Global Aerospace Summit 2020

- 28^th & 29^th September 2020
Already Registered

2020 Speakers

H.E. Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi

Minister of State for Defence Affairs

United Arab Emirates

H.E. Al Bowardi holds a number of positions in the UAE public and private sectors. He has been appointed as Minister of State for Defence Affairs on 14th Feb 2016.

In addition to his role, he is a board member of Mubadala Investment Company and Tawazun Holding, and Vice Chairman of Dolphin Energy Limited. He is also Chairman of the Committee for Developing and Implementing the Water and Agriculture Strategy for Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, H.E. Al Bowardi is Managing Director and board member of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Deputy Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation- Abu Dhabi, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Abu Dhabi University (ADU).

H.E. Al Bowardi has previously held the positions of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee.

He has a degree in History and Political Science from Lewis & Clark College, USA

H.E. Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri

Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman

UAE Space Agency

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri is a Minister of State for Advanced Technologies and chairwomen of the Space Agency, where she is responsible for enhancing the contributions of advanced sciences and technologies to the development of the UAE and its economy .
Her Excellency Al Amiri is also the Chairwoman of the Emirates Scientists Council (ESC), Chairwoman for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4RI) Council, and the Deputy Project Manager and Science Lead of the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope) at the Mohamed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

Her Excellency Al Amiri was formerly the head of R&D at MBRSC, where she established the Centre’s knowledge management, strategic research and product assurance functionalities. She joined MBRSC in 2009 as a software developer and worked on both DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2. She was also part of the initial team that set up the KhalifaSat program.
In 2014, HE Al Amiri was tasked with establishing the Advanced Aerial Systems Program. She led a successful development effort to fly a prototype High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), a UAV, in the world’s busiest airspace. The project ended with a successful 24-hour flight, where the aircraft soared to the highest altitude of any aircraft over the UAE’s airspace.

In 2015, HE Al Amiri was selected as one of 50 young scientists by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for her contributions to the fields of science, technology and engineering.
Her Excellency holds a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from the American University of Sharjah.

H.E. Ahmad Al-Ohali

Governor

General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI)

H.E. Pedro Duque

Minister of Science and Innovation

Spain

Minister of Science and Innovation of Spain
From June 2018-January 2020 Mr. Duque became Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain.

Prior to joining the government, Mr. Duque worked as an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA), where he held several positions. In his most recent role, he was responsible for the control and review of future projects. Prior to that, he served as Director of the Flight Operations Office near Munich, Germany, Director of Operations at the Spanish User Support and Operations Center at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and he also served at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
From 2006-2011, he was CEO of Deimos Imaging, S.L., a company specialized in harnessing data from Earth observation satellites. Deimos-1 became the first Spanish Earth observation satellite in July 2009.
Mr. Duque was selected to join ESA’s Astronaut Corps in 1992 and completed training both at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany and at the Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. He was a member of four flight crews and flew to space twice.
His first space flight took place on October 29, 1998 as a crewmember onboard Space Shuttle Discovery’s flight STS-95, a 10-day joint mission between NASA, ESA and the Japanese Space Agency (NASDA).
His second space flight was on Mission Cervantes, which flew to the International Space Station from October 18 – 28, 2003. He carried out an extensive array of experimental programs in biology, physiology, earth observation, education and new technologies.

Duque also served as a backup crewmember on two missions. In 1996, he was a Backup Payload Specialist for STS-78, the Space Shuttle Columbia’s Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission, and in 1994 he served as a backup crewmember of the EUROMIR 94 mission.
Duque began his career in Germany where he worked for GMV at ESA’s Space Operations Center. He specialized in precise orbit determination and was a member of the flight control team of the ESA ERS-1 and EURECA satellites.
He holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

He is a recipient of Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation along with fellow astronauts Chiaki Mukai, John Glenn and Valery Polyakov. He has received the Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit from His Majesty the King of Spain and is a Member of Spain Royal Academy of Engineering.

H.E. Faisal Al Bannai

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

EDGE

His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai is CEO and Managing Director of EDGE, an advanced technology group for defence and beyond. EDGE is poised to disrupt and transform a wide variety of industries through emerging technologies, and is comprised of five strategic business clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defence, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence, and Mission Support.

Al Bannai is also Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). ATRC was set up to accelerate a culture of innovation and discovery in Abu Dhabi. Leveraging high-impact R&D in the advanced technology domain, he plays an instrumental role in building Abu Dhabi’s knowledge economy across academia and the public and private sector, reinforcing its position as a global innovation hub.

He is also currently a Member of the Board of Trustees for Khalifa University of Science and Technology, a world-class research institution that nurtures critical thinkers in applied science and engineering.
Earlier in his career, Al Bannai founded DarkMatter, a global cyber security service provider, which he expanded into a US$400 million business. Prior to this, he founded Axiom Telecom, the largest distributor of mobile devices in the Middle East, with an annual turnover of US$2.5 billion.

He has received several accolades, with the most notable being the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Al Bannai was also recognised as the Technology Business Leader of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards (2017), and also recently joined the Arabian Business’ 100 Inspiring Leaders in the Middle East ranking (2018) as well as the elite Gulf Business Arab Power List (2018, 2019).

Al Bannai holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Boston University in the US and a master’s degree in Shipping Trade and Finance from City University in the UK.

H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi

Director General

UAE Space Agency

Rahul Shah

Senior Vice President, Strategic Growth and Business Development, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa

AAR

Marc Gelle

Senior Managing Director, European Aerospace and Defence Lead

Accenture

Mikail Houari

President for Africa and Middle East

Airbus Middle East

Mr. Houari was appointed to this role in January 2017 and brings 30 years of global and regional industry experience to his position.
He joined Airbus in 2005 as Vice President for Latin America, overseeing the defence and space divisions from where he moved to the UAE in the same capacity covering the Middle East region.
In 2011, Mr. Houari was appointed as General Delegate for Airbus, before taking the position as Deputy President for Airbus in Africa and Middle East.
Mr. Houari’s career began in Madrid in 1988 at Alcatel as a Program Manager on the switching exchange systems for Indonesia. Soon after, he was appointed the General Delegate of Alcatel SESA in 1990 for China. Two years later he was promoted to Director of Sales for Latin America, followed by being appointed as the Vice President for Latin America based in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1994.
A year later, he joined the French Interior Ministry company SOFREMI, and was appointed General Delegate in Colombia, and was in charge of Latin America. He later moved to Washington DC with the same responsibilities, becoming more oriented to the partnership with US companies for the region. He then returned to Paris, where he was appointed as the Sales Director for the company.
Thereafter, Mr. Houari joined Thales as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in Saudi Arabia. In 2003, he was appointed the Sales Director of the Information System Business Unit within Thales in France, and was in charge of the sales of the SCADA systems worldwide (metro, electricity operators, and pipelines).
In 2005, he joined EADS (European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company) in Sao Paulo as Vice President for the Latin America region for all of the group’s defence activities. Three years later, he was appointed to oversee the Middle East region, based out of the UAE.
Mr. Houari is an active member of the Conseillers du Commerce Exterieur de la France, the official French trade advisors, in the UAE and has been elected President of the association for the last three years. He is also the President of the Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales in the UAE, the French Aerospace Industries Association.
A business graduate from the Ecole Superieure des Sciences Commerciales Appliquées in Paris, Mr. Houari is fluent in French, German, English, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish.
Mikail is also a private pilot; he obtained his private pilot license at the age of 17. He currently lives in Dubai.

Gregory Pedersen

Regional Sales Director Space

Airbus Defence & Space

Michele Mauri

Managing Director

AlixPartners

Daniel Dumbacher

Executive Director

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Ben Baseley-Walker

Partner

Andart Global

Alan Peaford

Editor in Chief

Arabian Aerospace

Nobu Okada

Founder & CEO

Astroscale

Nobu Okada founded Astroscale in 2013 due to a strong desire to address the growing threat of space debris. He used his personal funds as seed money and hired a team in Singapore in 2013 and opened an R&D office in Japan in 2015, a UK office in 2017, a US office in 2019, and an Israeli office in 2020, whilst raising US $142M capital. The team calls themselves, “Space Sweepers” and their mission is to secure safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations.
Nobu is the co-chair of The Future of Space Technologies Council, World Economic Forum, member of the Space Generation Advisory Council Advisory Board, a member of the International Astronautical Federation, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

He also served as a member of the Subcommittee on Space Civil Use, and Space Industry at the Cabinet Office for the Government of Japan. Nobu won the Forbes JAPAN “Start-up of The Year 2019” and was listed as Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017.

