Michal Brichta works as the Director of the Slovak Space Office – Industry Branch operating within the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency. Since 2019, he has been responsible for launching and leading the comprehensive development of the national space ecosystem, increasing the Slovak space industry capabilities by 150% while making them significantly more collaborative and better connected internationally. Along with his main role, he serves as the Slovak Delegate to the Council of the European Space Agency and a Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation. He actively supports the democratisation of space and advocates for closer cooperation between the space sector and the broader ecosystem of relevant stakeholders including a wider range of technology companies, financial institutions, or major users of satellite data and signal. Over the past years, he has also been pioneering new initiatives aimed at unlocking the untapped potential of European space by fostering more efficient integration between its well-established industry and emerging space ecosystems.

Ann Cammaro is the Founder and CEO of Antarexxa Space Global, a Bali, Indonesia-based organization dedicated to integrating emerging space nations into the global space community. Since 2006, Ann has developed a diverse career spanning media and broadcast, marketing, corporate communications, international business development, and government relations across various industries including infrastructure, education, maritime, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, renewable energy, biotechnology, and environmental conservation. Her role at the Tropical Forest Alliance, under the stewardship of the World Economic Forum, involved engaging stakeholders to address deforestation driven by commodity production—a key factor in global warming and climate change. This experience underscored the critical role of space technology in environmental monitoring, leading her to establish Antarexxa Space Global in 2021. The company has since delivered virtual space education programs such as Moon Camp, Mars Camp, and the Study Space Series to participants in 76 countries and 67 cities across Indonesia, inspiring the future generation about the New Space economy and encouraging youth to pursue their careers in the space industry. Ann’s work as a NASA Harvard-Smithsonian SciX Lead Ambassador for 2025-2027 involves promoting scientific literacy and encouraging academic contributions to space exploration. Additionally, as the spokesperson for the Indonesia Space Association, she advocates for accelerating Indonesia’s national space ambitions. As a visionary who sees the potential for emerging space nations to significantly contribute to the global space economy, Ann’s initiatives focus on fostering international partnerships and empowering local talent. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion in STEAM fields and connecting Indonesian talents with global opportunities positions her as a pivotal figure in transforming the global space narrative from competition to collaboration.

Justyna Średzińska is an education expert with a specialization in astrophysics at the European Space Education Resource Office ESERO-Poland, coordinated by the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw. A graduate of the University of Bialystok, with specialization in theoretical physics. In the years 2013-2018, she conducted research in the field of astrophysics at the Astronomical Center of Nicolaus Copernicus PAS. Member of the Polish Astronomical Society and the Polish Space Professionals Association. Analog astronaut. In 2021 she trained at the Analog Astronaut Training Center in Krakow, as a member of the Kepleria mission. As part of the European Space Education Resource Office, ESERO-Polska organizes conferences, workshops, series of meetings for teachers in Poland. Facilitator of space topics at all stages of formal and informal education. Justyna leads a team of several dozen educators as part of the Space Education Ambassador Program. She prepares educational materials and conducts various activities to develop knowledge in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and space technologies, as well as competitions of the European Space Agency (ESA) addressed to children and teenagers. She coordinates the European Astro Pi Challenge, in which children and teenagers send their own codes to the International Space Station, and the European Moon Camp Challenge, in which children and teenagers design lunar habitats in 3-D technology. An important element of her work and taken actions is the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Especially goal no. 5 – gender equality. Justyna conducts a series of meetings called “Galaxy of Women”, during which she talks with experts in the fields of STE(A)M and business, with particular attention to the space sector. These interviews become an inspiration for young women and a base for interesting and diverse career paths. Last year, together with experts from the space sector, she developed workshops “Career in the space sector” addressed to secondary schools students, and now she organises them in different Polish cities. Justyna combines work with her passion for night sky observations, painting and photography of extreme natural phenomena such as lightning.

Pieter van Beekhuizen has worked his whole professional life in the space domain, first with ESRO and later with ESA. During this period, he has occupied a large variety of different staff functions and line management responsibilities within ESA. His last assignment was Head of ESA Industrial Cost Auditing and Return Division which has included industrial costs audits, and the provision of the industrial geo return data to ESA Member States. In this capacity he was involved in multiple program reviews and chaired various Management and Cost panels for large ESA program procurements. During the last years at ESA, he was also involved in the European initiatives for space commercialization opportunities/projects. Following his retirement from ESA he started a consultancy company (Bexperience) providing consultancy and support services for various clients in different countries and continents. He is Board member of SSPF (Stichting Space Professionals Foundation), a foundation set-up to financially support young professionals and/or students in the Dutch space sector to apply for educational space studies programs. In 2024 he has been appointed as Chairman of the board of NVR, the Netherlands Space Society with 1200 members. Within IAF he has been nominated as Chair of the CLIODN committee (Committee for Liaison International Organizations and Developing Nations) for the period 2024 – 2027. In addition, he is the Co-Chair of the IAA Symposium on Space Policy, Regulations and Economics. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Colombian Space Agency. In 2025 he has joined the Board of the Women in Aerospace – Europe. He is frequently asked to serve as moderator and as panel member in space related events at multiple occasions.

