On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), formerly the European GNSS Agency (GSA). Prior to this, he was the Galileo Services Programme Manager from March 2017. 

EUSPA is an Agency of dedicated EU professionals working for a stronger, more competitive and united European Space Programme, creating synergies between satellite navigation (EGNOS & Galileo), Earth Observation (Copernicus) and secure telecommunications (GOVSATCOM). EUSPA designs and delivers user-centered services working together with the European Commission and a wide range of national, European and international stakeholders, industries and user communities. The EU Space Programme is both a resource and a springboard for the European economy, competitiveness and sustainability. 

Before joining EUSPA, Rodrigo da Costa held several senior project management, business development, and institutional key account management positions in the space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Rodrigo da Costa holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the “Instituto Superior Tecnico” in Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Delft, and an MBA from the EuroMBA consortium of Business Schools.

Eric Morel de Westgaver graduated in Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He joined ESA in 1987 as Industrial Policy Officer in the Directorate of Administration. In 2001, he became Head of the Industrial Policy and Cost Analysis Department in the Directorate of Industrial Matters and Technology Programmes.

Mr Morel de Westgaver had been Director of Procurement, Financial Operations and Legal Affairs since April 2011 and before that, Head of the Procurement Department since October 2004 in the Directorate of Resources Management and Industrial Matters. In addition to this responsibility he was nominated Associate Director for Industrial Matters by the Director General in February 2010. In November 2013, he became Director of Industry, Procurement and Legal Services (D/IPL).

On 20 May 2021, a reorganisation was announced, with the setting up of the new Directorate of European, Legal and International Matters, for which Mr Morel de Westgaver was assigned as Director. Following an internal reorganisation of the Agency’s Corporate function and services, the Directorate was renamed Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters on 1 April 2024.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 26 June 2023 the appointment of Aarti Holla-Maini of the United Kingdom as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna.

She will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of Italy, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.  The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to the Chief, Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section, Niklas Hedman, who will continue to serve as Acting Director of UNOOSA until Ms. Holla-Maini assumes this position.

UNOOSA works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.

Ms. Holla-Maini brings to this position over 25 years of professional experience in the space sector including in managerial and advocacy functions.  Most recently, she has held the role of Executive Vice-President Sustainability, Policy & Impact at NorthStar Earth & Space; prior to which she spent over 18 years as Secretary-General of the Global Satellite Operators Association.

Ms. Holla-Maini’s experience includes service as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space; member of the Advisory Group of the Space Sustainability Rating managed by eSpace at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Space Center; member of the Advisory Board of the Satellite Industry Association of India; Senior Space Policy Adviser to Forum Europe and as Expert Adviser on Space Traffic Management for European Union studies 2021-2023.  She was also one of the chief architects of the Crisis Connectivity Charter established in 2015 for emergency telecommunications via satellite with the UN World Food Program’s Emergency Telecommunications Cluster.

Ms. Holla-Maini holds a bachelor’s degree in law with German law from Kings College London, UK, a master’s degree in business administration from HEC Paris, France, and she is also an alumna of the International Space University. She is fluent in English, French, German and Punjabi and has moderate knowledge of Dutch.

Bio to follow.

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, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. She also holds the position of Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Sky and Space Intergroup. Ms Donazzan serves also as the European Parliament Rapporteur on the EU Space Act. 

Before becoming a MEP, she served for 19 years as Regional Minister for Labour, Education and Training in the Veneto Region.

Juan Carlos Cortés is the Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). He was appointed on May 15, 2024, following an open competitive process. Juan Carlos also serves as the Head of the Spanish Delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA) and is the elected Vice President of the ESA Council, as well as the head of the Spanish Delegation in the Administrative Board of the EU Space Agency (EUSPA), and the Spanish representative on the Horizontal Committee of the European Space Program.

The AEE is a state agency overseen by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU) and the Ministry of Defense (MINISDEF), aimed at enhancing citizens’ lives through space. Under the presidency of Minister Diana Morant (MICIU), the Agency integrates and coordinates space activities in Spain.