Prior to founding Astroscale, Nobu was an IT entrepreneur and strategy consultant, and had managed IT companies in Japan, China, India and Singapore. He led one company to a successful IPO. Before joining the IT industry, he worked for McKinsey & Company and the Japanese
Government in the Ministry of Finance. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo in 1995 and an MBA from the Krannert School of Business, Purdue University in 2001.

When he was a teenager, Nobu attended a camp at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in the United States where he met Japan’s first astronaut, Mamoru Mohri. He received the handwritten
message, “Space is waiting for your challenge.” and has been inspired to work on space ever since.

Donna Lawler

Principal

Azimuth Advisory

Donna Lawler is a Founder and Principal at Azimuth Advisory, Australia’s first law firm dedicated to space activities. She is an experienced commercial lawyer specialising in complex transactions involving space activities. Over almost twenty years in the space industry she has been an advisor to a range of commercial space organisations, including spaceport operators, launch services providers and operators of geo-stationary and low earth orbit satellite constellations. Donna has had key involvement in the build, launch and insurance programmes for seven geo-stationary satellites as well as transactions involving sale and purchase of satellite capacity, securing the use of orbital slots, lunar missions and space mining operations. She is a member of the International Institute of Space Lawyers and a Member of Faculty at the London Institute of Space Policy and Law.

Prior to founding Azimuth Advisory, Donna served as Assistant General Counsel for Optus Satellite, an Australian satellite operator. She has also practiced technology and telecommunications law at Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong and Minter Ellison in Sydney.

Donna has published joint papers on Space Law topics internationally and has been a presenter on commercial Space Law topics in Australia (including the International Space University’s Southern Hemisphere Space Program), Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Zihua Zhu

Deputy Director of Government Affairs

Beijing Commsat Technology Development Co

(Nicholas) Zihua Zhu has an honors degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from from the University of Adelaide and certification in “space studies” from “International Space University” (ISU)’s Southern Hemisphere Programme in Adelaide (2017). He served as the regional coordinator for the Asia-Pacific at Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) between 2015 and 2019. He worked at Dubai Future Foundation and the Executive Office of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum as a strategic consultant. Zihua went back to China in 2018 and joined Commsat as the chief strategist. He now leads the department of government affairs at Commsat.

Beijing Commsat Technology Development co., Ltd. ;
Deputy Director of Government Affairs

Bernard Dunn

President

Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey

Sean Newsum

Director of Environmental Strategy

Boeing

Sophia Porter

Test Operations Engineer

Blue Origin

Sophia Porter is a Test Operations Engineer at Blue Origin in the USA. She is working at the West Texas Launch Site to qualify the BE-4, a 550,000 lbf thrust engine which will propel both Blue Origin’s New Glenn and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rockets into orbit.

Sophia graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2018 with dual degrees in physics and applied mathematics & statistics. Her diverse aerospace internship experience spans engineering, policy, research, and PR at agencies including Blue Origin, SpaceX, NASA, and the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Sophia also received the Brooke Owens and Woodrow Wilson aerospace and research fellowships and the National Space Club Keynote Scholarship, and serves as an advisor to the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration.

Sophia is passionate about mentorship and initiated aerospace outreach programs at Johns Hopkins University and via the Brooke Owens Fellowship. She has also served as a volunteer for Women in Aerospace to encourage young leaders to join the field.

Jean-Yves Le Gall

President

Centre National d'etudes Spatiales (CNES)

Jean-Yves Le Gall is President of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, since 2013. In this capacity, he is interministerial coordinator for satellite navigation programmes. He is also Honorary Ambassador and former President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
CNES is responsible for shaping and executing France’s space policy. It is involved in all aspects of space (Ariane, Sciences, Observation, Telecommunications, Defence) through its four centres of excellence in Paris, Toulouse and French Guiana, with 2,400 employees and a budget of €2.8m (2020). CNES represents France on the Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) and at many other international organizations, and is a partner in several commercial enterprises.
Born in 1959, Jean-Yves Le Gall is a qualified engineer and scientist who has devoted his entire career to the European space programme, holding positions within the French national scientific research agency CNRS, several French ministries, at Novespace and a first stint with CNES before joining Starsem and Arianespace, where he was CEO and then Chairman & CEO. In addition to leading CNES, he has also been Chair of ESA Council and Chair of the Administrative Board of GSA, the European GNSS Agency in charge of Galileo.
Jean-Yves Le Gall is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and Vice-President of the "Space Circle" at French think-tank CEPS (Centre d’Etude et de Prospective Stratégique). He chairs the France-Japan business council of Medef International and is President of the Foundation for the study of the Japanese language and civilization. He is also a member of the French-Mexican Strategic Council.
He received the Astronautics Prize from the French Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF) in 2001. He was named Via Satellite magazine’s 2005 Satellite Executive of the Year and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC). In 2011 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SPPI) and received the Icarus Prize from the French association of professional aerospace journalists (AJPAE). In 2014 he received a Laureate Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine and in 2018 the California Institute of Technology presented him with the International Von Kármán Wings Award.

Jay Little

Vice President

Collins Aerospace

Aaron Maue

Executive Director & General Manager, Defense Sustainment

Collins Aerospace

Mike Gruss

Executive Director

Defence News

Matthew Cochran

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Defense Services Marketing Council

Khalid Al Breiki

President – Mission Support

EDGE

Khalid Al Breiki is the President of the Mission Support cluster of
EDGE, an advanced technology group for defence and beyond.
Prior to this role, he was CEO of GAL, where he was leading the
strategic realignment of the company and managing business
growth for one of the leading MRO service providers in the UAE.
Earlier, Al Breiki was the Managing Director of the Commercial
Division of YAS Holding, where he managed more than 12 different
commercial assets, and CEO of GAL Air Navigation Services (GAL
ANS), a UAE-company specialising in Air Navigation Services based in Abu Dhabi.

Previously, Al Breiki served in a senior position in the technology acquisition and deployment field, joining an already-established core team of UAE professionals. He was also General Manager at Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), facilitating the construction of the new airport and increasing the number of qualified UAE nationals in the aviation field. Earlier, he worked as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Thales Advanced Solutions, where he led the company’s strategic projects, after serving in the UAE Armed Forces.

Al Breiki possesses extensive experience in the aviation sector, having held numerous positions within the aircraft and electronics maintenance domain. He was the Lead Engineer for the F-16 programme within the UAE Avionics Integration Team, and Systems Integration Specialist in the Flight Test and Development Centre for the UAE Air Force and Air Defence.

Khalid Al Breiki holds an MSc in Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from The George Washington University (GW), both in the US. He has attended many senior leadership and management programmes from renowned institutions.

Reda Nidhakou

Vice President, Strategic Programmes

EDGE

Reda Nidhakou is Vice President, Strategic Programs at EDGE. In this role, he is responsible for key programmes and corporate activities across the group. He has played an instrumental role in establishing the EDGE Group through contributing to planning and set-up of the governance and operating model, group reporting, co-leading digital transformation efforts, and driving innovation and corporate development activities.
He brings to the role 10 years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate development and programme management.
Prior to joining EDGE, Nidhakou was Director, Programme Management at Digital14, where he was in charge of delivering complex technology and cyber security programmes for key government clients.
Earlier, he was Manager, PMO and Corporate Development at Digital14 , where he helped establish the governance and PMO process at the UAE-based cybersecurity company. He also contributed to several strategic initiatives, such as products and services differentiation, talent development and performance management, research roadmap and key partnerships.
Among other roles, he completed a tenure at EY in the Paris office as Senior Consultant – Strategy, Marketing and Innovation, where he led and contributed to strategic assignments for Telco and media organisations such as strategic planning, M&A and product management. He started his career in the digital domain – designing, developing and testing mobile apps and leveraging contactless technologies for payments and other applications, as well as designing innovative mobile apps for BNP Paribas.
Reda Nidhakou holds a master’s degree in Digital Technology from HEC Paris, France, and a Master of Engineering in Information Communication and Technology from Telecom Paris, France. In addition, he earned a Project Management Professional certificate from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain.

H.E Mohammed Afifi El-Quosy

Chief Executive Officer

Egypt Space Agency

Gaurav Wadi

Partner

EY Parthenon

Robin Kamark

Chief Commercial Officer

Etihad Airways

Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer
Robin Kamark was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Aviation Group in July 2018, responsible for the overall commercial direction and deliverables of the core airline business, and destination leisure management.
Before joining Etihad in October 2017, Robin served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Storebrand ASA, a leading Nordic financial services group.
He is a veteran of the aviation industry, including 17 years at Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS Group) where he became Chief Commercial Officer in 2010.
Robin holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Business from the Norwegian School of Management. He also has an executive business education from Insead, France.

