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Philippe Baptiste
Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space
French Republic
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Dorothee Bär
Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space
Federal Republic of Germany
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Andrzej Domański
Minister of Finance and Economy
Republic of Poland
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Vanessa Matz
Minister of the Modernisation of the Public Administration, in charge of Public Enterprises, Property Management of the State, Digitalisation and Science Policy
Kingdom of Belgium
Vanessa Matz, Minister of the Modernisation of the Public Administration, in charge of Public Enterprises, Property Management of the State, Digitalisation and Science Policy.
Vanessa Matz was born in Liège on August 12, 1973. A lawyer by training, she began her career as a legal advisor in the Belgian Senate and in local government before moving on to political advisory roles at the federal and regional levels. Elected to the Senate in 2008, she has been a member of the Federal Parliament since 2014, where she has been actively involved in the Justice, Interior and Public Affairs Commissions. Since February 2025, she has served as Belgium’s Federal Minister in charge of Public Service, Public Enterprises, Digitalisation, State Property Management, and Federal Scientific Institutions.
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Boris Pistorius
Federal Minister of Defence
Federal Republic of Germany
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Benjamin Haddad
Minister Delegate for European Affairs
France
Education & professional background
Graduated from Sciences Po Paris and HEC and researcher in international relations, he taught international relations at Sciences Po. He worked for seven years in think tanks in Washington, notably as Director of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center from 2019 to 2022. He wrote Paradis Perdu: l’Amérique de Trump et la fin des illusions européennes (Grasset, 2019), a plea for European sovereignty and strategic autonomy in the face of new geopolitical threats and American withdrawal. Prix l’Express-BFM 2019 for best essay 2019.
Political career
He was first UMP National Secretary from 2011 to 2014. In 2017, he was La République en marche’s representative in Washington, D.C. Elected deputy for Paris in June 2022 (14th constituency), he was member of the Foreign Affairs Commission and the European Affairs Commission and also spokesman coordinator for the National Assembly’s Renaissance group. During this first term, he was: – Author of the draft resolution calling on France and the European Union to list the private military group Wagner as a terrorist organization. – Rapporteur of the joint committee on the bill to prevent the dissemination of terrorist content online. – Chairman of the commission of inquiry into the revelations of the Uber Files: uberization, lobbying and its consequences. – Co-rapporteur of the information report “L’Union européenne face au défi migratoire” (The European Union and the challenge of migration). – Chairman of the France-Ukraine Friendship Group of the French National Assembly. – Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly’s France-Poland Friendship Group – Member of the study groups on anti-Semitism, the Kurds, Eastern Christians, the Francophonie and the reception conditions for migrants and unaccompanied minors.
On July 7, 2024, in the early legislative elections, he was re-elected deputy for the 14th Paris constituency. On September 21 of the same year, he was appointed Minister Delegate for Europe.
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Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
European Commission
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Andrius Kubilius
Commissioner for Defence and Space
European Commission
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Ekaterina Zaharieva
Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
European Commission
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Costas Kadis
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
European Commission
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Nicodemos Damianou
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Republic of Cyprus
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Juan Cruz Cigudosa García
State Secretary for Science, Innovation, and Universities
Spain
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Matteo Perego di Cremnago
Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Defence
Italian Republic
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Generale S.A. Antonio Conserva
Chief of Staff
Italian Air Force
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Elena Donazzan
Vice-Chair, ITRE Committee
European Parliament
Elena Donazzan was elected Member of the European Parliament in June 2024, where she sits with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, representing the Fratelli d’Italia party. She is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, where she also serves as Vice-Chair, as well as of the Committee on Security and Defence and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. She also holds the position of Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Sky and Space Intergroup. Before becoming an MEP, she served for 19 years as Regional Minister for Labour, Education and Training in the Veneto Region.
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Christophe Grudler
Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
European Parliament
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Sven Clement
Member of Parliament, Chambre des Députés
Luxembourg
Sven Clement is a Member of the Luxembourg Parliament since 2018 representing the Pirate Party. He is a member of the Luxembourg delegation to the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC) and sits amongst others on the national Committee on the Economy and Space. Additionally, Sven serves as Rapporteur for the Sub-Committee on Technology Trends and Security within the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. With a background in Information Systems and as the CEO of a fin- & reg-tech group, he brings a strong technical perspective to space and security policy.
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Tobias Gotthardt
State Secretary, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Bavarian State Government
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Major General Vincent Chusseau
Commander
French Space Command
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Major General Luca Maineri
Air and Space Operations Commander
Italian Airforce
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Major General Michael Traut
Commander
German Space Command
Major General Michael Traut is Commander of German Space Command. Born in Tübingen on 18th December 1964, Major General Traut is married and has two daughters.He joined the Bundeswehr as a conscript in 1983 and received his initial officer training at German Air Force Officer School in Fürstenfeldbruck. He studied computer science at the Bundeswehr University Munich and was assigned to numerous postings, first as system administrator and programmer and later within NATO’s Integrated Air Defence System as aircraft controller. He later obtained all tactical air battle management operational qualifications. Major General Traut served in numerous senior functions in German Air Force and Joint Support Service Headquarters as well as within German Ministry of Defence. He took command of Operational Air Wing Mazar-e-Sharif/Afghanistan in 2007 and served as Commandant of the German Air Force Officer School between 2016 and 2020. In 2021, he became Director of National Air Operations until 2023, simultaneously taking command of the emerging German Space Command.Major General Traut is a graduate from Bundeswehr Command and Staff College Hamburg, Joint Services Command and Staff College Bracknell and Royal College of Defence Studies London. -
Major General Isaac Crespo Zaragoza
Commander
Spanish Space Command
General Isaac Crespo graduated from the Spanish Air Force Academy as a Fighter Pilot in 1988. He has flown more than 2800 flight hours (F-5, F-18, EF2000) including 73 combat missions over the Balkans. He has enjoyed assignments in the Air and Space Staff, Logistics Command and Joint Operational Command. Once promoted to General, he was the Air and Space Chief of Staff Office before taking the responsibility to be the first Spanish Space Commander in October 2023.
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Josef Aschbacher
Director-General
ESA
Josef Aschbacher became the ESA Director General on 1 March 2021. In 2023, his mandate as ESA DG was approved for a further period of four years as from 1 March 2025.Born in Austria, Josef studied at the University of Innsbruck, graduating with a Master degree and a PhD in natural sciences. He has had an accomplished international career in space, combining more than 35 years’ work experience at ESA, the European Commission, the Austrian Space Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck.As CEO of ESA, Josef is responsible for the definition, implementation and development of Europe’s space infrastructure and activities. He is responsible for an annual budget of almost €8 billion and a workforce of 6000 distributed across several establishments, principally in Europe. -
Timo Pesonen
Director-General
DG DEFIS, European Commission
Timo Pesonen is the current Director-General of DG Defence Industry and Space in the European Commission as of 2020. He has held several senior management positions during his career in the European Commission; Director-General of DG Communication 2015-2019 and DG Industry and Single Market 2019. Further Mr Pesonen was Head of Cabinet of Vice-President Olli Rehn 2004-2014.Earlier in his career Mr Pesonen worked as a diplomat in the Finnish Foreign Service. In that position he served at the Embassy of Finland in Brussels and later as a Foreign and Security Policy Adviser to Prime Minister Lipponen. He also undertook an advisory role during the Kosovo peace negotiations chaired by President Ahtisaari.He holds an M.A. in International Politics from the University of Tampere. He also studied International Law in the University of Helsinki and EU studies in ULB Brussels. In addition to his native Finnish, Timo Pesonen speaks English, Swedish and French -
Merete Clausen
Deputy Chief Executive
European Investment Fund
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Charles Fries
Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence
EEAS
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General Franco Federici
Military Advisor to the Prime Minister
Italian Republic
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Paul Bate
Chief Executive Officer
UK Space Agency
Dr Paul Bate has been CEO of the UK Space Agency since September 2021. He leads a team of more than 300 who provide the R&D funding to use space to increase prosperity across the world, protect the planet, and to understand the universe. Prior to space, Paul ran global sales at Babylon Health, which floated on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, and built a consultancy business. Paul was David Cameron’s senior health adviser in Downing Street and led on health targets and finances in Tony Blair’s Delivery Unit. Paul holds a PhD in Particle Physics
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Ella Carlsson
Director-General
Swedish National Space Agency
Dr. Ella Carlsson is the Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) operating under the Swedish Ministry of Education and Research. She serves as Sweden’s Head of Delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA). Dr. Carlsson holds a PhD in Physics, with research focused on the space plasma environment and water-related geological features on Mars. Prior to joining SNSA, Colonel Carlsson served as the Chief of Space within the Swedish Armed Forces. -
Christian Hauglie-Hanssen
Director General
Norwegian Space Agency
Christian Hauglie-Hanssen is the Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), a position he has held since June 2018. NOSA is an agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. NOSA is responsible for implementing the Norwegian Government´s space policies, hereunder managing Norway ´s participation in the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as in the EU Space Program. Mr. Hauglie Hanssen serves as Head of Delegation to ESA. NOSA is furthermore responsible for the development of national space programs, bilateral activities, as well as being an advisor to national space industry.
Mr. Hauglie-Hanssen has more than 30 years of industrial experience, hereunder executive management and business development positions in various defence and aerospace programmes, civilian businesses, and space. He previously also held the presidency of NIFRO, the advocacy group for the Norwegian space industry. Mr. Hauglie-Hanssen was educated at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, earning a BSc degree in physics. In addition, he holds a Master of Science degree in physics from the University of South Florida. -
Francois Jacq
Chairman and CEO
CNES
Born on October 28, 1965, François Jacq is a graduate of École Polytechnique, holds a doctorate from Mines ParisTech, and is a general engineer from Mines. He began his career as a researcher at the Center for Sociology of Innovation (Mines ParisTech). In 2000, François Jacq became Director General of Andra (the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management). In 2005, he was appointed Director of Energy Demand and Markets at the Directorate General for Energy and Raw Materials within the Ministry of Industry. In May 2007, he was appointed advisor for industry, research, and energy in the office of Prime Minister François Fillon, then, in August 2008, advisor for sustainable development, research, and industry. In April 2009, he became Chairman and CEO of Météo-France. From 2010 to 2013, he was Chairman of the Board of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). In 2013, he took over as head of Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea). In 2018, he was appointed Administrator General of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), position he held until his appointment as head of CNES on May 23rd, 2025. He is also president of the European Association of Research and Technology Organizations (EARTO).
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Walther Pelzer
Director General
German Space Agency at DLR
Walther Pelzer has been a Member of the DLR Executive Board since 1 January 2018. He is Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR, based in Bonn. Born in 1967, Walther Pelzer studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Subsequently he completed his Ph.D. at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology. He also obtained a correspondence MBA from the Universities of Zürich, St. Gallen and Boston. From 1999 to 2007, Pelzer held positions within industry on a national as well as international level, including managerial appointments at Degussa AG (later FERRO Corp.) and Pankl Racing AG. From 2007 to 2015 Pelzer was Director and subsequently Deputy Director General of the Research and Technology Department at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, Research and Technology of the State of North-Rhine Westphalia. He gave a variety of guest lectures and seminars at universities, focusing on the issues of balanced scorecards, technology management, innovations based on technology platforms, and working with subsidiaries in the USA.
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Teodoro Valente
President
Italian Space Agency (ASI)
In charge as President of the Italian Space Agency since June 14th 2023; Full Professor of Materials Science and Technology and Aerospace Materials at Rome University “La Sapienza”. Graduated in Mechanical Engineering, master’s in business administration at LUISS University of Rome.Among the countless positions prior to the Presidency of the Italian Space Agency:
– Deputy Rector for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer at Rome University La Sapienza.