The AEE is the expert body to promote and coordinate activities and policies oriented at research, technological and industrial development, and innovation in the space sector, including the coordination of defense space programs. Among the Agency’s main objectives are contributing to national security, promoting bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements with other stakeholders, drafting a proposal for the Spanish Space Law, preparing a National Space Policy proposal, and designing and coordinating a National Space Strategy.

Juan Carlos has an extensive professional career spanning over thirty-five years. He is an expert in R&D management and a specialist in the aerospace sector and dual-use programs. In various executive positions, Juan Carlos has been responsible for advancing Spanish contributions and leadership in space programs since 2004, playing a catalytic role in developing the Spanish Space Sector across all areas, from science and exploration to technology, industry, and applications, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

As the Director of International Programs at the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), he was responsible for promoting and managing Spain’s participation in the EU R&D Program, in technological cooperation initiatives in Europe (EUREKA) and Latin America (IBEROEKA), as well as in major scientific infrastructures (CERN, ITER…). He was tasked with strengthening, expanding, and further developing CDTI’s international network.

He began his professional career in 1990, after spending several years in the private sector in the aerospace field. He joined the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) as a flight test engineer, working on the Eurofighter Program, the development of remotely operated aircraft (drones), and at the Logistics Center for Armament and Experimentation (CLAEX) of the Spanish Air Force.

Juan Carlos is Aeronautical Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), specializing in aircraft and propulsion, and has a master’s degree in Business Management. He has completed the Executive Development Program at the Institute of Higher Business Studies (IESE/PDD) and is a graduate of the Higher Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN) in the National Defense Course, in addition to being certified in program management and innovation.

He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of FIDAMC (Foundation for the Research of Composite Materials).

He is currently a member of the Hispasat S.A. board of directors and a member of the Hisdesat S.A. board of directors.

Currently Head of Telecoms and Space for Amazon’s EU Public Policy team, Jordi Casanova has over a decade of experience in competition and regulatory economics across a wide range of fields. Before joining Amazon in 2023, he was a senior economist at the EFTA Surveillance Authority, following on from roles focusing on telecoms and competition at the European Commission, Ofcom and the Spanish Market and Competition Authority. Jordi holds degrees in economics from the University of Valencia and Université Libre de Bruxelles, as well as an LLM from the College of Europe in Bruges. In addition to his interest in all things competition, regulation and policy, Jordi enjoys identifying promising startups to invest in and took his interest in viticulture to the next level as a co-owner of a start-up winery in his native Valencia.

Dr. Ivan Janes is an accomplished executive with over two decades of leadership experience at the intersection of strategy, systems and innovation in the European Space, Defence, Aviation and Energy sectors. Currently serving as Chief Systems & Products Officer, he oversees mission-critical capabilities spanning, among others, ground infrastructure, cybersecurity, satellite communications and simulation services.

With a Ph.D. in Computer Science and extensive experience spanning systems engineering and executive commercial leadership, Dr. Janes brings a uniquely strategic perspective, translating technical depth into business value, operational excellence and high-impact solutions that meet real customer needs. He is a regular contributor to executive forums focused on digital resilience, emerging space markets and the future of European industrial collaboration.

Naomi Pryde is a partner at global law firm DLA Piper, the Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Space Exploration and Innovation practice alongside Julie Kearney, and the head of the Litigation & Regulation team in Scotland.  A highly accomplished and award‑winning lawyer, previously recognised as Scotland’s Lawyer of the Year, Naomi is recognised for her ability to combine space innovation with legal excellence. She advises across the full spectrum of space law issues, translating legal complexity into commercial and strategic clarity for clients operating in highly regulated and security‑sensitive environments.

Naomi’s practice spans space regulation and compliance, cybersecurity, dispute resolution and governance, with a particular focus on risk management and resilience in emerging and dual‑use technologies. She regularly advises clients on emerging EU space regulatory frameworks, including the proposed EU Space Act, and on navigating compliance, risk and governance challenges across European markets.  She is an Honorary Fellow of Durham University’s Space Research Centre (SPARC), supporting research and policy engagement on space governance and regulation.  Naomi is recognised in leading legal directories, where she is described as “one of the finest lawyers of her generation.”  She is the only solicitor in the UK qualified across all four UK & Ireland jurisdictions, as well as being a Solicitor Advocate in both Scotland and England & Wales. She is also a Writer to His Majesty’s Signet and a Notary Public.  Naomi holds specialist space cybersecurity qualifications from the University of Strathclyde and the International Space University, and brings practical insight to her work – she has even built a cube-satellite!  Naomi sits on a number of space‑related industry bodies, space advisory boards and cross‑party governmental space working groups, contributing to policy development at national and international level.  A regular speaker at international conferences, Naomi also guest lectures at universities and writes for the press on topical space and security issues. Outside work, she is the mum of a spirited five‑year‑old who shares her love of space, and who is determined to become an astronaut.

