stockholm, and the International Copyright Enterprise, also in Stockholm. He also served as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Managing Director for EMEA at DataPath Inc. in London. A significant portion of his career—20 years—was spent in leadership roles at Nokia, where he played a key role in driving innovation, scaling operations, and leading international market expansion. Mr. Drachmann holds an MSc in Software & Electronics from the Technical University of Denmark and an Executive MBA in Strategy & Organisation from Stanford University, with a focus on leadership in the tech industry. He currently serves on the board of RTX A/S and is recognized for his ability to accelerate growth, enhance shareholder value, and lead organizations through transformation and profitable growth.

Thierry DRAUS is Vice President of Business Development – Future Business and Innovation at SES, where he drives innovation at the intersection of space infrastructure, secure connectivity, and European strategic autonomy. He focuses on transforming emerging technologies including Quantum-Safe networks, Direct-to-Device, and next-generation satellite infrastructure into scalable, mission-ready solutions. His work bridges technology, policy, and market execution to convert innovation into sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Aubrey Dunne is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Ubotica Technologies, a Space:AI company with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Aubrey leads Ubotica’s Space and Edge AI engineering activities, as part of which he manages technical planning across the 50-strong Ubotica engineering team, leads architecting of systems solutions in the ground and Space segments, guides development of Ubotica’s Live Maritime Intelligence solution (for Maritime Situational Awareness), and drives the ideation process. He led the Ubotica team that in 2020 successfully delivered the AI solution enabling the world’s first AI inference on-board an EO CubeSat, and drove the successful design and deployment of CogniSAT-6, Ubotica’s AI-centric hyperspectral CubeSat (launched 2024). He was also instrumental in the first ever successful deployment of Dynamic Targeting, which Ubotica achieved in collaboration with NASA JPL in July 2025. Prior to his role in Ubotica, Aubrey gained almost 10 years of professional engineering consultancy experience, with companies including Intel and Movidius, in the core areas of computer vision and embedded systems design. Aubrey holds a Ph.D. in Computer Vision, an M.Eng. in Electronic Systems, and a B.Eng. in Mechatronic Engineering, all from Dublin City University, and has co-authored over 35 peer reviewed publications.

Olaf Eckart has specialized in building partnerships between BMW and external partners. He is one of the founding members of the Non Terrestrial Network (NTN) Team of BMW. He is also leading the NTN activities of the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) for more than 3 years. He is pushing multi-stakeholder alignment in the global telecommunication eco system. Satellite communication should be based on global mobile standards (3GPP) The NTN Roadmap, published by the 5GAA in September 2024 has become one of the most powerful tools to discuss the potential deployment of satellite communication in the future.

Joost Elstak brings over two decades of experience in smallsat program development, spanning from the inception of Newspace. Beginning his journey as a Systems Engineer for pivotal missions at ISIS and SSTL, Joost transitioned into diverse commercial and program roles at Airbus Netherlands. During his tenure as Head of Sales for Airbus Solar Arrays and Structures, he demonstrated his adeptness in driving strategic partnerships. Currently serving as the key figure overseeing European Mission customers/sales at ICEYE, Joost combines his technical expertise with a profound understanding of market dynamics, propelling advancements in the space industry.

Dr Marco Esposito is Managing Director at cosine. Marco is Managing Director of cosine Remote Sensing, overseeing both the Dutch headquarters and the Italian branch, where he leads business growth, strategic positioning, industrial scale-up, and the execution of key institutional and defense programs. With a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Naples and prior experience at the Italian National Research Council and ESA/ESTEC, he combines deep technical expertise with executive leadership across the full value chain of advanced remote sensing systems.

At cosine, Marco has played a central role in transforming the company’s remote sensing activities into a scalable and strategically positioned business, leading teams across engineering, programs, operations, and commercialization. He has driven the development and market introduction of advanced miniaturized optical payloads for Earth Observation, while also overseeing the expansion of production capabilities for next-generation smart EO instruments. A major part of his current focus is the development of sovereign Earth Observation capabilities for defense and security applications. In this context, Marco leads initiatives aimed at delivering national EO observation capabilities for the Ministry of Defense, supporting the creation of strategically relevant space assets and industrial capabilities in Europe.

Andrew FAIOLA Commercial Director, Astroscale Ltd. Andrew joined Astroscale in January 2023 to lead the Commercial team in the UK, encompassing Business Development, Sales, Marketing, and Product functions as the company expands to make in-orbit servicing and debris removal routine by 2030, and delivers on its vision for safe, secure, and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. He is a senior leader with over 20 years growing revenue across the satellite communications and space industries. He was previously VP EMEAAP Sales at ALL.SPACE, leading sales and business development for all commercial and global government segments. Prior to that, he held senior positions at ST Engineering iDirect and Intelsat where he focused on providing critical communications infrastructure to the Aviation, Maritime, and Land Mobile segments. Earlier in his career, he held various sales and marketing roles at NewSkies Satellites, and at an independent teleport in the USA called ESATEL Communications. He also performed research and project development work at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC, and at NASA, which involved the provision of Internet service and remote sensing for environmental monitoring. Andrew holds a BA in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis, and an MA in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Ron Faith is a serial entrepreneur returning to the space industry after stints in cloud computing and mobile commerce. Most recently Ron was the CEO of Datacastle, a cloud based endpoint data protection company acquired by Carbonite last year. Prior to Datacastle, Ron worked at Apple Computer where he launched Apple’s first standalone Internet product in the mid-90s. Ron is a published author and patent owner. Ron graduated from the University of Washington with a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering where he performed research for Boeing Aerospace and Defense Group in frequency selective surfaces. Ron attained his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College where he double-majored in Engineering Sciences and Philosophy.

Chris Faletra is the President and Chief Executive Officer of COMSAT, a Goonhilly company, where he is responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational leadership, and growth of COMSAT’s U.S. and UK teleport, data center, and satellite ground infrastructure business. With more than 35 years of experience in the satellite communications industry, Chris leads COMSAT’s mission to deliver resilient, secure, and globally connected ground segment services for government, commercial, and emerging GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite operators. As President and CEO, Chris oversees all aspects of COMSAT’s operations, including infrastructure investment, regulatory compliance, customer engagement, and long term business planning. Since assuming the role, he has played a central leadership role in the successful transition of COMSAT to Goonhilly ownership, development of a new Teleport Services growth strategy, and securing investment to modernize and expand COMSAT’s teleport and data center capabilities. Chris began his satellite communications career in 1986 at GTE Telecom International Systems, where he built a strong technical foundation that continues to inform his executive leadership today. Throughout his career, he has combined deep engineering expertise with commercial and operational leadership, successfully managing complex global programs and long term customer relationships across the satellite and telecommunications sectors. Under his leadership, COMSAT’s Southbury, Connecticut and Santa Paula, California teleports maintain long standing WTA Tier 4 certification, and Goonhilly, Cornwall UK teleport maintain ISO27001 certification uniquely positioning the company to support mission critical ground segment infrastructure for next generation satellite services. Chris continues to drive innovation and expansion of COMSAT’s service portfolio, ensuring the company remains a trusted provider of highly resilient, geographically diverse, and secure satellite and terrestrial connectivity solutions.

Lubos Fedora serves as the Senior Sales & Business Development Manager at Mynaric, where he oversees commercial customers and programs across EMEA and APAC. Based in Germany, he is responsible for developing tailored solutions for existing customers while driving new business opportunities. 

With more than a decade of experience in the aerospace industry, Lubos combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of customer requirements for complex missions. 

Before joining Mynaric, he worked at Honeywell Aerospace and Airinmar in the United Kingdom. 

Lubos holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Manchester.

Araz Feyzi is the Co-Founder and CTO of Kayhan Space, where he leads the development of modern spaceflight safety and autonomy solutions. A second-time founder with a background in scaling innovative technologies across startups and large organizations, Araz is currently focused on making global space traffic coordination a reality. He is a frequent speaker on the future of autonomous operations and maintaining safety within increasingly congested orbital environments.

Jeff Foust is a senior staff writer for SpaceNews, joining the publication in 2014. He covers civil and commercial space topics, ranging from NASA programs to developments among entrepreneurial space companies. He has extensive experience writing about space policy, commercial space, and related topics. In 2003, he started The Space Review, a weekly publication of longform articles and commentary on a wide range of space topics that continues to operate to this day. He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 and a B.S. with honors in geophysics and planetary science from the California Institute of Technology in 1993. He received the Press Award from the National Space Club and Foundation in 2018.

Marino Fragnito is Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing at Thales Alenia Space. Before joining the company, he was Chief Commercial Officer of the AVIO group and Managing Director of the French branch. He managed worldwide commercial operations and coordinated the Launch Services activities of the company. Between 2016 and 2024, he was Senior Vice President at Arianespace where he managed the overall Vega launch services activities and controlled its associated Profit & Loss. From 2009 until 2016, he served at EUMETSAT as Launch Services Manager. Previously, he was Head of Mechanical Systems Development in the frame of the Vega development program at ELV. He began his career in Cannes, at Alcatel Space Industries, on telecom satellite projects. Marino Fragnito is an Aeronautical Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Science and Technology.

Antonio Franchi works at the European Space Agency as the Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme  Office in the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate.  

Antonio has over 30 years of experience in the satellite telecommunications industry. 

Prior to ESA, Antonio worked for over 20 years with a major global satellite operator, spearheading a new generation of satellite communications systems. 

Antonio received an MSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome and an MBA from  the London Business School. 

He is author of 30+ articles and papers published at international conferences and professional  magazines and he holds six international patents in the satcom field.

Richard French leads business development and strategy for Rocket Lab’s space systems division, providing end-to-end mission services and on-orbit operations with the company’s family of spacecraft and high-end satellite components including propulsion, reaction wheels, star trackers, optical systems, RF systems, solar power solutions, and more. Richard spent over a decade at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he led development of the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator program and managed technology partnerships with industry in the Office of Space Technology. He also spent two years on detail to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as a Staff Technologist in the Space Technology Mission Directorate, leading development of the Tipping Point and Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity solicitations. Richard’s earlier career includes service as an engineer on various NASA missions, including being awarded the NASA Honors Early Career Public Achievement Medal for his work as a lead mechanical systems engineer on the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission, and helping to land the Curiosity Rover on Mars as a member of the Mars Science Laboratory entry, descent, and landing systems engineering team. Richard holds a Masters degree in Space Systems Engineering and a Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering, both from the University of Michigan.

Key player of the French Space Defense Strategy, Michel Friedling was the first French Space Commander from 2019 to 2022, leading military space operations, including Space Domain Awareness, and policy. His leadership advanced French space defense in collaboration with international partners. A fighter pilot with a degree in aeronautics and space engineering, he has lodged more than 2,400 flying hours on fighter aircraft. He is member of the Advisory Board of the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), an independent Vienna-based think-tank. He has published Space Commander – Issues, Threats and Challenges of the New Space Age, released in October 2023.

Markus Fritz, Managing Director & Owner ADVISORIO. ADVISORIO is a premier consultancy serving global leaders in telecommunications, space, automotive, smart mobility, video distribution and ICT. Markus Fritz advises on growth strategy, market development, strategic partnerships, business models, and M&A, guiding corporations, scale-ups, public institutions, and think tanks in commercializing innovation. With 25+ years of executive leadership at SES Astra, Eutelsat, and Arabsat, he directed international commercial strategy, marketing, and strategic partnerships. As former board member of Digital Europe and ZVEI, and SAMENA Council Ambassador, he shaped policy and interoperability and open standards in the ICT industry.

Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Diffraqtion, where he is leading the development of a breakthrough quantum camera designed to
fundamentally expand how satellites and machines perceive the world — seeing farther, resolving finer detail, and enabling faster, smarter decisions at the edge. Previously, he built and scaled world-class teams delivering advanced products across Data, AI, and Quantum Technology, consistently turning deep technical innovation into high-impact systems.

Francho Garcia is one of the Cofounders and the CEO of Arkadia Space, leading all business development and sales activities, as well as investment and funding. Arkadia Space is a company developing chemical propulsion systems using hydrogen peroxide for all kinds of satellites and space vehicles. It´s working already with major customers in Europe, and in 2025 it became in the first company in Europe in successfully testing a propulsion system using hydrogen peroxide. Francho is an Aerospace Engineer with 14 years of experience in the space sector at Airbus Defense & Space, the European Space Agency, and PLD Space, having held roles across engineering, as well as management, investment, and business development.

Dennis Richard Gatens President, LEOcloud Voyager Technologies, Inc. Dennis founded LEOcloud in 2021 and lead it to the successful acquisition by Voyager Technologies in 2025. His vision is to extend cloud services into space with a highly resilient, scalable, multi-cloud, managed Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). LEOcloud Space Edge™ IaaS will extend cloud services into space in support of the emerging data-driven space economy including microgravity research & development and in-space manufacturing. In 2025 Voyager LEOcloud deployed the 1st operational data center in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Prior to forming LEOcloud, Dennis was the Chief Commercial Officer for Cloud Constellation Corporation where he led global sales, marketing, channel management, and strategic alliances. He has over 40 years of experience in commercial, aerospace, space technology, complex solutions, and managed services. He has a track record of bringing emerging technologies to market working with global partners and service providers to introduce next generation solutions into the evolving communications and cloud infrastructure. Dennis earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and his MBA from Radford University.

Dr. Emma Gatti is a planetary scientist with a PhD from the University of Cambridge and a postdoc from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech. Since 2018, she has worked as an independent space analyst and journalist. She is a visiting professor of Space Communication and Geopolitics at the AGH University of Krakow and, since 2026, the European correspondent for SpaceNews.

Warren Gebbett currently focuses on Innovation and Partnerships within the Future Business & Innovation group at SES. In more than 10 years with the company, he has held a variety of roles, from Systems Engineering for O3b Networks and Fleet Development to managing a Software Engineering team. Currently based in the Netherlands, Warren has previously lived and worked in both Luxembourg and the United States. He holds an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Markus Geiss is a Business Leader, Engineer and NewSpace Advocate with over 10 years of international experience in the Space sector, reaching from academia to large system integrators and NewSpace startups. Currently, Markus is the Chief Commercial Officer at Dcubed, where he’s responsible for overseeing all commercial activities and expanding the business globally. Markus Geiss holds a Master’s and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and he’s a graduate of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program.

Arad Gharagozli is the Founder and CEO of Galaxia, Canadian space and defence technology company developing advanced satellite platforms that enable real time threat detection and intelligence relay for defence and commercial applications. He is also the founder of the Pulsar Institute, a Canadian non profit advocating for space strategy reform and next generation STEM education, and the founder of the Dalhousie Space Systems Lab, which anchored space research in Atlantic Canada a decade ago. As an aerospace engineer, Arad trained with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency in spacecraft manufacturing and operations. His work focuses on building sovereign, scalable and agile space systems that bring modern capabilities to orbit and here on Earth.

Dr. Michael P. Gleason Senior Space Policy Analyst: Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation Michael “Mick” Gleason is a well-regarded author on space policy subjects including the value of space to society, space security and defense, space arms control, space traffic management, and European Union space ambitions. He has presented his research on critical space policy issues at conferences in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and across the United States. Gleason has extensive experience in meteorological, telecommunication, and Earth observation satellite operations. Gleason’s career included stints on the U.S. Air Force Academy faculty, at the Pentagon, and at the U.S. Department of State. Gleason holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from George Washington University (GWU) and is an alumnus of the GWU Space Policy Institute.

Luis Gomes is the CEO of the AAC Clyde Space group. He joined the company in 2019 and is based in Glasgow, from where he runs the group’s operations in 5 different countries. Luis has worked in the space industry for over 25 years, starting as a mission design engineer at SSTL, later moving on to management of space missions. For the past 15 years, he has had executive management roles in the industry. Luis joined AAC Clyde Space to pursue the next revolution in the space industry, focusing his efforts in growing the company in particular expanding the Data and Services business.

Paul Gouws is CTO at ETL Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of RF and digital equipment for mission‑critical satellite communications. ETL Systems’ solutions are trusted by the world’s top satellite operators and teleports to support resilient, secure, and high‑availability ground segment infrastructure. Paul joined ETL Systems in 2018 and brings more than 20 years of experience across the satellite communications ecosystem. His career spans both ends of the SATCOM link, having held lead technical roles in the design and development of advanced avionics SATCOM terminals, spacecraft RF systems, and large‑scale satellite ground segment equipment.

Mariella Graziano is an Aerospace Engineer from Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza – Università di Roma). She joined GMV in 1999 and, since 2022, has held the position of Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development for Space Segment – GMV Space Systems. She began her career at TER S.R.L., a small Italian technology company, and later joined ESA as a Young Graduate Trainee (YGT), working in systems engineering and space simulation. Since joining GMV, Mariella has taken on various technical and management responsibilities. In 2007, she was appointed Executive Director of the Space Segment and Robotics Business Unit, a position she held until 2020, when she became Executive Director of Strategy and International Coordination for the same domains. Following GMV’s reorganization in 2022, she assumed her current role as Executive Director of Strategy for Space Segment. From the same year, she has also been a member of the GMV–Alén Space Executive Committee. Mariella is an Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Engineering Sciences section. She is an active member of several international organizations, including the IAA Planetary Defence Committee, the IAF Committees for Space Exploration, Planetary Defence and NEOs, and Industrial Relations, as well as the Global Exploration Conference (GLEX). She has also served on the Board of Directors for Women In Aerospace Europe (WIA-E), focusing on STEAM and Education Outreach. In addition, Mariella is a member of the Advisory Council of the Journal of Field Robotics and has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications in the space field. She is deeply committed to initiatives that promote youth and female talent in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and to fostering space culture among younger generations. Since 2025, Mariella holds the honorary title of “Maestra del Lavoro”, awarded by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in recognition of professional merit with the “Stella al Merito del Lavoro.”

Alex Greenberg is co-founder and COO at Loft, where he oversees the company’s day-to-day operations and helps direct Loft’s strategy around both growth and internal operations. Alex has been in the space industry his entire career, having worked previously at Spire in Business Development and Avascent as an aerospace-focused management consultant. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and hails from Baltimore, Maryland.

Mike Gruss is the chief content and strategy officer at SpaceNews. He has worked as a journalist covering national security space issues since 2013.

Stewart is Sales Director for Telespazio in Germany. Graduating with a degree in Systems Engineering in 1992, Stewart trained and worked as a software engineer and ground systems architect until 2014, helping develop ground segment systems for many well-known space programmes, including: Rosetta comet chaser, Mars Express and Beagle 2, Galileo FOC, Meteosat Third Generation and OneWeb. From 2019 until 2024 he was Deputy Head of Strategy and Sales at Thales Alenia Space in the UK.

Over the past 10+ years I have been consulting in the space and space-defense markets. I work with new and legacy space companies in hardware manufacturing and service operation to scale efficiently. We help to grow our clients top and bottom lines following the approach of “think strategically and act pragmatically.”  In my role I have colleacted extensive international experience across Europe, the US and beyond in the scaling of space companies across all functions from engineering to operations and sales. In addition I support clients from various industries like agriculture or automotive on the threats and opportunities of space infrastructure on their business model. For that I have build up a deep understanding of global markets and business models in core space domains like satellite communications, earth observation, navigation and transportation. I hold a PhD from the ETH in Zurich.

As Rocket Lab’s Global Launch Services Manager, Jenna is responsible for Rocket Lab’s global commercial and international governance and space agencies launch portfolios. With a career spanning international space, foreign sales, and launch segments, Jenna brings an innovative approach to international collaboration specifically between Europe and the US. Before joining Rocket Lab, Jenna was a Sales and Strategy Manager at Blue Origin, leading sales and strategy portfolios for commercial customers across their LEO and Lunar programs. Her experience at SBG Systems S.A.S, a French entity, further enhanced her ability to navigate cross-cultural business environments and foster international partnerships. Her career also includes leadership roles in driving international expansion and product development, where she cultivated expertise in bridging technical innovation with strategic market growth.  Jenna holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from San Diego State University, a Master of Business Administration Aviation with a specialization in International Business from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Khrystyna Holynska is a policy researcher at RAND. Her research focuses on great power competition, foreign information manipulation and interference, and lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine. She is also an Associate Professor at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), Ukraine. Prior to joining RAND, Holynska led KSE StratBase, a defense and security policy research startup, and served as a professor of public policy and governance at KSE. She was also a strategic analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, where her work focused on Russia’s coercive behavior, deterrence, nonproliferation, the future of NATO, and geodynamics. From October 2022 to February 2023, she was a Research Associate at the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In October 2023, she participated in the New Security Leaders Program of the Warsaw Security Forum. Holynska holds a Ph.D. in policy analysis from the RAND School of Public Policy, a Ph.D. in political science from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and an M.B.A. and M.B.A.I. in business, artificial intelligence, and data analytics from KSE.

Henning Horst is Sales Director at SES Space & Defense, with more than 25 years of experience in the satellite and space industry. He specializes in government, defense, and institutional markets across Europe, and has held senior commercial and leadership roles spanning the video, data, mobility, and aeronautical sectors. His work covers sales and business development, delivering complex satellite communications solutions, and supporting public procurement programs. Henning’s background combines deep technical expertise with broad commercial experience in the satellite sector. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from TU Braunschweig and an MBA from University of Louisville.

Mohamed Ibrahim is a space professional at the Egyptian Space Agency, specializing in small satellite programs, Earth observation applications, and capacity building. He is actively involved in the development and implementation of national space initiatives, with a focus on leveraging satellite data for practical use in agriculture, water resource management, and environmental monitoring. He plays a key role in advancing human capital development through the Egyptian Space Academy, leading training programs designed to equip the next generation of engineers and specialists with hands-on experience in space technologies. Mohamed has experience in international collaboration and technology transfer, contributing to partnerships between government, academia, and industry. His work supports the development of sovereign space capabilities and promotes the use of space technologies for sustainable development, particularly across Africa.

Beau Jarvis is the Chief Revenue Officer of Kepler Communications, a company building Internet connectivity in space to enable real-time intelligence. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the commercial space and Earth observation sectors, Beau is a pioneering executive who has helped shape the modern NewSpace industry. He has led or supported more than $150 million in venture fundraising and generated over $200 million in early-stage revenue across influential companies, including Planet Labs, HawkEye 360, Phase Four, and Trimble Navigation. Beau has served in pivotal executive roles throughout his career including launching Planet Labs’ international sales organization as its first dedicated sales executive, becoming the first Chief Revenue Officer at HawkEye 360 where he established the company’s commercial and international revenue foundation. At Kepler, Beau leads global strategy and revenue growth as the company builds The Kepler Network, an Internet-ready optical constellation providing secure, always-available LEO coverage with sub-second latency, gigabit throughputs, and onboard processing to deliver near-real-time connectivity for government and commercial missions. 