– National seconded expert by the MUR at the European Commission for European Scientific and Technological Cooperation Actions in the Materials Area, first Director and
then President of the National Interuniversity Consortium on Materials Science and Technology.
– Director of the National Research Council Institute IPCB (Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials).
– Author of numerous publications in International/National Journals and Proceedings of International/National Conferences, co-inventor of three international patents -
Renato Krpoun
Head
Swiss Space Office
Renato Krpoun heads the Swiss Space Office at the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Together with his team, he is responsible for the preparation and implementation of Swiss space policy and legislation. This also includes ESA-related matters. Before joining the Swiss Space Office, he held several positions in industry and academia dealing with space activities. He has lived and worked in Switzerland, the U.S. and Brazil.
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Dr. Matthias Maurer
Astronaut
ESA
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Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski
Astronaut
ESA
Born in 1984, Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski grew up in Łódź, Poland, where an early fascination with space developed alongside a passion for science and outdoor adventure. From mountain climbing to racing sailing boats with Poland’s national team, he built the determination that later guided his path as an astronaut. He studied engineering in Poland and France and earned a doctorate specialising in radiation‑tolerant designs for space applications. Sławosz’s professional career led him to CERN, where he headed radiation‑related reliability projects and lead the design of the power (or power converter) control system for the Large Hadron Collider. He also took part in European space technology evaluations and volunteered on several Polish satellite initiatives. Selected in November 2022 from more than 22,500 applicants, he joined ESA’s new astronaut class as part of the European Astronaut Reserve. On 1 September 2023, he became an ESA project astronaut and began training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. Assigned to Axiom Mission 4, Poland’s first government‑supported scientific and technological mission (IGNIS) to the International Space Station, he trained with Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX and JAXA. Sławosz launched on 25 June 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon, becoming the second Polish citizen in space. The IGNIS mission ended on 15 July 2025. Across 20 days, he completed nearly 320 Earth orbits, around 120 hours of work on the International Space Station and executed more than 20 scientific experiments and technology demonstrators, marking a milestone for Poland in human spaceflight.
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Catharina Bamps
Policy Officer
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Nicolae Mitu
Policy Officer
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Phil Evans
Director-General
EUMETSAT
Phil Evans became EUMETSAT’s fifth Director-General on 1 January 2021. Evans took over leadership of the organisation at an exciting and challenging time. Exciting, because the organisation will deploy the first of its next-generation geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite systems from 2022. Challenging, due to the complexity of these systems and the global coronavirus pandemic’s impact on working conditions. Evans brings to the role the experience gained from his long career in senior management positions at the UK Met Office and a background in remote sensing and satellite instrumentation. He also has a strong commitment to collaboration with partners around the globe. He brought to the position a deep understanding of EUMETSAT’s culture and values, having led the UK’s delegation on the organisation’s Council from 2018 to 2020. Starting at the Met Office in 1988, Evans rose to become Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2020. In this role, he was responsible for the organisation’s operational forecasting, observation development and infrastructure and international relations, as well as organisation-wide operational delivery, resilience and security. Other positions Evans held at the Met Office included Director of Government Business, Chief Advisor to Government, Head of Secretariat and Managing Director of Commercial Business. As Director Government Business, he was responsible for Met Office services to Government and industry related to climate research, weather forecasting,
defence, international aid and UK warnings. Evans started at the Met Office in scientific and technical roles related to remote sensing. This work involved satellite data retrieval, instrument specification and design. After leaving the Met Office and before joining EUMETSAT, Evans was Director of Physics Programmes at the Institute of Physics, in 2020. There, he was a member of the Executive Board and Board of Trustees. He was responsible for education improvement and physics innovation programmes, equality, inclusion and diversity programmes for the physics community and the Enterprise Programme Office. He has an Honours degree in Physics from Birmingham University. -
Aarti Holla-Maini
Director
UNOOSA
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Christian Feichtinger
Executive Director
IAF
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Florian Guillermet
Executive Director
European Union Aviation Safety Agency
Florian Guillermet is Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency as of April 2024. He has worked in the aviation sector for over 25 years, holding top-level management posts in France and the European Union. In addition to extensive leadership experience, he has acquired profound knowledge of many aviation domains, particularly safety and Air Traffic Management (ATM). Guillermet joined EASA from France’s DSNA, where he had been Director Air Navigation Services since June 2021. Prior to that, he was Executive Director at SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR-JU). He stepped up to this role in 2014, after two years as Deputy Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking. He held various positions at Eurocontrol from 2003 to 2011, ranging from system developments to operational service delivery. His earlier work experience involved various aviation roles in France. Guillermet studied engineering, including applied mathematics, computer science and business administration at the École Polytechnique in Paris and has a Masters in Air Transport management and Aeronautics from the French National School for Aviation (ENAC). He also studied at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
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Lorena Boix Alonso
Deputy Director-General
DG DEFIS, European Commission
Lorena Boix Alonso is Deputy Director-General for Space in the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) at the European Commission. Formerly, she was Deputy Director-General for Health in the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). Previously, she worked for 16 years in the Directorate-General for Communications Networks Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), where she held several management positions dealing with cybersecurity, privacy, digital identity management, audiovisual and ensuring coherence between digital strategies and EU budget implementation. Prior to this, she was Deputy Head of Cabinet of Vice-President Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, where she advised the Vice-President in the design of the Digital Agenda strategy and its implementation, including telecoms, in particular broadband investment, cybersecurity, audiovisual and copyright in the digital era. She was also Deputy Head of Cabinet during Ms Kroes’ mandate as Commissioner for Competition, advising the Commissioner on antitrust policy and antitrust and merger cases mainly in the field of telecoms, audiovisual and pharmaceuticals.She joined the European Commission, in the Directorate-General for Competition, in 2003, in the policy and coordination unit for antitrust and merger cases. Prior to the Commission, she worked at the European Court of Justice, as well as Deputy Director and Legal Coordinator of the IPR-Helpdesk Project and in private practice in Brussels.She holds a Master of Laws from the Harvard Law School and a Licence Spéciale en Droit Européen from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She graduated in Law from the University of Valencia. -
Marjeta Jager
Deputy Director-General
DG INTPA, European Commission
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Tjerk Opmeer
Deputy Director-General for Business & Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Tjerk Opmeer is Director for Innovation and Knowledge and Deputy Director-General for Business and Innovation at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. In this role he leads the development and coordination of Dutch innovation and knowledge policy, including contributions to national and European strategies that advance science, technology and space-related research and applications. He also participates in shaping the Netherlands’ long-term space agenda and represents the ministry in space policy discussions alongside stakeholders from government, industry and international partners. Prior to this, Opmeer served as Director of International Programmes at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and has held senior policy roles across Dutch ministries, with broad experience in innovation, international economic affairs and public-private collaboration.
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Benedikta Von Seherr-Thoss
Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence
EEAS
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Marjolijn van Deelen
Special Envoy for Space
EEAS
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Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz
Director of Navigation
ESA
Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz studied at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, graduating with a Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering in 1981. He has accomplished an international career in space, with over 40 years’ experience at ESA, university and industry. He has held within ESA various engineering and managerial posts in the development of Fixed, Broadcast and Mobile Satellite Communication systems and lead the development of Europe’s Satellite Navigation systems EGNOS and Galileo. As ESA Director of Navigation, Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz is responsible for the definition, planning and execution of ESA’s Navigation programmes and contributes to ESA- wide management, supporting the ESA Director General in the pursuit of ESA’s overall objectives. He has over 100 publications in technical journals and conferences, holds several international ESA patents and has been recipient of several honours and awards.
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Simonetta Cheli
Director for Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN
ESA
Simonetta Cheli is the Director of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Agency (ESA) and Head of the ESA-ESRIN establishment in Frascati, Rome. She has worked at ESA for over three decades, both at ESA Headquarters in Paris and at ESRIN. She is a member of the ESA management team and the ESA Executive Board and is accountable for formulating the ESA strategy for the Earth Observation (EO) sector, managing the development of EO satellites, in-orbit Mission operations, ground segment data distribution and archiving, science applications and projects. Future planning involves crafting proposals for new EO programmes while adhering to the Agency’s industrial policy. As Director, she oversees an annual budget of 2.3beuros (30% of the ESA budget) and manages a workforce of 900+staff and contractors across six ESA sites. She actively engages with worldwide stakeholders including space agencies, industry, scientific communities, satellite operators, public/private entities, and international partners, managing major partnership programmes like Copernicus and meteorological programmes with the European Commission and EUMETSAT. Additionally, serving as the representative of ESA in Italy and Head of the ESA ESRIN establishment, Simonetta Cheli represents ESA in numerous international fora and acts as a spokesperson with media in worldwide conferences. Born in Siena, Italy, she studied Law and Economics at Yale University in the USA, before gaining a degree in Political Sciences (Thesis: International Satellite Telecommunication Law) at the University ‘Cesare Alfieri’ in Florence. She also holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) from the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques in Paris. As a native Italian speaker, she also speaks English, French, Spanish and German. She has won various prestigious prizes throughout her career, is a member of numerous international committees, and teaches Master courses on space at several universities.
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Rodrigo da Costa
Executive Director
EUSPA
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Rolf Densing
Director of Operations
ESA
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Erica Gerresten
Acting Director for the Green Deal and Digital Agenda
DG INTPA, European Commission
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Laurent Jaffart
Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications
ESA
Laurent Jaffart is the European Space Agency’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications and Head of ECSAT in Harwell, United Kingdom, since 15 May 2024.In this role, Mr Jaffart leads the ESA satellite telecommunication programme, including the implementation of the full portfolio of the ARTES 4.0 programme activities, Moonlight, Civil Security from Space, and the ESA contributions to the EU Secure Connectivity Programme, IRIS², in collaboration with the European Commission. From France, Mr Jaffart has over 20 years of experience in the European space sector, most notably in senior leadership roles at Airbus Defence and Space. -
Christoph Kautz
Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation
DG DEFIS, European Commission
Since October 2023, Mr. Kautz is Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation in the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission with responsibility for Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, as well as space policy. Before that, between September 2021 and September 2023, Mr. Kautz was Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity, Space Surveillance and Applications. From January 2020 until August 2021, he was Head of Unit (acting) for Space Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Between 2013 and 2019 Mr Kautz was Deputy Head of Unit for Galileo and EGNOS – Applications, Security and International Cooperation. From 2008 to 2013 he was Deputy Head of Unit for Security Research and Industry. Before that and since joining the European Commission in 2000 Mr. Kautz held several positions dealing with a variety of industry and Internal Market issues. Prior to that he worked for 6 years as public affairs consultant. Mr. Kautz holds a degree in History and Politics, as well as a Master in European Studies from the College of Europe. -
Ekaterini Kavvada
Director for Secure and Connected Space
DG DEFIS, European Commission
A trained lawyer with a degree in Law from the University of Athens, she is specialised in Air and Space Law with a Master’s degree from the University of Aix Marseille III. Ms Kavvada joined the European Commission, in Brussels, in 1997 and worked initially in the Research Framework Programmes. Subsequently, as from 2000 her main service at the Commission related to space, in particular the European flagship Satellite Navigation Programmes Galileo and EGNOS (Head of Unit from 2011 to 2019 at DG GROW). Her mandate continued in the realm of development and applications in the space sector as Head of Unit in the newly created DG DEFIS in January 2020, until her appointment as Director at the same DG as from 1 December 2020. The career path of Ms Kavvada comprises various areas and stages of policy formulation, legislative and budgetary decision-making, delivery of large-scale space programmes including their security governance, international relations, communication, and human resources management. Currently the mandate of Ms Kavvada at the Directorate ‘Secure and Connected Space’ at DG DEFIS comprises new space initiatives with prevalent resilience and security features, space data management policy with reinforced European credentials, mainstreaming of the European New Space as a vector for society and economy, space research, synergies between space and defence industry, and international relations and communication for the whole of DG DEFIS.
