September 19 2024 Workshop – The speakers and panelists

September 19 2024 Workshop – Speakers & Panelists


speaker	bio
Robert Zubrin (The Mars Society)	Robert Zubrin, Ph.D. is President of The Mars Society and of Pioneer Astronautics. He is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. Bob earned his B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Rochester (1974), his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering (1984), his M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics (1986), and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering (1992) — all from the University of Washington. He has developed a number of concepts for space propulsion and exploration, and is the author of over 200 technical and non-technical papers and several books. Among others: "Merchants of Despair: Radical Environmentalists, Criminal Pseudo-Scientists, and the Fatal Cult of Antihumanism", "Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization", "How to Live on Mars: A Trusty Guidebook to Surviving and Thriving on the Red Planet", "The Case for Mars". Complete bio.
Rick Tumlinson (EarthLight Foundation)	Rick N. Tumlinson cofounded the Space Frontier Foundation, New Worlds, Space Fund. and Earthlight Foundation. He worked with Gerard K. O’Neill at the Space Studies Institute, founded the New York L-5 Society, and was a key player in the Lunar Prospector project. He also helped pass the Space Settlement Act of 1988, testified before President Reagan’s National Commission on Space, and was a founding trustee of the X-Prize. He cofounded the firm LunaCorp and was a cofounder of the space firm MirCorp. A regular contributor to Space News and Huffington Post, he writes in dozens of newspapers and publications. He has appeared on several tv programs as ABC, CBS, CNN, Russia TV, China’s CCTV and UK BBC. He joined NASA’s Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, helping to lay out the framework for the first human outpost on the Moon and steps towards putting humans on Mars. He authored Do we go to play? Or do we go to stay?, Here We Go Again, A Giant Leap Forward – or a Giant Step Backward?, Private Industry Can Help NASA Open the Space Frontier, Return to the Moon For the Right Reasons, in the Right Way, There is No Debate Between the Moon and Mars, You Can’t Call Them Space Tourists Yet, A Goal worth Dying For, and The Third Wave of Alternative Space. A complete bio.
Frank White (Human Space Program)	Frank White, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, is a renowned author, space philosopher, and consultant who has written extensively on topics such as space exploration, climate change, and artificial intelligence. His most notable work is "The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution," which has become a seminal contribution to the field of space exploration. The book explores the profound cognitive shift that occurs when viewing the Earth from space and its implications for human evolution and space exploration.
Paul J. Werbos (Millennium Project, NSS, NSF, MST)	Dr. Paul John Werbos is a prominent figure in the fields of machine learning and computational intelligence, currently serving as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). He oversees the Adaptive and Intelligent Systems (AIS) area within the Power, Controls, and Adaptive Networks (PCAN) Program, as well as the new focus on Quantum, Molecular, and High-Performance Modeling and Simulation for Devices and Systems. Werbos is recognized for his pioneering work in neural networks, particularly for developing the backpropagation algorithm, which is fundamental to training artificial neural networks. He has received the IEEE Neural Network Pioneer Award. He served as one of the original presidents of the International Neural Network Society (INNS). Dr. Werbos holds four degrees from Harvard and the London School of Economics, in economics, international political systems, and applied mathematics with a focus on quantum physics. He has contributed significantly to energy sustainability and space exploration initiatives, notably through his involvement in the NASA-NSF-EPRI initiative for space solar power technologies. Werbos has interests in broader philosophical questions regarding consciousness and human potential, with various publications exploring these themes. His influential 1974 Ph.D. thesis has been reprinted and he has authored multiple works on artificial intelligence and sustainability.
Gary Barnhard (Space Development Foundation)	Gary Pearce Barnhard is a self-described synergistic technological philanthropist, entrepreneur, and serial venture capitalist whose intersections with the space business span all sectors. He is a computer, robotic, space, and utility systems engineer with over 46 years of experience. He currently serves in several capacities, including: Director of Strategic Relationships for the National Space Society, Founder, President and CEO of Xtraordinary Innovative Space Partnerships, Inc. (XISP-Inc), and Vice President of the Moon Village Association.