Philippe is a Senior Robotics Engineer at ispace. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Luxembourg for his research on autonomous navigation for small lunar surface robots. His academic background includes studies in computer science, as well as computer visualization and animation. His experience spans both terrestrial and space robotics. He has worked on autonomous systems for unmanned aerial vehicles and served as the lead engineer on a NASA-funded high-altitude balloon experiment. He was also a trainee at ESA’s Space Operations Center (ESOC), gaining valuable experience in mission operations. At ispace, Philippe led the development of the hardware and software for the Tenacious rover’s camera systems. He directed the rover’s field test campaign, deploying test rovers in a variety of lunar analogue environments—including quarries, volcanic sites, and ispace’s indoor lunar testing facility. He also developed the ground tools used to drive the rover and served as a navigator on the operations team, supporting the pilot in guiding the rover through challenging terrain.

Maksymilian Brzezicki, BSc MB ChB DPhil – academic medical doctor in the field of neurology and functional neurosurgery, working at the University of Oxford and at the Department of Neural Engineering and Space Medicine of the University of Zielona Góra, cooperates with the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the University of Heidelberg. He trained in medicine at Oxford (academic) and Bristol (clinical). His scientific interests include electrical neuroengineering, space medicine and rare diseases. His research focuses on the objective quantification of neurological disorders, especially in extreme conditions and the application of artificial intelligence in medicine.

Izabela Kowalska- Leszczyńska graduated in astronomy from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw. There she obtained a Ph.D. in physics, presenting a thesis related to the subject of gravitational waves. Since 2017, she has been an employee of the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences, where she studies the influence of the Sun on the properties of the heliosphere. As a member of the scientific team of the GLOWS experiment, she is responsible for developing methods for calibrating the instrument once it is in orbit. Associate Professor at Space Research Centre – Polish Academy of Sciences.

Tolga Ors is the managing Director of New Space Consulting Ltd. He has a MSc and PhD in Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey. He worked for over 25 years in the space sector, which includes companies like Intelsat, Inmarsat, CGI, AST SpaceMobile, OneWeb, Future AI and Robotics for Space (FAIR-Space) hub, Alan Turing Institute, and Team Tumbleweed. For 3 years he has delivered space solutions to reduce poverty and save lives (one example is the use of Earth Observation and Satcom after natural disasters). He specializes in technology transfer, public-private partnerships as well as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in space. The objective of his company New Space Consulting is to accelerate the growth of transformative space and AI technologies by empowering startups to bridge the gap between ideas and sustainable implementation. Tolga frequently writes LinkedIn articles about New Space startups, sharing his insights and spotlighting emerging companies.

Remco Timmermans is an independent online marketing and social media specialist for the international space sector. He is a well-known space influencer and mentor to aspiring space communicators. He is the founder of his own space marketing agency Spaceside OÜ, a faculty member of the International Space University and a vice chair and symposium chair of the IAF Space Education and Outreach Committee. Remco designs and runs creative online campaigns for space organisations, both in academic, government and commercial space. He is a founding member of the Space Communications Alliance, that brings together media, PR and communications professionals in the space industry. Remco has an undergraduate degree in business administration and mechanical engineering, a master’s degree in business sciences, and he is a graduate of the International Space University Space Studies Program, where he also periodically teaches space management and business, with an emphasis on marketing and communication.

Dr. Krzysztof Walas (IRMI, PUT) graduated from Poznan University of Technology (PUT) in Poland, obtaining an MSc in Automatic Control and Robotics. He received a Ph.D. in Robotics in 2012 (with honors) for his thesis on legged robot locomotion in structured environments. He completed his postdoc at the University of Birmingham, School of Computer Science, and the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory. He is a recipient of the LIDER project from the National Center for Research and Development and was a Principal Investigator (PI) in the THING project on subterranean-legged locomotion within Horizon 2020. He also serves as a PI in the REMODEL project on deformable object manipulation within Horizon 2020. Presently, he holds the position of Robotics Team Leader at IDEAS-NCBR and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence at PUT, Poland. Krzysztof Walas has been a European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) member since February 2024. In June 2024, he was elected to the board of directors of the AI, Data, and Robotics Association (ADRA). His research interests revolve around robotic perception for physical interaction, applied to both walking and grasping tasks. He was co-PI at ESA OSIP Cognition – Distributed Data System for Lunar Activities Processing. He is also involved in ESA&POLSA Polish activities to fly on ISS, with a scene reconstruction experiment on a space-grade Data Processing Unit. Finally, he is co-leading the creation of ESA SpaceShip at PUT.