Matt Jenkins Chief Space Systems Officer Matt Jenkins is Chief Space Systems Officer of Vantor, a role he’s held since September 2024. He brings two decades of systems engineering leadership, including extensive experience in serving remote sensing and highly technical government missions. With extensive technical expertise in passive and active electro-optical and infrared systems, lasers and radio frequency (RF) systems, he has helped build dozens of advanced spacecrafts that are on orbit today. Previously, Matt was Head of Engineering for Amazon Project Kuiper’s Government Solutions team, where he led the design of advanced and resilient systems to support U.S. national security priorities. Before that, he was the Director of Space Engineering at Pacific Defense Strategies, where he led the development of innovative RF payloads for national security and space domain awareness missions. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 15 years at Raytheon, including serving as Chief Systems Engineer for the company’s missile warning and defense systems business, as well as leading Raytheon’s Space System Engineering team. During his time there, he led the team responsible for designing the optical imaging instrument in Vantor’s WorldView Legion satellites. Matt earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Optics from the University of Rochester, and a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds two remote sensing-related patents and has developed 20+ trade secrets in optical system assembly integration and test.

Taylor Jordan is NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction. Mr. Jordan is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight regarding NOAA’s numerical weather prediction and environmental modeling, satellite programs and space innovation, novel data and observations, uncrewed systems, and other large acquisitions. Mr. Jordan previously served as Principal at Innovative Federal Strategies, where he supported new partnerships for many of NOAA’s mission areas. He also served at NOAA previously as a Senior Policy Advisor and worked on the Hill for close to a decade as the lead staffer for NOAA on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where he authored the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. Mr. Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Oguz Karasu completed his PhD in Economics in 2023, focusing on the economic impact of the US space industry through quantitative and qualitative analyses. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Saïd Business School and also co-convener of ‘Smart Space Class’ for the MBA students as a teaching fellow. He teaches about the space economy, space finance and sustainability issues related with space industry. His research themes are included; international space projects, space based solar power constellations and their economic impact, solar flares and their economic impact on Earth economy, earth observation companies and new business models, data centers and their potential economic impacts, new battery technologies and economic impact on both space and global economy, launch industry and reputational issues on governments and companies. His main research focuses on the UK space industry and its economic impact, which has enabled him to build a strong global network within the space sector. He also serves as a Strategy and Investment Consultant for space companies and related industries. For space companies, he provides economic impact analysis through quantitative and qualitative data analysis. For other startups, he helps their strategic plans to improve companies’ pitch-decks for investment rounds. In addition, he founded the Space & Economy Alliance, an NGO based in the UK, which facilitates outcome-focused workshops between space companies and other sectors.

Michel Keuning directs the space activities of Royal NLR. He has 30 years of experience in a wide range of aerospace research, focusing on managing space activities for the last 12 years. Besides being part of the management team of NLR, he is also member of the board of SpaceNed. SpaceNed is the Dutch trade association for space related companies, research institutes and educational institutes. NLR has been an ambitious applied research organisation for over 100 years, driven to make aerospace more sustainable, safer, efficient and effective through innovation. Our space research is focused around: communication, navigation, earth observation, space traffic management, satellites and launch vehicles, science and exploration, and in-orbit activities. These domains form the backbone of our innovative projects, where we collaborate intensively with government, industry, and knowledge partners. We translate research insights into applicable, forward-looking solutions. Thus, we make a concrete contribution to a strong, autonomous, and resilient space sector.

Maxwell Keyte is vice president international data sales at ICEYE. He leads a global team that delivers sovereign space-based intelligence capabilities. Maxwell combines 25 years in defense, intelligence and security with market leadership. His responsibilities include ICEYE strategy, new market entry, thought leadership, sales lifecycle management, consulting clients and contracting. His experience contributes to unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.

Dr. Polyzois (Zois) Kokkonis is the business development manager for satellite communications for the OHB Group, a European space and technology Group and one of the major independent forces in this industry. He has over 20 years of experience in software and telecommunications, working with major technology vendors and scaleups. After leading software development and system architecture teams, he turned into product and business development management for several worldwide deployed solutions. In 2021 he took the opportunity to shift to the space industry, which is rapidly transforming, first with the European Space Agency and since 2025 with the OHB group. Zois holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Athens in Greece and a Ph.D. from the University of Münster, as well as an M.B.A. degree from the Hellenic Open University.

Juliette Lambin is the head of Future Missions and Architecture Department in Earth Observation Programmes Directorate. She graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in 1997 and obtained a PhD of geophysics from Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris in 2001. From 2001 to 2005 she worked for Caltech Seismo Lab and JPL as a postdoctoral scholar in Geophysics. Going back to Europe she held various positions in CNES, in the technical or scientific aspects of EO mission development as well as in strategy and programs. In 2019/2020 she was an auditor in IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Defense Nationale) Defense Policy 72nd National Session. She has been the CNES EO programme manager – and French Delegate to ESA’s Programme Board for Earth Observation (PBEO) from 2017 to 2020, then she became PBEO Chair from 2020 to 2023. She joined ESA in April 2023.

Martin Langer is the CEO of OroraTech, where he leads the company’s evolution into a global space infrastructure provider for persistent thermal intelligence. With over 15 years of experience in satellite systems engineering, his background spans mission leadership, reliability research, and the deployment of orbital sensing platforms. He co-authored the Wiley reference book Nanosatellites: Space and Ground Technologies, Operations and Economics and has published research on satellite reliability and system-level validation — foundations that inform OroraTech’s focus on dependable, scalable thermal infrastructure for real-time decision systems.

Xavier Lansel is the Head of Marketing and Business Intelligence for Launch Services at Avio, based in Paris, France. He is supporting the Sales team dedicated to the commercialization of the Vega C launch services. Prior to Avio, Xavier worked for Novaspace as Manager on satellite manufacturing and satcom connectivity topics. Before this, he worked for the French Aerospace Research Office (ONERA) as a Key Accounts Manager for the aeronautical sector. He also worked at Marlink as a Project Manager and at Airbus Defence and Space in business development positions.​Xavier holds a Master’s Degree in General Engineering from EPF Graduate School of Engineering where he specialized in Aeronautics & Space, as well as a Master’s Degree in European Business with a specialization in Finance from ESCP Europe.

Giuseppe Leccese is a Space Engineer, Ph.D. with more than ten years of experience in the space field, including Project Management, System Engineering and R&D activities. Giuseppe Leccese is currently Project Manager in the Earth Observation Department of the Italian Space Agency leading advanced Earth Observation micro-satellite missions.

With over two decades of experience, I am an accomplished well-connected and recognized strategic senior adviser in space policy with high professional reputation. Seasoned EU strategic adviser with exemplary track record in the TMT, space and defence industry. I worked at C-Level with major European and International organisations active in satellite, space and telecommunications sectors ( EU, ITU, UNOOSA, OCDE, UNIDO, ESPI, EUSPA, ESA, DLR, CNES, LSA, BELSPO, Greek Government, African Union, Smart Africa, Orange, TNO, SES, 3i3S). Substantial expertise in business development and advocacy to public and private customers, able to build and scale up businesses fast, digging out opportunities and bringing them to fruition from start to the completion of the contractual negotiations (Solaris Mobile, EGNOS, Galileo Operations). I advised the European Commission in space and Cybersecurity programmes. I led cross-functional teams in corporate, communication, business development, services, engineering, applying creativity, focus and dedication to achieve success. Kept the start-up company mentality from SAIT-Videohouse, pioneering the development of digital data distribution via satellite in Europe. She currently serves as Senior Director for European & Public Affairs at Aldoria and has recently taken on the role of CEO of Aldoria Belgium. Drawing on her extensive business and strategic experience in the space sector, she strengthens Aldoria’s positioning and visibility while driving new commercial developments.

Anders Linder joined Maxar Intelligence, now known as Vantor, as General Manager of the International Government Division in October 2023. He is responsible for Vantor’s business towards all governmental customers outside of the US Vantor is a leading spatial intelligence company that provides governments with high-resolution satellite imagery, AI-driven analytics, and 3D solutions to achieve decision superiority. He brings 25 years of management experience driving industrialization and growth into global technology companies ensuring attainment of strategic objectives. Previously, Anders served as Executive Vice President for the Satellite Division at Beyond Gravity, a Switzerland-based supplier to satellite primes around the globe. Before that, he worked in the Defense industry for many years, including leading the Land & Naval Radars Business Unit in Saab.

Florian Loire is a Manager within the Space Infrastructure Practice at NOVASPACE, a leading consulting firm specialized in the Space sector. He joined Novaspace in early 2025 after more than a decade at ArianeGroup working on various functions in the fields of Strategy, institutional relations and marketing on European launcher programmes and demonstrators, from Ariane 6 to THEMIS. Responsible for Strategic planning elaboration and communication on the civil Space Transportation perimeter at ArianeGroup, in the first 6 years after the creation of this Joint Venture between Airbus and Safran. Contributing to complex tender proposals at ArianeGroup towards ESA on large-scale programmes, such as Ariane 6 and THEMIS (reusability demonstrator). Participation to EU Horizon Europe flagship programmes, such as SALTO. Expertise in Access to Space and European space sector governance. Master Degree in ‘European Affairs in Business’ at Sciences Po Bordeaux (France)

Jacek Mandas brings over 20 years of experience in the high-tech sector, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles spanning sales, business development, and executive management. He has held key positions at leading companies such as Google Inc., Imagis S.A., Intergraph Sp. z o.o., and Creotech Instruments S.A. He also served for more than six years as CEO of Astri Polska, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space. Since 2011, Jacek has been closely involved in the space industry, with a strong focus on securing major domestic and international clients, developing strategic partnerships, and delivering complex technology projects. He has played a key role in delivering technologies and services for a number of high-profile space programmes, including Neosat, Neosat Neo, MetOp, MetOp-SG, Ariel, Sentinel-5, Copernicus, JUICE, Comet Interceptor, Galileo G, Galileo GTS, Astri, and Thaicom. Jacek has extensive experience in building international sales channels and developing partner networks across Europe and global markets. He is an active advocate for Polish space technologies internationally and supports the continued growth of Poland’s national space capabilities.

Chiara Manfletti is the Chief Executive Officer at Neuraspace and the Professor of Space Propulsion and Mobility at the Technical University of Munich. At the early stage of her career, she worked for the German Aerospace Center, DLR, as a research engineer and later joined the European Space Agency (ESA) where she was the Programme Advisor to the Director General at the agency’s headquarters in Paris. She was nominated as the first President of the then just founded Portuguese national space agency, Portugal Space. During her professional tenure, Chiara later headed the Policy and Programmes Coordination department at the ESA, prior to joining Neuraspace.

Gianaldo Mantovani is since March ’24 Member of the Board at OHB System in Bremen, Germany, responsible for Telecommunications, Navigation and Defence Projects. He has been part of the OHB Group for about 10 years now, working first as a Managing Director at the Luxembourg-based affiliate LuxSpace and later for 4 years as a General Manager at OHB-Italia in Milan. Before joining the OHB Group, Gianaldo worked some 13 years for the telecommunication satellite operator SES in different leadership roles, both in technical areas and business development, being located in Luxembourg, Germany and the United States. Prior to SES Gianaldo worked as a Consultant for ESA at ESRIN (Frascati, Italy) and ESOC (Darmstadt, Germany) on Earth Observation and interplanetary missions. Gianaldo graduated from Universitá La Sapienza (Rome, Italy) as an Aerospace Engineer and is married with two children.

Mohammad was appointed SVP, Future Business & Innovation in June 2024 and is spearheading innovation and exploring new business
opportunities in D2D, QKD and other emerging areas. Before that Mohammad oversaw Product & Strategy across multiple network segments including Aero, Maritime, Fixed Data, Government and Cloud, with a particular focus on SES’s second generation of MEO satellites, O3b mPOWER. Prior to joining SES in 2020, Mohammad held numerous executive roles at Intelsat in Product Strategy, Product Development, and Innovation. Amongst the key achievements was the development of advanced space segment offerings using onboard processing technology on High Throughput Satellites (HTS) and Software Defined Satellites (SDS). Mohammad holds both a BS & MS in Electrical Engineering from Boston University and an MBA from Columbia University.