Claire A. Nelson (The Futures Forum)	Dr. Claire Nelson is Chief Ideation Leader of The Futures Forum, a research and education practice specializing in bringing the power of strategic foresight and discipline of sustainability engineering to challenges facing organizations and communities. Nelson, named on Forbes as one of the top 50 female futurists in the world, is author of the game-changing book “SMART Futures for a Flourishing World: A Paradigm for Advancing Global Sustainability”. A sought-after speaker, Nelson’s engagements have included: World Bank; World Steel; US Air Force; and Engineering for One Planet. Dr. Nelson is a Member of the Board of the World Futures Studies Federation and Editor-At-Large of its flagship publication Human Futures Magazine. The convenor of the Space Futures Forum, a global initiative that advocates Space for All, she serves as Advisory Member at the Institute of Space Law and Ethics, and is a Goodwill Ambassador for UN International Moon Day. A social entrepreneur, Dr. Nelson is Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, the leading Caribbean American Diaspora organization and celebrated as the Architect and Convening Chair of the Campaign for June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. She is Curator of the Caribbean American Legislative Forum on Capitol Hill and White House Briefings, the National Caribbean American Heritage Awards, and the Caribbean Space Society. Dr. Nelson, an award-winning writer, storyteller, and performance artiste has written and performed two one woman shows ‘Limbo Like This’, which tells the story of Caribbean Life in America; and ‘Moon Runnings: The Life & Times of the First Jamaican on the Moon’, and the hit comedy Resident Alien, which received critical acclaim. The only Black female in her graduating class, she holds a Doctorate in Engineering Management from George Washington University (1990). Dr. Nelson was named a White House Champion of Change in 2012
Henk Rogers (International Moonbase Alliance)	Henk Rogers is the founder of the International Moonbase Alliance, an organization with the goal to build sustainable settlements on the Moon and Mars and establish Hawaii as a leader in the space industry. He also founded Blue Planet Energy, a global leader in renewable energy storage systems. Henk is the President of the Tetris Company and a pioneer in the video game industry. Today, Rogers is the founder of 10 companies and non-profit organizations focused on space exploration, renewable energy, and ending the use of fossil fuels on Earth. Rogers continues to be an influential figure and has received numerous awards, including being inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame in 2008 and named CEO of the Year by Hawaii Business Magazine in 2015.
Ben Gamble (AstroBen Podcast)	Ben Gamble, an MBA graduate from UCL, is a seasoned venue owner/operator and events entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the hospitality and entertainment industry. He owns Dockside Vaults (500 capacity events venue) in London and is expanding with new properties in both London and New York. Passionate about sustainability in space, Ben is the host of the Astro Ben podcast, a leading space and science show with over 100 episodes featuring notable guests like astronauts Scott Kelly and Jared Isaacman, scientist Bill Nye, and UFO obsessive/rockstar Tom DeLonge. Through the podcast, Ben delves into crucial topics like the Overview Effect, reusable rocketry, and making space accessible to all. He’s also an advocate for integrating civilian space development into the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda as the 18th Sustainable Development Goal. Additionally, Ben runs Nylon Pie, a consultancy that secures venues for innovative operators in London and New York, merging his love for events and space, by facilitating events that promote space such as Yuri’s Night and May 4th parties. With plans to launch his own venture in the space economy before 2030, Ben is always eager to connect with those who share his vision for the future of venues, events, and space exploration.
Marie-Luise Heuser (Space Renaissance International)	Dr. phil. Marie-Luise Heuser is a philosopher and university lecturer at several German universities. She is the Executive Director of The Society for Space Culture and Head of the Space and Culture Department in the German Aerospace Society (DGLR). Her research focuses on the philosophy of space travel, space theories, philosophy of nature, art and technology, metaphysics, ontology, and anthropology. She is also the Head of the Space Philosophy Laboratory at Space Renaissance Academy. Notable publications include "Transterrestrik in der Renaissance" (2008), "Space Philosophy" (2016), "Return to the Moon" (2020), and "Der Mensch ist nicht nur für die Erde da" (2020).
Ryan Laird (Green Orbit Digital)	Ryan Laird is a results-driven Marketing Professional with over a decade of experience in the space industry. He is a chartered marketer (CMktr) who has led numerous successful campaigns and contributed to the growth of several brands. Ryan specializes in digital marketing, including SEO, social media, email marketing, and content marketing, and has a track record of delivering exceptional results. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and continuous learning, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in the space and marketing industries. Ryan is passionate about developing and mentoring marketing talent and is dedicated to building high-performing marketing strategies that deliver remarkable success.