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Géraldine Naja
Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness
ESA
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Dietmar Pilz
Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality
ESA
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Eric Morel de Westgaver
Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs
ESA
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Carole Mundell
Director of Science
ESA
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Rear Admiral Louis Tillier
Director
EU Satellite Centre
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 defence, collaborating closely with various European stakeholders and allies. -
Maja Markovčić Kostelac
Executive Director
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
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Toni Tolker-Nielsen
Acting Director of Space Transportation
ESA
A Danish national and mechanical engineer, Toni Tolker-Nielsen began his career with APV ANHYDRO in Copenhagen in 1983 before taking a role at CERN in Geneva. He joined ESA in 1987 – initially working on pointing and tracking systems for laser communication systems – and in 2003 moved to what was then known as the Launchers Directorate, with responsibility for the return-to-flight programme for Ariane 5 ECA (Evolution Cryotechnique type A) after its launch failure in December 2002. Mr Tolker-Nielsen went on to oversee significant changes to the organisation of the European launcher industry initiated in the wake of the ECA failure – changes which helped deliver the very successful Ariane 5 programme which ended in July 2023. He was then appointed ESA Inspector General – an Executive Board position with the duty to guarantee technical and managerial excellence across ESA. Mr Tolker-Nielsen later headed Earth Observation projects and acted as Director of Earth Observation Programmes from 2021, when Josef Aschbacher took up duty as ESA Director General. -
Michal Brichta
Director
Slovak Space Office
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Muthusamy Arumugam
Deputy Director for Liquid Propulsion Systems
ISRO
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Thomas Reiter
Head of the Department of Space and Security, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space
Germany
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Guillaume de la Brosse
Head of Unit Defence Policy
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Luca del Monte
Head of Commercialisation department
ESA
Luca del Monte is a senior executive at ESA with strong background in industrial policy making, strategy development and deep tech. After several years in space industry and institutions across Europe, he joined the Agency where he held positions of progressing responsibilities in the strategy and industrial policy areas. Luca is now the Head of the ESA Commercialisation Department which support European space entrepreneurs in the journey to commercialisation and to sustainable scale-up on the global markets, providing a full range of services including business incubation, transfer of technology and connection with the investor’s community. He holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Rome, La Sapienza, and he is graduated from the French Armaments Procurement Institute – Ecole Militaire (Paris, France). He is professor of Space Commercialisation at the Doctoral School of Bari Polytechnic (Italy), teaches Space Entrepreneurship at the LUISS Business School in Amsterdam, and he is co-founder of ECSECO, the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce based in Vienna. -
Fiammetta Diani
Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation
EUSPA
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Mauro Facchini
Head of Unit of Earth Observation
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Maria Fernandez Molinero
Head of Unit Space Policy
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Paul Flament
Deputy-Director Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Jérémie Godet
Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Giancarlo Granero
Head of Unit for Space Economy
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Harald Hauschildt
Head of the Optical and Quantum Communication Office
ESA
Manager, Strategic Programme Line “Optical and Quantum Communication – ScyLight”
Dr. Harald Hauschildt leads ESA’s Optical and Quantum Communication Office within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC). He manages the flagship ScyLight programme, advancing Europe’s leadership in space-based optical and quantum communications, and oversees HydRON, ESA’s next-generation all-optical demonstration system for secure, high-capacity multi-orbit networks.
He also coordinates ESA’s contributions to Europe’s EuroQCI quantum communication initiative, including the SAGA mission for secure space systems. Previously, he served as Germany’s Delegate to ESA at DLR and contributed to pioneering laser crosslink missions. Dr. Hauschildt holds a PhD in Physics and Astrophysics from the University of Bonn and has held research positions at Caltech and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.
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Juan Ramón López Caravantes
Head of Secured Communications Department
EUSPA
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Zuzana Mazanova
Head of Unity Space Single Market
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Gerasimos Sofianatos
Head of Unit for Radio Spectrum Policy
DG CONNECT, European Commission
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Jolanda van Eijnthoven
Head of Unit for Legal, International and Coordination
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Darek Saunders
Head of Unit for Research and Innovation
Frontex
Darek Saunders is the deputising Head of the Frontex Research and Innovation Unit. He is responsible for delivering cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving operational requirements, ensuring that the European Border and Coast Guard can effectively respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. He joined the Frontex Risk Analysis Unit in 2010, and the Research and Innovation Unit in 2018. Darek previously served in the United Nations Security and Safety Service in New York and at the NATO Headquarters in Mons, Belgium. He is a graduate of the Military Academy of Technology in Warsaw and served in the Polish Army as a commissioned officer at both Operational and Strategic levels. -
Philippe Bertrand
Chair of the Security Accreditation Board
EUSPA
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Jean-Luc Trullemans
Head of the European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC)
ESA
Jean-Luc Trullemans is currently the Head of the European Space Security and Education Centre (ESA-ESEC) within the Strategy, Legal, and External Matters Directorate (ESA-SLE) of the European Space Agency (ESA). ESEC, located in Redu/Belgium, focuses on Space Security, Education, Smallsat operations, and Navigation (EGNSS) activities. Jean-Luc joined ESA in 2020 as a security expert and advisor, bringing with him over thirty years of experience in law enforcement. Prior to this, he served as a Senior Security Advisor to the Belgian government, advising Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval and Minister of Transport François Bellot. Jean-Luc holds a master’s degree in public administration management from the Solvay Business School (ULB), along with several professional certifications, including the Interuniversity certificate in multidisciplinary crisis management (ULB), the Major case management certificate from the Canadian Police College, FBI Crisis management training, and a certificate in Critical infrastructure cybersecurity from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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Isabella Poldrugo
Deputy Head of Unit for Space Policy
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Anas Hanan
Deputy Head of Unit - Space Economy
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Giancarlo Varacalli
Head of Telecommunications and Navigation
ASI
Giancarlo Varacalli is an Electronic Engineer with over 25 years of experience in the space sector. He joined the Italian Space Agency in 2005 after working in the aerospace industry on SATCOM development programs. Since 2022 he is Head of Telecommunications and Navigation Office in charge of national activities and the relevant Italian participation to international programs in the field of quantum and optical communications, governmental satcom systems, PNT technological and applications projects and lunar communications and navigation.
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Cheryl Gramling
Cislunar Strategist and PNT Lead
NASA
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Isabelle Kling
Head of Communication
EUMETSAT
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Colonel Luigi Riggio
Office of the Military Advisor, Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Italian Republic
Luigi Riggio, Head of the Space and Aerospace policies unit within the office of the Military Advisor to the President of the Council of Ministries. Colonel Luigi RIGGIO, born in Palermo, Sicily, on February 28, 1966, is an Italian Air Force pilot with an extensive operational background on tanker and AWACS aircraft. He has served in numerous staff positions within the Air Force Staff, the Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence cabinet Office, dealing with military operations policy, crisis management, international cooperation, civil-military cooperation as well as space operations and policies. In particular, from 2015 to 2019, he has supported the Minister of Defence in his/her participation to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for space policies and aerospace research. From 2019 to 2021 he has managed the Italian Air force space policies in the Air Staff. Since May 2021 he is holding the current position supporting the Military Advisor in his role as Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. Col. Riggio is also part of the Italian delegations to the European Union Space Working Party and to the European Space Agency Council. In October 2022 he has been nominated by the Italian Air Force as Chairman of the Criptaliae Spaceport Scientific Committee.
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Alexandre Vallet
Chief of the Space Services Department, Radiocommunication Bureau
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Alexandre Vallet is the current Chief of the Space Services Department in the Radiocommunication Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), since November 2017. As such, he leads the team responsible for the maintenance of the international registry of satellite radio frequencies, which allows all countries around the world to coordinate their use in order to avoid radio interference in outer space.
Mr Vallet began to work in 2000 in the R&D center of Orange dealing with communications satellites. In 2006, he joined the satellite operator Eutelsat where he was in charge of regulatory matters. From 2007 to 2017, he was the Head of the Regulatory affairs and Spectrum/Orbit Resources Department at the French Agency in charge of radio spectrum management (Agence Nationale des Fréquences – ANFR).
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Edison Rijna
Special Envoy for the BES Islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean
Edison Rijna – Special Envoy for the BES-islands for the EU and UN and Economic Relations with Latin America and the Caribbean Born on Bonaire on July 7th, 1967, Edison Rijna has spent his career serving the people of Bonaire and the Caribbean region. Since April 2023, he has served as the Special Envoy for Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, representing their interests in the EU and UN, and promoting economic and commerce ties with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to this role, Mr. Rijna was the Governor of Bonaire from 2014 to 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and has extensive experience in the banking sector. He also led Bon Recycling B.V., a company focused on environmental awareness in Bonaire. With his deep experience in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Rijna is committed to advancing the region’s development and international relations.
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Gianluigi Baldesi
Head of Ventures and Financing Office
ESA
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Reinhard Blasi
Market Downstream and Innovation Manager
EUSPA
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Dorothée Coppens
Hyperspectral Competence Area Manager
EUMETSAT
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Peggy Fischer
Mission Manager of ESA Third Party Missions and Copernicus Contributing Missions
ESA - ESRIN
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Jean-Marc Nasr
Industrial Ombud
ESA
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Maruška Strah
Secretary
Slovenian Space Office
Maruška Strah is currently serving as the Secretary in the Slovenian Space Office at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport of Republic of Slovenia. She has background in the field of space law, focusing on STM, security, and sustainability. She is serving as the Principal of Slovenia in the Artemis Accords, and is leading all Slovenian efforts in the UN Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the EU. For her work and extensive contributions to the field of Space Traffic Management, Maruška received the Space Law Award for Young Achievers awarded by the International Institute of Space Law. From 2018 to 2023, Maruška was serving as the Executive Director of the WSWA (World Space Week Association). In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was honored with the prestigious International Astronautical Federation Young Space Leader Award in 2022. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree at Webster University Vienna. Currently, Maruška is pursuing a Ph.D. in Legal Studies at the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna. Her research primarily focuses on Space Traffic Management, which reflects her main area of interest and expertise. She is an active member of the International Institute of Space Law, where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Space Traffic Management Working Group. Maruška is also a member of the International Astronautical Federation Space Traffic Management Committee, the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, and the European Centre for Space Law.
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Erzsébet Fitori
Executive Director
Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking
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Manuel Heitor
Chair
Expert Group on the Interim evaluation of Horizon Europe
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Fabio Vitobello
EU Space Technology Sovereignty Programme Officer and Task Force Team Leader for Space Technologies
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Tomas Jonsson
CASSINI Team Leader, CASSINI Space Entrepreneurship Initiative
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Marta Krywanis
Senior Research Officer
Frontex
Marta Krywanis is a Frontex Senior Research Officer, responsible for the demonstration and evaluation of cutting-edge solutions. She connects ground-based systems with space-based technologies to advance border surveillance capabilities. Her main domains of expertise are: satellite-based solutions for Earth Observations (Copernicus), Position Navigation and Timing (Galileo), and secure connectivity (GOVSATCOM). Prior to joining Frontex, Marta led R&D at the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), driving EU’s Global Positioning market adoption. She holds a Master’s in Geodesy and Satellite Navigation and a diploma in Management of Innovation. -
Tomáš Halaška
CASSINI Policy Coordinator
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Stela Tkatchova
Programme Manager for Space Systems
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
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Christine Klein
Head of Industrial Policy and Auditing Department
ESA
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Vera Pinto
Policy Coordinator
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Rodolphe Muñoz
Team leader SSA/STM
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Stefaan De May
Strategy Team Leader for Human and Robotic Exploration
ESA
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Adel Al-Saleh
Chief Executive Officer
SES
With extensive experience working in senior management roles at leading IT and telecommunication companies, Adel Al-Saleh was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SES in February 2024.