Eric Morel de Westgaver graduated in Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He joined ESA in 1987 as Industrial Policy Officer in the Directorate of Administration. In 2001, he became Head of the Industrial Policy and Cost Analysis Department in the Directorate of Industrial Matters and Technology Programmes.

Mr Morel de Westgaver had been Director of Procurement, Financial Operations and Legal Affairs since April 2011 and before that, Head of the Procurement Department since October 2004 in the Directorate of Resources Management and Industrial Matters. In addition to this responsibility he was nominated Associate Director for Industrial Matters by the Director General in February 2010. In November 2013, he became Director of Industry, Procurement and Legal Services (D/IPL).

On 20 May 2021, a reorganisation was announced, with the setting up of the new Directorate of European, Legal and International Matters, for which Mr Morel de Westgaver was assigned as Director. Following an internal reorganisation of the Agency’s Corporate function and services, the Directorate was renamed Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters on 1 April 2024.

Mark Leverkus is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and is a member of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group. Mark acts for financiers, arrangers, equity investors, leasing companies, export credit agencies and operators on a range of international financing, leasing and sale and purchase transactions, involving satellites, aircraft and other moveable equipment. He also has extensive experience in the trading and repackaging of such transactions, as well as in restructurings, disputes, work-outs and repossessions. Mark has lectured on topics related to satellite projects and aircraft finance.

Alexander Soucek is Head of the External Relations Department at the European Space Agency (ESA). In the course of a distinguished career of more than twenty years at ESA, he has held a number of roles, including as Head of the International Law Division, Secretary of the International Space Station Coordination Committee, and Head of the ESA Delegation to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).

Alexander holds master’s degrees in law from Salzburg University, Austria, and in space studies from the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. He is, further, set to obtain, in December 2025, an executive master’s in international strategy and diplomacy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. An alumnus of The Hague Academy of International Law and former visiting researcher at the Space Policy Institute, Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University, he is a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL).

An experienced practitioner and academic, Alexander negotiated numerous international space cooperation agreements and lectures on international relations and international law at universities in Europe and beyond. He has written books and articles on these topics, has contributed to intergovernmental expert groups including the UN Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), and has served as lead flight director in international spaceflight analogue missions.

Ms. Caitlin Poling is a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of Space Affairs in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental, and Scientific Affairs. In this role, she works to advance civil and commercial space diplomacy covering Europe, space resources, and the U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).  Previously, Ms. Poling served as a Political Specialist for the Multilateral and Technical Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE), where she worked on the peaceful uses of outer space and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization portfolios and served on the U.S. delegation to the CTBTO Preparatory Commission and UNCOPUOS. A veteran of Capitol Hill, Ms. Poling most recently served as National Security Advisor to Senator David Perdue (Georgia). In this role, her portfolio included foreign relations, defense, cyber security, and international trade issues. Previously, Ms. Poling served as Director of Government Relations at the Foreign Policy Initiative, a DC-based think tank, where she also wrote on Africa and counterterrorism policy. Her work has been published in U.S. News and World Report, The Weekly Standard, Huffington Post, State Magazine, and e-International Relations. Ms. Poling spent four years in the U.S. House of Representatives, most recently working on foreign policy and homeland security for then-Congressman Mike Pompeo (KS-04).

Ms. Poling graduated with honors from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in international security studies in 2012. She wrote her master’s thesis on Boko Haram and affiliated terrorist groups in the Sahel. Caitlin graduated summa cum laude from Ashland University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Studies, and French (minor: International Business) and was a John M. Ashbrook Scholar.