Head of Satellite & Space at Cambridge Consultants, part of Capgemini Invent and known as the deep tech powerhouse of Capgemini. With more than 25 years of experience in aerospace and telecommunications, Stewart helps companies achieve technology breakthroughs that unlock transformative business value, including a world-first Push-to-Talk satellite service and space-based carrier grade satellite connectivity that extends the reach of terrestrial services with fiber-like performance, global coverage and ultra-low latency.

Dr. Martin joined Astroscale U.S. in August 2019 as Executive Vice President. She brings many years of experience in space technology management, operations, and engineering to support the foundation and growth of Astroscale U.S. Dr. Martin previously held the position of the Director, Orbital Solutions at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS). She was responsible for the management and technical performance of the engineering staff and delivery of projects, including planning and managing technical and programmatic solutions to ensure quality, business, and financial objectives were met. Prior to joining GA-EMS, Dr. Martin was the Chief Operating Officer at Surrey Satellite Technology US, where she led the Surrey project management and engineering teams. As a member of the Surrey Satellite US Executive Team, Dr. Martin managed the bidding, negotiation, and execution of projects, and was responsible for ensuring the company’s cost-effective methods were appropriately applied to the execution of programs. Dr. Martin transferred to Surrey Satellite US from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in the United Kingdom, where she held several positions including the Head of Telecommunications and Navigation business unit, encompassing the Galileo payload programme. Prior to Surrey, Dr. Martin was a Project Manager and Scientist at QinetiQ. Dr. Martin earned a Master of Science in astrophysics and a Doctorate in mathematics and computational sciences from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She loves to explore and adventure the mountains in Colorado.

Dr Tanja Masson-Zwaan is Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University. She is President Emerita of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and a former Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). She co-authored ‘Introduction to Space Law’ (5th ed., Kluwer 2025) and chairs the Board of Editors of Kluwer’s journal Air and Space Law. Tanja advises the Dutch Government and other institutions on space law issues and was co-founder of the Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group. She teaches at universities worldwide and serves on various organisations’ (Advisory) Boards, including Open Lunar Foundation and the Space Sustainability Rating. See https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanjamasson/ and https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/tanja-masson-zwaan

Colonel Marcin Mazur is the Vice-President of the Polish Space Agency  (POLSA) – an executive agency of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, est. 2014. POLSA supports the Polish space industry, cooperates with international agencies and public administration in the field of exploration and use of Outer Space.

Col Mazur’s goal is to execute the Polish Space Strategy issued in 2017, which is in compliance with both the NATO Overarching Space Policy 2019 and the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence 2023. 

Col Mazur’s responsibility in POLSA is to systematize security and defence activities, in  particular the development of dual-use capabilities which may apply for military and civilian  applications: 

• EO – Earth Observation satellite systems; 

• SATCOM – Satellite Communications systems; 

• SSA / SST – Space Situational Awareness / Space Surveillance and Tracking; • Launching technologies. 

Colonel Mazur was commissioned in 1998 and promoted to his first officer’s rank, 2^nd lieutenant,  in 2002. He graduated from the Military University of Technology in Warsaw with a Master’s  Degree in Topography and Mapping. He started his career as a Geospatial Officer at the 6^th Independent Geographical Unit in Torun where he became the leader of Mobile Geospatial Support Team dedicated to NATO Response Forces. Following that, Colonel Mazur served at the Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Netherlands, in the Geospatial Support Section, J2  Intelligence Division, and as an IMINT Officer at the Military Geographical Centre in Warsaw from where he was assigned in 2012 to the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, P2  Intelligence Division, Imagery Intelligence Branch. As an Intelligence Officer, he was also appointed as a Part-time Inspector for Treaties on Conventional Arms Control in Europe  (CFE) and Vienna Document 2011 (VD11) inspections. In August 2017 he became the IMINT  Branch Head and in January 2019 was promoted to Colonel rank. As the IMINT Branch Head he was responsible for defining Earth Observation (EO) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA)  military requirements. He was the co-chairman of the Polish-Italian Operational Working Group with regards to the COSMO SkyMed (CSK) and OPTSAT-3000 systems. Nationally, he served in the Chairman role of the Inter-ministerial Earth Observation Task Group. 

EDUCATION 

2003 Master of Science in Topography and Mapping, Military University of Technology,  Warsaw 

2013 Military Intelligence Officer Course, Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facility,  US European Command / US Africa Command, Warsaw 

2016 Postgraduate Studies, GIS, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for Defence and  Security Purposes, Military University of Technology, Warsaw 

2023 Master of Business Administration Studies (MBA 4 IT), Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Warsaw 

2024 Defence Policy Postgraduate Studies, War Studies University, Warsaw 

ASSIGNEMETS 

1998 – 2003 Officer Cadet, Military University of Technology, Warsaw 2003 – 2008 Geospatial Officer, 6^th Independent Geographical Unit, Torun 2008 – 2010 Geospatial Officer, Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Netherlands 2010 – 2012 Imagery Intelligence Officer, Military Geographical Centre, Warsaw 2012 – 2017 Imagery Intelligence Officer, P2 Intelligence Division, General Staff of  the Polish Armed Forces, Warsaw 

2017 – 2021 Imagery Intelligence Branch Head, P2 Intelligence Division, General  Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Warsaw 

2021 – Vice-President, Polish Space Agency, Warsaw

Duncan McKenzie is Managing Director of Space Exchange Global and a senior strategic leader with more than 30 years of experience across market intelligence, publishing and event sectors. His expertise spans strategy, commercial negotiation, market development, industry research, and the creation of business platforms that connect emerging sectors with policy, investment, and industry leadership.

Throughout his career, Duncan has launched and scaled successful industry initiatives, with a particular focus on identifying growth opportunities in fast developing markets. His work combines commercial insight with a strong understanding of sector dynamics, stakeholder engagement, and the role of knowledge led platforms in shaping industry direction. At Space Exchange Global, Duncan’s experience in building influential forums and convening senior decision makers continues to support the organisation’s mission to advance dialogue, collaboration, and strategic thinking across the global space sector. Space Exchange Global is a strategic think tank and industry platform dedicated to advancing dialogue, insight, and collaboration across the global space sector.

Sven Meyer-Brunswick is a Principal at Alpine Space Ventures. Prior to Alpine Space Ventures, Sven served as part of the executive team for space laser communication company Mynaric. During his more than 7-year tenure with Mynaric, he led all investor relations activities of the publicly listed company and orchestrated more than a dozen capital market transactions securing over $250 million growth capital from public and private markets, including two successful IPOs on both Nasdaq and the Frankfurt stock exchange.

Sven also shaped Mynaric’s communications strategy and led all marketing, public relations, and internal communications activities, ensuring a cohesive and compelling message for the company, introducing a new brand to the market and establishing its reputation in the industry. During Sven’s tenure, Mynaric grew from a team of 30 to more than 300 and evolved from a garage-shop prototype developer into an industry-leading scale-up with the industry’s largest customer backlog and a defensible moat for the years to come.

Before joining the space industry, Sven acquired a Master’s degree in Photonics Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from the Technical University of Munich. He’s also been a visiting scholar of the London School of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology and the Nanyang Technical University of Singapore and has a long history of engagement with the local startup communities.

PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Second Lieutenant in the Italian Army Engineering Corp. He has been working for almost 30 years in the Italian national aerospace industry: since 2019 he is with Sitael, a company of the Angel group, where he holds the position of Managing Director. He has been part of more than twenty space missions, including the first all-electric Italian satellite (2024). He was the first in the world to experiment graphene in microgravity conditions, on a parabolic flight (2018). In 2022 he received the honor of the President of the Republic “Stella al Merito del Lavoro”.

Ms. Christy Monaco is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).

Previous to joining OGC, Christy was the Vice President of Programs at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), a role she held since December of 2020. She previously served for over 30 years in the U.S. Intelligence Community, during which she held a number of positions including with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). A government executive for over half of her federal career, in 2022 she was recognized by President Biden as a Meritorious Executive in the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service for her contributions at NGA. Christy currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Ms. Monaco was born in Nashville, Tennessee, grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida, and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian and English. Ms. Monaco has also earned a Master of International Management degree with a concentration in International Commerce from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces, from which she graduated with highest distinction. She is also a Pilates enthusiast and instructor, enjoys fly fishing, painting, and tries really hard to actually read the book club books.

Dennis Moore is Chief Commercial Officer of Reflex Aerospace, a German satellite manufacturer delivering tailor-made platforms for commercial and defence customers. Dennis spearheads the company’s commercial strategy and oversees sales, marketing, and customer relationships, as well as Reflex’s upcoming plans for global expansion. He brings with him almost 20 years of sales and consultancy experience in the aerospace industry. Dennis is passionate about co-creating the future of the #NewSpace and #NewDefence landscape and proud to be part of a world-class team.

Jean-François Morizur is the CEO and co-founder of Cailabs, a global deeptech company. Before launching the company in 2013, he worked at the Boston Consulting Group as Senior Associate. A graduate of the École normale supérieure in Paris, Jean-François holds two doctoral degrees in quantum optics, from Sorbonne University and the Australian National University. While working on his thesis at the Kastler Brossel Laboratory, he co-invented Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC), a groundbreaking technology that underpins Cailabs’ products. As Cailabs’ CEO, he is responsible for driving the company’s vision and strategic direction. Under his leadership, Cailabs has emerged as a leading company in its field, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of optical products with groundbreaking applications in space, defence, energy and other major industries.

Ahsun Murad is the President and CEO of Optimal Satcom, which he co-founded as a spin-off from Lockheed Martin and Comsat in 2002. Over the last 23 years since its founding, Optimal Satcom has grown to support a large segment of the satellite industry with industry-leading enterprise-level software products and systems for resource management, service planning, optimization, and business intelligence. Over 15 satellite operators, 20 of the largest satellite service providers, and major US Government DoD, allied governments, and civilian agencies use Optimal Satcom products and systems today. As a world expert in satellite communications technology with over 30 years of experience, Mr. Murad advises satellite companies and governments on satellite system design, the application and adoption of transformative technologies, and the formulation of policies. Before founding Optimal Satcom, Mr. Murad held management positions at Lockheed Martin and COMSAT Laboratories. In these positions, he headed the development of products for transmission planning and satellite capacity management and was the lead system architect for a number of commercial SATCOM and MILSATCOM projects. Before joining COMSAT Laboratories, Mr. Murad worked at the NASA Center for Satellite and Hybrid Communications Networks, where he was involved in research and development related to hybrid satellite-terrestrial mobile communications systems and complex multi-satellite systems. Mr. Murad graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Alexandre is a Manager at Novaspace with 10 years of experience in consulting and research focused on satellite manufacturing and launch, small satellites and constellations, and space technology development. He leads projects for both private and public organizations, providing expertise in the business and industrial aspects of the space sector. He has played key roles in various consulting missions, including market assessments, strategic and financial due diligence, covering issues such as mega-constellations, spaceports business models, small satellite launch solutions, dedicated launchers, the verticalization of industrial actors, as well as in-orbit servicing.

Michael Nebel began his career with 15 years in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), earning a diploma in electrical engineering. Transitioning to the private sector, he held key roles in engineering and product management at Rohde & Schwarz and NDSatCom, and worked as a managing consultant for defense and space. Currently, as Vice President of Strategic Key Account Management Defence at OHB SE, he focuses on building strong relationships to customers and managing key partnerships in the defense and space sector.