Adel joined SES from Deutsche Telekom, the leading European Telecommunication provider, where he served as Board Member and CEO of T-Systems since 2018. Prior to that, he was the CEO for Northgate Information Solutions (NIS) Group from 2011-2018. Adel also held a variety of senior leadership roles at IMS Health and IBM for the first 25 years of his professional life.
Adel graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and holds a Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
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Heinrich Krispler
Project Officer, Support to EU Operations and EU Satcom Market, Operations Training and Exercises Unit, Industry Synergies and Enablers Directorate
EDA
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Eleni Patouni
Project Officer for Space Research and Technology
EDA
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David Jelinek
Youth Correspondent
DG DEFIS, European Commission
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Miguel Ángel Panduro
Chief Executive Officer
Indra Space
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Pierre Bahurel
Chief Executive Officer
Mercator Ocean International
Pierre Bahurel is Director-General of Mercator Ocean International, the European centre for ocean monitoring and forecasting, which he founded and has been leading for more than two decades. His work focuses on operational oceanography and the use of space-based observations and advanced modelling to deliver large-scale, mission-driven services.He has played a central role in the design, development and long-term operation of the Copernicus Marine Service, now adopted by thousands of public and private organisations worldwide, demonstrating the global recognition of European expertise, while ensuring the European Union’s autonomous and sovereign operational capacity for marine environment monitoring.Under his leadership, Mercator Ocean is transitioning towards an intergovernmental organisation, aiming to support European States with a sustained operational capability for ocean forecasting and digital ocean services. Pierre Bahurel is actively involved in further developments of European digital ocean capacities notably through the piloting of the EU Digital Ocean Twin, at the intersection of space, science and policy. -
Pierre Bertrand
Chief Executive Officer
Skynopy
Pierre Bertrand, co-founder and CEO of Skynopy, founded in 2023, previously held the position of Director of French Programs at Loft Orbital, an American company specializing in shared satellites, where he launched the French subsidiary in 2019. Pierre began his career at the Franco-American enterprise OneWeb Satellites, overseeing the design and delivery of the assembly line for the 600 satellites in the OneWeb constellation. Pierre holds Franco-American diplomas, including a master’s in Aerospace Engineering and Technology & Policy from MIT and an Ecole Centrale Paris degree. -
Benoit Deper
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Aerospacelab
As 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 and his knowledge of the major players, this entrepreneur quickly succeeded in gaining the support of solid investors such as Airbus Ventures. After graduating from UCLouvain’s École polytechnique de Louvain (EPL), Benoît Deper first joined the ranks of two emblematic institutions in the sector: NASA and its European counterpart, ESA, for three years, before going on to become CTO of a Swiss company specialising in space launch, Swiss Space Systems (S3). A career start marked by an entry into NASA’s coveted “Ames” ecosystem, the cradle of many aerospace unicorns including American superstar, Planet. When he was offered a position on SpaceX’s technology management team in 2018, Benoît turned it down and embarked on the great entrepreneurial adventure as he created Aerospacelab. Thanks to his experience and network, the company quickly succeeded in integrating highly qualified profiles, including experts in the fields of technology and sales. Together, these skills enabled the design and manufacture of the first satellite in just 2 years. It was a resounding success, and one that industry stalwarts such as M. Dordain (ex-director of ESA) and M. Testé (ex-commander of the joint space forces) were quick to endorse. Since then, the company headquartered nearby Brussels (Mont-Saint-Guibert) is steadily increasing and has now over 200 employees. What’s next? The inauguration of Aerospacelab’s megafactory in 2025!
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David Cavaillolès
Chief Executive Officer
Arianespace
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Hervé Derrey
President and Chief Executive Officer
Thales Alenia Space
Hervé Derrey is Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space. In addition to this position, he has also been a member of the board of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) since 2020 and President of the GIFAS Space Commission since 2023. He was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Thales Secure Information and Communications Systems Global Business Unit. From 2012 to 2016 he served as Vice President for Thales’ global Radiocommunication Products Business Line after being named Vice President, Strategic and Infrastructure Networks in 2011. From 1991 to 2011, Hervé Derrey held various management positions in France and abroad, first at Alcatel, then Alcatel Lucent, with a particular focus on mobile networks and applications, broadband internet and digital transformation. A graduate of École Polytechnique and Telecom ParisTech, Hervé Derrey also holds a degree from the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale (IHEDN), the national defense college. -
Marco Folino
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Spaceopal
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Jean-François Fallacher
Chief Executive Officer
Eutelsat Group
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Michel Friedling (Gen. R.)
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
LookupSpace
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Marco Fuchs
President of ASD-Eurospace
CEO of OHB SE
Marco Fuchs, born in 1962, has been CEO of OHB SE since 2000 and a member of the Supervisory Board of OHB System AG since 2024. He studied law in Berlin, Hamburg, and New York and was admitted to the bar as a lawyer and attorney-at-law. He then worked as a lawyer for the law firm Jones Day in New York and Frankfurt. He has been Honorary Consul of the Republic of Italy in the state of Bremen since 2008 and Vice President of Space at the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) since 2017. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Hensoldt AG. From 2019 to 2025, he was a member of the German Federal Government’s Science Council. -
Clément Galic
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Unseenlabs
Clément Galic graduated from École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC) in 2007.
In 2015, Clément Galic and his brothers, Jonathan and Benjamin, realized that maritime stakeholders were sorely lacking visibility in their own waters (Exclusive Economic Zone, continental shelf, territorial waters, etc.). The maritime industry was limited by legacy surveillance systems, and could not gain an overview of maritime traffic. There was an extensive lack of geolocation data and many ships could engage in unlawful activities. This is why they decided to create Unseenlabs.
Thanks to the technology developed by the Galic brothers, Unseenlabs has become the first French private company to launch a satellite into space. Unseenlabs is today a world leader in space-based RF for the detection of vessels at sea.
The space-based RF detection technology developed by Unseenlabs enables the geolocation of all the vessels navigating at sea, at any time of the day or night, anywhere on the globe, in any weather conditions.
Unseenlabs provides accurate data on maritime traffic, and meets the needs of multiple public and private stakeholders like states, maritime insurance companies, shipowners, NGOs, etc.
The solution provided by Unseenlabs allows powerful actions against unlawful activities at sea such as illegal fishing, overfishing, illegal dumping or piracy.
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Giuseppe Galimberti
Chief Executive Officer
NanoTech
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Hélène Huby
Chief Executive Officer
The Exploration Company
Helene is Co-Founder & CEO of The Exploration Company which builds reusable space capsules that carry goods and humans to space stations around the Earth and to the Moon. She has served as an executive at Airbus Defence & Space and ArianeGroup both in operational and strategic roles: from starting as Head of Innovation to leading major European space programs. She is the Founder and Chair of Urania Ventures, a deep tech investment company. She is the Founder and Chairman of The Karman Project, a non-profit foundation which fosters trust, independent dialogue and cooperation between the ones who shape the future of space. She graduated from ENS-Ulm, Sciences-Po Paris and ENA.
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Nicolas Gaume
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Space Cargo Unlimited
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Juan Tomás Hernani
Chief Executive Officer | President
Satlantis | YEESS
Juan Tomás Hernani is co-founder and CEO of SATLANTIS since 2014, a leading NewSpace Company for Earth and Universe Observation Technologies and End-to-End Solutions for Small Satellites. He is an Industrial Engineer (Engineering School of Bilbao), Economist (Business Administration – Universidad del País Vasco), and has a Master of Science/Advanced Manufacturing (Cranfield Institute of Technology). He has experience both in top management of private companies and in highly ranked positions in public administration. He has been President or CEO in large industrial groups, playing a leading role as entrepreneur and investor in SMEs, with high exposure to internationalization, technology and innovation. Since 2021 he is President of YEESS – Young European Enterprises Syndicate for Space. As CEO of SATLANTIS and President of YEESS, he bridges industry and policy.
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Maciej Krzyżanowski
Chief Executive Officer
CloudFerro
Maciej Krzyżanowski is the CEO of CloudFerro and one of its founders. Maciej’s responsibilities include the development of company’s growth strategy and sales in the European market. He has many years of experience in the ICT sector, where he held executive positions in many companies, most recently at ATM S.A. As the CEO of ATM S.A. Maciej led the company to achieve the position of a leader in Data Center services in Poland. He was a Director on the Board of European Association of Remote Sensing Companies based in Brussels. He is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Space Technology Centre at the AGH University of Krakow. Maciej graduated from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw and holds a PhD in particle physics.
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Rafel Jorda Siquier
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Open Cosmos
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Sebastian Klaus
Chief Executive Officer
Atmos space cargo
Sebastian is CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS Space Cargo, a European company developing reusable re-entry capsules in Lichtenau and Strasbourg. He holds an MSc in Aerospace Engineering focused on atmospheric re-entry and served as an officer in Germany’s Special Forces Command (KSK). At ATMOS, he drives the development of Europe’s critical space-enabled infrastructure to strengthen technological sovereignty and support advanced defence operations with rapid re-entry logistics.
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Giovanni Sylos Labini
Chief Executive Officer
Planetek Italia
Chief Executive Officer at Planetek Italia. He is also BoD Member of D-Orbit S.p.A., Vice Chairman of EARSC (European Association of Remote Sensing Companies), and Board member at SME4SPACE (the European Space SMEs Association) and AIPAS (the Italian Space Industries Association). Degree in Physics. He is an author of several economic and scientific publications on space economics and space systems. Since 1984, he has collaborated on several Earth Observation projects with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA. He was a director of the ASI Center of Space Geodesy facility. He has also served as an Italian delegate to the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation Program Board and as a Professor at IUAV – University of Venice, Italy.
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Milena Lerario
Chief Executive Officer
e-GEOS
Milena Lerario is Chief Executive Officer of e-GEOS since September 2024.
She graduated in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Pisa, specialising in Aerodynamics. She began her professional career in 2008 in Hamburg, Germany, at Industrie Hansa, where she was involved in the A380 vertical tailplane repair campaign for Airbus Deutschland.
In 2011, she then moved on to wing production and certification for the A350XWB in Germany, France and England.
Over the years, she has held managerial roles in different functions, from Corporate Audit as Senior Corporate Operations Auditor to Human Resources, responsible at Group level for the contingent workforce, redeployment & diversity at the Airbus HQ in Toulouse.
In Madrid, between 2018 and 2022, she held the role of Head of Spacecraft Plant Production at national level, implementing a transformation and optimisation of industrial plant processes towards greater innovation and digitalisation.
In April 2022, she was appointed Managing Director of Airbus Italia, the Airbus Defence & Space unit in Italy, with the mission of driving the transformation from service company to mass production.
Since September 2024, she has been CEO of e-GEOS and SVP of Telespazio’s Geo-Info Business Line.
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Yohann Leroy
Chief Executive Officer
MaiaSpace
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Chiara Manfletti
Chief Executive Officer
Neuraspace
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.