Anna Krzyzanowska is an electrical engineer, working as a Senior Specialist in Printed Electronics group at Danish Technological Institute. She has acquired several years of experience in various aspects of electrical engineering and printed electronics. Trying to create a bridge between standard and printed technology. From programming programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to designing PCBs, working with printed technology, her technical prowess allows her to navigate the complex challenges with ease. One of her focus areas is structural monitoring using printed sensors for drones and airplanes. Being a specialist in this field enables me to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in the aerospace industry. For example: her role in the avatar project is to design, produce and test a multi-sensing skin for structural monitoring for drones and airplanes. Using her excellent expertise in the field of sensors and nanotechnology, allows her to prepare the best possible solution. One of Anna’s standout areas of specialization is wearables technology and digital health, particularly in the realm of remote patient monitoring. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in this field have enabled her to contribute significantly to advancements in healthcare technology, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Anna’s passion for space exploration is truly awe-inspiring. She has been actively involved in various Space projects, collaborating with prestigious organizations such as the European Space Agency. Apart from working at the Institute, Anna is part of a project aimed at building a launchpad for space rockets in Europe. Her diligent work and technical acumen have solidified her position as a specialist in space electronics.

Justyna Redelkiewicz is the CEO & Founder of GoCosmic!, an advisory firm focused on commercialising deep tech innovations. A former EU official and seasoned business developer, she brings over 20 years of experience across IT, deep tech, and satellite technologies. Justyna has supported hundreds of startups in harnessing space-based technologies to disrupt industries and drive scalable growth. Recognised as a Strong Woman in IT, she led the EU’s flagship €1 billion Cassini initiative at the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), empowering entrepreneurship in the space sector. As a market innovator in downstream space technologies, she partnered with leading European corporations to advance innovation through satellite data and business intelligence. She also serves on the Space Executive Committee of the European Business Angel Network. Prior to joining EUSPA and founding her own start-up, she held business development roles at Toshiba, Nestlé, and Comarch. A passionate advocate for personal growth, Justyna studied at Columbia Business School, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, and Poznań University of Economics, and is a visiting lecturer at the International Space University.

Tomasz Banyś is a dedicated science communicator, at the helm of EC1 Planetarium in Lodz, Poland as its manager since 2020. Prior to this, he spent many years creating and managing its science communication team. He leverages his extensive academic, coaching, scientific, and journalistic background to convey complex knowledge about the Universe in a simple way.

Piotr Dunst graduate of the Poznań University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Physics. Doctoral dissertation related to generating precise atomic time scale using laboratory time and frequency standards. Since 2012, he has been working at the Time and Frequency Laboratory of the Astrogeodynamic Observatory of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK PAN) in the time service, implementing numerous projects related to the use and transfer of precise time and frequency signals.

Maxwell Welyhorsky is a Business Development Officer at ispace Europe in Luxembourg. A qualified Professional Engineer from Canada, Maxwell also holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Maxwell was the former Vision System Architect/Technical Lead for all cameras and sensors (C&S) on the Gateway External Robotics System, also known as Canadarm3. He was responsible for the end-to-end performance of the C&S and collaborated closely with technical authorities, astronauts, and operators for Canadarm2 at the Canadian Space Agency and NASA. Maxwell holds a Master’s in Robotics and AI from the University of Ottawa and has over 7 years technical experience in systems engineering for space robotics, military and naval communication systems, electronics design and product development for commercial avionics, and algorithm R&D for real-time object tracking. Maxwell has a strong passion for learning with a desire to break down complex problems, understand their fundamental drivers, and resolve them.

Aleksandra Chrzan, science popularizer working at the Silesian Planetarium, where she implements educational programs in the field of astronomy and geology. She is involved in the project “First Step into Space” and runs the Space Engineer Academy – an interest group for young people that develops passion and knowledge related to space engineering. A graduate of the AGH University in Krakow, she constantly improves her qualifications by participating in numerous scientific and educational conferences. She is also interested in computer graphics, manual work and fantasy, co-organizing the Silesian Fantasy Festival – Cosmicon. She combines science and creativity, inspiring young generations to discover space.