Speakers

With over three decades of leadership experience in global telecommunications policy, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives. Her historic election by ITU Member States in S​eptember 2022 made her the first woman ever to head the nearly 160-year-old organization. Known for mobilizing innovative partnerships, she aims to promote meaningful connectivity, intensify cooperation to connect the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of digital technologies with inclusive sustainable development.​​ <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/osg/Pages/biography-itu-sg-doreen.aspx" target="_blank">​​​Full biography</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtHJvm_2RPU" target="_blank">​Video i​nterview</a>

Professor Celeste Saulo was appointed as the first female and South American Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) by the Nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19). Her four-year term began on 1 January 2024. Prior to this, she served as the Director of the National Meteorological Service of Argentina since 2014 and was the First Vice-President of the WMO. Professor Celeste Saulo has been the Director of the Argentinean National Meteorological Service (SMN) and Permanent Representative of Argentina at WMO since July 2014. She was elected to the WMO Executive Council in June 2015. She has been a member of the WMO World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) Scientific Steering Committee since 2011 and has served on various WMO panels related to her field of knowledge. She is full professor at the University of Buenos Aires and research scientist at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research. As the Director of the Argentinean National Meteorological Service, she has pursued its modernization based of the three axes:  enhancement of monitoring, of quality of forecasts and of communications with society. Thus, she has given rise to interinstitutional and interdisciplinary effort and dedication to contribute to the commitments made by the country with regards to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework. Under her direction, the Argentinean National Meteorological Service has been a venue for various capacity development activities for Meteorological and Hydrological Services of developing countries, with a specific focus on training in accordance with the country’s role of Regional Training Centre. Her intervention in regional and international activities is extensive, mainly oriented towards capacity building at the regional level and to the inclusion and integration of the younger generations of scientists in all relevant areas. A proof of that is the creation of the WMO YESS (Young Earth System Scientists) Office at the Argentinean National Meteorological Service. <a href="https://wmo.int/profile/celeste-saulo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="link" data-id="https://wmo.int/profile/celeste-saulo">Full biography</a>

Aarti Holla-Maini is the Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), having taken up post on 18^th September 2023 following her appointment by United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres. Ms. Holla-Maini brings over 25 years of experience in the space and satellite sector, working predominantly with international organizations and regulators. Prior to the United Nations, she held the post of Secretary-General of the Global Satellite Operators Association. Ms. Holla-Maini is a recognized leader with a strong track record in forging public-private and cross-sector partnerships; high-level advocacy at the international level; strategic communication and managing diverse stakeholders. Under her leadership, Ms. Holla-Maini expanded the association from being a regional organization to a global one representing commercial satellite operators around the world. She was one of the chief architects of the Crisis Connectivity Charter established in 2015 for emergency telecommunications via satellite with the UN World Food Programme’s Emergency Telecommunications Cluster and has, on multiple occasions, secured recognition and policy support for space technologies to play their rightful role in connecting the unconnected, in Europe, Africa and beyond. The appointment of Ms. Holla-Maini comes at a time when activities in space are being increasingly driven by the private sector. Her deep experience in high-level advocacy with international organizations and regulators, along with her understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the space sector, will serve Member States well as they seek to access and leverage the benefits of space to accelerate sustainable development. Ms. Holla-Maini’s experience has included service as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Space; member of the Advisory Group of the Space Sustainability Rating managed by eSpace at EPFL Space Center; member of the Advisory Board of the Satellite Industry Association of India; Senior Space Policy Advisor to Forum Europe and an Expert Advisor on Space Traffic Management for European Union studies 2021-2023. Since October 2024 Ms. HollaMaini is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. Ms. Holla-Maini holds a bachelor’s degree in law with German law from Kings College London and a master’s degree in business administration from HEC in France. She is fluent in French, German and Punjabi alongside her native English and has moderate knowledge of Dutch. <br>

Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of the satellite industry ecosystem. Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive, sustainable and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the full potential of the 5G & 6G ecosystem. Isabelle has 25 years’ experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for International & External Affairs for fifteen years. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Industry, managing the portfolio of over 60 Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is a Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. Isabelle is also Member of the Advisory Board of Access Partnership and of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech. Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.