Frederic Dupont

Vice President Technical Sales & Customer Service

Etihad Airways Engineering

Frederic Dupont is the Vice President of Technical Sales & Customer Service at Etihad Engineering.
He is responsible for ensuring that all commercial strategies and targets are met across the various services stream of Etihad Engineering, while ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Before joining Etihad Engineering, Frederic was leading the commercial efforts of Mubadala Aerospace MRO Network as Senior Vice President Global Sales, leveraging the integrated product and service offerings of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies and SR Technics.
Previously, he spent 15 years at Pratt & Whitney Large Commercial Engines in Connecticut where he held various positions of increasing responsibilities in the fields of Programmes, Sales and Customer Support. In his last role at Pratt & Whitney, Frederic was the President and General Manager of Pratt & Whitney Engine Leasing LLC, a division of United Technologies Finance. He also spent 5 years as the Head of the Pratt & Whitney Global Engine Services Sales Group driving double digit growth across a portfolio of seven Engine Centres worldwide.
Frederic holds an MBA degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University in Boston.

Tony Douglas

Group Chief Executive Officer

Etihad Aviation Group

Tony Douglas joined Etihad Aviation Group as Group Chief Executive Officer in January 2018. He has nearly 20 years of international leadership experience in transportation, infrastructure, and government sectors. He joins Etihad Aviation Group from the UK’s Ministry of Defence, where he served as CEO of the Defence Equipment and Support department, responsible for procuring and supporting all the equipment and services for the British Armed Forces, managing a budget of US $20 billion a year.
Previously, he held senior leadership positions in the UAE, most notably as CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, where he was responsible for the successful delivery of Khalifa Port.
In the UK, he held senior positions with airport operator British Airports Authority (BAA), and Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Executive designate of Laing O’Rourke. His roles under BAA included Managing Director of Heathrow Terminal 5 project, Group Supply Chain Director, Group Technical Director, and CEO of Heathrow Airport.
Tony holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Lancaster in the UK.

Major General Michel Friedling

Head of the French Space Command – Commandement de l’espace

French Space Command – Commandement de l’espace

Mohamed Al Khemairi

Chief Executive Officer

GAL

Mohammed Saeed Al Khemairi is Chief Executive Officer of
GAL, an EDGE entity and leading regional provider of
integrated aircraft sustainment solutions for military and
civilian customers. In this role, he is responsible for leading the
overall strategy and strategic objectives of the company,
including the implementation of its functional objectives and
overseeing critical management aspects of the business,
operations, support and people management.
Al Khemairi brings to his role 24 years of experience as an
aviation professional, exposed to high-level strategic and
operational initiatives, including infrastructure design, process reengineering, turnaround management, and reorganisation of complex business challenges.
Prior to joining GAL, Al Khemairi was Director of Inter Aviation within the UAE Armed Forces. In this role, he was tasked with leading complex project management, developing and implementing strategies, contract negotiation, capabilities development and engineering.
During his tenure with the UAE Armed Forces, Mohammed Al Khemairi spearheaded the Project Management Office where he was mandated with leading contract negotiation, capabilities development, as well as managing the readiness of all new projects with regard to capabilities, risks, and the development of human resources, as needed. In addition, he supervised the execution of ongoing projects and the achievement of his team KPIs.
He has also been associated with the Armed forces as the Quality Control Officer at Special Operations Command, and as Aircraft Maintenance Officer.
Mohammed Saeed Al Khemairi is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration from Aberystwyth University in the UK. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology in the UAE, and a BS in Aviation Engineering from the St. Louis University in Missouri, the USA. In addition, he is Six Sigma certified, and has completed certificate courses in defence procurement, contracts negotiation, military leadership and command, and quality management, among others.

Dharmesh Patel

Vice President, Information Technology

GAL

Dharmesh Patel is Vice President – Information
Technology at GAL, an EDGE entity and a leading
regional provider of integrated aviation readiness
solutions for military and civilian customers. In this role,
he is responsible for coordinating with the company’s
senior leadership team to optimise performance through
maximising competitive advantage and returns on
technology investments in aerospace, defence and high
tech arenas.
Patel brings to his role 25 years of experience in
delivering innovative IT solutions to expand and scale
companies both organically and through complex
integrations during strategic acquisitions. He holds a track
record in enhancing security and generating efficiencies
and savings with process improvements through utilising appropriate in-house and cloud solutions to achieve organisational goals in MRO, manufacturing and supply chain.
Prior to joining GAL, Patel CTO/co-founded 14bis Supply Tracking in Boston, United States, where he was instrumental in designing and developing a software application that integrates business process and current ERP to the blockchain ecosystem, starting with the Aerospace-Defence industry.
In an earlier role, Patel was Chief Technology Officer of AAR Corp. in the United States, an aviation support company providing a broad range of products and services to the aerospace and government/defence industries. In this position, he was tasked with developing and implementing strategies for security, cloud, mobile, social, applications and infrastructure. He was also responsible for cyber security and compliance within the organisation. Previously, he completed
tenures as Vice President Information Systems and Director of IT at AAR Corp.
Dharmesh Patel holds a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) from Keller Graduate School of Management, USA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology (BSEET) from DeVry University. Dharmesh Patel further attained the MIT Fintech
2017 Award.

Dmitry Loskutov

Director General

Glavkosmos

Mr. Loskutov graduated from Chuvash State University in 2000 with a degree in Law.
Until 2004 he worked in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, being engaged in the expertise of regulatory legal acts.
From 2004 to 2006 he worked in the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dealt with issues of international military-technical cooperation and protection of intellectual property rights.
From 2006 to 2012 he worked in the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to NATO and headed the Defense Industrial Cooperation Section. He supervised NATO-Russia Council projects related to air traffic control, strategic and tactical airlift, logistic support cooperation.
From 2012 to 2018 Mr. Loskutov held position of an Aide to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dr. Dmitry Rogozin. He was responsible for the Deputy Prime Minister’s international agenda, oversaw the work of a number of bilateral intergovernmental commissions on economic cooperation.
Since 2018 as a Director of the International Cooperation Department in Roscosmos State Space Corporation, he was responsible for developing proposals on state space policy, interaction with federal executive authorities as well as with foreign partners on all issues related to international cooperation in space exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
In December 2018 Mr. Loskutov was appointed Director General of Glavkosmos – a 100% daughter company of Roscosmos vested with the authority of and designated as the international business operator of Roscosmos.
Mr. Loskutov is assigned a class rank of Class 3 Full State Counselor of the Russian Federation. He is fluent in English and has a good knowledge of French.

Edward Haines

Group Director – Programmes and Partnerships,

Global Aerospace Summit

Jon Gruen

Partner

Gothams

Elodie Robin

Partner

Gothams

Talal Al Kaissi

Vice President - Space Program & Special Projects

Group 42

John Peterson

VP Connectivity and Services

Honeywell Connected Enterprise

James Schaan

Customer Business Director

Honeywell Aerospace Defense & Space - Middle East, Africa and India

Scott Camarotti

Senior Vice President Aerospace and Defense Sales

IFS

Samer Halawi

Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer

Intelsat

Gabriella Arrigo

Head of the International Relations

Italian Space Agency

Jose Gerardo Gonzalez Barron

Research Engineer, Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium

Khalifa University of Science and Technology

Jose Gonzalez is a Research Engineer at Khalifa University of Science and Technology where he manages the operation of the SBRC’s SEAS pilot facility, a 2-ha integrated system of aquaculture, halophyte agriculture and agroforestry that produces seafood, oilseeds for conversion into aviation biofuel and carbon sequestration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a M. Sc. in Engineering Systems and Management. Jose’s professional interests include Engineering Project Management, Renewable Energy Systems, Integrated Aquaculture and Agriculture systems and Sustainable Aviation Fuel. In the workplace, he uses his positive attitude and communication skills to encourage a collaborative approach towards achieving goals set while maintaining a curious mindset and a desire for continuous learning and growth.

Hanan Khaldi

Business Development Manager

Krypto Labs

H.E Dr Ahmed Al Kandri

Ministry of Defence

Kuwait

James D. Taiclet

President and Chief Executive Officer

Lockheed Martin Corporation

James D. Taiclet is president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. He was previously chairman, president and chief executive officer of American Tower Corporation from February 2004 until March 2020 and executive chairman from March 2020 to May 2020. He was appointed American Tower’s president and chief operating officer in September 2001; named chief executive officer in October 2003; and selected as chairman of the board in February 2004.

Previously, Mr. Taiclet served as president of Honeywell Aerospace Services, a unit of Honeywell International from March 1999 to September 2001; as vice president, Engine Services at Pratt & Whitney from March 1996 to March 1999; and as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, specializing in telecommunications and aerospace strategy and operations from July 1991 to February 1996. He began his career as a United States Air Force officer and pilot.