Imogen Ormerod is an associate in the London office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group. Imogen has extensive experience working with the UK government and EU institutions. Prior to retraining as a lawyer, Imogen worked in the UK civil service for over 12 years in a range of operational and policy roles, including in the UK Space Agency. Her practice now includes advising clients in the space sector on a range of issues, including M&A and financings.

Torsten Kriening is Publisher and CEO of SpaceWatch.Global, an independent platform for space activities in a geopolitical context.

He is a business executive with academic and professional experience in space management, satellite communications, and broadcast technology. He has an electrical and telecommunications engineering background and studied information technology and computer science at the Technical College Berlin. Torsten began his career as software developer, before moving into sales management and business development, working at companies including 3Com, Lucent Digital Video, SES Astra, Bertelsmann and PTScientists.

A proud Berliner with a global outlook, Torsten expanded his horizons even further by attending the International Space University (ISU) and earning an Executive MBA. His ISU thesis analysed the capacity-building visions and opportunities of countries in the Gulf region, and he brings experience developing strong and lasting business relationships with Middle Eastern countries. With the global Space Café® talk series and the Space Café® Podcast he created widely recognized space outreach formats.

Natcha Techachainiran is the Regulatory Affairs Manager at Skylo Technologies, Inc., where she leads global regulatory strategies to secure market access and service authorizations for D2D connectivity. She represents Skylo in international forums, including the ITU, advocating for favorable policies and standards. Previously, Natcha was a Senior Spectrum Engineer at the Thai regulator (NBTC), where she contributed to national spectrum policy and international coordination efforts.

Since September 2017, Margit Mischkulnig is serving as Head of Department for Space Affairs and Aviation Technologies at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI). Her areas of specialisation include macro- and micro-economics with specific focus on industrial policy. She joined the BMIMI in 2015, after working in the Ministry of Finance, the European Commission and the Wold Bank Group. She served in ministers’ cabinet responsible for innovation and technology. Margit Mischkulnig holds a master degree in economics from the University of Vienna.

Cristina Zanchi is a senior international executive with a strong track record in scaling businesses, driving commercial transformation, and building high-performing, customer-centric organizations across the telecom, retail, airline, and technology sectors. She is currently CEO of Leaf Space, where she leads the company’s growth and international expansion. Previously, she held senior leadership roles including CEO, Chief Commercial Officer, and Chief Consumer Officer at companies such as Orange, VOO/BeTV, Felia Group, Shell, and KLM/Air France. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered revenue growth, margin improvement, EBITDA turnaround, and significant customer experience improvements, combining strategic vision with strong execution and leadership.

Antoine Grenier is a Partner at Analysys Mason and leads the firm’s global space consulting work, working closely with our space research practice. He advises space, satellite and telecoms clients worldwide on strategy, regulation and transactions, helping them navigate complex environments and accelerate impact in rapidly evolving markets.

Antoine brings together both deep industry and advisory experience, having previously held senior executive roles at Inmarsat (now Viasat), where he was Senior Vice President for Strategy, Partnerships and Corporate Development. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the UK Space Technology & Applications Catapult. Earlier in his career he worked for HP Labs, for Orange, and for Deloitte.

Antoine holds an MBA, an MPhil in Computer Science, and an MEng in Telecommunications. He is an alumnus of the International Space University’s Space Studies Programme and of the Financial Times NED programme.

Bio to follow.

Bio to follow.

Ivan Suarez is a global advisor specialising in satellite and spectrum policy and regulation. He assists companies and governments with their strategy, compliance, licensing and policy needs, covering SatComms and other space-related industries. In recent years, he has worked on a vast number of projects related to policy and regulation for D2D products, satellite broadband internet, and the launch of 5G satellite networks. Ivan is actively involved in several regional groups in preparation for WRC-27. He contributes to several publications covering different areas of the New Space Economy.

Holger Krag joined ESA in 2006 as an Analysist in the Space Debris Office at ESOC. He worked on establishing risk models and an operational collision avoidance system and contributed to first space surveillance studies. In 2014, he took the position of the Head of the Space Debris Office, which, among others, provides fundamental support to ESA’s Space Situational Awareness Programme. In 2019, he took over the position as the head of the programme and prepared the evolution into the new Space Safety Programme which was established at the Space19+ Ministerial in Sevilla. The new programme addresses an enlarged scope within the areas of Space Weather, Planetary Defence and Space Debris including early warning systems and mitigation measures and three ambitious missions (Lagrange, Hera und ADRIOS). He is lecturing on Space Debris at universities in Germany.