Constance Erlanger (GoKnown LLC)	Connie is the co-founder and CEO of GoKnown LLC, a technology firm located in Aventura, Florida, specializing in cybersecurity and data ownership solutions. The company has developed KNOWN®, a pioneering real-time distributed ledger designed for secure, scalable, and decentralized computing at the Edge. Before establishing GoKnown in 2018 with notable partners, including technologist Michael Harold, Connie had a robust career in banking and finance in New York City. Her extensive experience encompasses bank lending across 11 countries, foreign exchange trading, and real estate management. She also co-founded and managed two previous financial services companies, where her husband, Michael Erlanger, developed patented intellectual property that influenced GoKnown's technology. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Connie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheaton College and has pursued language studies in Taiwan. She is married and has two daughters. GoKnown collaborates with various leaders in cybersecurity and aerospace, and its technology, underpinned by the patented kBFT™ consensus protocol, addresses critical global challenges, including cybersecurity threats and data scalability issues.
Shannon Procise (Brevard Prosperity Initiative)	Shannon Procise's passion for community development and empowering others has driven her dedication to social impact. A longtime resident of Satellite Beach, FL, Shannon has been an integral part of the space community for many years, playing a pivotal role in fostering the economic development and prosperity needed for the space program to thrive. Her expertise in training, consulting, event planning, marketing, public relations, and networking has been utilized by renowned figures and everyday community members alike to uplift and strengthen their neighborhoods. Shannon has spent over two decades cultivating a vibrant international network of community organizations, fostering their growth through knowledge-sharing, marketing, and collaborative strategies. She is known for her ability to connect people and resources, creating a powerful web of support for community-driven initiatives. A master at forging strategic alliances and nurturing sustainable partnerships, Shannon adeptly navigates complex challenges and inspires teams to achieve their highest potential. She generously shares her knowledge, empowering others to create positive change in their space communities, and beyond. Shannon's leadership has been recognized through various media appearances, including television, radio, and print. Shannon is at the forefront of driving positive change in Brevard County through her leadership of the Brevard Prosperity Initiative. She leverages her extensive experience to guide the initiatives towards excellence, ensuring they achieve their goals of creating a thriving and equitable community for all residents. Under Shannon's guidance, the Brevard Prosperity Initiative have become a model for community development. She fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, to address systemic challenges and implement innovative solutions. As a dedicated community builder in Satellite Beach, Shannon has been instrumental in driving the economic development and prosperity necessary for the space program to flourish. She recognizes the symbiotic relationship between a thriving community and a successful space industry and has worked tirelessly to strengthen both.
Ari Eisenstat (Space 4 Humanity)	Ari Eisenstat is an International Futurist at the University of Hawai'i - Research Center for Future Studies and Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution Instructor in Human Rights, Space Exploration, and Astrobiology. Ari facilitates Outer Space Innovation and Advocacy programs through the United Nations Association-USA, Nexus Global Summit, and UH NASA Astrobiology Institute featuring Astronauts, UN Office of Outer Space Affairs Officials, Elected Representatives, New Space Industry Leaders, and Civil Society Experts. Ari serves as Chair of the Advisory Board of 'Space for Humanity,' Advisor for the Conrad Foundation, and has presented for programs hosted at the White House, NASA Houston, Mountain View, & Cape Canaveral. With experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Ari has lectured at United Nations Agencies in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, UN Climate Change Conferences in Marrakech and Bonn, World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Bogota and Merida, as well as universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Penn, Duke, UC Berkeley, NYU, and globally. Ari engages in futures consulting, experiential education, strategic advising, venture philanthropy, impact investing, and creative media for leading edge projects.
Chantelle Baier (4SPACE)	Chantelle Baier, the dynamic Founder of 4SPACE, is a pioneering visionary and extraordinary trailblazer simultaneously in the space sector and in the art world. As the first women to land authorized artwork on the Moon, Chantelle’s life’s mission exemplifies her dedication to the sustainability of community and cosmos alike. A foreshadowing futurist and remarkable market-maker, Chantelle’s diverse expertise and steadfast focus push the boundaries of expression, exploration, and innovation. Her remarkable ability to envision emerging trends and imagine the possibilities of tomorrow have earned the support of top scientists, venture capitalists, world-renowned artists, global leaders, and corporations worldwide. Chantelle’s interdisciplinary approach bridges the traditional divide between the often-siloed art, science, marketing, and STEM disciplines, making her an invaluable leader in the space industry. Her multifaceted skills enable her to connect diverse stakeholders, facilitate collaboration, and foster interdisciplinary dialogue, driving forward the critical mission of sustainable space exploration. Launching from her groundbreaking work with 4SPACE, Chantelle designed the S.P.A.R.K. (Space Play Art Robotics Knowledge) program for Elon Musk’s private school, Ad Astra (now Astra Nova School). She also proudly serves on the board of the National Space Society. Chantelle Baier’s legendary leadership and innovative insight are not only shaping the future of space exploration but also ensuring that the sustainability of space ensures the sustainability of Earth.