Tim Cahill

Senior Vice President

Lockheed Martin International

Tim Cahill is the senior vice president of Lockheed Martin International. Mr. Cahill is responsible for developing and executing strategies to grow the corporation’s international business by strengthening customer relationships and industry partnerships in 70 countries. He also serves as the senior executive overseeing the corporation’s business activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Most recently, Mr. Cahill served as the vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense, where he was responsible for program execution of the entire portfolio including, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) System, Patriot PAC-3 Missile, TLVS, and Falcon Ground Based Air Defense among others.

Since joining Lockheed Martin in 1995, Mr. Cahill has had positions of increasing responsibility including the vice president of Strategic and Missile Defense Systems and Engineering & Technology for Lockheed Martin Space. He also holds a patent for a modular spacecraft bus design.

Mr. Cahill began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, managing the integration and launch of 20 military, NASA and classified spacecraft on Space Shuttle, Titan and Atlas launch vehicles.

Mr. Cahill holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Business from Stanford University.

Robert S. Harward

Chief Executive

Lockheed Martin Middle East

Bob Harward is the Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin in the Middle East and was appointed to his current role in June 2018. Harward previously served as the company’s Chief Executive for the United Arab Emirates. A resident of Abu Dhabi, he is responsible for the company’s strategy, operations and growth in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in 2014, he was a Vice Admiral (SEAL) in the United States Navy with his last assignment as Deputy Commander US Central Command (USCENTCOM). Mr. Harward served on the National Security Council in the Office of Combating Terrorism for the Bush Administration and commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Center in 2005. As a Navy SEAL, Bob served in a variety of SEAL and Special Operations Commands to include command of US and Coalition forces under a variety of Task Forces conducting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over six years since Sept 11, 2001. His final tour in Afghanistan was from November 2009 to July 2011 where he commanded Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 responsible for developing Rule of Law and Detention operations with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Born in Newport, R.I., Mr. Harward grew up in a Navy family in Iran (1967 to 1979) and graduated from the US Naval Academy. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Security Affairs from the Naval War College, is a graduate of the MIT Center for International Studies Foreign Policy Program, and served as a Federal Executive Fellow at RAND (Santa Monica).

Mr. Harward’s significant recognitions include the Donovan Award from the CIA, the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of State, the German Silver Star, the Polish Silver Star, and he was designated a Commander of the Polish GROM (Special Operation Forces). The Department of Defense awarded him the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three), the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star with V device (four), and the Presidential Unit Citation (two) for leading troops in combat.

Joseph Rank

Vice President & Chief Executive

Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia

Joseph (Joe) W. Rank is Vice President and Chief Executive Kingdom Saudi Arabia, for Lockheed Martin Corporation International. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading Lockheed Martin’s business growth in the Kingdom to include building and cultivating key partner relationships and supporting the Kingdom's strategic defense and business pursuits.

Joe retired from the U.S. Army as a Brigadier General. In his last posting in the Pentagon he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy. As an Arabic speaking Foreign Area Officer Joe focused on the Middle East for the last 25 years of his career to include being posted to five U.S. Embassies. He served as the Senior Defense Attaché in the United Arab Emirates (2015-2017), Jordan (2011-2014), Lebanon (2010-2011) and Yemen (2004-2006).

Joe’s academic background includes a BA in Ancient Languages from Wheaton College; an MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College; an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College and an MA in Islamic Studies from the University of Virginia.

Joe serves on the Board of Governors for the Foreign Area Officer Association.

Mesut Ciceker

Director Europe & Middle East

Lockheed Martin Spacce

Mesut Ciceker has 43 years of experience in the aerospace industry, including spacecraft manufacturing, satellite operations, and launch operations. He worked in the European head office of Lockheed Martin in Brussels as Director Corporate Business Development between 2002 and 2008 prior to moving to Rome where he opened the corporate office and managed until Oct 2012. He previously worked in the space sector for Spar Aerospace (Montreal, Canada), RCA Astro Electronics (Princeton, New Jersey-USA), GE Astro Space (Princeton, New Jersey-USA), SES Astra (Luxembourg), Arianespace (Paris, France) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (Dulles, Virginia, USA). He obtained his degree (MSc) from Istanbul Technical University (1974) in telecommunications engineering.

Ziad Al Hazmi

Chief Executive Officer

Lufthansa Technik Middle East

In October 2011 Ziad Al Hazmi was appointed Chief
Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik Middle East
FZE in Dubai.
After several appointments in the aviation industry, for
example at Sharjah International Airport and MTU
Friedrichshafen, Ziad Al Hazmi joined Lufthansa Technik in
1999, initially working as the company’s representative with
Saudi Arabian Airlines in Jeddah. From 2005 to 2009 he
held the post of Senior Regional Manager Sales with
responsibilities for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. In this
capacity he played a material part in setting up and
expanding the leading role of Lufthansa Technik in the
Middle East region. In January 2010 Ziad al Hazmi took the
position of General Manager Gulf.
Ziad Al Hazmi was born on June 25th, 1973. After achieving
his high school degree at the International School of
Choueifat in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, he studied
Aeronautical Engineering at the Queen Mary and Westfield
College of the University of London. He graduated in 1994
as a Bachelor of Engineering with a final year project on the
design of leading edges of aircraft wings with laminar flow
control and de-icing systems.

Lufthansa Technik:
The Lufthansa Technik Group, with around 35 subsidiaries and
holdings, is one of the world’s leading providers of technical services for
the aviation industry. More than 25,000 employees serve the
internationally certified maintenance, production and development
company. Lufthansa Technik’s range of products and services
encompasses the entire service spectrum for commercial as well as
VIP/special mission aircraft, engines, components and landing gear in
the fields of digital fleet management, maintenance, repair, overhaul,
modification, fitting out and conversion, along with the manufacture of
innovative cabin products.

Richard Thompson

Editorial Director

MEED

Maj. Gen. Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi

Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Capability Building, Ministry of Defence

United Arab Emirates

Adnan AlRais

Senior Director Remote Sensing Department

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

In his capacity as a senior director of the Remote Sensing Department in Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Adnan and his team are responsible for all downstream activities of MBRSC space missions. This includes the Ground Networks Operations and maintenance, Satellite Operations, Satellite data processing, Applications and value-added products development, Interfacing with the end users; locally and internationally, as well as commercializing MBRSC products and services.
In addition, Adnan is the Program Manager of Mars 2117, working on setting up the strategy and leading initiatives to build a settlement on Mars and send human to Mars by 2117.
Adnan has published and presented a number of papers in the areas of remote sensing and satellite image applications. He holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering from Khalifa University, Sharjah, UAE.

Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi

Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace, Renewables & ICT

Mubadala Investment Company

Khaled is the Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace, Renewables & ICT at Mubadala, overseeing the company’s aerospace, defense and information communications technology, renewables and utilities portfolio.
Before joining Mubadala, Khaled worked as Chief Investment Officer at International Capital and was the Head of Corporate Finance & Business Development at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, where he focused on developing the bank’s investment banking capabilities.
Khaled holds a Master’s degree in Project Management (MSPM) from George Washington University, and a Bachelor degree in finance and operations management from Boston University.

Badr Al Olama

Executive Director of Aerospace

Mubadala Investment Company

Badr Al-Olama heads Aerospace at Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and is Chairman of its portfolio businesses Strata Manufacturing PJSC (Strata), and Sanad Group (Sanad). He also serves as a board director at Oumolat Security Printing, TASIAP GmbH - a joint venture with Daimler AG, and a number of automotive joint ventures in Algeria that produce Daimler and Rheinmetall vehicles.
In addition to his role at Mubadala, Badr also heads the organizing committee for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) – a pioneering collaborative platform that has been jointly established by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Through GMIS, Badr also oversees the Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity – an open innovation platform that seeks to solve real-world challenges by forefronting the corporate social responsibility of global manufacturers.
Prior to his current engagements, Badr was the former Chief Executive Officer of Strata, former President of the UAE Harvard Club, a former board director at the UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC), and a former member of the UAE Ministerial Council on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He also led the strategic development of Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, which aims to establish a sustainable aerospace ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
Nominated as a ‘Young Global Leader for the Middle East and North Africa region’ by the World Economic Forum in 2016, Badr began his career as a lawyer at Habib Al-Mulla & Company (currently known as Baker & McKenzie Habib Al-Mulla). He has a degree in Shari’a and Law from the UAE University (2002) and holds an LL.M from Harvard Law School (2005).

Amer Siddiqui

Director of Aerospace

Mubadala Investment Company

Mr Siddiqui has been with Mubadala since 2009 and since 2017 has been serving as the Director of Aerospace where he is responsible for the Aerospace portfolio’s asset management & performance as well as supporting in overseeing, managing and executing the overall strategy of the Aerospace unit. Prior to his current role, Mr Siddiqui served as the Chief Financial Officer of Strata Manufacturing PJSC from 2011 to 2017.
Before joining the Mubadala group, Mr Siddiqui has held senior roles for some of the world’s leading blue chip organizations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cable & Wireless PLC, Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) PLC and Dubai World.