Rosanna Hoffmann is currently heading the “Space Law for New Space Actors“ project within the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The project assist UN Member States with the drafting, revision and implementation of national space law and policy. Prior to joining UNOOSA, she was the Executive Officer of the European Centre for Space Law. She also worked as a Junior Legal Officer in the Public International Law Division of the European Space Agency, focusing on space law and policy related topics. Before joining ESA, Rosanna worked at the Section for International Law and International Relations within the Department of European, International and Comparative Law at the University of Vienna as an assistant lecturer. She has several years of work experience in the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice, with prime focus of labour law within the penal system. Within the Ministry, she also served as Deputy Head of the Division for Interpreters and Experts.

Daniel Sagath acts as the Director of the Slovak Space Office – Industry Branch (SARIO). He is a member of the national delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA) (industrial policy and technology harmonization) and acts as the National Point of Contact for other organisations such International Astronautical Federation (IAF), EURISY, or Space for Climate Observation (SCO). His previous working experience includes organizations such as the ESA, European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), or the United Nations (UN).  He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and European Studies, and Ph.D in strategy and organization, from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He has more than a decade of experience in the space sector worldwide, building expertise in space policy and business development, innovation, and science commercialization. Additionally,  he is the author or co-author of more than 30 academic or professional studies or science journal papers in space policy, business development, international relations or law.

Emma Marion advises space, satellite, and telecommunications companies on regulatory and compliance matters before telecommunications regulators, including the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  She assists companies in obtaining spectrum and imaging licenses, participating in rulemakings, coordinating market entry across multiple jurisdictions, and on issues relating to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations governing the international use of spectrum.  Emma’s work spans a number of topics and has particularly focused on: licensing of novel space and satellite services, market access and global expansion, space safety and sustainability, communications equipment and infrastructure, and policy issues.

Christine Leurquin is a successful, result-driven public affairs and business development professional, with extensive experience in both public and private sector. She has a proven track-record of effective advocacy in the field of European Space and Defence Public strategies, Cybersecurity directives, SSA/SDA, 5G/6G, Space Policy, Quantum, Government Satcom, ESA projects, and has worked relentlessly to improve digitalization of Africa. She has a valued-based approach to Public Affairs: inspiring trust, leading with the head and the heart, acting like an owner and with integrity.

Since February 2025, she is the CEO of ALDORIA Belgique a subsidiary of French-based ALDORIA for which she works as Senior Director, European & Public Affairs at since October 2024. She created her own company MiThraSpace SRL and consulted in 2024 with ERNST AND YOUNG Brussels Space and Defence practice, and SPACEBEL. Before this she worked for RHEA Group and reported to the CEO of the RHEA Group and to the Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of RHEA System Luxembourg S.A. She has been responsible for raising the visibility of RHEA among others with the European Institutions, Belgian and Luxembourg MoD, BELSPO, European Agencies and Luxembourg Space Agency and other national organizations as required. She helped to best-position RHEA into the current opportunities associated to new Space and Cybersecurity European programs, in Cybersecurity and Defense (e.g. EDA Cyber Captech REMUDO project). She was instrumental in developing RHEA Luxembourg business which has moved from two persons in 2020 to 20 end 2023.

In her previous position, she was Vice-President, Institutional Relations at SES S.A. and worked directly under SES CEO’s reporting also to the Board and the General Counsel. She positioned the Company within the European Union, African Union and other international institutions, such as OECD, UEMOA, UNIDO, UNOOSA, ESA or OECD, she engaged in helping the operational companies to develop new governments and institutional markets. She was successful in winning key contracts such but not limited to EGNOS GEO1 and EGNOS GEO2. Before joining SES, she was the CEO of a company which she started, and which introduced new satellite services in Belgium. She turned it into a successful and profitable business.