Ruchi Nema is the Co-Founder and CEO of Space Exchange Global, a think tank shaping critical dialogues and research at the intersection of space, policy, industry, and global collaboration. Over the past four years, she has curated high-level conversations with leaders across the space sector, bringing together government, industry, academia, and emerging innovators to examine the priorities defining the future of space. Through Space Exchange Global, Ruchi creates platforms for strategic research, informed debate, and multi-stakeholder engagement, supporting more connected thinking across the global space ecosystem. She is also the Director of Production for Counterspace Expo.

Jesper Noer – Chief Commercial Officer, Gatehouse Satcom – a Cobham Satcom Company With more than two decades in technology and communications, Jesper Noer is an experienced leader in the satellite communications industry. As Chief Commercial Officer at Gatehouse Satcom he drives global commercial strategy and business development, ensuring the company’s solutions address the evolving needs of the satcom ecosystem. Through Gatehouse Satcom’s work with 5G NTN NB‑IoT and 5G NTN NR, he has helped drive the adoption of open, interoperable technologies that integrate satellite connectivity into the broader telecom ecosystem. This shift toward standardization enables true multi‑vendor environments, integration with terrestrial networks, and a more scalable path for global IoT and broadband services. Following recent merger with Cobham Satcom’s Networks division the company is uniquely positioned to deliver end‑to‑end 5G NTN solutions by combining Gatehouse Satcom’s expertise in 3GPP‑compliant waveform and protocol stacks with Cobham Satcom’s ground station and radio access network capabilities. This joint strength enables operators and service providers to accelerate deployment, simplify integration, and ensure full alignment with the future standardized satellite connectivity landscape.) At SmallSat Europe, Jesper will share insights on how NB‑IoT and NR NTN are reshaping IoT and high‑performance communication networks. Known for combining technical understanding with strategic vision, he remains a strong advocate for collaboration and innovation across the space technology landscape.

Moritz Novak is the CEO and one of the co-founders of GATE Space, a space technology company with 29 employees based in Vienna, Austria.

Major General Wolfgang Ohl is the Deputy Director-General for the Armed Forces at the German Federal Ministry of Defence. In this capacity he acts for the Director-General in his responsibility for all operations and missions of the Federal Armed Forces, for matters of defence intelligence, military policy, and standing operational tasks. Born on 6 October 1965, he joined the Bundeswehr in 1985. He completed a degree in Economics and Organisational Science at the Bundeswehr University in Hamburg and served, inter alia, as platoon leader in the Air Force, company commander in the Ministerial Guard Battalion and Military Aide to the Chief of the Air Force. In 2000 he graduated from the 43rd National General/Admiral Staff Officer Course (Air Force) at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College. In the following years he served as Air Division A1, in Staff Officer functions in the Policy Planning Staff of the Federal Ministry of Defence and as Battalion Commander in the Air Force Training Regiment. In 2008 he returned to the personnel domain: as J1 with Response Forces Operations Command in Ulm, later Section Chief in the Personnel Office, and Branch Chief in the Directorate-General for Personnel in the Federal Ministry of Defence. From 2014 to 2017 he served as Branch Chief of the Information Centre for Security and Defence Policy, later Executive Group Information Centre, followed by an assignment as Division Chief in the Directorate-General for Security and Defence Policy, in the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin. In 2019 he took over as Chief of Staff, German Air Force Headquarters in Berlin. Following his assignment in the Air Force, he was appointed Deputy Director-General for Military Strategy and Operations in the Federal Ministry of Defence. In 2025, he assumed his current position as Deputy Director-General for the Armed Forces in the Federal Ministry of Defence. Major General Ohl is married with two children. In his free time, he enjoys sporting activities, in particular cycling.

As leader of Milbank’s Transportation and Space Group in Washington, DC and head of the firm’s Space Business practice globally, Dara’s practice involves representation of satellite and space infrastructure operators, aerospace & defense manufacturers, launch services providers, communications companies, earth observation and data services companies, banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and other investors in debt and equity offerings, project, structured and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and in negotiating commercial contracts. Dara is also Chair of Milbank’s Global Risk & National Security practice, advising on domestic and international regulatory and cross-border investment matters, including licensing of space and terrestrial communications systems, economic sanctions, regulatory, anti-corruption, national security, foreign direct investment and export control matters. Dara is a regular speaker and moderator at space, communications, defense and finance conferences, a visiting lecturer at the International Space University and he has published articles and delivered presentations on finance, commercial and regulatory aspects of the aerospace and communications industries. He also authors Milbank’s monthly Space Business Review newsletter. Widely recognized as a leading attorney, Dara is notably ranked in Band 1 in the Chambers USA nationwide guide for Space law, where his practice is also recognized in Band 1. He is ranked as a leading lawyer in Legal 500 USA for Media, Technology and Telecoms: Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactions and his practice is recognized as a Tier 1 firm. He has also been recognized as a leading lawyer in Telecom, Broadcast and Satellite Financing in Chambers USA.

Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Leaf Space, a pioneering Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) company providing connectivity to satellites through through its Leaf Line and Leaf Key products. With a background in Space and Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano from which he directly co-funded Leaf Space, Giovanni has spent over a decade building Leaf Space’s proprietary technology stack and product portfolio.

Thomas Parry is the CEO and founder of SPHERICAL, a space electronics company developing mission-specific microchips and satellite systems for high-performance, resilient, and sovereign aerospace applications. His career spans both spacecraft engineering and semiconductor design, giving him a rare end-to-end perspective on how tailored electronics can unlock better space systems. Prior to SPHERICAL, he worked on satellite power and communication systems at Clyde Space and on advanced space microelectronics at SystematIC, including ESA-backed developments.

Celia Pelaz has served as Spire’s Chief Operating Officer since January 2025. With over 20 years of experience in the defense and security industry, Ms. Pelaz has built her career on developing and implementing strategies that drive growth, technological innovation and operational excellence. She joined Spire from HENSOLDT AG, where she served as Chief Operating Officer from April to August 2024, Chief Strategy Officer from July 2021 to March 2024 and Head of Spectrum Dominance & Airborne Solutions Division from April 2018 to August 2022. She was also a member of the Management Board from July 2021 to August 2024. HENSOLDT AG was carved out of Airbus Group in 2017 and focuses on sensor technologies for defense and security missions. During her time at HENSOLDT AG, Ms. Pelaz led transformative initiatives, including major acquisitions, global market expansion, and the development of key defense technologies. She holds a degree in Industrial Technical Engineering from Cámarabilbao University Business School.

Chiara Pertosa is the CEO of SITAEL S.p.A., the space company of Angel Holding, an Italian industrial group active in aerospace, rail, mechatronics and advanced technologies. With a strong industrial and strategic background, she leads SITAEL’s growth in the space sector, focusing on small satellite platforms, electric propulsion, avionics and end-to-end space missions. Under her leadership, SITAEL is strengthening its role as a key Italian and European player in satellite manufacturing and electric propulsion technologies, supporting institutional, commercial and dual-use space programmes.

Davide Petrillo serves as the Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He brings extensive international experience across the aerospace sector, having previously led Voyager Space Europe as Managing Director in Torino, after earlier roles as Business Manager at Alten Ltd in London and Business Analyst at Accenture in Milano. Davide was also elected Vice President for Education and Workforce Development of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in 2021. From 2020 to April 2023, he served as Executive Director of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), guiding one of the world’s largest young‑professional space networks through a period of significant growth. Davide’s early career included leading the FELDs experiment selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Drop Your Thesis! 2014 program. In 2015, he and his team received the IAF Hans von Muldau Team Award for best team project at the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Davide holds an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy.

Lina Pohl is a Research Fellow and the Relations Officer for Germany & Austria at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), seconded by the German Space Agency at DLR since July 2021. Her field of expertise in space policy is space security and defence, including militarisation of space, spacefor security and defence, space and defence sector convergence trends in programmes, industry, and investments, as well as the impact of the war in Ukraine on the space sector. Prior to her position at ESPI, she held different positions at DLR in the Department for International Relations, worked in the finance sector, international relations in academia, and in the European office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Sciences (MA) (2020) at the University of Cologne, focusing on international relations and security/defence policy, and published her Master thesis on Russia’s hybrid warfare in Ukraine.

Pierre-Jean Poirot is Chief Commercial Officer at ION-X, where he leads commercial development and strategic partnerships for advanced electric propulsion solutions dedicated to small satellites. He works at the crossroads of business, technology, and market strategy to help accelerate the adoption of compact, high-performance propulsion systems across the space industry. Bringing experience in commercial leadership, marketing, and international business development, Pierre-Jean focuses on turning deep-tech innovation into concrete market traction. His work includes engaging satellite manufacturers, mission integrators, institutional actors, and strategic partners to support the deployment of scalable propulsion capabilities for the fast-growing smallsat market. He is passionate about building bridges between engineering excellence and commercial execution, and about contributing to a more competitive and ambitious European space ecosystem.

Omar Qaise is the founder and CEO of OQ Technology, a global leader in 5G NB-IoT and a prominent player in the NewSpace industry. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the satellite and telecommunications sectors, Omar has successfully positioned OQ Technology at the forefront of innovation and growth. Under his leadership, OQ Technology has achieved significant milestones, including the successful launch of 10 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites already in orbit with plans to add 25 more by 2026. These endeavors highlight Omar’s commitment to expanding satellite connectivity and driving the advancement of IoT technologies worldwide. Before establishing OQ Technology, Omar honed his skills and knowledge through pivotal roles in renowned organizations such as the European Space Agency, OHB Systems, the German Aerospace Centre, EUMETSAT, and SES Satellites. His experience spans a wide range of missions, encompassing satellite communication, Earth observation, and even deep space exploration. This diverse expertise has played a critical role in OQ Technology’s remarkable achievements. Beyond his professional pursuits, Omar remains actively engaged in charitable causes and is committed to promoting environmental,social, and governance (ESG) principles. He is dedicated to fostering sustainability and making a positive impact within the satcom industry. Through his visionary leadership, unwavering expertise, and dedication to building a global 5G LEO satellite constellation dedicated to the Internet of Things, Omar Qaise stands out as a distinguished leader in the satellite communication industry.

Hazel Quibell is the Head of Missions at Craft Prospect, where she is focused on developing and implementing novel mission concepts utilizing quantum technologies and machine learning for space applications. She has a broad background in space systems engineering with experience in the full mission development lifecycle, from concept feasibility through to AIVT and launch and operations.

Chris Quilty is one of the most recognized and influential analysts in the global space sector. He began covering the industry more than two decades ago as a sell-side analyst at Raymond James, where he initiated formal Wall Street coverage of the commercial space market in the mid-2000s. During his tenure, he was twice recognized by The Wall Street Journal as a “Best on the Street” analyst and became a trusted authority and frequent media commentator on the evolving space economy. Over the course of his career, Chris has published thousands of company-specific, macro, sector, and thematic research reports spanning the full space value chain. In 2016, he founded Quilty Space (formerly Quilty Analytics), establishing a cross-industry research platform focused exclusively on space. His work integrates applications, technologies, regulatory dynamics, capital formation, and competitive strategy across manufacturing, launch, satcom, Earth observation, hardware, and downstream analytics. Chris serves as a strategic advisor and consultant to investors, prime contractors, satellite operators, technology companies, and government stakeholders worldwide. He holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from The University of Chicago.