Werner Grandl (Space Renaissance International)	Werner graduated at the Technical University of Vienna in 1984, as architect and civil engineer. He published several papers on studies for space stations and space colonies, utilization of lunar and asteroid resource.
Jerry Stone (Space Renaissance International)	Jerry Stone FBIS FRAS is a Freelance Space Presenter, and runs Spaceflight UK. He is a space expert and educator who has been presenting lectures on astronomy and space exploration for over 50 years and also offers space workshops for schools and youth groups, and as team-building exercises for companies. He has an extensive collection of space material. In the 1980’s he joined the curatorial staff at the Science Museum in London where he was responsible for the Astronomy, Space and Exploration galleries, which included the Apollo 10 Command Module. He is an Interplanetary Poet and has been interviewed many times on radio and TV in Britain, America and in Romania, on a wide range of subjects from the total eclipse in 1999, the Transit of Venus in 2004 and various other space topics. He has visited space centres and museums in Moscow, The Netherlands, Washington, Alabama and Florida, where he has witnessed launches from Cape Canaveral. He has written two books on space exploration, and been the consultant on a number of others.
Thomas Matula (Space Renaissance International)	Thomas L. Matula, Ph.D., is a Professor of Business Administration at Sul Ross State University’s Rio Grande College of Business in Texas. He holds an MBA and Ph.D. in Business Administration from New Mexico State University. His dissertation topic was on Commercial Spaceports, based on his work with the Southwest Regional Spaceport Task Force, the forerunner to Spaceport America. He has been writing, publishing, and speaking on space economics and development since the 1990s. He serves on the Board of Directors of Space Renaissance International and is currently working on a book “Astrosettlement: Developing the Solar System”. Also see the Thomas’s LinkedIn Profile.
Renato Frota (Space For Pogress)	Renato Guimarães da Rocha Frota is a dedicated professional with a valuable grass roots background in education, non-profit management, and media production, focusing on social and environmental issues. Fluent in Portuguese and English, he has leveraged his skills to promote positive community change. As the founder and CEO of a successful NGO, Renato has significant experience in event planning, staff and volunteer supervision, and educational program development. He has also directed award-winning documentary films, emphasizing the power of media to influence public awareness. His career highlights include roles as a parliamentary assistant, an English and technology instructor, and an executive director promoting Brazilian culture in California. Renato’s diverse expertise brings an engaging voice to the extensive discussions on planetary sustainability and the proposed 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
Ghanim Alotaibi (Space Renaissance International)	Ghanim Alotaibi is a PhD candidate at the University of Strathclyde. His research project is thermal management for an advanced Solar Power Satellite (SPS) concept with the aim of advancing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL). As a mechanical engineer graduated from Kuwait University, Ghanim started his career as a petroleum engineer at Kuwait Oil Company. After obtaining a degree in astronomy and completed his master’s in solar energy (photovoltaics) from Freiburg University, he proposed the first satellite for Kuwait University. The satellite project was funded and it was successfully launched in January 2023. Ghanim was an active member in many space non-profit organizations. In the past, Ghanim was the Middle East Regional Coordinator of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). Currently, he is the project manager for the Moon Village – Participation of Emerging Space Countries (MV-PESC). The aim of the project is to bring developing countries to perform moon projects. In addition, Ghanim is a board member at the Space Renaissance International (SRI) and co - chairing the towards the young generation committee. Ghanim’s exposure to space research and the wider space community motivated him to initiate and lead countless activities to bring concepts of advancing human civilization into space to developing countries. For this reason, he founded Advance Space Civilization Initiative (ASCI) where he offers courses about the topic for the general audience focusing on developing countries.