With her ability to speak various languages, Mrs Leurquin has excellent communication skills, conveying her message clearly, concisely, and accurately impacting policymakers and investors at the highest level. She can bring unity, leadership skills, motivation and fresh new ideas with her management, peers and teammates.

Career Steps:

• CEO, ALDORIA Belgique (Feb- 2025-)
• Senior Director, European & Public Affairs, ALDORIA(Oct 2024-)
• Special adviser to EY (May 2024-)
• Special Adviser to CEO of SPACEBEL (Feb 2024-)
• Director of Strategy, EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, RHEA Group (Jan 2021- Jan 2024 )
• Special Adviser to the CEO, RHEA Group (Nov 2020- Jan 2021)
• VP, Institutional Relations, EMEA, SES (2014-2020)
• VP, Institutional Relations and Communications, Global , SES (2008-2014)
• VP,European Programs, SES-GLOBAL (2004-2008)
• Senior Manager, European Programs, SES-GLOBAL (1999-2004);
• CEO, Sait Videohouse SA (1992-98)

Associations and Accomplishments:

• Board Member of 6GIA (2022- 2024)
• Vice-Chair of the Board of 5GIA (5G European Infrastructure Association) (2015-2020)
• Member of the private D4D Coalition (SAP, Orange, Nokia, Ericcsson, Philips, Vodafone, Statec) in turn member of the D4D EU Hub (2018-2020)
• Member of the Steering Board of the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force (2019)
• Co-Chairperson of the ICT WG at the EU-Africa Business Forum (Since 2010)
• Founding Person of ESOA/GSOA, 2002
• Chairman of the Executive Committee of ESOA (European Satellite Operators Association) (2004-2006)
• Member of the Board of ESPI
• Member of SSIP

Education:

• University of Chicago, Management Courses (2001)
• H.E.C. of St-Louis, Brussels, M.B.A. (1987-89)
• Germanic Languages (English/ German/ Passive Dutch/ American Culture), master’s degree, ULB, (1983)

Daria “Dasha” Filichkina is Chief Operations Officer at AstroAgency. She oversees the company’s internal processes and client delivery strategies to support a wide range of communications and market information tasks across more than 50 private space companies and several government space agency clients globally.

In October 2023 Dasha was presented with a special Sir Arthur Clarke space individual award from the British Interplanetary Society in recognition of her contribution to the UK space industry despite the Russian invasion of her home, Ukraine. In 2022, she was a Diversity Hero of the Year finalist at the national UK Diversity Awards and her efforts in overcoming the personal challenges caused by the invasion also led to her being recognised in the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards. In early 2023, Dasha established the not-for-profit Ukrainian Businesswomen in Scotland initiative, bringing together more than 40 female entrepreneurs who resettled in the UK for knowledge sharing and networking events in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Dasha is a frequent speaker on the importance of diversity in the space industry and in 2020 helped form the New Voices in Space organisation. She is a mentor for multiple programmes, including STEMaspire by Dell and the Prospero Space Fellowship charity, set up by Joanne Wheeler MBE.

Juan is an executive with extensive experience in the satellite communications sector. He is currently a member of the EUSPA Executive Committee being responsible for leading the secure satellite communications programmes at the Agency. Previously, Juan held management positions at several leading telecommunications’ companies in roles covering business development, sales, marketing, strategy and project management in the fields of infrastructure innovation and the launch of new telecommunications services. Juan holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from ETSIT UPM, as well as Executive Management Programs (EMBA and PDG) from IESE Business School.

With more than 20 years of experience in satellite communications, Sebastian’s story starts as Telecommunication Engineer from the University Carlos III of Madrid. He started his professional career in 2004 as operator of the earth station from Hispasat in the “Ruta Quetzal”, and at the beginning of 2005, he continued in Hispasat as Broadband Infrastructures Engineer. During this period, he participated in projects of varied nature, emphasizing his dedication from the beginning to the development of broadband services in high-speed trains, mobile broadband services and flyaway services.

He was the person in charge of the infrastructure of satellite communications in “Vuelta Ciclista a España” during 2005 and 2006. He also took part actively in the Spanish Digital Television Forum and wrote several articles for SatLabs and “Telecom I+D”. Likewise, he worked in the engineering team to support HISPASAT’s DVB-RCS and AMERHIS networks.