Chiara is an eminent speaker and was a part of some of the most sought-after global space conferences:
– 14th and 15th European Space Conference, Brussels
– QSP Summit, Porto 2023
– World Satellite Business Week, Paris, 2022 & 2023
– EU Space Forum, 2023
– Asia Satellite Business Week, Singapore, 2023
– 12th IAASS Conference, Osaka, Japan, 2023
– Satshow 2022 & 2023, Washington DC
– 5th New Space Atlantic Summit, Aveiro (Portugal Space and European Space Agency)
– Silicon Valley Space Week, Mountain View, 2022
– Space Tech Expo Europe, 2022 & 2023
– Portugal Air Summit EDP DSPA Insights Conference
She is bestowed with the title of the “Mother of the Space Safety and Security Programmatic Pillar of ESA” and the “Creator of EuRoC”. Chiara has a Doctorate (Dr. -Ing) degree in Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, a Master Degree in Space Studies (MSS) from International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France and holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, London, UK.
Chiara Manfletti has a dual Italian and German nationality, loves hiking high mountains, photography, beekeeping, ornithology and constructing IoT devices.
Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
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Jens Franzeck
Chief Industrial Officer
ArianeGroup
Dr. Jens Franzeck started his career in 1995 in the Passenger Car Advanced Studies department of Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart, Germany, as a research and development engineer on the newly created range of small-to-medium vehicles. He participated in international research co-operations with MIT in Boston/USA and ETH Zurich. Following the Corporate International Management Development Programme, he joined in 1998 DASA, the Aerospace Division of Daimler-Benz Group, as Senior Manager. In 2000, he was part of the Merger Integration team to create EADS. From 2002 onwards, he moved into Airbus, the Civil Aircraft Division, and held international management positions as Vice President in Procurement, Programmes and Operations. In 2009, Jens Franzeck joined Astrium, the Space division of EADS, as Vice President in charge of the Ariane 5 Exploitation Programme in Les Mureaux, France. In 2014, he moved into Airbus Defence and Space being accountable for Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (M-AIT) in the Space part of the division. In Defence, he then oversaw A400M Operations in Bremen and Seville, Spain, executing a carve-out of the activity as well as an industrial turnaround to achieve a steep production ramp-up. In 2017, Jens Franzeck took over the responsibility of Engineering Integration as a Senior Vice President and became Head of Physical Design for all programmes of Airbus Defence and Space in 2020. Jens Franzeck, 57 years old, holds an Industrial Engineering degree of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and a Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Process Engineering of Stuttgart University. He is an Alumni of the German National Fellowship Foundation.
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Jean-Luc Maria
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Exotrail
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Rafal Modrzewski
Chief Executive Officer
ICEYE
Rafal Modrzewski is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of ICEYE. ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The company provides timely and reliable Earth observation data as well as natural catastrophe solutions for companies and governments. ICEYE is the first company that has successfully miniaturised a SAR satellite, making it possible to launch more units to reliably image any location on Earth, every few hours, every day. With its growing SAR satellite constellation, ICEYE offers its partners unprecedented satellite imaging capabilities, accessing any area of interest faster, more frequently, and at a lower cost.
Since co-founding the project with Pekka Laurila in 2012, which became the company in 2014, Modrzewski has been responsible for overseeing the organisation’s growth and implementing ICEYE’s overall vision. he brings with him deep domain expertise in SAR engineering, and he has received the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 Technology award based on ICEYE’s world-first achievements.
Prior to co-founding ICEYE, Modrzewski researched innovation products at VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) in the RFID and wireless sensing group. He attended the Warsaw University of Technology in Poland, where he studied Electrical Engineering and co-founded the Multimedia Technologies Science Group. Modrzewski continued his studies in Radio Science and Engineering at Aalto University, where he led the on-board data handling team working on Aalto-1, Finland’s first nanosatellite.
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Charlotte Neyret
Chief Executive Officer
European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP)
Passionate about aerospace, Charlotte has more than 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry in various roles, mainly at Thales Alenia Space. She started as an engineer, managing satellite operations and has held different responsibilities in sales, marketing and business development in the space sector for the ATM, navigation and telecommunications domains. She also oversaw space-based navigation programs and, as a Director of Business Initiatives and European Footprint Development in Strategy, she established national and international partnerships and was involved in diverse innovation projects and the digital transformation of the company.
Charlotte Neyret has led ESSP as CEO since October 2021. Under her leadership, ESSP has focused on strengthening high-quality satellite navigation services, with European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), as well as on guiding ESSP through diversification and sustainable growth. ESSP is already established as a service provider of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services. This strategic direction aims to support the digital transformation of European airspace, contributing to more efficient and environmentally friendly aviation operations.
A significant initiative under Neyret’s tenure is ESSP’s role as Iris service provider. Iris which seeks to modernize air traffic management by enabling real-time collaboration between pilots, air traffic controllers, and airline operation centers through secure satellite datalink communications. This program is expected to enhance airspace usage, reduce delays, save fuel, and minimize the environmental impact of aviation operations.
During Charlotte’s tenure as CEO, ESSP has also become the first company with two EASA certifications as a satellite navigation and communication service provider.
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Luis Mayo
Chief Executive Officer
Hispasat
Luis Mayo Muñiz has held prominent leadership roles in the European space sector. He served as Chairman of Galileo Systems and Services and represented Spain on the Board of Directors of Galileo Industries, actively contributing to the development of the Galileo program. Since 1998, he has played a key role in shaping Spain’s National Space Plan. In 2020, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Innovation Support Program in Navigation at the European Space Agency (ESA). He is also a member of distinguished bodies, including the Advisory Committee of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE) under the Higher Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN). Mr. Mayo holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the School of Aeronautical Engineers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and has completed several executive education programs at IESE Business School. Since December 2025, Mr. Mayo is CEO of Hispasat.
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Thomas Parry
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
SPHERICAL
CEO and Founder of SPHERICAL. Building highly capable satellite electronic systems with sovereign in-house microchip design platform. Making systems more powerful, reliable and flexible. -
Gabriele Pieralli
Chief Executive Officer
Telespazio
Gabriele Pieralli has been CEO of Telespazio since April 2024.
He is also currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thales Alenia Space Italia.
After completing his military service in the Arma dei Carabinieri in 1997, he graduated from University of Florence in Electronic Engineering and specialized in Telecommunications. At the same time, he started his professional career joining Angelantoni Industrie, one of the world’s leading companies in environmental testing and space simulation. Two years later he was appointed Area Manager for United Kingdom & Commonwealth Countries.
In 2001 he joined Sirio Panel (at that time a subsidiary of Marconi) and held responsibility to develop the international business as Export Sales Manager. In 2010 he was appointed as Director of Sales & Contracts. In this time frame, he also developed his education at SDA Bocconi.
In 2014 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sirio Panel (at that time a subsidiary of Finmeccanica) with the great challenge to lead and grow the company after the sudden death of the founder and charismatic CEO. In 2017 the company was incorporated into Leonardo as Commercial Electronics Line of Business and he was appointed as Senior Vice President Commercial Electronics.
In 2018, he was appointed as Senior Vice President of Avionic Equipment and Electronics (AEE) Line of Business within the Airborne & Space Systems Division of Leonardo, a business across Airborne Communications, Identification, Mission & Plant Management Computers, Displays, as well as Electrical systems including Cockpit Controls, Lighting and Power Distribution.
In February 2020, he was appointed as Senior Vice President Electronic Equipment and Communications, a new Leonardo Line of Business.
From November 2020 to February 2021, he was appointed Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Strategy and Competitive Analysis within the Electronics Division of Leonardo. In March 2021 he was appointed as Executive Vice President of the Electronics Division, of which he became Managing Director in September 2021 -
Omar Qaise
Chief Executive Officer
OQ Technology
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.
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Giulio Ranzo
Chief Executive Officer
Avio
Giulio is CEO of Avio SpA since October 2015. He is also a board member of Arianespace SA, Europropulsion SA and Regulus SA in France. In 2016 he founded In-Orbit SpA, and investment vehicle through which he co-invested with 50 Avio managers, acquiring a 4% share of Avio’s capital. In 2017 he listed Avio on the Milan Stock Exchange on the STAR segment with over 70% free float.
From 2011 to 2015 he was Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy of the Avio Group and worked on the de-merger of the aero-engine business, which was sold to General Electric in 2013. In 2014-2015 he supported the post-merger integration with GE Aviation.
Between 2007 and 2011 he was Co-General Manager and CFO of the Italian activities of Cementir Holding, an international group operating in the building materials industry.
Giulio started his career in Booz Allen Hamilton, a global strategy consulting firm where he worked in the period 2000-2007 as Associate, Senior Associate and Principal within the Global Aerospace&Defense practice for several clients in Europe, US and Middle East.
Giulio holds a Laurea cum laude in Civil Engineering from the University of Rome and a PhD in Structural Engineering from a joint program between the University of Rome and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Between 1996 and 1999 he was a Graduate Research Assistant and Development Engineer at the University of California San Diego and he has co-authored a number of scientific publications on international journals in the domain of Structural Engineering.
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Jaume Sanpera
Chief Executive Officer
Sateliot
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Álvaro Sánchez
Chief Executive Officer
INTEGRASYS
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. -
Jesús Serrano
Chief Executive Officer
GMV
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Martin Sion
Chief Executive Officer
ArianeGroup
After graduating from École Centrale de Paris, Martin Sion, 55, joined the Safran group in 1990 when the Société Européenne de Propulsion (now ArianeGroup) commissioned him as a
Visiting Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories (USA). Subsequently, he held various engineering positions in the Snecma Space Engines Division before being appointed at the head
of the Technical Department of this Division in early 2005.
In December 2006, he was appointed head of Improvement initiatives at Snecma (now Safran Aircraft Engines), of which he joined the Executive Committee. In February 2009, he was appointed
head of the Snecma “Dressing and Equipment” Center of Industrial Excellence.
From September 2010 to June 2013, he ran the Space Engines Division of Snecma in Vernon.
In July 2013, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aircelle (now Safran Nacelles), which he led until June 2015.
Since June 2015, he has been Chairman of Safran Electronics & Defense, a subsidiary of Safran, which brings together activities to observe, decide and guide for the commercial aviation,
defense and space markets.
Since May 2020, Martin Sion has been a member of the Board of Directors of ArianeGroup.
Since 4 April 2023, Martin Sion is CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of ArianeGroup ; he takes over from André-Hubert Roussel. -
Rolf Skatteboe
Chief Executive Officer
KSAT
Rolf Skatteboe is President and CEO of Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (KSAT), a Norwegian company providing services for satellite operation and control and as well as services based on Earth observation data.
KSAT headquarters is in Tromsø, Norway and the company owns and operates ground stations at 28 locations world-wide, including Antarctica and the Arctic. KSAT has more than 360 antennas installed at it sites and supports over 250 different satellites with 1,5 million contacts annually. The KSAT ground network is optimised for TT&C (Telemetri tracking & Control), launch support, as well as data reception.
KSAT is also a leading provider of near-real time services with a focus on marine monitoring using information from SAR satellites. SAR data is unprecedented for maritime situational awareness services, including ship and oil spill detection and ice monitoring. Satellite based ship detection is indispensable when combatting for illegal fisheries. KSAT has (2022) 300 employees and an annual turnover of 135 MEuro.
Rolf was one of the founders of KSAT and has been with the company as President and CEO since it was established in 2002. Prior to joining KSAT he worked at the Norwegian Space Agency (NSC) for 10 years in various position, including VP for innovation and technology. At NSC he was also responsible for new project development and Space Science, including the development of the Svalbard ground station
He holds a MSc, Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Norwegian Institute of Technology, 1984 and a MSc, GeoPhysics, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 1994 as well as several management courses at Norwegian University of Business and Economics. He holds various board positions.