With over 20 years of experience across a wide section of industries and cross border international jurisdictions, Mr Siddiqui possess in depth experience and knowledge within the areas of Financial Control, Business Performance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Risk Management, Commercial & Financial Due Diligence and Investment Appraisal.
Other than being a Board Director for Strata Manufacturing, Mr Siddiqui also serves as the Chairman of the Human Capital & Remuneration Committee at Strata as well as the Chairman of the Audit Risk Committee for the Sanad Group, the engine MRO and Leasing business under Mubadala Aerospace.

Mr Siddiqui is a Fellow (FCA) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and also holds a BA (Honors) degree in Accounting & Finance from Kingston Business School, London, UK.
In his spare time he enjoys travelling with his wife and 3 kids, aged 13, 10 and 6 as well as playing Cricket

Hamed Alharthi

Mubadala Investment Company

Tina Ghataore

President

Mynaric USA

Tina Ghataore is the President of Mynaric USA where she leads the efforts to position Mynaric as the preferred laser communication provider for aerospace application for both government and commercial markets. Prior to joining Mynarics USA, she was the Executive Vice President of Inflight Connectivity Solutions at Yahsat, a leading UAE Satellite Operator were she was responsible for the overall strategy and execution of enabling Yahsat to launch into Mobility Satcom Services business. Ms. Ghataore brings 20+ years of experience in the aerospace/aviation and telecom industries.
In 2007 she founded The EKKAM Group, a strategic management consulting firm focused on serving clients in the aerospace/aviation and telecom industries. Key notable clients included Airbus, Panasonic and Thales. Prior to starting her own consulting business, Ms. Ghataore served as Director of Broadband Communications at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, where she was instrumental in efforts to launch the Panasonics Global Communications Services business, currently serving over 80+ airlines globally. Ms. Ghataore also served as the Director of Strategic Software Applications where she was charged to establish the strategy and grow the software, applications and media business, serving the In-Flight Entertainment and Communications industry. Ms. Ghataore started her career at The Boeing Company’s Satellite Systems business unit. She was integral to the building and launch of Connexion by Boeing (CBB) business, the first of its kind true broadband communications services for commercial airlines. Previously, as part of the business development organization, she participated in the early pursuits of the Teledesic (LEO) and Ellipso (MEO) satellite programs. She was also a key member of the due diligence team efforts, resulting in acquisition of Hughes Space and Communications.
Ms. Ghataore received her Bachelor of Honors Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Kingston University in the U.K. She is also a graduate of the International Space University.

Bulent Altan

Chief Executive Officer

Mynaric USA

Bulent Altan is a New Space veteran and managing director of Mynaric’s space activities. Mynaric produces the optical fiber for the skies and enables, as a pioneer of laser communication, extremely fast and secure wireless data transmission between aircraft, drones and satellites. Mynaric's products are used by world leading corporations to establish an internet above the clouds intended to bring connectivity to the remaining 3 billion unconnected people on the planet.
Bulent began his career as one of the first employees at the then newly-established SpaceX in 2004, having graduated from Stanford University, following the completion of his studies at the Technical University of Munich. At SpaceX, he was essential in growing the company’s avionics department from seven people to over 200 and was, as Vice-President, responsible for the avionics, guidance, navigation and control of the Falcon rockets, as well as the Dragon capsules. In his most recent role for the company, Bulent was Vice-President of satellite mission assurance for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite megaconstellation.
Bulent left SpaceX between 2014 to 2016 to support the start-up ecosystem and aerospace industry in Europe, during which time he held positions as a partner and mentor at the Munich area industrial startup accelerator TechFounders and as Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Airbus Defence and Space.
He is also an active investor and mentor to space and space related businesse

H.E Dr. Ghalib Faour

Director

National Center for Remote Sensing, Lebanon

Paul Casey

Director of Business Development, Middle East

Northrop Grumman

Paul Casey has led Northrop Grumman strategy development across the Gulf nations since 2014 and was recently promoted to General Manager in the Middle East. Previously Paul held senior Business Development positions with BAE Systems in Europe and with Lockheed Martin in the Middle East and Africa. Paul has been instrumental in promoting Defense and Security cooperation between Gulf-based companies and US Industry for the past decade and has led Northrop Grumman’s ‘Vision 2030’ implementation efforts.
Paul completed 24 years’ distinguished service with the Royal Air Force. He served as an Air Battle Manager with a specific focus on Net Centric Operations and Time Sensitive Targeting. He was charged by the UK Ministry of Defence in leading the drive for Interoperability between UK, NATO and US Forces. He now has extensive knowledge of Advanced Communications architectures, Information Assurance and Military Standards.
Paul is a graduate of Royal Air Force College Cranwell, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Linguists. He married in 1982 and has two growth sons. He is a keen sporting enthusiast enjoying Rugby, Golf and Tennis.

Ivor Ichikowitz

Chairman

Paramount Group

IVOR ICHIKOWITZ, CHAIRMAN, PARAMOUNT GROUP
Ivor Ichikowitz is a South African-born industrialist, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He began his career during South Africa’s political transition in the early 1990s, working to support Nelson Mandela’s programme of democratisation, national reconciliation, economic and industrial normalisation and integration into the African Continent and the global economy.

Ivor is Non-Executive Chairman of Paramount Group, the global aerospace and technology group, which is also the largest privately-owned business of its kind in Africa, and arguably the Southern Hemisphere. Founded 26 years ago, the company employs thousands of people across 15 business units operating within the land, sea and air sectors. Through its unique portable manufacturing model, Paramount has helped industrialise partner countries through-out the world, providing new jobs and laying the foundations for sustainable indigenous and high-tech manufacturing sectors notably in South East Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and soon several African countries too. The company is a trusted partner of more than 30 sovereign governments around the world.

Ichikowitz is a firm believer in the African ethos of ubuntu; he exists because of others and it is this philosophy which underpins his commitment to philanthropy through the multiple award winning Ichikowitz Family Foundation.

In building his businesses and his family foundation, Ivor has been primarily motivated by an interest in finding solutions to problems faced by countries, communities, and individuals: from issues of economic development to industrialisation, national security, energy and the environment, poverty and unemployment, skills training, and others that contribute sustainable value rather than extracting value from the areas in which he works. This has added to his unique reputation as a creative problem-solver, especially in the developing world. He continues to expand and deepen his interests in new ventures and projects that build upon this philosophy.

Alejandro Roman

General Director of Aerospace Development

Paraguayan Space Agency (AEP)

He is a Computer Programmer and Bachelor of Systems Analysis at the Polytechnic Faculty of the National University of Asunción with specializations and courses in prestigious Universities like Oxford, MIT, Harvard, and others in technology, education, aviation systems, and Space in America, Europe, and Asia. He Studied Civil Aviation Administration at the Singapore Civil Aviation Academy, Master in Business Administration (MBA), is a Specialist in Higher Education, also Specialist in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. With more than 25 years of professional experience in the public and private sector, mainly in the area of Technology, Innovation, Education, Civil Aviation, and Space, He served as the IT Manager of the Civil Aviation Authority in Paraguay for more than ten years. Was also Academic Coordinator of the three careers of Computer and Systems Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of the Integration of the Americas (UNIDA) for five years, Coordinator of the ICT Observatory of the Ministry of Technology of Paraguay, where he has carried out and published studies on the Internet use in Paraguay. Elected Regional Contact Point for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Member of the Spanish Network of Planetology and Astrobiology, also Elected as Member of the STEM / STEAM Study Group of the prestigious International Academy of Astronautics, Member of the International Astronautical Association where actively participates in the Committees of Education and Outreach, Near-Earth Objects and Developing and Emerging Countries. He is the Alternate Director for Paraguay and Member on the Board of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Network. He has given conferences and talks at the national and international levels at several prestigious universities such as MIT, Kyushu Institute of Technology Japan, and in Taiwan, France, Austria, England, Peru, Argentina, and others, with works presented at various international Congresses and Symposia. He received several recognitions and awards such as the Extraordinary Merit Award from the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training in Taiwan and the Partnership Award from the Pacific Disaster Center in Hawaii. He currently works as General Director of Aerospace Execution and Development of the Paraguayan Space Agency and as Professor of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at the University of the Integration of the Americas - ENIDO.