Noel Rimalovski is the Managing Partner of GH Partners, an investment bank headquartered in NY and London. At GH Partners, Mr. Rimalovski leads the investment banking team providing advisory services to clients, including sales and acquisitions of companies, restructurings, private placements, credit advisory, valuations, and fairness opinions. GH’s clients include domestic and international public and private companies and government agencies with a focus in the Space and Defense industries. Prior to joining GH Partners, Mr. Rimalovski was Senior Vice President at Macquarie Capital, focusing on investing in the telecommunications and technology sectors, including $1.8bn of investments in communications infrastructure. Prior to Macquarie, he was Director in the Mergers & Acquisition Group of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, and its predecessor Wasserstein Perella. Mr. Rimalovski commenced his career at Lazard Frères. Mr. Rimalovski earned his MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School (with honors) and BA in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University.

Marco Rocchetto is the CEO and co-founder of Spaceflux Ltd bringing more than 15 years experience in data analytics, technology management, and entrepreneurship. He leads Spaceflux’s mission to provide advanced Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Intelligence services using AI-driven data from a global network of proprietary optical sensors. Under his leadership, Spaceflux has become a trusted partner in high‑precision orbital monitoring, helping ensure the long‑term sustainability and safety of space operations. This has led to multiple government and commercial contracts focused on developing sovereign space‑domain awareness capabilities.

Dr. Fernando Rodríguez is the Chief Technology Officer at Lacuna Space, where he leads the technical strategy and scaling of the company’s satellite constellation. With over 25 years of cross-disciplinary expertise in the aerospace, electronics, communications, and IT sectors, Dr. Rodríguez has a solid track record in the design and delivery of mission-critical space assets and solutions. Prior to joining Lacuna, he served as Director of Electrical Engineering at Mangata Networks and held several key leadership roles at AAC Clyde Space, including Director of Engineering and Chief Engineer. His leadership was instrumental in the technical execution of products and platforms that have since empowered more than 50 successful satellite missions. Bridging the gap between industrial scaling and advanced research, Dr. Rodríguez holds a Ph.D. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and spent over a decade as a Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Glasgow. A specialist in embedded systems, communication networks, and satellite R/F systems, he has authored over 30 refereed papers covering a diverse set of topics, from on-chip communications to planetary exploration using self-organising “smart dust” sensors. His unique combination of academic rigor and “NewSpace” leadership makes him a leading voice on the technical and regulatory evolution of satellite constellations, particularly in the emerging landscape of NTN and D2D connectivity.

Oier Del Rey is an Aerospace Engineer with a degree from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a Master’s in Space Systems Engineering from ISAE-SUPAERO (University of Toulouse). His academic background spans launch vehicle preliminary design, architecture definition, and mission analysis, and is complemented by experience in market research and strategy that bridges his technical expertise with a commercial perspective on the space industry. He currently works at PLD Space as part of the Launch Services Business Development team, where he leads commercial and institutional customer engagement, drives launch service sales, and shapes product strategy to meet the evolving needs of the space market.

Mr. Rood is the Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Momentus (NASDAQ: MNTS), a space company offering infrastructure and transportation services. Since joining the company in August 2021, he has overseen the transition of the company to a public company listed on the NASDAQ exchange, production and launch of the company’s first orbital transfer vehicle, and placement of eight customer satellites in orbit.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hitachi Vantara Federal, which provides IT services to U.S. Government customers, and formerly served as Chairman of the Board and Security Director of Radisson Hospitality Inc.

Mr. Rood has held executive positions at two of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

From March 2016 to January 2018, he was Senior Vice President of Lockheed Martin International charged with leading business growth and industrial partnerships in more than 70 countries. He also served as Vice President for Corporate Domestic Business Development at Lockheed Martin. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Rood was Vice President for U.S. Business Development at Raytheon from 2009 to 2014.

Public Sector Experience

Mr. Rood has a broad range of government experience, having served as a senior official at the Defense Department, State Department, White House/National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and in Congress as a staffer in the U.S. Senate.

From January 2018 to February 2020, Mr. Rood served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy where he led formulation and coordination of national security policy within the Department of Defense as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for such matters.

He managed a team of over 2,100 civilians and military service members and was responsible for building partnerships and defense cooperation with U.S. allies, including overseeing the $55B foreign military sales program and export controls.

Mr. Rood managed implementation of strategies, including the National Defense Strategy, resulting in a new focus on addressing the implications of growing competition with the world’s great powers China and Russia. He oversaw development of a new cyber strategy and authorities; a space strategy for the newly- established Space Force; completion of the Missile Defense Review; Nuclear Posture Review; and a counter-terrorism strategy for the defeat of ISIS.

From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Rood served at the State Department as Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation.

In two tours at the White House/National Security Council from 2005 to 2006 and 2001 to 2003, he served under President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counter- proliferation Strategy, and Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation, and Homeland Defense. He played a key role in the President’s decision to deploy missile defenses to protect the United States and to withdraw from the 1972 ABM Treaty.

From 2003 to 2005, Rood served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces Policy, where he was responsible for the development and oversight of policy and programs related to U.S. nuclear and conventional strategic forces, missile defenses, and space.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Rood worked as Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and as a Fellow for Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi on the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security. From 1988 to 1999, Rood served in a variety of positions as an analyst at the CIA, including following missile programs in foreign countries.

Mr. Rood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University.

Co-Founder and CEO of ISISPACE since 2006 Chairman of SpaceNed, Branche Organisation of Space Companies in the Netherlands since 2018

Alberto Rueda Carazo is a Research Fellow at ESPI. Prior to joining ESPI, he was a teaching assistant of public international law at Sorbonne University and a Ph.D. candidate at Paris-Saclay University. He is a qualified lawyer, dually accredited in both Spain and France, with extensive experience in Space Law. Alberto has served as Co-lead of the Space Law and Policy Project Group of SGAC and as an assistant to the head of the UNOOSA’s legal and policy section.

Alexis Sáinz is the global co-leader of the Hogan Lovells Space and Satellite practice and a member of the Infrastructure, Energy, Resources & Projects group. She regularly represents export credit and multilateral development agencies, satellite operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications companies, financial institutions, project sponsors, private equity firms, hedge funds, and other industry participants on structured, project and vendor financings, in negotiating commercial and corporate transactions, and with commercially strategic regulatory matters. She also provides industry advice in connection with debt and equity offerings, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, and financial restructurings. Alexis works with investors and lenders to understand the underlying issues impacting space projects and companies, at the intersection of commercial, regulatory and financing aspects of a transaction. She works with project parties to focus on key deal points and to identify appropriate industry-based risk mitigants and efficient allocation of risk in order to build consensus and drive closure. She works with companies to build a project and financing strategy from the ground up, anticipating financing issues early in the development of a new project or the growth of a company. Alexis serves as Co-Chair for the American Bar Association’s Committee on Space Law and is a Board Member for the Washington Space Business Roundtable. She co-authored the chapter on “Commercial Satellite Programs” in the Routledge Handbook of Space Law and teaches Space Law at the George Washington University School of Law. Prior to beginning her legal career in 2007, Alexis spent over 10 years working in internet-based industries, including e-commerce and media. She previously served as a consultant for the World Bank, National Geographic, and domestic non-profit organizations in connection with internet-based technology, and she was an early member of KPMG Peat Marwick’s financial service’s e-commerce consulting practice, where she focused on emerging technologies.

Guillermo Salgado-Gispert works at the European Space Agency as the Head of the Secure Connectivity Programme Department in charge of ESA’s activity in IRIS2 , in the Resilience Navigation and Connectivity Directorate. Guillermo has over 30 years of experience in large space programmes management. Prior to ESA, Guillermo worked for over 25 years in a leading space sector company, managing programmes contributing to the major European space flagships. Guillermo received an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Frank is a partner and co-founder at Nadir Space Venture, chairman of the Founding Committee of D-Orbit Saudi Arabia, an advisory board member of Alpine Space Venture, and an advisor to New Space companies. Frank is a former Vice Governor for Space sector in Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For 3.5 years, he worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the key fields mandate was starting the ecosystem & sector development, policy & regulation, Space law, venture capital, and the entrepreneurship initiatives and human capital development in the Space sector. Before joining CST, Frank was the Head of the Innovation and Ventures Office at the European Space Agency (ESA), where he built the largest Space entrepreneurship network in the world, the ESA BICs. He and his team initiated over 380 technology transfers, supported over 1,500 start-ups, and facilitated over 1,000 downstream business cases. Frank also headed the Technology Transfer Program Office (TTPO) and the Commercial Development for Human Spaceflight and Exploration unit at ESA. Prior to joining ESA, Frank served as the founder and CFO / COO of an IT start-up based in Munich, Germany, which merged with CANCOM IT SA. In addition to his seven years of experience at Apple Computer and served 2 years in the German Air Force and has an industrial engineering degree.

Álvaro Sánchez, CEO of INTEGRASYS and Marquess of Antella, is a Software and Industrial Engineer with a master’s in business from ESIC Business School. Recognized as one of SSPI’s “20 under 35” professionals in 2022, Sánchez has led INTEGRASYS through groundbreaking innovations. His expertise spans satellite communications and network management. Under his leadership, INTEGRASYS has pioneered technologies to enhance satellite maneuverability, optimizing operational efficiency and resilience. Álvaro’s forward-thinking approach continues to drive the company’s contributions to the evolving needs of the space and defense industries.

David Sandy is Managing Director of The Aerospace Corporation UK, where he works at the intersection of space technology, defence operations, and government decision making. He brings over three decades of operational military and UK government experience, including senior roles in the Ministry of Defence Space Directorate, where he helped shape UK defence space strategy, investment priorities, and long term capability planning. David specialises in translating complex technical and systems engineering conversations into clear options for senior operational and policy leaders. His work spans space domain awareness, resilient space architectures, and the end to end delivery of space capabilities, from early concept and mission design through to acquisition and operational integration. At SmallSat Europe, David will deliver a technical brief on DiskSats as a next generation smallsat architecture, focusing on how novel form factors, manufacturability, and system integration choices can translate into scalable, decision relevant capability for defence and national security users.

Jaume Sanpera is a veteran telecom entrepreneur with 30 years of experience launching disruptive ventures, including Eurona, the first Spanish satellite operator to go public. As CEO of Sateliot, he is the strategic architect of the world’s first LEO constellation based on the 5G NTN standard. Currently leading the build-up of the Tritó satellite generation, Jaume is pioneering 5G NR (New Radio) capabilities from space to eliminate global coverage gaps and democratize connectivity for industrial and civil use worldwide.

Mr. Schmidt is a Managing Director at KippsDeSanto & Co. and co-heads the Aerospace / Defense Group. Prior to joining KippsDeSanto & Co., Mr. Schmidt was a Senior Vice President in Houlihan Lokey’s Washington, DC office and a member of its Aerospace·Defense·Government Services industry investment banking group, where he focused on sellside and buyside M&A advisory engagements, sourcing growth capital, and conducting strategic alternatives assessments. Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey’s ADG practice, Mr. Schmidt was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army, serving in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States in various combat arms assignments. He also served in the Pentagon on the staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, working on classified intelligence assessments and transformation efforts, and he served on the U.S. Army Staff, working on equipment modernization and weapons testing. Mr. Schmidt earned a B.S. in engineering (aeronautical) from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an M.S. in operations research from the Naval Post Graduate School, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is registered with FINRA as a General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7, 63).

Christian earned a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in 2019 and diploma in 2013. Since 2012 he had been actively involved in developing, building and launching hybrid sounding rockets. From 2014 to 2018, he has been working at the German Aerospace Center on system analysis of rocket vehicles with a special focus on hybrid rocket systems, sounding rockets, launch vehicles and lunar landers. In 2018, he co-founded HyImpulse and embraces the role of the CEO leading the start-up to develop a smallsat launch vehicle and get into space!