- Member of Direksjonen. Polyteknisk forening. 2020 ->
- Member of the Norwegian Scientific Academy of Polar Research. 2021
- Member of Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (Norsk Tekniske Vitenskapsakademi, NTVA), 2019
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Michael Schoellhorn
Chief Executive Officer
Airbus Defence and Space
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Luc Tytgat
Independent Expert
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Raycho Raychev
Founder & CEO
EnduroSat
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Thomas Sinn
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Dcubed
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Michaël Trabbia
Chief Executive Officer
Orange Wholesale
Michaël Trabbia was appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Orange Wholesale on 3 April 2023.
Michaël Trabbia started his career at French regulator Arcep in 2001, where he contributed to several ministerial cabinets including European Affairs, regional planning, and industry.
After being appointed Director of Strategy and Development at TDF in 2007, he joined Orange in 2011, where he was first the Group’s SVP for Corporate Public Affairs, then Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Group’s Executive Committee.
In 2016, he was appointed CEO of Orange Belgium.
From 2020 to April 2023, Michaël Trabbia served as the Group’s Chief Technology & Innovation Officer.
Michaël Trabbia is a graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom ParisTech, and holds a master’s of advanced studies in industrial economics.
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Tom Trill
Chief Executive Officer
Qualinx B.V.
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Francisco Vilhena da Cunha
Chief Executive Officer
GEOSAT
Francisco Vilhena da Cunha is the CEO of GEOSAT, a European Earth Observation very high-resolution satellite operator. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Técnico in Lisbon and an Executive MBA from AESE. He has 20 years of experience in defining strategies and turning them into reality, applied to technological, industrial, and business development in the aerospace and defense sector, both in the public and private sectors. He has collaborated with companies and institutions such as OMNIDEA, TEKEVER, ALMADESIGN, CEIIA or the Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology, among others. Francisco is a board member of AED, the Portuguese Cluster for Aerospace and Defense, and has been elected to the EARSC Board of Directors.
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Sabrina Alam
Chief Executive Officer
Matter Space and Defence
As CEO of Matter Space and Defence and formerly a Director leading KPMG’s EU Space Practice, Sabrina brings deep expertise in translating space technologies into real-world applications. She has worked across governments, institutions, and the private sector on a wide range of space and defence related 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, France. 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 her MBA. She has held senior roles at SES Satellites, where she developed and implemented the organisation’s ESG strategy, building the function and capabilities from the ground up. In her previous role at BDO, she created and led a new service line, advising clients across EU institutions and the private sector. In addition to her professional work, Sabrina is actively engaged in education and sustainability. She lectures on space and sustainability at institutions including the International Space University, EPFL, the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS), the Luxembourg House of Training, and universities 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 UNOOSA Space4Women programme. -
Philippe Blatt
President and Managing DIrector
Astroscale France
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Massimo Claudio Comparini
Managing Director, Space Division
Leonardo
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.
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Silvia de Castro Garcia
Managing Director
Starion
Silvia de Castro is Managing Director at Starion Group, where she leads the strategy and execution of services and systems for major European space programmes. With over 20 years of experience in the European space sector, she has held senior operational and leadership roles, including Chief Operations Officer and Vice President for Spain. Silvia combines deep expertise in programme governance, risk management and compliance with a strong background in engineering, business administration and academia.
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Rolf Kozlowski
Managing Director
DLR-GfR
Rolf Kozlowski managing director of GfR. As a former consultant in Air Traffic Control, Defence and Space he gained a lot of experience in managing mission critical projects. As a graduate computer scientist with a doctorate immediately following. In his career at DLR German Space Operations Centre he led projects for human space flight, earth observation and geostationary communication satellites for the German Armed Forces. During these ten years with personnel responsibility, In his role as GfR managing director, he is responsible for the departments of Operations, Infrastructure, IT, Security, and for the employees seconded to Spaceopal GmbH. -
Roberto Mulatti
Managing Director for Space
Serco Europe
Roberto has spent most of his professional life in IBM, where he developed his career across several sectors. Roberto has a broad expertise in IT software and services industry, governments, consumer electronics, travel and transportation, consumer packaged goods and retails, banking and insurances as well as energy & utilities.
Roberto has successfully led a number of business areas and people, and has achieved significant results in new business start-ups, merger of products, and contracts sales growth. Roberto joined Serco in November 2017 as Italy General Manager, and more recently Managing Director for Space Europe.
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Sandra Budimir
General Partner
Expansion Ventures
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Charles Beigbeder
General Partner
Expansion Ventures
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Giampiero Di Paolo
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice-President of Observation, Exploration and Navigation
Thales Alenia Space
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Markus Möller
Member of the Management Board responsible for Business Development and Strategy
OHB
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Xavier Llairó
Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer
Pangea Propulsion
Xavier Llairó is co-founder of Pangea Propulsion, a company dedicated to the development of advanced propulsion systems for space applications. At Pangea, he leads the company’s commercial and institutional relations, working closely with public agencies and private customers. Pangea is actively developing propulsion solutions for launch vehicles and in-space systems, supporting missions for both commercial and institutional programmes. The company works with major space organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), CNES, and the Spanish Space Agency, contributing to the development of next-generation propulsion technologies for European space access and in-space operations. Before co-founding Pangea, Xavier worked in the strategy department of the Caisse des Dépôts Group and as a strategy and innovation consultant for large corporations and public institutions, including Aéroports de Paris and Airbus. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from ESADE and a Master’s degree from ESCP Paris.
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Xavier Bertrán
Chief Product and Innovation Officer
SES
Dr Xavier Bertrán is the Chief Product & Innovation Officer at SES and drives a future-proof product vision aligned with strategic business priorities for innovation and growth.
Xavier joined SES in 2022 as Senior Vice President to lead European Programmes that included strategic projects with the European Commission, European Space Agency, and other New Space initiatives. Prior to SES, he was at Airbus for over 20 years where he held several executive positions in Upgrade Services, Diversification Programmes, Airbus ATR SAS and was also the Deputy Director for the Galileo PPP programme. Xavier also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of several companies including Airbus Interior Services S.A.S, ATR GIE, KID Systeme GmbH and Skytra Ltd.
Xavier earned a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Technology (RWTH) in Aachen and a Global Executive MBA from the IESE Business School in Barcelona.
Xavier is a British, German and Spanish citizen.
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Enrique Fraga
General Manager Space Systems
GMV
Enrique Fraga holds a degree in Mathematical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and has completed a Business Management program at IESE Business School.
He began his professional career in 1997 at the Unión Fenosa group, where he performed software development work and process consulting in its Cash Management area. During 2001 and 2002 he worked in the telecommunications industry, performing analytical and software architecture work on projects for the companies Amena and Madritel. He joined GMV in 2002, initially working as a project engineer in the control centers area, then later as a project manager. In 2006, he was appointed as head of the Eutelsat division within the control centers unit, and two years later the entire control centers area for commercial satellite operators became part of the division he supervised. This is an area where GMV has become the world’s leading provider of ground control systems for commercial telecommunications satellite operators.
In 2011, he was appointed as manager of GMV’s control centers and satellite mission planning unit, and in 2022 he was appointed as general manager of its new Earth Observation, Exploration, Science, Space Security, Telecommunications and Space Transport Systems sector, reporting directly to the group’s general manager. In this position, he leads a team of more than 800 engineers, who work at all of GMV’s international subsidiaries where space-related activities are performed.
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Stella Guillen
Chief Commercial Officer
Isar Aerospace
As the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Isar Aerospace, Stella Guillen is responsible for all Strategy, Business Development, Sales, and Marketing activities. Stella’s background spans the satellite industry, from telecommunications to launch services.
From 2010 to 2016, Stella built up and oversaw sales efforts and client relationships for SpaceX. She joined the company at an early stage of the Falcon 9 / Falcon Heavy program, signing SpaceX’s first European customers such as SES, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, Hispasat, and others, winning more than $1B in sales. Stella worked in different Business Development and Sales positions: for Arianespace, Inc. and Spaceflight Industries, she managed all aspects of the launch services sales and marketing activities for customers and some of the largest satellite fleet operators such as
SES, Intelsat, and satellite service providers such as Spacenet and Verestar, she opened new markets worldwide extending their customer base and raising company valuation.She holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University.
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Miguel Romay
General Manager Navigation Systems
GMV
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Jean-Hubert Lenotte
Chief Strategy and Resources Officer
Eutelsat
Jean-Hubert Lenotte joined Eutelsat in September 2013 and was appointed a member of the Eutelsat Executive Committee in July 2016. He has also served on the Board of Directors of OneWeb since November 2022 and of Broadpeak since April 2022.
He began his career at Bouygues, where he notably contributed to the project team that created Bouygues Telecom in 1994. He joined McKinsey & Company in Paris in 1997 and was elected Partner in 2004. In 2009, he became Head of the Consumer Service Line within McKinsey’s global Telecommunications, Media and Technology practice.
Jean-Hubert Lenotte is a Belgian national. He is a graduate of École Polytechnique and holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance from Sciences Po Paris.
At Eutelsat, he currently serves at Chief Strategy and Resources Officers, a position that encompasses the following activities: corporate strategy, institutional and international affairs, M&A, investments, fleet deployment, regulatory affairs, capacity planning, CSR and innovation. -
Jean-Marie Bétermier
Executive Vice-President Space, Safran Electronics & Defense and Chief Executive Officer
Safran Data Systems
Graduated from École Polytechnique (1984), ISAE-SUPAERO and IEP Institute of Political Studies of Toulouse (1986), Jean-Marie Bétermier began his career at the Technical Department of CNES, the French Space Agency. Then, he joined the CS Group (Communication & Systems), where he held various management positions. In 2001, after the acquisition of CS by Gunnebo AB, he occupied CEO roles for different Business Units of the Group. From 2008 to 2012, he led IER, the terminals and systems division for airport and airlines ticketing solutions of Bolloré Group. Since 2012, Jean-Marie has been managing Safran Data Systems, a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense.
In 2021, he is appointed Space Executive Vice-President of the newly created Space Global Business Unit of Safran Electronics & Defense, which gathers all Safran’s space activities including Safran Reosc, Safran Data Systems and Safran Spacecraft Propulsion. He continues to serve as President of Safran Data Systems. -
Sylvain D’Hoine
Executive Vice President Space
Sopra Steria
Sylvain D’HOINE, a graduate of École Polytechnique with a specialization in computer science, began his career at Airbus in the United States and France. After founding and developing a software publishing start-up, he joined CS Group in 1999. In 2003, he took over the Space Business Unit and expanded it to its current size of over 1,000 employees across France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Romania. Today, within Sopra Steria, this unit is a leading European player in space engineering services and turnkey space software systems, both on the ground and on board. It supports its customers from mission analysis through to operations, leveraging cutting-edge expertise in digital technologies and space algorithms. This mastery enables it to address the challenges of Space for Security and Defence while embracing new uses of space.