In 2007, he joined STM Spain as Broadband Services Engineer, focusing on the development of global services, both fixed and mobile, based on DVB-RCS technology.

In 2008, he became responsible for the IP infrastructure of several VSAT platform from STM, and for the development and establishment of new satellite services based on STM technology, becoming CTO in September 2010. In September 2013, EMC acquired STM Group, and he became CTO for Mobility Services. After that, he took control of the Sales Operations and the Service Delivery on Mobility. In 2014, he took control of the development and homologation of the product portfolio for the Mobility Services, especially on the maritime environment. On August 2014, he was designated as Country Manager for the Spanish office in Madrid, keeping as well his duties as Product Manager for Mobility Services.

Since October 2015, he is Business Development Manager in Hisdesat, being responsible for Hisdesat’s GOVSATCOM programmes and a member of the EDA and NATO SATCOM working groups, and exploring new markets for the Spanish government satellite operator, focused in governmental and military users.

Simonetta Cheli took up duty as Director of Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN (D/EOP) on 1 January 2022.

Born in Siena, Italy, she studied law and economics at Yale University in the United States, before gaining a degree in political sciences with a thesis on international satellite telecommunication law at the University ‘Cesare Alfieri’ in Florence, Italy. She also holds a diploma of advanced studies (DEA) from the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS) in Paris.

Simonetta Cheli has worked at ESA for over three decades, both at Headquarters in Paris and at ESRIN, and in various roles since 15 years within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

She joined ESA in 1988, working in International Relations, Programme and Strategy, then moved to ESRIN in 1999 as Head of Public and Institutional Relations covering Italy, Spain and Portugal. In 2008, she returned to Paris as Head of the Coordination Office for Earth Observation.  

Before her selection as Director of Earth Observation, Ms Cheli was serving as Head of the Strategy, Programme and Coordination Office for Earth Observation, coordinating relations with international partners in the field of environment and climate, and with ESA Member States and the European Union, managing the Programme Board of Earth Observation, and relations with European Partners like Eumetsat and ECMWF. She teaches Masters courses on space, she is a member of various international committees and has received many awards.

Fiammetta Diani was appointed Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation at the GSA, now EUSPA, in January 2019, previously she was Deputy Head of Market Development. She has been working at the Agency since 2009 and has been responsible for transport and governmental segments, while supervising the mass market and professional domains and contributing to some of the Agency’s major achievements in terms of Galileo market adoption and user uptakes. 

Before joining the GSA, Fiammetta Diani worked in the private sector for more than a decade, both in the aerospace and information technology industry, with focus on market and business development of products, applications and services based on space technologies (GNSS, Earth Observation and Satellite Communications). 

Fiammetta Diani holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a post-graduate Master in Economics and Business Administration of governmental and non-profit organisations from the University of Ferrara, in Italy.

Taylor Jordan is NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction. Mr. Jordan is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight regarding NOAA’s numerical weather prediction and environmental modeling, satellite programs and space innovation, novel data and observations, uncrewed systems, and other large acquisitions.

Mr. Jordan previously served as Principal at Innovative Federal Strategies, where he supported new partnerships for many of NOAA’s mission areas.  He also served at NOAA previously as a Senior Policy Advisor and worked on the Hill for close to a decade as the lead staffer for NOAA on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where he authored the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.

Mr. Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

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

Torsten Kriening is Publisher and CEO of SpaceWatch.Global, an independent platform for space activities in a geopolitical context.

He is a business executive with academic and professional experience in space management, satellite communications, and broadcast technology. He has an electrical and telecommunications engineering background and studied information technology and computer science at the Technical College Berlin. Torsten began his career as software developer, before moving into sales management and business development, working at companies including 3Com, Lucent Digital Video, SES Astra, Bertelsmann and PTScientists.

A proud Berliner with a global outlook, Torsten expanded his horizons even further by attending the International Space University (ISU) and earning an Executive MBA. His ISU thesis analysed the capacity-building visions and opportunities of countries in the Gulf region, and he brings experience developing strong and lasting business relationships with Middle Eastern countries. With the global Space Café® talk series and the Space Café® Podcast he created widely recognized space outreach formats.

Bio to follow.