Dr. Thomas Sinn is CEO of Dcubed GmbH and its space power brand Araqys, driving the development of scalable space infrastructure technologies. Prior to this, he held roles in German industry and at the European Space Agency (ESA), and studied in the United States and Scotland. A lifelong space enthusiast.

Nik took over as the General Manager of Slingshot International in February 2026. Before taking on this position, he was the UK and European lead for Lockheed Martin Space, responsible for the growth of the business in the region. He was also a member of the Lockheed Martin UK Executive Leadership team and was a member of the Board. Prior to that Nik served in the Royal Air Force which included time as a spacecraft operations officer as well tours in operations, acquisition, policy and defence engagement.

Jan Smolders holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology and an MBA from Vlerick Business School. He brings more than 15 years of international experience in sales and business development, working with both small and large companies delivering high-tech engineering software, hardware, and services to customers worldwide. Throughout his career, Jan has built and led international sales ecosystems combining direct sales teams and channel partners across multiple regions and industries. He also served in Singapore as Director Business Development for Southeast Asia, where he expanded business activities across the region. Before joining Space Inventor, Jan led commercial strategy and sales operations at VEOWARE SPACE, where he helped position the company globally as a trusted provider of spacecraft attitude control systems. Since mid-2024, Jan has served as Chief Commercial Officer at Space Inventor, where he is responsible for driving international growth in satellite platforms and subsystems, strengthening commercial capabilities, and expanding into new markets.

Nina has more than 15 years’ experience in the satellite industry holding different roles in the company and is currently heading the Communications Team at KSAT. Due to her in-depth knowledge of the industry as well as the end-user segments, she often represents the company at leading satellite and space industry events around the world as well as engaging with governments and stakeholders of all types. Moreover, because she has worked extensively on both the Ground Station and Earth Observation sides of the business, she has important insights into both. Nina is former Chairman of NOSCA Clean Oceans, an innovation cluster dedicated to promoting oil spill control technology globally for preparedness and response, as well as transferring technology and knowledge to battle unwanted effects from algae and ocean plastic. KSAT provides environmental protection- and vessel detection services globally and has pioneered the industry with pushing the timelines for Near Real-Time (NRT) delivery of actionable information- leveraging their global ground network, especially the unique Svalbard station. For many years her focus was on developing markets for KSAT´s Maritime Monitoring services based on SAR data (Synthetic Aperture Radar). Nina played a key role in taking services to market and worked with several of the large international oil companies (IOC´s), authorities, coastguards and other stakeholders leading the sales efforts in Latin America, South America and the Middle East markets. Her portfolio also included the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), an Agency providing technical assistance and support to the European Commission and Member States on maritime safety, pollution by ships and European maritime security.

Mr. Vincenzo Stanzione, aerospace engineer is in SITAEL since 2015. He is currently CTO and Head of Engineering, leading the three product lines within the SITAEL Technical Directorate: Satellites, Propulsion, Electronics.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the space sector, mainly in Satellite System Engineering: half of his career was in Thales Alenia Space, covering technical management roles in EO-Telecom-Navigation missions; the latest half of his career was at SITAEL, leading the company growth toward satellites and space products for constellations.

Wim is globally leading the client coverage activities of Satellite & Technology franchise at ING. Wim has been active in the satellite industry, involved in lending and advisory, for more than 25 years on a global basis. He has been with the firm for 30 years

Jakob is a partner in McKinsey’s Aerospace & Defense Practice. He leads work with Private Equity and other investors investing in that space and is supporting on various strategy, M&A and growth topics.

Mark Stokes is the CEO of Magdrive, a company that specialises in the next generation of in-space propulsion thrusters. An engineer with technical experience in multiple deep tech industries, Mark now spearheads the commercial and strategic development of one of the UK’s fastest growing space startups. Under Mark’s leadership, Magdrive has grown to 40 employees with hardware in orbit and secured USD$12m of funding from top tier VCs and key strategic partnerships in space and defence. Magdrive successfully launched their Rogue thruster for its first In-Orbit Demonstration in June 2025. 

Paul Struhsaker is a Serial Entrepreneur, Innovator, International Engineering Executive, Lecturer, and Author. He is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Wireless Power Consortium, setting the worldwide standards for smartphones /consumer electronics (Qi) and kitchen (Ki) wireless power solutions used in billions of products. Paul’s previous work experience includes serving as CTO of Dell Client Solutions, SVP of Software Engineering at Comcast NBCUniversal, and CTO of Broadband at Texas Instruments. Paul founded four successful startups: WiFi innovation leader Aironet Wireless (acquired by Cisco), micro-cellular 4G/5G access point innovator Airspan, 4G wireless innovator Raze Technologies, and SatBridge, a hand-portable microsatellite terminal. He began his career at the National Security Agency and served as a Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and master diver, roles integral to his duties in the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Drew Svor is a go-to advisor to technology, telecommunications, space and defense tech innovators navigating today’s complex regulatory landscape. He helps clients build and scale advanced networks—on the ground and in orbit—by aligning business strategy with compliance at the FCC, CFIUS and Team Telecom.

Drew counsels startups, investors and global enterprises across the U.S., Europe and Asia on spectrum authorizations, satellite licensing, foreign ownership reviews and strategic transactions involving emerging, dual-use and defense technologies. His practical, forward-looking approach helps clients accelerate innovation, mitigate national security risk and stay ahead of evolving regulatory change.

His work includes:

• Telecom and Spectrum Strategy: Advises satellite operators, mobile network providers and investors on FCC licensing, spectrum allocation and rebanding proceedings, including securing FCC approvals for mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions.
• National Security and Foreign Investment: Represents clients before CFIUS and Team Telecom in transactions involving cross-border ownership, network infrastructure and sensitive technologies.
• Space and Emerging Technologies: Counsels space and defense companies on orbital slot coordination, ITU filings, NOAA licensing and evolving regulation of AI-enabled and autonomous systems, including drones and dual-use technologies.
• FCC Enforcement: Represents companies and investors in FCC enforcement proceedings and investigations.

Drew’s strategic, business-minded counsel helps clients translate regulatory complexity into competitive advantage.

Outside of work, Drew enjoys rugby, running, traveling and is a devoted friend to cats and dogs alike.

Dr. Tim Sweijs is the Director of Research at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). His work is multidisciplinary in nature and straddles political science, science and technology, strategic studies, and war studies. He is the initiator, creator and author of numerous books, articles and studies on strategic foresight, interstate coercion (compellence and deterrence), war’s past, present and future, emerging technologies, international norms and regimes, alliances and alignments, defence and national security planning for small and middle powers, and strategy and capability development. At HCSS, he is responsible for the overall research portfolio of the entire institute, spearheading a staff of over 30 researchers and a large network of affiliated subject matter experts, working on international and national security. He has advised international organisations, governments and defence departments across the globe. He has provided expert testimony to the United Nations Security Council, the European Parliament, the Dutch Parliament, as well as to NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly. He regularly comments on international affairs in national and international media and guest-lectures at the Netherlands Defence Academy, Leiden University, and King’s College London. Dr. Sweijs is also a Research Affiliate at the Center for International Strategy, Technology and Policy in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute for Technology in the United States. He serves as a board member at the European Initiative for Security Studies where he chairs the War, Coercion and Statecraft Working Group. He is also the Scientific Advisor to the Secretariat of the Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain, an initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds degrees in War Studies (PhD, MA), International Relations (Msc) and Philosophy (BA) from King’s College, London and the University of Amsterdam. Recent book projects include De Oorlog van Morgen [The War of Tomorrow] (Balans 2025), Beyond Ukraine: Debating the Future of War (Oxford University Press / Hurst 2024), Defence Planning for Small and Middle Powers: Rethinking Force Development in An Age of Disruption (Routledge 2024), The Use and Utility of Ultimata in Coercive Diplomacy (Palgrave Macmillan 2023) (www.coercivediplomacy.com), Deterrence in the 21st Century: Insights from Theory and Practice (Asser-Springer 2021) and The Conduct of War in the 21st Century Kinetic, Connected and Synthetic (Routledge 2021).

Gabriel Swiney is the Director of the Office of Space Commerce’s Policy, Advocacy, and International Division. He comes to OSC from NASA, where he was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. While at NASA, he worked on norms of behavior, legal policy, and the interagency authorization and supervision effort. Prior to NASA, Mr. Swiney was an Attorney Adviser in the State Department’s legal bureau. He led the international space law portfolio at State and the U.S. delegation to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee. Mr. Swiney was one of the creators of the Artemis Accords and has participated in the negotiation of dozens of space cooperation arrangements. Before focusing on space issues, Mr. Swiney worked on the use of force, sanctions, and Africa legal issues at State. He holds law degrees from Harvard and Oxford, has taught space policy and law at Harvard Law School, and has published on a range of issues.

Danny Tham brings over 25 years of experience in satellite communications, throughout which he has witnessed first hand the key phases in the evolution of the satellite industry. His career spans the boom and bust cycle of NGSO satellite broadband in the late 1990s, the peak years of satellite pay TV, and today’s renewed convergence between satellite and mobile communications driven by new technologies and services. He currently heads the Uncoordinated Space Systems Division within the Space Services Department of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, responsible for satellite systems primarily associated with scientific services and emerging space applications. He has deep expertise in satellite coordination and the practical application of the ITU Radio Regulations, and is extensively involved in World Radiocommunication Conferences and in delivering technical assistance and capacity building activities to ITU Members worldwide.

Rear Admiral Louis Tillier is serving as the Director of the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) since June 1st 2024. His appointment was made by the SatCen Board, represented by the 27 EU Member States, and subsequently confirmed by Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. Prior to his current role, Rear Admiral Tillier held the position of SatCen’s Deputy Director since September 2021. His distinguished naval career commenced in 1995 at the Naval Academy. Over the years, he served on various vessels and was entrusted with significant responsibilities. Beyond his operational assignments, Rear Admiral Tillier pursued advanced engineering training in Communication and Information Systems (CIS) at the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications, graduating as a telecommunications engineer in 2004. He was appointed as Joint Staff Program Officer and head of office for the Defense’s Satellite Communications Systems at the Joint Space Command. In this role, he actively contributed to the European Defence Agency (EDA) and NATO SatCom working groups, enhancing his expertise in space-related issues within the European Union and NATO. In 2015, Rear Admiral Tillier assumed command of the French Ship AGI Dupuy de Lôme and then the Maritime Intelligence Center in Brest. By the summer of 2019, he transitioned to the French Space Command, overseeing European and international cooperation related to space. During this assignment and prior to joining SatCen, he led efforts on European Space issues, focusing on security and defense, collaborating closely with various European stakeholders and allies.

CEO of SATLANTIS
leading MIDCAP in EO space technologies, LWIR, Swir & VNIR submetric cameras, with solutions for methane leaks detection, fires and defense. Companies in Spain, US, UK, and France. 100% successful space missions. Industrial investors ENAGAS & WILLIAMS, funds ORZA BPENERGY PARTNERS and institutional investors from ICO, SEPI, CDTI, BASQUE GOVERNMENT, DIPUTACION FORAL BIZKAIA.

Independent Coordinator Board member of DOMINION, a stock exchange quoted company ( over 1 billion USD) devoted to Industrial & Technological services.

Board member of EGILE & MODALIA.
Visiting Professor for Innovation Management at the University of Florida and Deusto Business School.