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Nicolas Chantrenne
Vice-President, Institutional Affairs
Thales Alenia Space
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Wolfgang Dürr
Vice President and Head of Global Business Institutional Space
Airbus Defence and Space
Wolfgang Duerr is Vice President and Head of Global Business Institutional Space at Airbus Defence and Space. He covers the Airbus Space Systems portfolio with focus on business with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Union (EU), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and with Space Agencies and institutional organizations around the globe. He joined the Board of Directors Space Foundation in 2023 and is Chairman of the Committee for Military Space at the German Aerospace Association (BDLI). He held several executive positions at Airbus including a post as Director and Senior Advisor Space to Airbus North America in Washington DC from 10/2015 – 12/2018. He represented Airbus in the Board of Directors German American Business Council (GABC) from 11/2015-12/2019 and was President of the Luxembourg based European non-profit Industry Association Euro2Moon from 10/2021-03/2024. Before joining EADS/Airbus in 2008, he served for more than 20 years in the German Air Force/ Luftwaffe in national/international operational, staff, and commanding assignments. He is a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College Academic Year 2005 and received a “Master of Military Operational Art and Science” from the Air University in Montgomery/AL. He is an Officer of the Reserve Corps in the rank of Colonel (General Staff). Wolfgang Duerr holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the German Armed Forces Munich. He is a graduate from the Senior Leadership Course (SP12) of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS) in Berlin.
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Alain Fauré
Head of Space Systems
Airbus Defence and Space
Alain Fauré has been appointed as Head of Space Systems within Airbus Defence and Space, since 1st March 2024. He is also President of Airbus Defence and Space SAS France.
He was previously Senior Vice President Engineering in charge of the Systems Centre of Competence in Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The Centre is responsible for Aircraft Systems for all Airbus aircraft (Aircraft Control, Cockpit and Avionics, Power on board, Landing Gear, Air Systems).
Alain was General Manager of Airbus Operations SAS France since 1st January 2023.
He was also Chairman of Airbus Protect, an Airbus subsidiary that specialises in Product Safety and Cybersecurity services.
Between 2014 and 2018, he was Head of Avionics and Simulation Products at Airbus Commercial Aircraft, managing a team designing and manufacturing avionics products (electronics hardware and software) and simulation tools.
Before joining Airbus in 2014, he held a variety of technical and management positions in Thales, where his last assignment was to manage the Electronics Centre of Competence for space applications within Thales Alenia Space (TAS).
Alain graduated as an Engineer in INSA Toulouse. -
François Lombard
Head of Connected Intelligence
Airbus Defence and Space
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Marino Fragnito
Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing
Thales Alenia Space
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James Frelk
SVP Data Services
Intuitive Machines
Mr. James J. Frelk is an experienced leader in government and industry, shaping commercial and government programs on national security, commercial satellite earth imaging, ISR, cybersecurity, autonomy/artificial intelligence, and other fields. Mr. Frelk currently serves as Senior Vice President for Data Services at Intuitive Machines. Mr. Frelk previously served as NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for PA&E, Director of the Office of Space Commerce (US Department of Commerce), and assisted in founding both Lockheed’s Space Imaging and Maxar’s Earthwatch/Digital Globe. He is Vice Chair of the National Security Space Association Moorman Center for Space Studies where he provides strategic guidance and thought leadership for national security space initiatives and advises on space policy, defense, and emerging technologies. He has served in executive positions for more than 20 years, including positions that managed strategic partnerships with the National Reconnaissance Office, the Department of Defense, and other non-government agencies. In his most recent role, Mr. Frelk led strategic initiatives for autonomous robotic solutions and spearheaded Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing solutions for GPS-denied environments and Joint All-Domain Command and Control strategies for the Department of Defense. Mr. Frelk received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Northeastern Illinois, having majors in three disciplines — Business Administration, Political Science, and History. Mr. Frelk has also completed ongoing educational training at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School/Government Executive Program (Driving Government Performance), and the Office of Personnel Management Federal Executive Institute (Collaborating Across Organizational Boundaries & Building a Great Place to Work). He is a co-editor and author of Defending Against Ballistic Missile Attack and Contested Space.
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Elodie Viau
Senior Vice-President, Telecommunication and Navigation
Airbus Defence and Space
Elodie Viau joined ADS as Head of Space Systems Engineering from June 2023. For 3 years prior to this, Ms Viau worked for the European Space Agency – ESA as Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications. She led the development of ESA telecommunication ARTES programmes portfolio and the creation of 3 news programmes: EU Secure Connectivity Programme IRIS2, Moonlight and Civil Security from Space. From 2008 to 2020, Ms Viau worked for the satellite operator SES.
As Vice-President for Technology Program Management, she led new space segment development as well as end-to-end system design and implementation of new integrated services. Previously, she was the SES Program Manager of nine satellites built by Airbus. She gained two MSc: respectively from Telecom Sud Paris and from the International Space University complemented by an MBA from the Open University.
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Ulli Leibnitz
Senior Vice President CS and Head SPACE Germany
CGI Germany
Ulli Leibnitz leads the Space Business Unit at CGI Germany, drawing on more than three decades of international experience in the space sector.
After graduating in Aerospace Engineering from the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich and serving as a commissioned officer in the German Air Force, he turned his passion for space into a lifelong professional pursuit.
Today, Ulli Leibnitz focuses on advancing the digital transformation of the space industry and strengthening the economic and strategic role of space technologies across sectors — from enhancing data sovereignty to enabling resilience in critical infrastructures.
He is also actively involved in national and international policy and industry bodies, where he works to foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia in shaping the future of space activities in and from Germany. -
Lars Neumann
Senior Vice President T Cloud
Deutsche Telekom
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Joost Elstak
Vice-President Missions
ICEYE
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Mohammad Iranmanesh
Managing Director Belgium
ConstellR
Mohammad Iranmanesh is a Space Systems Engineer and Entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in systems engineering and technical leadership for complex space hardware and software projects. He is currently the Managing Director of constellr Belgium. constellr is a European leader in satellite technology & data services, delivering mission-critical intelligence for climate resilience and sovereign decision-making. Mohammad holds a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Space Systems from ISAE-Supaero, along with a certificate in Management of Innovation from HEC Paris. Passionate about leveraging space technology to build a more sustainable future, Mohammad thrives on leading multidisciplinary projects, managing complex systems, and collaborating with diverse teams to bring innovative solutions to life.
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Olivier Lemaitre
Secretary General
Eurospace
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Žaklin Butinar
Interim Secretary General
Eurisy
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Josef Kaspar
Chair
ESRE
Josef Kašpar, a distinguished alumnus of the Czech Technical University in Prague with a degree in Aircraft Construction, is a visionary leader dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the aerospace industry. His relentless pursuit of knowledge has led him to specialize in project management, financial management, and intellectual property rights.
Since 1994, he has been instrumental in shaping the future of aviation at the VZLU AEROSPACE – The Czech Aerospace Research Centre in Prague-Letňany. Starting as a research scientist focusing on aircraft propellers and composite technologies, he has since 2011 held the position of Board Chairman and CEO, passionately driving innovative research and development projects.
Josef Kašpar is the author of three utility models and over 60 technical and scientific publications. In 2024, he assumed the role of Chairman of ESRE (Association of European Space Research Establishments), solidifying his status as a leading European expert. Furthermore, he serves on the boards of prestigious international organizations such as EREA (Association of European Research Establishments in Aeronautics, where he served as President from 2014-15), and IFAR (International Forum for Aviation Research).
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Afke Schaart
EVP International Affairs
Eutelsat Group
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Alberto Agueda
Director of Space Surveillance and Traffic Management
GMV
Alberto Águeda is an MSc Aerospace Engineer with +20 years of international experience in the space market within GMV and +15 years of managerial and business development experience. He has on significant technical expertise in Space Flight Dynamics, Navigation, (Precise) Orbit Determination, Space Surveillance & Tracking, and Space Traffic Management. Currently, he is the Director of Space Surveillance and Traffic Management (SST & STM) at GMV. He is the head of the department´s operations, including management (+100 engineers in 9 countries: Spain, Germany, France, UK, Poland, Romania, Portugal, The Netherlands and USA), accounting (+10 M€ yearly revenue, with average 2-digit annual growth in the last decade), business development (dozens of customers and partners) and contracts. His mission is to manage the Space Surveillance and Traffic Management (SST & STM) business and its engineering team and ensure their respective growth to strengthen GMV’s leading position and look for new customers, opportunities, and niches for GMV’s advanced technology, systems, products, and services in these fields.
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Augusto Caramagno
Director of Strategy, Cooperation & Growth
Indra Space
He was one of the founders of Deimos back in year 2001 and now at INDRA as Director of Strategy, Cooperation and Growth, driving the evolution of the company towards End-to-End space solutions based on small platforms, in close cooperation with other Spanish and European companies. -
Mariella Graziano
Director of Science, Exploration and Transportation strategy
GMV
Mariella Graziano is an Aerospace Engineer from the Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza-Università di Roma). She joined GMV in 1999 and since 2022 she has held the position of Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development for Science, Exploration and Transportation – GMV Space Systems.
She started his career working at TER SRL, a small Italian technological company. She has been in ESA as YGT working in systems engineering and space simulation.
Since joining GMV, she has assumed various technical and management responsibilities. In 2007 she is appointed Executive Director of the Space Segment and Robotics business unit, a position she will hold until 2020, the year in which she is nominated Head of Strategy and International Coordination for the same domains. In 2022, and because of a new organization by GMV, she is appointed Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development of Science, Exploration and Transportation – GMV Space Systems. She is member of the GMV-Alén Space Executive committee.
Graziano is Academician of the IAA, The International Academy of Astronautics, Engineering Science. She is an active member of numerous international associations, including the IAA Planetary Defence Committee, the IAF Committees for Space Exploration, Planetary Defence and NEO, and Industrial Relations, as well as the Global Exploration Conference. She has been part of the Board of Directors for Women In Aerospace Europe for STEAM and Education Outreach. She is member of Advisory Council of the Journal of Field Robotics and has more than 50 articles and publications in the space field.
Likewise, Mariella actively participates in different programs to promote youth and female talents towards training in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and in the dissemination of space culture among young generations.
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Piotr Wesolowski
Director Space Programmes
Deutsche Telekom
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Brian Weeden
Systems Director for the Center for Space Policy and Strategy
The Aerospace Corporation
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Brett Stephens
Director, International and Government Programs
Firefly Aerospace
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Ariana Carruth
Director of Spacecraft, Commercial and Civil
Firefly Aerospace
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Eric Even
Senior Vice President Head of Space Digital
Airbus Defence and Space
Eric Even is the Head of Space Digital for Connected Intelligence as of January 01st 2024. Eric is a member of the Connected Intelligence Executive Committee and leads a team of more than 2,000 people worldwide. Space Digital enables trusted space-related information superiority to support national security and business-critical operations through the provision of end-to-end solutions, delivering:
– Systems Integration
– Ground Segment
– Imagery & Analytics
– Advanced geospatial and communications solutionsAs part of Airbus Defence and Space, the Connected Intelligence programme line focuses on a range of digital solutions related to Space, Defence, Public Safety and Cyber security.
Eric started his career in the automotive industry within Siemens Group concentrating on programme and sales management. Working with customers such as Renault and Nissan allowed him to develop deep insights into international business in North & South America, Japan, Korea and Europe.
Joining Airbus in 2008 at the Group Headquarter, Eric’s initial venture into ‘Space’ focused on Latin America and industrial partnerships. From February 2014 until July 2017, Eric headed the Airbus Defence and Space CEO office. Prior to taking up his new role as Head Space Digital, Eric was Vice President and Head of Sales for Connected Intelligence in the area of business development, bid management and marketing.
Being Franco-German, Eric holds a European double business degree from Münster (Germany) and Bordeaux (France). He has always been interested in international business and European integration, and is a member of the German “Zeit” foundation and a French Foreign trade advisor (CCEF).
Eric is married and has two daughters. In his free time, he enjoys discovering different countries and cultures, wine tasting, skiing and tennis.
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Christian Fuchs
Head of the Department Optical Satellite Links
DLR
Christian Fuchs is heading the Optical Satellite Links department at DLR’s Institute of Communications and Navigation. He has more than 20 years of experience in free-space optical communications research. His work has covered the development of laser terminals for airborne and satellite platforms, the investigation of laser beam propagation through atmospheric channels, and contributions to satellite-based quantum key distribution systems, among other areas.