Mr. Mario Maniewicz was elected Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau at the <a href="https://www.itu.int/web/pp-18/en">ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018</a> in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He took office on 1 January 2019. Mario Maniewicz is an electronic engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with the ITU for over 30 years, where he has served in high-level management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors as well as in ITU Regional Offices. As Director, Mr. Maniewicz is responsible for the management of the Radiocommunication Bureau, which organizes and co-ordinates the work of the Radiocommunication Sector whose aim is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.​

Executive and Technical Director of National Commission of Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina since June 2018. He is an Aeronautical Engineer graduated from the National University of La Plata (UNLP) and holds a Master in Materials Science and Technology from the Sábato Institute of the University of San Martín (UNSAM). He is a specialist in Vibration Analysis, holds a Diploma in Integral Quality Management and is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE). In his professional career he has carried out technological projects for the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), as head of Instrumentation and Operations of the Group of Studies and Tests of Structural Components – ENDE Activity Unit. He was also Deputy Head of the Sub-Project “Antenna Radar of Synthetic Aperture” (ARAS) in the framework CNEA-CONAE Agreement for the development and manufacture of the structure and mechanisms of the SAR radar antenna of the SAOCOM Project, Earth observation satellites with microwave radar of CONAE. Within the private sector he worked in I.D. ENGINEERING S.A. as leader of the Working Group in services for companies such as Pirelli S.A.; Massuh S.A.; SIAT (Tenaris Group). In the space area he has developed specific projects for CONAE, as Head of the Flight Segment of the SAOCOM Project, Project Manager of the SARE 2A Project (segmented architecture satellites) and Head of the Payload development for the Technological version of the Tronador II Vehicle, the Argentine satellite launcher project.

Janice Starzyk is the Deputy Director of the Office of Space Commerce, a Senior Executive Service position. Previously, she led Virgin Orbit’s Washington, DC, office and government operations. Her extensive experience and contributions in the space industry include leading the consulting practice at Bryce Space and Technology and more than a decade leading the commercial strategy and market intelligence for launch service providers International Launch Services (ILS) and United Launch Alliance (ULA). At Futron Corporation, Ms. Starzyk worked with a range of civil, military and commercial space industry customers. She received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. She holds a Master of Arts in economics and international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a dual-degree Global MBA from Tulane University and Universidad Icesi in Cali, Colombia. For more than a decade, Ms. Starzyk has also provided community leadership and support to local STEM education programs through the Washington Space Business Roundtable. She was appointed to serve as an industry representative on the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee in 2022.

Alexandre Vallet is the current Chief of the Space Services Department in the Radiocommunication Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), since November 2017. As such, he leads the team responsible for the maintenance of the international registry of satellite radio frequencies, which allows all countries around the world to coordinate their use in order to avoid radio interference in outer space. Alexandre Vallet began to work in 2000 in the R&D center of Orange dealing with communications satellites. In 2006, he joined the satellite operator Eutelsat where he was in charge of regulatory matters. From 2007 to 2017, he was the Head of the Regulatory affairs and Spectrum/Orbit Resources Department at the French Agency in charge of radio spectrum management (Agence Nationale des Fréquences – ANFR).

<div class="ituContainer"> With over 25 years of experience in satellite communications and regulations at international level, Mr Ciccorossi has taken the following responsibilities: </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Acting Head of the Satellite Systems Coordination Division at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Chairman of the 22nd. International Space Radio Monitoring Meeting (ISRMM), September 2021.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Spokesperson on satellites issues representing the Radiocommunications Bureau at the World Radiocommunications Conference 2023 and at the Radio Regulations Board</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Counsellor of DG-Plenary at the CPM-2023 and WG-6C at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Represented the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau at WRCs since 2003, as well as at several regional and international fora, including Space Debris Conference, CITEL, ICAO, International Astronautical Congress, Eurocontrol, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Forum Europe, US Small Satellite Symposium, the Regulatory Expert Group of the ISRMM, IEEE and ITU Study Groups.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Advises ITU Member States and Sectors Members on technical regulatory matters of space services.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> <ul> <li>Responsible for the analysis of GSO and NGSO satellite systems submitted to ITU and the treatment of cases of harmful interference.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Mr. Ciccorossi has conceived the first (and unique) Intergovernmental Online Platform to Report RFI cases affecting Satellite System (SIRRS), assisting 193 ITU Member States in its resolution. He holds the degree of engineer in electronics from the National University of Technology (UTN) in Buenos Aires, an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, and has studied satellite communications and spacecraft design at the University of Surrey in the UK. <br> </div>