Cheryl Gallagher (Asgardia)	Cheryl Gallagher, known professionally as Madhavi Devi, is a multifaceted active professional artist and musician who has made significant and unique contributions to the fields of ambient electronic music and visual arts. Her work, characterized by spiritual depth and transcendental qualities, has earned her recognition within the New Age and ambient music communities and the creative arts community. She is also known as a strong advocate in the aerospace community for human cultural evolution through her published articles, produced videos and project support for various organizations contributing to positive and advanced human physical and cultural development in space. She also has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education with a focus on Program Administration, she’s a graduate of a fine arts program in Sonoma, CA, and she also has versatile skills in many digital creative production realms, social media platforms, website design, and various AI tools. She’s a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys) and an active member of the International Association of Artists and the International Association of Aeronautical Artists. She is also active in a variety of space initiatives and NGOs, including Space Renaissance International, and has leadership roles in several space initiatives and NGOs, such as Asgardia, Spaceborne United, and ASRI. Based in Austin, Texas, Cheryl Gallagher’s (Madhavi Devi) commitment to personal and collective evolution is evident in both her art and her advocacy. She is deeply involved in promoting human cultural evolution, particularly in the context of space exploration, where she sees an opportunity for humanity to transcend its current limitations in the outer space environments planned for the future. She supports organizations dedicated to this overall vision, in general as well as research on specific aspects of human evolution, such as reproduction in space, and legacy projects that accurately documenting Earth’s history for future generations. For more information, visit Cheryl Gallagher (Madhavi Devi)’s official website www.madhavidevi.com.
Guy Pignolet (La Reunion Space Initiative)	Guy Pignolet is a French engineer and researcher born on March 28, 1942 in St. Pierre Eglise, France. He holds a degree in engineering from Ecole Polytechnique, Paris (1963) and a Doctor of Philosophy-AbD from Cornell University (1972). Pignolet served as a Lieutenant in the French Navy (1963-1964) and worked as a field manager for Schlumberger Overseas in Paris (1964-1969) and a high school teacher for the French National Education in St. Rose, La Reunion, France (1973-1980). He was a future studies engineer at the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (French Space Agency) in Paris from 1981 to 2003 and chaired the education committee of the International Federation of Astronautics in Paris from 1991 to 1997. Pignolet is a member of the Solar Sailing Association, which he founded and chaired from 1991 to 2000, and Space Renaissance International. He was the national coordinator for the school satellite project "Sputnik 40 Years" in 1997 and has been listed as a noteworthy engineer and researcher by Marquis Who's Who.
Sumana Mukherjee (Sustain A Verse)	Sumana is the founder of Sustain-A-Verse - a digital magazine to bring together the worlds of sustainable fashion and sustainable space exploration. My mission is to make clothes made of natural fibers accessible to everyone on Earth, bring back the dignity and pay of weavers and artisans, and take our sustainable clothing habits to space. There is no beauty in wearing plastic clothes on Earth or in Space. Currently also serving as a Space Systems Engineer at AkashaLabdhi Pvt Ltd building India's first inflatable Space habitat. She has completed the coursework for my MSc. in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in Spaceflight at Delft University of Technology, focused on space engineering. Currently involved in the Trajectory Design Team for a deep space mission with Conex Research. Over the past few years, also helping and guiding students in the field of aerospace engineering, in a free community called the Space Career Mastermind, talking a lot about exciting space technology and sharing job prospects.
Sandya Bhat Asnotikar (SAP Labs India & Aerospace Council, WICCI)	Sandya Bhat Asnotikar is a certified AI Product Manager handling end to end business processes digital transformation PM initiatives at Cloud ERP SAP, Sustainability Partner Ecosystem Lead for India Market Unit and State President for Karnataka Aerospace Council, WICCI. With 17 years of experience in aerospace and aviation, supply chain, transportation management, and enterprise project management, she has a deep understanding of end to end business models and complex customer needs across discrete industries. She leads strategic initiatives and drives large-scale transformational changes in product management and partner operations, collaborating with senior leadership and cross-functional teams globally. She also crafts solid business cases and E2E roadmaps for innovative SaaS applications. She is passionate about empowering women in the aerospace sector and actively drives initiatives for their advancement and representation. Beyond her professional endeavors, Sandya is recognized as an industry expert, thought leader, writer, problem-solver, and a change leader. Additionally, she is deeply passionate about sustainability and remains committed to promoting industry best practices in this area.