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Axel Vidmark
Head of Market Region EMEA
Swedish Space Corporation
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Nicola Pizzolorusso
Vice President Strategic Planning, Scenarios and New Initiatives
Telespazio
Vice President of Strategic Planning, Scenarios and New Initiatives at Telespazio (Leonardo – Thales Group). With over 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, business transformation, and management control, he has played a key role in shaping strategic plans, leading M&A transactions, and driving growth initiatives in the aerospace and space sectors. He is also responsible for the business planning activities of the Moonlight Program, a PPP with ESA aimed at developing a lunar-orbiting infrastructure to provide communication and navigation services for upcoming lunar missions. Before his current role, he served as Head of Business Transformation at Telespazio, where he managed post-merger integrations and launched the Telespazio Product Portfolio platform. Previously, as Head of Strategic Planning and M&A, he oversaw investment initiatives, business plans for ESA and EUSPA programs, and several acquisitions in Earth Observation and New Space domains. Nicola began his career as a financial analyst at Alcatel Lucent and later held roles in management control and strategic planning at Leonardo Corporate. He holds a Master’s degree in General Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University, with international experience in Australia and the United States. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and co-founder of Eggup®, a soft-skills assessment platform acquired by Zucchetti in 2022
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Cristina Valente
Head of ESA / ASI Market Unit
Telespazio
Cristina Valente is a senior aerospace professional with over 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors. She has worked with the Italian Space Agency and leading companies such as Telespazio, collaborating with ESA and NASA on major European and national space programmes. Her profile combines deep expertise in space policy and programmes with strong strategic and commercial capabilities, including business development and the positioning of innovative space initiatives. -
Nicolas Lefort
Head of New Markets
MBDA
Nicolas Lefort is a senior defence and space professional working at the intersection of strategy, technology and operational readiness. With extensive experience across the European aerospace and defence ecosystem (Airbus Group, OneWeb, MBDA), he has led and supported complex business development, transformation and innovation initiatives involving space connectivity and collaborative combat. Having led and coordinated multi-disciplinary teams combining engineering, programme, and commercial expertise, Nicolas brings a pragmatic understanding of how industrial constrains, policy objectives and operational requirements intersect, particularly in the context of European autonomy and collective security. One of his current goal at MBDA is to bring space connectivity and integrate space-enabled services into operational defence systems.
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James O’Connor
Head of Imagery
SatVu
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Fernando García
Business Director
Indra Space
Fernando García is Space Business Unit Director at Indra. His professional life has been linked to Aerospace and Defense activities, with managerial responsibilities over different business units at Indra Group, including Unmanned Vehicles, GBAD and Communications. Mr. García led the integration of Indra´s space activities with DEIMOS, resulting in Indra Space Upstream BU. He was CEO at Startical, a JV company determined to provide ATM services from Space. Fernando holds an MS in Electronic Engineering from ICAI (Madrid) and an MBA from IESE (Barcelona).
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Logan Ware
Commercial Director
Blue Origin
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Adriano Baptista
Senior Advisor for Defence, Security, and Intelligence
European Space Imaging (EUSI)
Adriano Baptista has over 35 years of expertise in the IMINT and sectors, with a strong focus on defence and security. He is currently a Senior Advisor for Defence, Security, and Intelligence at European Space Imaging. Previously, he was the Head of the Operations Division at the European Union Satellite Centre (EU SatCen). In this role, Adriano was instrumental in managing and directing the centre’s operational activities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality geospatial intelligence to support Member States and the decision-making processes of the EU in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Adriano’s extensive career also includes 15 years as an officer in the Portuguese Air Force, where he served in various capacities, including Imagery Analyst, Aerial Photography Operator, and Intelligence Officer. He qualified as an Imagery Analyst at the Joint School of Photographic Interpretation (UK). He holds a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from the University of West Florida (USA) and has completed the High-Level Course in Common Foreign and Security Policy at the European Security and Defence College
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Alessio Bonucci
Associate Director
Boston Consulting Group
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Morgane Lecas
Director of Strategy and Public Affairs
Astroscale France
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Julien Lamamy
Chief Executive Officer
ispace-EUROPE
Dr. Julien-Alexandre Lamamy is the CEO at ispace Europe. He has over 15 years of professional experience in space engineering working at the MIT Space Systems Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Orbital ATK, and ispace Europe. At ispace, Julien’s team developed, built, testing, and launched the first European lunar rover and is currently leading ESA’s first surface exploration mission. Julien holds Masters from Ecole Centrale de Lyon, and a Masters and a Ph.D. in Space Systems Engineering from MIT.
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Gopika Suresh
Co-Founder
Marble Imaging
Gopika Suresh is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Marble Imaging. She leads the company’s product and technical strategy and heads the Data and Products team, where the L0–L2 processing pipelines, geospatial analytics tools, and the Kaleidoscope data and analytics portal are developed. She is an Earth Observation scientist with over 15 years of experience in developing advanced methods to extract actionable information from satellite data (SAR and multispectral), with a strong focus on coastal hazards and disaster mapping. Her professional background includes roles as a scientist at the German Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), lecturing at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, and postdoctoral research at the Earth Observatory of Singapore. Gopika holds a PhD in Marine Geosciences from the University of Bremen, an MSc from the Technical University of Munich, and a B.Tech from the University of Kerala
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Pierre Wilhelm
Chief Executive Officer
Aerospacelab Switzerland
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Véronique Soulé Revel
Global Business Development
Orus
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Lubos Fedora
Senior Sales & Business Development Manager
Mynaric
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.
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Tom Greenwood
Mission Sales Business Development Manager
ICEYE
An Earth Observation and space missions specialist with experience spanning upstream satellite systems and downstream operational applications.
As part of the ICEYE Missions Team, Tom is a key point of contact for SAR-based mission solutions for defence, security, and government customers worldwide. His work focuses on enabling sovereign and federated satellite ISR capabilities, designed to meet tactical requirements for latency, revisit, resilience and assured availability. ICEYE operates the world’s largest Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite constellation, delivering battle-proven, all-weather intelligence to support mission-critical operations.
In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, timely and reliable space-based intelligence is crucial for informed decision-making and operational advantage.
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Paul Coutinho
Head of System Engineering
DLR-GfR
Paul Coutinho is the Head of Systems Engineering at DLR Gesellschaft für Raumfahrtanwendungen (GfR) mbH. He has worked in satellite operations for over 25 years, contributing to a wide range of missions in Earth observation, human spaceflight, telecommunications, and navigation. Over the past 15 years, he has been involved at all levels of deployment and operations of the Galileo system. DLR GfR, based in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, is renowned for its role in Galileo operational services, including the routine operation and maintenance of the satellite constellation.
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Milva Carbonaro
Chief Executive Officer, GISIG and Coordinator
SPACE4GEO
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Alain Arnaud
Head of Digital Ocean Program
Mercator Ocean International
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Alberto Arribas
Head of Software Engineering and IA
National Oceanography Centre
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Jason Soloff
Lunar Data Network Chief Engineer
Intuitive Machines
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Elena Sokova
Executive Director
VCDNP
Elena K. Sokova is the Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Her primary research areas are international organizations and regimes in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, fissile materials security and control, nuclear non-proliferation issues in Eurasia, non-proliferation and disarmament education and training. Prior to her post in Vienna, Elena was Deputy Director, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she worked since 1997. Elena Sokova authored numerous articles, book chapters, reports, and other publications on nonproliferation and nuclear security. Elena serves on the Advisory Boards of the International Youth/Student Pugwash, the Peace Research Center Prague, and the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium.
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Eva Schillinger
Secretary General
Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I)
Eva Schillinger is an organic chemist by training and obtained her PhD in materials chemistry at the University of Ulm, Germany. She currently is the Secretary General of the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I), the association behind the co-programmed public private partnership, IAM4EU. Before, Eva worked as Senior Innovation Manager at Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council and secretary for SusChem, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. During her career in industry prior to joining Cefic, Eva held several positions in Research, Development and Innovation management at BASF Coatings, a daughter company of BASF. Eva started her career as scientific editor for Angewandte Chemie, a Wiley-VCH journal.
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Hermann Ludwig Moeller
Director
ESPI
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Herwig Zech
Product Manager
TESAT
Herwig Zech holds the position of Product Manager for Laser Products at TESAT. He has more than 30 years experience in the field of optical communication in terrestrial and space based applications. Dr Zech is with TESAT and is managing the SCOT family, TESATs Scalable Optical Communication Terminal platform. TESAT is a forerunner in the field of optical communication in space and has currently about 150 Laser Terminals in orbit. The lasercom portfolio covers LEO constellations, MEO and GEO applications and optical direct to earth links
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Pierre Lionnet
Research & Managing Director
Eurospace
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Carlos Elavai
Managing Director and Partner
Boston Consulting Group
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Pierre Coheur
Professor and Vice-Rector
Université libre de Bruxelles
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Lea Kessler
Programme Coordinator
ASD-Eurospace
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Ioannis Sokos
Project Manager - EU Affairs
C&V Defence
Ioannis Sokos holds a Master Degree in International Security and Defence Affairs from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He has worked in the United Nations Department of the Peace Operation and the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions (EUROMIL) taking valuable experience in defence and security affairs. He is working in C&V Defence as Project Manager, actively involved in the field of EU defence innovation participating in various European defence projects.
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Matija Rencelj
Director of Strategy and Operations
ESPI
Matija Renčelj is the Director of Strategy and Operations of the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI). He previously worked at ESPI as a Research Fellow as well as at the European Space Agency, the European Commission, in the aviation and commodities sectors, and started his career at a corporate law firm. -
João Falcão Serra
Lead on Industry & Finance
ESPI
João Falcão Serra is a Research Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI). He previously worked as a Diplomat at the Portuguese Foreign Ministry. He holds an LLM In European and International Law and a BA in Political Science and International Relations from NOVA University. -
Louis Reitmann
Research Fellow
VCDNP
Louis Reitmann is a Research Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), a research and dialogue platform. His work focuses on multilateral space governance and space security. -
James Francis
Junior Research Fellow
ESPI
James Francis is a Junior Research Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), whose research primarily focuses on space for security and defence. He first joined ESPI as a Research Intern. Prior to ESPI, he worked at Polestar and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. He holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from the University of Gothenburg and a Bachelor’s degree in International History with Mandarin from the London School of Economics.
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Alice Tidey
Managing Editor for EU Affairs
Euronews
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Alessandro Marrone
Head of Defence Programme
Istituto Affari Internazionali
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Daniela Dobreva-Nielsen
Director Space Applications
bavAIRia
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Emma Gatti
Journalist and former NASA Scientist
SpaceNews
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Jack Parrock
News Correspondent and Presenter
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Jeremy Wilks
Science Correspondent
Euronews
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Julien Bocquet
Associate Director, Defence, Space and Aviation
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Lars Petzold
Lead on Exploration and Science
ESPI
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Lea Pavlovic
Public Affairs Manager, Defence, Space and Aviation
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Marie-Myrtille Marichal
Public Affairs Director, Tech and Telecom
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Rodolfo Zontini
Public Affairs Manager, Defence, Space and Aviation
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Sara Dalledonne
Research Fellow and Lead on Regulatory Affairs
European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)
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Tomas Dimitrov
Deputy Executive Director
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Valentina Bacco
Senior Consultant, Defence, Space and Aviation
logos & Business Bridge Europe
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Giulia Pavesi
Lead on Security and Defence
ESPI