Dr. Luigi Scatteia

Partner

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Alan Davis

Chief Executive

Raytheon Emirates

H.E Dr. Eng. Awni Moh’d Al-Khasawneh

Director General

Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education for Western Asia/United Nations in Jordan

Manfred Hader

Senior Partner, Global Head of Aerospace & Defence Practice

Roland Berger

Micael Johansson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Saab

Anna-Karin Rosen

Managing Director

Saab

Alexandre Ziegler

Senior Executive Vice President International and Public Affairs

Safran Group

Walid Abukhaled

Chief Executive Officer

SAMI

Mansoor Janahi

Deputy Group CEO

Sanad

Janahi is the Chief Executive Officer of Sanad Aerotech, a global provider of state of the art Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) solutions for jet engines and industrial turbines.

Known for its engineering excellence and an uncompromising quality using innovative and hi-tech solutions, Sanad Aerotech’s global network of airlines and industrial companies spans over Asia to South America.

Janahi has led Sanad Aerotech’s emergence as a global MRO player in recent years. This has seen Janahi signing a landmark agreement with Rolls-Royce to become an Authorised Maintenance Centres (AMC) with an estimated value of USD 6.5bn as well as breaking into new markets for the first time including Eastern Europe, South America, Africa and Asia with the likes of Nordwind, Ethiopian Airlines and Asiana.

Janahi also strengthened the partnership with leading industrial turbine OEMs including with Siemens for their industrial turbine fleets of Trent 60 engines in the UAE.

Prior to joining Sanad Aerotech, Janahi served as Vice President at Mubadala’s Aerospace, Renewables & ICT (AR&I) platform. Janahi joined Mubadala in 2008 and steadily progressed through various positions leading key regional and global aerospace projects.

He played a pivotal role in finalizing agreements with Airbus and Boeing for developing aerospace manufacturing capabilities, as well as leading the development of a joint venture with Solvay S.A. in building the first advanced composite material production in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As a leading figure in the Aerospace sector, Janahi is currently a member of the Mubadala Technology Committee, which oversees the platform’s research and development (R&D) strategy. His also a member of the board of SR-Technics Group and was a member of the Senior Management Board of the Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC) at the Khalifa University of Science and Technology. Janahi is a frequent inspirational speaker at global aerospace and industrial conferences and events.

Janahi holds two degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach -- a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and a B.S. in Aviation Business Administration -- in addition to a CFA level 1 qualification.

Brain Moyo

Head of Research and Development

Sanad Aerotech

Baha Salama

Senior Vice President, Commercial & Business Development

Sanad Aerotech

As Senior Vice President, Baha is responsible for overseeing the Sales, Marketing and the growth of the product portfolio for both the Aero Engines and Industrial Turbine businesses.

Prior to joining Sanad Aerotech Baha worked on several projects, holding various technical, commercial and operational positions in gas turbine repair and overhaul. He began his career setting up repair shops for Pratt & Whitney PT6 and RR Adour engines in the UAE, before moving on to Rolls-Royce Canada where he held several technical positions, rising to Director of Quality Control.

As a manager in the industrial business in Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO), Baha helped in setting up the Rolls-Royce Avon repair and overhaul facility, thus establishing an industrial gas turbine repair and overhaul business in the UAE that included a joint venture with GE Power & Water (Heavy Industrial Turbines); a strategic alliance with Siemens (Industrial Trent Engine) which later culminated in being a 10-year contract, component repair joint venture with Liburdi engineering (Aero-Derivatives); and the establishment of Turbine Services & Solution in 2010 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company.

Baha holds an Aeronautical Engineering degree from Air Service Training, Perth, Scotland and has been licensed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority as an A&C-licensed Aircraft Engineer since 1981.

Afra Rashed Al Mheiri

Junior Engineer

Sanad Aerotech

Ali Al Olama

Junior Engineer

Sanad Aerotech

Randy Gadingan

R&D Engineer

Sanad Aerotech

Bartosz Jurewicz

R&D Engineer

Sanad Aerotech

Emiliano Kargieman

Chief Executive Officer

Satellogic

H.E Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh

Chief Executive Officer

Saudi Space Commission

Dr. Abdulaziz Alsheik holds a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management from Brunel University, UK (2001), Master's degree in Human Resource Development from the of Western Michigan, University USA (1996), and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Business Administration of King Saud University (1993).
After obtaining a Master's degree, he joined BAE Systems (1997) and began his career as a Human Resources Specialist, stationed at the Saudi Defense Attaché Office in Britain.
During his tenure in Britain, he continued to pursue his higher education. After his return from Britain (2002), he was seconded from BAE to serve as a Human Resource Adviser in the Ministry of Defense and Aviation – Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). He then went on to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) as
Director of the Tourism Employment Program (2004). He later was assigned to work as the Director General of Human Resources (2006), before being appointed as SCTH VP of Support Sector (2008).
As of recently, Dr. Abdulaziz was appointed CEO of the newly established Saudi Space Commission, 2018.
Dr Abdulaziz is specialized in human resource development and management, institutional building, change management, and leadership and management capacity building.
He has cumulative and extensive experience in financial management, government procurement, and technical and administrative support .
He is a member of several specialized societies, most prominent being the Society for Human Resource Management - USA (SHRM), the Human Resources Professionals Association - Canada (HRPA), and International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) .

Krystal Azelton

Director of Space Applications Programs

Secure World Foundation

Krystal Wilson is the Director of Space Applications Programs at Secure World Foundation with over 11 years of international and domestic space, public policy, and management experience. Currently, she focuses on the Human and Environmental Security portfolio, which promotes improved governance and cooperation in the delivery and use of information derived from space systems.
She has also served as a project manager at the Tauri Group (now Bryce Space and Technology), where she provided research, analysis, strategic planning, and regulatory assessment to government and commercial clients.
Previously, Ms. Wilson was in the field of international development in Eastern Africa, Afghanistan, and the United States working closely with the United Nations, the World Bank, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, US and international nonprofits, and others.
Ms. Wilson holds a BSFS in International Politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC and completed the Programme Internationale at Sciences-Po in Paris, France.

Josh Wolny

Project Manager

Secure World Foundation

Ana-Mia Louw

General Manager

Simera Sense

I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch in 2014. While studying, I developed an interest optical design, doing an internship under South Africa’s preeminent optical designer and after that took a course in advanced optics. My passion for management and optics led to me spearhead Simera Sense, Simera Group’s product development company for imaging systems, focusing on high-resolution earth observation payloads for small satellites with our xScape payload range. Since the start of 2018, I have been managing Simera Sense, and currently have 12 engineers working under me. I am continually expanding my knowledge in optics and management, and I recently completed a financial management course at the University of Stellenbosch Business school. I am a passionate, enthusiastic engineer with high hopes for the future of the space industry, both in South Africa and in the world with unified space collaboration.

Before embarking the current development of small satellite payloads in Simera Sense, I worked on three larger earth observation satellite payloads that were launched in 2018.

When not involved in the space industry and to stay fit, I literally climb walls, but only when it is not feasible to scale cliff faces of the mountains around Cape Town.

Carmelo Lo Faro

President

Solvay

Jillianne Pierce

Director of Federal Government Relations

Space Florida

Jillianne Pierce is the Director of Federal Government Relations for Space Florida. In this capacity, she regularly interfaces with industry, the United States Congress, the Administration, and various federal and international departments and agencies to effectively convey and clarify Space Florida initiatives and priorities. Jillianne also monitors pending legislation and coordinates with key stakeholders and state organizations to accomplish Space Florida’s federal legislative agenda.
A member of the Florida Bar, Jillianne earned a J.D. from the University of Miami and a B.A. from the University of Central Florida.

Davide Petrillo

Executive Director

Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

Davide has a M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Padova (Italy). His professional experience brought him to London (UK) as a Business Manager for Alten Ltd and previously in Milano (Italy) as a Business Analyst for Accenture, global management consulting company that provides strategy, consulting, technology and operations services. Previously, he was the Team Leader of FELDs Experiment selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Drop Your Thesis! 2014 programme. FELDs tested a tethered electromagnetic soft docking technology in microgravity conditions at the Drop Tower of the Centre of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) in Bremen, Germany. In 2015, he won the “Hans Von Muldau Team Award” for the best team project that took place in Jerusalem at the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Davide joined SGAC in 2016 and since July 2020 he has been officially appointed as Executive Director of SGAC. Previously, he was part of the SGC 2018 organizing team specifically focused on the organization and management of the Special Track “Bridging the Space Divide” Working Group, Space Generation Congress 2019 Deputy Manager (Washington D.C., USA) and SpaceGen United Manager.