Victoria Ustimenko (Preto Business)	Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina is the CEO and Founder of Preto PR Service. She previously served as Head of Global Markets at Transdisciplinary Agora for Future Discussions (TAFFDs). With a background in marketing and PR, Victoria has worked with various companies, including Vimana Global, 4ARTechnologies AG, and Abubakar Suleymanov. She graduated from Donetsk State University in 2002 and began her career as a Special Correspondent for Kyiv Weekly. Victoria is passionate about building relationships with notable scientists, philosophers, artists, and entrepreneurs worldwide.
Gerd Dani (Free Astroscience)	In my life I have always had the pleasure of seriously and rationally deepening my skills and knowledge in different fields, particularly in the scientific and technological world; with the aim of being able to contribute to my own cultural development and that of the human race.
Norm Hansen (Mirror Energy Inc)	Norm Hansen, President of Mirror Energy Inc., is pioneering the commercialization of space through innovative energy solutions. The company aims to enable rapid space travel for explorers and tourists, proposing the concept of "Love Boats in the Sky" that can reach various celestial bodies quickly—Earth in minutes, the Moon in hours, Mars in days, and stars in weeks. Ten billion times more efficient than chemical energy, utilizing antimatter, harvested from comets to generate electricity and propel spacecraft. Norm has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy and NASA, contributing to significant projects like the D-Zero Detector at Fermilab, which observed mirror energy and helped discover the Higgs boson. Holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, with extensive training in project management and environmental regulations.
Michael Harold (GoKnown LLC)	Michael Harold is a Co-Founder and CTO of GoKnown, LLC, a technology startup building a real time, distributed ledger technology for general purpose computing. Having spent more than 35 years in the computer industry, Michael has experience as an inventor, corporate strategist, architect and analyst. He has been recognized as a visionary inventor and technology pioneer in multiple markets including Distributed Ledger (DL) computing, Mobile Media Casting, Enterprise information Archiving and Search (EIA), Cloud Computing, Last-mile Web Acceleration, Business Process Management (BPM) and Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). His notable inventions include N-bit encryption and compression, decentralized peer-to-peer computing (a precursor to blockchain and distributed ledger computing), mobile media casting, mobile out of home “touchless” device management, decentralized cryptographic data storage and key management and real time distributed ledger (i.e., mesh network) computing. He is known for having pioneered the world’s first web-based, global supply chain EAI solution for FedEx and is a recognized inventor of mobile media casting and smart TV technology with patent licensees that include Microsoft, Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Roku and others.
Alma Okpalefe (World Space Week)	Alma Okpalefe serves as the Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, where she is responsible for coordinating the global celebration of the UN-declared World Space Week, 4-10 October annually. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience in the satellite industry, Alma has worked as Legal Counsel for Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) and has contributed to various communication satellite projects across Africa. She holds an LLB from the University of Manchester and an LLM from King's College, London. Beyond her legal career, Alma is the Chair and Co-founder of Isaiah’s Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to leveraging space technology to enhance healthcare access in underserved communities across Africa.
Sian Proctor (Space2inspire)	Sian Hayley "Leo" Proctor (28 March 1970, Hagåtña, Guam) is an American commercial astronaut, geology professor, artist, author, and science communicator. She became the first female commercial spaceship pilot on the all-civilian Inspiration4 orbital spaceflight, 15 September 2021. As pilot of the Inspiration4's SpaceX Crew Dragon space capsule, Proctor became the first African-American woman to pilot a spacecraft. She was also the education outreach officer for the first Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Mission. In 2024, Proctor was selected to be a U.S. Science Envoy for the United States Department of State. Since Inspiration4, Sian Proctor has become a noted Afrofuturist artist, poet and author. Proctor is the first African American astronaut to paint in space. Proctor is a major in the Civil Air Patrol where she serves as the aerospace education officer for its Arizona Wing.
Christian Villanueva (Society of Space Professionals On Campus)	Christian is the current President of the Society of Space Professionals On Campus at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Space Operations with a focus on systems engineering and human factors. He is an advocate for advancing the space industry and supporting the next generation of space professionals. Organization description - The Society of Space Professionals On Campus (SSPOC) is a community of student professionals with a passion for the space industry! We offer students a chance to network and create meaningful connections with others through socials, guest speakers, trips, and conferences.