Since 2023 Head of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Tesat-Spacecom in Backnang, Germany. Responsible for sales and key-account management for the complete product portfolio including RF, Laser, Digital and Payload products. 2006 – 2023 Project and Program manager for various equipment, payload and development programs at TESAT. PhD and Diploma in Physics from Karlruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

Simon leads EnduroSat’s Strategic Partnerships, after founding its commercial Space Services business over the past two years. Previously, he spent six years at Spire Global as General Manager of Spire Maritime and VP of Business Development at Spire Space Services. Since 2000, Simon has built and scaled global commercial organizations across the space industry. He began his career at SES in Luxembourg and Spain, and later held roles at General Electric and Honeywell Global Tracking, driving adoption of innovative satellite-enabled services across multiple industries worldwide.

Gus van der Feltz is Head of Sales & Marketing at FSO Instruments, which he joined at its founding in 2023. FSO Instruments develops and industrializes secure, high‑capacity laser satellite communication systems—critical infrastructure for Europe’s future data sovereignty and space‑based connectivity. The company combines an agile engineering culture with the industrial strength of its parent organizations: VDL, a leading European high‑tech manufacturer, and Demcon, a multidisciplinary engineering and technology group. Embedded in the Dutch optical and space‑communications ecosystem, FSO Instruments accelerates the transition of strategic technologies into scalable industrial solutions. Gus holds an MSc in Applied Physics from TU Delft and an MBA from INSEAD. With over 25 years in the Dutch high‑tech sector, including leadership roles at ASML, Philips, and multiple startups, he has extensive experience bringing breakthrough technologies to market. His work focuses on building partnerships between industry, government, and knowledge institutions to strengthen Europe’s technological autonomy.

Jordan Vannitsen is the Co-founder and CEO of Odysseus Space, where he leads the development of laser solutions for critical space missions. Based in Luxembourg, he focuses on delivering end-to-end optical communication services that simplify data transfer from space to enable high-performance, reliable and secured connectivity for satellite operators.

MSc, Lt Cdr (Ret) Tero Vauraste serves as Head of Business Development Defense and Security at Kuva Space and Chairman of the Airship company Kelluu. He has provided Advisory Services to many clients such as Aldoria, Hybrid CoE, Iceye, European Innovation Council EIC, IQM, Techtour, Cailabs, ConstellR and many others with his company Mariadi Oy. He is President of European Innovation Council EIC Scaling Club NewSpace (2024->). He is member of the Finnish Ministry of Defence Scientific Committee Arctic and Space Working Group. Vauraste has a Naval Officer Degree and with serving in the Finnish Coast Guard and he has held various CEO and Senior Executive positions within security, aviation, automotive, maritime, rail, logistics and Arctic industries. He has a Master of Science degree from the Leicester University (2002) in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management and he is currently a PhD Student at the National Defence Academy in Finland with research on the maritime and space security of supply. During 2009-2018 he served as the CEO of Arctia ltd, the owner of the Finnish icebreaker fleet with operations in the Baltic Sea and Arctic areas including the US Beaufort and Chuckhi Seas and Greenland waters. He has also held a long-term position of Chair/Vice Chair of the Arctic Economic Council during 2014-2019. During 2021-2023 he served as a Director and Member of the Board at EARSC, European Association of Remote Sensing Companies. He is an Emissary of the Arctic Circle Conference organisation in Iceland. He is the founder and owner of Arctic, Maritime, Technology and Space Consulting Company, Mariadi Oy. He is a co-author of the book “Arktinen Alue Geopolitiikan Murroksessa” (11/2024), “The Arctic Area at geopolitical crossroads” (In Finnish). More information also available on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tero-vauraste-008092165/

An aerospace engineer, he graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan and specialized at the University of Kansas with a Master’s and PhD in Aerospace Engineering, and a Master’s in Engineering Management. He began his career in 1998 at Carlo Gavazzi Space (now OHB Italia), a leading European system integrator based in Milan, Italy, before moving to the United States, first for university studies (from 2000 to 2005) and then continuing at Swales Aerospace (now Northrop Grumman). In 2007, he joined SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace company, as Mission Director for Dragon, the first commercial spacecraft for orbital flights of goods and people. In 2013, he became a partner in Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc., based in Irvine, California, and in 2015, he founded Tyvak International in Turin. Recognized as one of the world leaders in the commercial and military small-satellite sector, the company went public (NYSE) in 2021 under the name Terran Orbital, and was sold to Lockheed Martin in 2024. While maintaining his activity as a private investor, since 2024, Marco provides consulting and advisory services, holds multiple board positions, collaborates closely with Trive Capital, an American private equity firm based in Dallas, and serves as the CEO of Canopy A&D, a company specializing in advanced materials for the naval and aerospace sectors.

Aníbal Villalba is Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer at PLD Space. He is also Associate Professor at IE University, where he teaches an advanced seminar on Space. A graduate of the Spanish General Military Academy, he holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Sociology from UNED, with a doctoral thesis on cybersecurity governance in Spain. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis and Management from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. An Infantry Colonel and General Staff graduate, he completed the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning. His military career includes service in the Paratrooper Brigade and the Canary Islands Command, as well as NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples. He commanded a Mechanized Infantry Battalion and served as Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Attaché at the Spanish Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. He also served as Defence Attaché at the Spanish Embassy in Beirut. He was Professor of Strategy and International Relations at the General Staff Course. He has participated in seven international missions under UN, EU, and NATO mandates in Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Lebanon. In the civilian sphere, he served as Adviser for International Policy and Security at the Office of the Spanish Prime Minister and held a position as EU Political Adviser. He has served in the National Intelligence community, including as Senior Adviser to the National Intelligence Director and as Director of the National Cybersecurity Plan. He later served as Director of Real Estate Strategy, Institutional Relations & Corporate Communications at the Spanish state-owned company SEGIPSA. He is the author of 21 publications on intelligence, international security, terrorism, and cybersecurity, and speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Roberto Vittori is an astronaut, visiting professor, associated researcher, and entrepreneur. He has flown to space three times, aboard Soyuz missions in 2002 and 2005 and the Space Shuttle in 2011. A former Brigadier General of the Italian Air Force, military pilot, and experimental test pilot, he has logged more than 2,500 flight hours on over 50 aircraft types. He served as the first Italian space attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C., gaining extensive experience in space diplomacy. Vittori has received numerous recognitions, including the Gold Medal for Aeronautical Value from the President of the Italian Republic, a NASA gold medal for space exploration, and a medal from the President of the Russian Federation. He was the first Italian to fly on Soyuz and the first non-Russian fully qualified as Soyuz commander. His vision focuses on extra-atmospheric resources as a foundation for the future global economy and the preservation of Earth’s ecosystem.

Brian Weimer is a leading FCC, CFIUS and space lawyer who advises satellite, wireless, media and telecom companies on complex regulatory and transactional issues. He helps clients secure licenses and market access and advises on structuring deals to secure regulatory approvals. His work has earned him a nationwide ranking in Space law from Chambers USA and many other accolades from similar ranking organizations.

Brian advises clients in regulatory proceedings impacting the value, uses, availability and sharing of spectrum resources and lobbies the FCC at the highest levels to achieve optimal outcomes on their most important regulatory matters.

Having cultivated strong working relationships with federal regulators during his more than 30 years practicing in Washington, D.C., Brian is a go-to resource for space station operators—both GEO and NGSO—and wireless companies needing help with FCC licensing. He helps secure earth station approvals and cable landing licenses for undersea systems and frequently secures special temporary authority and experimental licenses to support innovation.

Navigating the regulatory approvals required to close M&A deals—including reviews before Team Telecom and CFIUS—is also at the heart of Brian’s practice. He prepares petitions for declaratory rulings to exceed foreign ownership benchmarks, evaluates foreign investment feasibility under the Communications Act and counsels international companies on structuring U.S. proxy entities to pursue government contracts.

Brian also advises entrepreneurs and executives in their fundraising efforts, negotiates and drafts commercial contracts, and counsels clients through restructuring, including Chapter 11 proceedings.

In his free time, Brian enjoys boating, golf and live music.

Debra earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. She is a recipient of the 1989 Gerald Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense.

Pierre Wilhelm is a Swiss-Italian executive and a key driver of growth at Aerospacelab, where he serves since 2021 as EMEA Business Development Director and CEO of Switzerland. In this role, he has been instrumental in securing multi-million dollar deals with both commercial and institutional partners across the region. Drawing on 15+ years in high-technology B2B markets and a track record of managing up to $200M in sales at Honeywell Aerospace, he combines deep engineering expertise with sharp commercial instincts.

Johannes Willbold is Co-Founder of Variant Security, spearheading the development of a new generation of compiler-native proactive vulnerability remediation and exploit mitigation technology. His work builds on years of hands-on research into real-world security failures in space and satellite software. Johannes conducted his doctoral research at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), focusing on the security of space and satellite systems. His work on onboard satellite software has been published twice at the highest-ranking cybersecurity venue IEEE S&P, including a Distinguished Paper Award for his research on flight software security. In 2022, he was a visiting researcher at the Cyber-Defence Campus at Swiss Federal Office of Defence Procurement, investigating the security of VSAT systems. He founded and organized the annual SpaceSec Workshop, the first academic venue dedicated to space and satellite systems security, co-located with top-tier cybersecurity conference NDSS. He was a finalist in the Hack-A-Sat 2 and 4 competitions and regularly spoke on space and satellite software security, including at Black Hat USA, DEF CON, REcon, TyphoonCon, CySat, and TTI/Vanguard. He has also presented his work at the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Johannes also served as subgroup chair for the Integration Layer in the IEEE P3349 Space System Cybersecurity Working Group, where he led the efforts to incorporate cybersecurity requirements across space mission segments.

Koen Willems has 30 years’ experience working in different technology industries. Before joining ST Engineering iDirect (former Newtec) he was Product Marketing Manager for Europe at the electronics giant TOSHIBA. Currently Koen holds the position of VP EU/NATO Programs at ST Engineering iDirect with focus on government, defense and humanitarian satellite communication applications. In this role Mr. Willems is in charge of developing the government and defense market with a particular focus on EU programs such as the EDF European Protected Waveform (EPW), EU GovSatCom and the upcoming IRIS2 constellation. Koen has a Master’s degree in English & Scandinavian Languages (University Ghent, Belgium, 1997) and a Master’s degree in Marketing Strategy and Management (Vlekho Business School in Brussels, 1998). More recently Koen also received the degree for ‘High Studies in Security and Defence’ at the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence, the SERA degree (European Session for Armament Officials) for the Defence armament economy course focusing on European challenges at the French National Institute of Higher Defence in Paris and the degree for the ‘European Advanced Strategy Course on Security and Defence’ by the Egmont Institute. You may know Koen as a ST Engineering technology evangelist through his regular appearance in editorials in satellite focused publications, white papers and speaking slots at conferences around the world.

Dr. Thomas Withington is an award-winning analyst and writer specialising in electronic warfare, radar and military communications; a Research Associate at the Royal United Services Institute and a Senior Non-Resident Associate Fellow at the NATO Defence College. He has written widely on these subjects for a range of specialist and general publications. He also works as a consultant and adviser in these areas for several leading government and private sector clients. He regularly performs extensive field work in operational theatres in Ukraine, the Middle East and southern Mediterranean. Furthermore, Dr. Withington provides regular commentary on security and defence aspects of electromagnetic spectrum use for major media organisations around the world.

Adrian has over 30 years of expertise in the global earth observation business, developing applications for the exploration of natural resources, rapid delivery of satellite information after natural or man-made disasters and for location based services markets. Since its establishment in 2002, Adrian has been the Chief Executive Officer of European Space Imaging in Munich, Germany and in 1998 he founded Space Imaging Middle East LLC, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prior to that he held several senior sales and management roles with pioneering imaging satellite operators such as Space Imaging, Inc and the Earth Observation Satellite Company Inc, the company selected by NOAA to move the US Government Landsat program into the private sector, a move that laid the foundation for the global commercial remote sensing industry.