Ismail Ali Abdulla

Chief Executive Officer

Strata Manufacturing

Ismail Abdulla is the Chief Executive Officer of Strata. He is also Senior Vice President in Mubadala's Aerospace, Renewables and ICT (AR&I) platform, one of four global business platforms within Mubadala Investment Company.
In his role as CEO of Strata, Ismail is responsible for strengthening the company’s and the UAE aerospace industry competitiveness worldwide, developing Emirati capabilities to equip them with the skills and knowledge to harness the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), and integrating local suppliers into the global aerospace supply chain. He brings a decade of experience in finance and business development within the aerospace industry. From his position at Mubadala, Ismail played a key role in the creation of Strata, acting as the company’s asset manager since 2009. He previously served as project lead for the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, a multifaceted development supporting the establishment of a sustainable aerospace industry in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Ismail joined Mubadala in 2008 and has made notable contributions to a number of aerospace and engineering services projects. During his tenure, Ismail has held a series of roles within the Aerospace, Renewables, and ICT (AR&I) platform’s business development team and guided countless projects from conception through to delivery.
Ismail holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Communication Technology from Queen Mary, University of London.

Dr. Abdelqader Abusafieh

SVP Technology & Advanced Materials

Strata Manufacturing

Dr. Abusafieh is responsible for R&D initiatives and technology development strategy for Strata and Mubadala Aerospace Unit. His role includes fostering collaboration programs with OEMs and academia to develop new technologies in support of aerospace businesses. Dr. Abusafieh has over 20 years of industry experience in the aerospace field covering a range of aircraft and spacecraft programs and technologies. His prior US employment includes Composite Optics Inc., Alliant Techsystems (ATK), and Cytec Engineered Materials. He has several patents and sits on advisory boards for a number of universities. Dr. Abusafieh obtained his Ph.D. from Drexel University, his Masters from Villanova University, and his Bachelor from University of Jordan. He has received several government and industry awards for his contributions to aerospace innovation.

Latifa Alblooshi

Recruitment Officer Human Capital

Strata Manufacturing

Latifa Alblooshi holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Ajman University of Science & Technology. She also completed her Master’s in Human resources with Honor from Ajman University of Science & Technology.

Latifa started her career in the Recruitment Department in Strata Manufacturing, where she was able to broaden her knowledge in the aerospace industry and build connections with professionals from the industry. She currently works as a Human Capital Officer within the Human Capital Department. In her current role, Latifa manages the performance cycle and the organizational structure in Strata, she also creates HR policies that are aligned with the company’s requirements and objectives; Latifa also worked on the development of the part-time policy initiative.

Latifa is part of the Strata Youth Council, where her passion and commitment in sharing knowledge and awareness in the aerospace sector drives her to take part in many events to reach out to the youth. She participated in various events including career fairs and Mohamed bin Zayed majlis for future generations.

Mariam Al Jaberi

Senior Production Supervisor

Strata Manufacturing

John Gordon Ferguson

Research & Development Manager, Technology & Advanced Materials

Strata Manufacturing

Hind Amin

Junior Engineer

Strata Manufacturing

Damilola Folorunsho

Junior Engineer

Strata Manufacturing

George Kerwood

Research Specialist

Strata Manufacturing

Yazan Samara

Research Engineer

Strata Manufacturing

Andre Swart

Senior Development Engineer

Strata Manufacturing

Matar Al Romaithi

Chief Officer, Economic Development Unit

Tawazun Economic Council

Bernard Roux

Chief Executive Officer

Thales in the UAE

Fikiswa Majola

Deputy Director: Space Science and Tech

The Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa

Kelsey Warner

Future Editor

The National

Kelsey Warner is the Future Editor at The National where she oversees coverage of what innovations and trends are reshaping society. She also co-hosts the weekly Business Extra podcast.
Kelsey's reporting has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, Forbes Middle East and MSN. Prior to becoming a journalist, she was the executive director of a Boston-based non-profit that supplied emergency funding to families facing homelessness. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School.

Dr. Khaled Al Hashmi

Director

The National Space Science and Technology Center - UAEU

Leading the National Space Science and Technology Centre, developing and establishing manufacturing facilities and capabilities in design and build of satellites and R&D program in space science and technologies. Previousely, spearheaded development and implementation of the Space Science & Technology and Innovation roadmap, the national space program for the UAE Space Agency inclusive of the program management of the UAE Mars Mission “The Hope” project, other small satellite projects and currently the 813 Arabic Satellite.
Held several roles in senior executive management positions that demanding critical business transformation as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, and Director at various Space, Aerospace, Oil & Gas industries, government administration and state-owned enterprises in areas of Strategy, Business Planning, Organization Development, and Operations
Earned a Doctorate in Business Administration and an MSc in Thermal Power & Fluids Engineering from the University of Manchester, graduated from Harvard Business School–General Management, earned a Diploma in Public Sector Innovation from University of Cambridge. His first Degree was a BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Saint Louise University.

Sulaiman Al Ali

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Thuraya

Sulaiman Al Ali is Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Thuraya, the Mobile Satellite Services subsidiary of Yahsat. He was formerly the Executive Vice President (EVP) of the Commercial Division within Yahsat Government Solutions.

As Deputy CEO, Sulaiman is focused on improving operations and revenue growth through enhanced communication services for Thuraya and Yahsat customers in the commercial and government/military sectors. He is also responsible for strengthening Thuraya’s commercial strategy, while leveraging the company’s breadth of services to provide customers in the government and military sectors with well-defined solutions that enable them to innovate.

Sulaiman started with Yahsat in 2014 as a Satellite Projects Manager, responsible for delivering satcom managed end-to-end solutions for government customers. He has more than 17 years of experience, working in the regional and international telecommunications sector across the UAE, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ivory Coast.

Sulaiman holds a BS in Communication Engineering from Khalifa University and a Masters in Management of Entrepreneurial Leadership from Hamdan Bin Mohamed Smart University. He also has an Executive MBA from INSEAD Business School, France.

Jassem Nasser

Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer

Thuraya

As Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Jassem Nasser steers Thuraya’s vision and mission, and heads the company’s strategic, marketing and change management initiatives. In his current role, Jassem is responsible for corporate strategy, product management, business development and marketing activities. He explores and leads new ventures outside Thuraya’s core MSS business through partnerships and alliances.
Prior to his present assignment, Jassem led Thuraya’s strategy and business development streams as Chief Strategy Officer. He has more than 20 years of experience in the satellite industry, imparting strategic direction and overseeing functions including business development, corporate planning spectrum and regulatory affairs. Jassem’s engineering background and expertise has been applied to a business environment that specializes in satellite communication technologies and other radio communication systems. He was actively involved in setting up and managing Thuraya as a start-up satellite organization, and was thereafter part of its various stages of development by formulating objectives, priorities and selecting strategic directions and business initiatives.
Jassem graduated with first class honors from the UAE’s Khalifa University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Engineering.

Fahad Al Mheiri

Executive Director - Space Sector

UAE Space Agency

Khalid Al Awadi

Director of Space Missions

UAE Space Agency

Naser Al Rashedi

Director of Space Policy & Regulations

UAE Space Agency

Eng. Naser Abdullatif Al Hammadi

Head of International Relations and Organization Affairs

UAE Space Agency

Abdulla Al Marar

Head of Space Projects Section

UAE Space Agency

Fatima Al Shamsi

Space Policies Specialist

UAE Space Agency

Fatheya Al Sharji

Senior Space Legislation Specialist

UAE Space Agency

Abir Khater

Advisor to UAE Space Agency DG – Academic Affairs

UAE Space Agency

Ms. Khater has engaged as a leader in higher education for over 20 years, working as an international relationship builder and academic advisor. Her deep expertise and vast experience includes creating, implementing, and managing scholarship programs and exchange and training programs. She is also an effective academic advisor, empowering students through university levels to strengthen workforce and become future leaders and influencers.

She is the Advisor for Academic Affairs for the Director General at the UAE Space Agency. Her primary role is to strategically plan and implement educational and training programs aimed at building capacity and developing interest and awareness among UAE nationals in fields related to STEM and Space. She has built many advantageous partnerships with international space agencies including NASA, the International Space University, European and Egyptian Space Agencies, JAXA, the South Australian Government, and UK universities.

At her previous position, she played a key role in coaching, advising, and mentoring college students as a Unit Head for Academic Advising at the Scholarships Office, Ministry of Presidential Affairs in UAE. She routinely led delegations to the United States to establish higher education exchanges and to facilitate placement of M.E. students into notable U.S. universities.

Ms. Khater has also previously worked in the International Education field at AMIDEAST, Egypt, as the Associate Director of Advising and Exchanges. There, she advanced intercultural learning by managing various cultural and educational exchange programs and scholarships. AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs are designed to help develop mutual understanding through interaction with the peoples and cultures of the region.

Ms. Khater is a distinguished scholar herself, holding two graduate degrees, in International Peace Studies and International Relations, from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.