Natale Viscomi (SRI)	Natale Viscomi, born and lives in Calabria (Italy), after 40 years in public administration of which 32 in Milan, passionate about Space, writes and publishes 11 books on non-fiction, religion and approach to scientific theoretics. The life of religious introspection and the prospect of seeing science from its mathematical way of searching for cosmological truth, there where space finds its real realization in the future vision of conquering the civil society of space, of approaching a new theoretical vision of the cosmos and its evolution, he writes ''Theoretics of Space and Modern Physical and Mathematical Spatiality'', determines three patent certifications in the field of Biomedical engineering, marine engineering, and a pharmacological protocol, to be tested in the service offered to man.
Robert Katz (World Innovation Network)	Robert S. Katz proudly serves as CEO & Executive Director of the 501(c)3 NGO think tank World Innovation Network (WIN). As Space-Advocate, Cyber-Strategist, Ecosystem Engineer, Fitness-Freak, and even Dope-Dad, he smashes-space-silos to not only Connect-The-Dots, but to, more importantly, Connect-The-Thoughts. His global Space Tank events unite top ASTROpreneurs with top ecosystems.He locally leads NASA Space Apps Challenge in Cape Canaveral at the NASA Kennedy Space Center. With Physics, Math, Computer Science, and Chemistry degrees, plus AI doctoral research, Robert spearheaded the Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars Program), transforming it into today’s Patriot Missile and Iron Dome. Further, he pioneered countless satellite tracking and communications firsts. These include, for example, the first global geo-location tracker, the first global wireless email, and the first wireless internet. His over 321 SOLUTIONneering™ clients across industry, government, and academia range from CIA to Space Force. His on-the-ground tactical, treaty, and teaching task forces have brought him to over 32 countries…so far. Besides securing assets in space, Robert further protects his country and community as a firefighter-paramedic, HAZMAT specialist, and underwater rescue diver. Combined, Robert seeks to streamline security from both the top-down, and the bottom-up.
Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom (SpaceBase Limited)	Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom is a space entrepreneur, speaker, author, and impact instigator. She is the Co-Founder of International Space Consultants and SpaceBase, a social enterprise that aims to democratize access to space by catalyzing space ecosystems in emerging countries, starting with New Zealand. She has worked and consulted for several space companies, including Space Adventures, Zero Gravity Corporation, and Odyssey Moon.
Bernard Foing (Space Renaissance International)	Prof. Bernard H. Foing, president Space Renaissance International,executive director of ILEWG, EuroMoonMars & ArtMoonMars manager, Prof VU Amsterdam, Leiden observatory, ISU and EPFL, on leave from CNRS, former ESA Chief Scientist and chair of ESTEC staff association committee (2012-2017) & SMART-1 Lead scientist. Chair IAF ITACCUS, member IAF committees (TAC, GLEX IPC, space exploration, astronomy, space habitats, traffic management), full member IAA International Academy of Astronautics since 2010, vice-chair COSPAR planetary and PEX Planetary Exploration Panel, co-director IMA International Moonbase Alliance, founder Moon Village & MV Association, EGU space instrumentation officer, president MoonGallery foundation (moongallery.eu). Worked at ESA ESTEC(1989-2020), as ESTEC staff committee chair (2012-2017), senior scientist, advisor to DG, Chief scientist, Head of Research Division, study lead (SIMURIS, MORO lunar orbiter, EuroMoon lander), staff, visiting scientist fellow. Co-Investigator of SOHO, XMM, BIOPAN, SMART-1, Mars Express, COROT, ISS/Expose, ExoMars. Publications: 830 articles, including 225 refereed papers. Academics: Habilitation 1990, CNRS, post-doc astronomer ESO European Southern Observatory Chile, PhD astrophysics & space techniques (CNRS, Lockheed, SacPeak, Boulder, Harvard), Prof agrégé Physics, Ecole Normale Supérieure ENSET Paris-Saclay.
Adriano V. Autino (Space Renaissance International)	Adriano Autino is CEO, co-founder and former President of the Space Renaissance International (SRI). SRI’s and Adriano’s mission: opening of the space frontier: civilian space development, low-cost access to space, space tourism, geo-lunar space industrialization, use of near-Earth asteroids, and full development of space economy. He authored and co-authored many publications on our civilization’s expansion into outer space. He also was a small entrepreneur in the field of automation real time and hard real time systems. He developed a suite of fully integrated tools for system engineering (Project lifecycle management). See a full bio here.