<div class="ituContainer"> Patricia Cooper is a leading expert on satellite communications, regulation and space policy, and is the founder of the space consultancy, Constellation Advisory, LLC, where she advises smart space and satellite ventures and international projects. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> For six years, Cooper led Government Affairs for the Starlink satellite broadband constellation project at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), where she secured Federal Communications Commission authorization for a record 12,000 satellites, and market access in more than 30 countries. She advocated for updates to spectrum, telecom competition and space safety regulations in the US and around the globe to support the coming generation of satellite networks. Today, Starlink serves over 2 million users worldwide with a constellation of over 6,000 satellites in over 70 countries. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Prior to SpaceX, Patricia was an executive at geostationary satellite fleet operator Intelsat and as for nearly 7 years, President of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading trade organization representing U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers and service providers. At SIA, Patricia advocated in regulatory and national security arenas, for fair trade and competition rules internationally, and spearheaded a successful bipartisan, bi-cameral legislative initiative to reform satellite export control legislation. Previously, Patricia had served in both the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Commerce, and led international outreach at two start-ups, CoreExpress, an Internet fiber infrastructure play and PanAmSat Corporation, a disruptor in the early satellite services market. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Patricia holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in International Economics from the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and German from Kansas State University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). <br> </div>

Elina Morozova is Executive Director at the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications, an intergovernmental satellite telecommunication organization which brings together member states from Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe. At Intersputnik, she is responsible for relations with member states and the United Nations system, including the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the International Telecommunication Union, and manages the International Legal Service. Ms. Morozova combines her career at Intersputnik with research. She teaches a course on international space law and telecommunications law at St. Petersburg University and works on her JSD dissertation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also seats on the editorial boards of internationally recognized academic journals and is the author (co-author) of more than fifty publications on satellite communications and other aspects of space activities in English and Russian. Ms. Morozova earned two master’s degrees in International Law and World Economy from the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation and holds an LLM degree in International Business Law from the University of Manchester.

<div class="ituContainer"> Emmanuelle David is the executive director of EPFL Space Center at the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne. The center launched in 2023 the sustainable space hub to foster an interdisciplinary research to measure, understand and act toward space sustainability. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Before joining EPFL in 2020, Emmanuelle has gathered more than 10 years’ experience in space transportation in academia, agency and industry from pre-development projects up to launch operations. She holds aerospace Engineering degrees both from the University of Technology of Compiegne, France, and the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. </div>

Melissa Quinn is the General Manager of Slingshot Aerospace’s International Business Unit where she is expanding the company’s space safety and security tools, globally. Previously, as Director of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa was instrumental in developing the UK launch industry, resulting in the UK’s first spaceport license and satellite launch with Virgin Orbit in 2023. She is passionate about leveraging space to improve life on Earth, whilst ensuring its use for future generations. She does this through various education outreach, and public engagement programs, as well as working with investors and start-ups to finance their technologies. Melissa holds a Master of Science Degree from the London School of Economics and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She is a recognized thought leader and a keynote speaker, and has been featured in the New York Times, BBC World News and National Geographic.