Hamda Al Hosani

Executive - Space Activities Licenses

UAE Space Agency

Hamda Al Hosani is a Space Activities Licensing Executive at the UAE Space Agency since 2019. She’s currently working on the authorization of space activities, drafting and implementation of flexible regulatory procedures in authorizations, Third party Liability Insurance, and space activities risk assessment and technical audit. In addition, she is supporting in space economy and investments.

Hamda is holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering 2018, from Higher Colleges of Technology. Throughout her studies, she got a scholarship from the UAE Space Agency which enabled her to get involved in the space industry. As a student, she got the chance to meet a number of space leaders. Hamda is also an International Space University Alumni, she graduated from the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. In addition, Hamda is a member in the Space Generation Advisory Council, where she were involved in organizing Space Generation Congress 2019 in Washington DC.

Hamda Al Shehhi

Space Technology Senior Researcher

UAE Space Agency

Hamda Al Shehhi is a Space Technology Senior Researcher at the Space

Missions Department of the UAE Space Agency. Her role is focused on providing support and performing scientific research in the investigation and application of space science to Agency missions and projects. Further on she had successfully developed technical and administrative skills while supporting space-related research and development (R&D) projects that aid the advancement of space science and technology in the UAE. Hamda is a graduate of University of Sharjah with a BS in Energy Engineering. She is also a graduate of the Space Studies Program from the International Space University 2019.

Maitha Al Romaithi

Government Communication Officer

UAE Space Agency

Maitha Al Romaithi joined the UAE Space Agency in 2015, a year after its inception as a Government Communications Executive. Her role at the Agency focuses on all marketing aspects including graphic design creation, development of the strategic internal communication plan and she contributes to event organization and management, in order to ensure alignment with Agency objectives and government guidelines. Enabling consistency across internal and external branding and marketing activities and collateral.
She is a member of the UAE Space Agency Youth Council as well as the UAE representative for World Space Week. Maitha has published a number of scientific papers for the International Astronautical Congress (2018, 2019, 2020) on the 'UAE Space Agency Youth Council', 'Young professionals in the space sector' and 'UAE Space Agency awareness campaigns'.
She graduated from Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, with a degree in Communication Sciences and specialization in Tourism and Culture.

Heyam Al Blooshi

Design Engineer

UAE Space Agency

Ali Al Ghardagha

Trainee - Space Policy Regulation Department.

UAE Space Agency

Prof. Anu Ojha OBE

Director of the UK National Space Academy and Member of Council of STFC

UK National Space Academy

Professor Anu Ojha OBE is Director of the UK’s National Space Academy programme, a Director of the UK National Space Centre and a member of STFC Council – the leadership body of the UK’s Research Council responsible for national and international facilities and programmes in particle physics, nuclear physics and astronomy/space science. He is also a member of the European Space Agency’s Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) – the senior advisory body to ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration on all matters concerning scientific exploitation of human spaceflight, microgravity and exploration programmes.
Anu is the lead for skills/education and human spaceflight/ robotic exploration in the UK Government’s programmes of strategic collaboration in Space Science and Technology with China. He is a Co-Investigator for the SPLIT planetary geotechnics sampling tool being developed by the University of Leicester for use on future Mars exploration missions and was Principal Investigator for the Astro Academy Principia experiments conducted by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station. A former Advanced Skills Teacher (AST), Anu continues to teach physics on the National Space Academy’s Space Engineering course and for international undergraduates/postgraduates at the University of Leicester. He has contributed to several national and international strategic space science and space policy reports including most recently the submissions to the ESA Council of Ministers 2019. In 2020 he was invited by the UK Secretary of State for Defence to join the UK Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy

Danny Sebright

President

US-UAE Business Council

Danny E. Sebright was appointed in June 2008 to the position of President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, the leading advocate for building commercial relationships and expanding business opportunities between the two countries.

Since 2002, Mr. Sebright held the position of Vice President at The Cohen Group, an international strategic consulting firm led by former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. Mr. Sebright was responsible for new business development activities, client management, and building the firm's Middle East and India practice groups. Mr. Sebright will continue to be affiliated with The Cohen Group as a Counselor.

Previously, Mr. Sebright served as the Defense Department's Director of the Policy Executive Secretariat for the global war on terrorism from 2001-2002, leading a team responsible for tracking US and coalition actions related to the war on terrorism. During this time, he also participated in oversight of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and Operation NOBLE EAGLE, the defense of the U.S. homeland. In this capacity, he was awarded the Department of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award for his service to his country.

Mr. Sebright also served in the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at DoD from 1995-2001, representing Department of Defense positions with other executive-branch policy offices. He conducted bilateral negotiations with foreign officials, including providing the Defense Department policy perspective on the Middle East Peace Process, regional arms sales, and counter-proliferation initiatives. Mr. Sebright cultivated extensive contacts with defense industry officials to coordinate and implement US foreign military sales to Israel and many other countries in the Middle East. Mr. Sebright received the Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Policy for his work on the Middle East Peace Process.

Mr. Sebright began his career in government in 1985 with the Defense Intelligence Agency, living and working extensively overseas in numerous countries in the Middle East, India, Asia, and Africa. Mr. Sebright is the recipient of various DIA and CIA exceptional service awards for his accomplishments.

George Whitesides

Chief Space Officer

Virgin Galactic

George joined Virgin Galactic in 2010 as Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company, Virgin Galactic’s wholly-owned subsidiary and manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. During George’s 10 years with the Company, he built the Company from 30 people to a workforce of over 900 today, successfully guiding Virgin Galactic through its human space flight R&D and flight test program, culminating in two space flights. These historic flights saw the first humans launched into space from US soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle, as well as the first woman to fly on a commercial space vehicle. George led the transition of operations from Mojave, California to Spaceport America, New Mexico, and oversaw the Company’s successful public listing making it a multi-billion dollar company and creating the world’s first publicly traded human spaceflight venture.

Prior to Virgin Galactic, George served as Chief of Staff for NASA. Upon departure from the American space agency, he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award the agency confers.

George’s volunteer service includes boards of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (Vice Chair), Caltech’s Space Innovation Council, the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, Princeton University’s Advisory Council for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space Technologies (previously as co-chair). He is a fellow of the UK Royal Aeronautical Society and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He previously served as chair of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Working Group for the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of Virgin Galactic, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University and the Board of Virgin Unite USA. George has testified on American space policy before the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the President’s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy. An honors graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow

Harj Dhaliwal

Managing Director Middle East & India

Virgin Hyperloop One

Will Pomerantz

Vice President of Special Projects

Virgin Orbit

Steven Freeland

Professor of International Law

Western Sydney University

Steven Freeland is Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, specialising in Commercial Space Law, and previously the Dean of the School of Law. He also holds Visiting or Adjunct positions at Universities/Institutes in Copenhagen, Vienna, Toulouse, Hong Kong, Montreal, Kuala Lumpur and London. Prior to becoming an academic, he had a 20-year career as an international commercial lawyer and an investment banker. He is a Member of the Advisory Group of the Australian Space Agency and has been an advisor to the Australian, New Zealand, Norwegian and several other Governments on issues relating to national space legislative frameworks and policy, and represented the Australian Government at Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) meetings.
He has also been appointed by UNCOPUOS to co-chair multilateral discussions on the exploration, exploitation and utilisation of space resources. He is a Director of the International Institute of Space Law, and a Member of the Space Law Committees of both the International Bar Association and International Law Association.

Maruska Strah

Executive Director

World Space Week Association

Maruška Strah is passionate about space and space law ever since she read her first chapter on international space law. Her interest only deepened during her internship at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, where she gained significant insight in the work of both, public and private sector involved with the space industry. Maruška is a member of the European Center for Space Law, the International Institute of Space Law, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space Traffic Management Working Group 1, where she is leading the efforts to socialize the outcomes of the working group.

Eisa Al Shamsi

Deputy General Manager

Yahsat

Eisa Al Shamsi is the Deputy General Manager of Yahsat Government Solutions (YGS). He is responsible for delivering YGS projects and certifying the design of the Yahsat Military network. He is also responsible for all technical aspects and leads the department’s technical strategy to support growth in line with the YGS mission and objectives.

Eisa has held various positions at Yahsat, the most recent being the Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Delivery and Management. He has been involved in technical operations for both Communications and Remote Sensing Satellite Systems. He also possesses vast experience in custom satellite and telecommunications hybrid networks, alongside ICT software and infrastructure.

Eisa’s professional highlights include being the technical consultant and Ground Segment Director for prestigious programs for Remote Sensing Satellite System for the UAE Government.

Trained at the most challenging institute - UAE Armed Forces Signal Corps - he has the distinction of being part of the Yahsat satellites (AY1 and AY2) program in Toulouse, France.

Eisa holds a Masters in Business Administration from INSEAD alongside a BS in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

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