<div class="ituContainer"> Mike joined Astroscale as CTO in 2020 and is responsible for driving the technical strategy and shaping future mission architecture, taking into account current and future Astroscale markets and customers. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Mike has over 12 years’ experience in the commercial and government space industry. Prior to joining Astroscale, Mike was Director, Spectrum Architecture at OneWeb, where he oversaw mission design, systems engineering and spacecraft performance, taking into consideration regulatory compliance and spectrum management. Prior to OneWeb, Mike held mission design and systems engineering roles at NASA and Google, where he developed and worked on novel and low-cost missions such as the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Mike holds a Master’s degree in Space Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. </div>

Timothy Adi Ashong is the Director General of the Regional African Satellite Communications Organisation (RASCOM), with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, spectrum management, and satellite regulation. He began his career in 2002 as a Technician with Ghana’s first Internet Service Provider, where he gained hands-on experience in network operations and early internet infrastructure. From 2009 to 2023, he worked with the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana, serving in various capacities and playing a key role in shaping national and regional satellite policy frameworks. Mr. Ashong has been actively involved in the work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2010, serving as Vice-Chair of ITU-R Study Group 4 during WRC-15 and WRC-19, and contributing to the ITU's global regulatory processes, including at WRC-23 in Dubai. He has also contributed to regional initiatives under ECOWAS and across Africa, advocating for harmonized satellite regulation and African representation in global spectrum governance. He holds an MSc in Communications Management from Buckinghamshire New University (UK) and a BEng in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from All Nations University (Ghana). Currently, Mr. Ashong is working tirelessly to change the narrative of RASCOM, restoring the confidence of its Member States and repositioning the organization as a central pillar in Africa’s digital integration and satellite connectivity strategy. As part of this vision, he recently led the development of RASCOM’s new strategic plan to revitalize its operations and enhance its relevance across the continent.

<div class="ituContainer"> Martin Coleman is a Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) board member. Since 2011, Martin has been active in spearheading several significant initiatives, leading the advance in new tools to resolve all types of VSAT interference such as SatGuard and the campaign to introduce Carrier ID across all SCPC/MCPC transmissions. Now focusing on S3A (…putting Spectrum into the SSA mix) and the next generation of tools and automation techniques required to meet the demands of LEO and MEO network expansion to better manage spectrum and ground infrastructure. In addition, and on behalf of SIG, Martin engages with local schools through STEAM (Arts inclusive STEM) helping to mentor and educate students from primary school to university for careers in space and telecoms. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Martin’s own company, Colem Engineering, a software design and project management company, developing innovative technology and processes, network management systems and automation control of satellite ground systems. Prior to setting up Colem, Martin was executive engineer in charge of various BT projects for Madley, Goonhilly and other ground station systems within the UK as well as working at London’s international switching centres, starting his career in 1970. </div>

<div class="ituContainer"> Clémence Poirier is a Senior Cyberdefense Researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Prior to joining CSS, she was a Research Fellow seconded by CNES (the French Space Agency) at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria where she conducted multidisciplinary research on space affairs. She also worked as a Researcher for Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia where she carried out policy and legal research on the cybersecurity of the Australian space infrastructure. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> She is a guest lecturer at the NATO Defense College, the University of Oxford, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and ETH Zurich. She is also a Board Member of the CyberSat Summit and Women4Cyber Switzerland. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Her research interests focus on space cybersecurity, cyber conflict in outer space, and electronic warfare on space systems. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Clémence holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, International Security and Defense as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Applied Languages from University Jean Moulin Lyon III, France. </div>

<div class="ituContainer"> Thomas González Roberts is an Assistant Professor of International Affairs and Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> He also currently serves as the International Telecommunication Union’s first Academic in Residence. Using tools from observational astronomy and computational astrodynamics, Roberts studies the behavior of Earth-orbiting satellites to understand how space actors—from superpowers to start-ups—engage with outer-space governance. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> His research interests include international coordination, sustainability, and security in space. Roberts’ work has been supported by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> Roberts has earned numerous recognitions, including the Prize for Open Data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Geneva Centre for Security Policy’s Prize for Innovation in Global Security, and a placement on Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30 in Science” list. </div> <div class="ituContainer"> He holds a PhD and SM in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, an SM in technology and policy from MIT, and a BA in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University. </div>