Speakers 2023

Author and NASA Technologist

Les Johnson is a physicist, award-winning science and science fiction author, and NASA technologist. His popular science books include “A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars” (Princeton Press 2022) – now being translated into five languages, “Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World” (2018), “Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel”, and others. His science fiction books include “The Ross 248 Project” (Baen 2023), “Saving Proxima” (Baen 2021), “The Spacetime War” (Baen 2021), and more. In his day job at NASA, Les is the Principal Investigator for flight demonstration of advanced space technology systems including solar sails, power systems, and most recently, space based solar power. Les is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the British Interplanetary Society, the National Space Society, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and MENSA – and is the Program Chair of the Interstellar Research Group. He was a technical consultant for the movies “Europa Report”, “Lost in Space”, and “Solis”. NPR, CNN, Fox News, The Science Channel and The Discovery Channel have all interviewed Les about space and space exploration. He was the featured Interstellar Explorer in the January 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine and appeared there again in March 2019.

Space Foundation

Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance. Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government, and educational sectors. Her work to champion the inclusion of underserved groups stems from staying true to the values instilled while she was in the military: a passion to share her journey, give back to the space community, and contribute to the development of the next-generation workforce. She has published many articles in consumer, technology, and space-related journals to include SpaceNews and Forbes Technology Council. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Shelli has delivered more than 100 speeches and presentations in 2022 alone on navigating career success, leadership and workforce development to audiences in Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East, North and South America. As a thought leader, she is invited to speak at various think tanks, such as the Hudson Institute, the Wilson Center, and Global Policy Insights to discuss innovation, technology, and workforce development. As a futurist, Shelli has participated in research projects for both NASA and ESA to better understand the future of the global space system and its implications over the coming decades. As a leading role model for women in space, Brunswick was selected as a Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging in 2023 by Women of the Future, the 2022 Chief in Tech Award by WomenTech Network, LifeTime Achievement Award by the World Women Organization, Top 100 Leaders Award, The Most Influential Women in Leadership 2022 by March8 Magazine, and a Top Aviation and Aerospace Professional to Follow on LinkedIn in 2022. Shelli plays an active leadership role with various international organizations such as: Space4Women Mentoring Program an affiliate of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, WomenTech Network, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), World Business Angels Investment Forum, G100 Global Chair for Space Technology and Aviation, Global Policy Insights – Global Policy, Diplomacy and Sustainability (GPODS) Fellowship program, and more.

The Mars Society

Robert Zubrin is President of the Mars Society. In 1996 he founded Pioneer Astronautics, an aerospace R&D company which he led for 27 years until selling it in 2023. He holds a Masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Washington. He is a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society and former Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Space Society. Zubrin is the author of 20 patents and over 200 published technical and non-technical papers in the field of space exploration and technology. Dr. Zubrin is also the author of twelve books, including "The Case for Mars: How We Shall Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must", published by Simon and Schuster’s Free Press Division in Oct. 1996, 2011, 2021, “Merchants of Despair: Radical Environmentalists, Criminal Pseudoscientists, and the Fatal Cult of Antihumanism,” published by Encounter Books in 2012, “The Case for Space: How the Revolution in Spaceflight Opens Up a Future of Limitless Possibility,” published by Prometheus Books in 2019, and “The Case for Nukes: How to Beat Global Warming and Create a Free, Open, and Magnificant Future,” published by Polaris Books in 2023. In his capacity of President of Pioneer Astronautics, Dr. Zubrin led over seventy research and development projects in areas including spacecraft and launch vehicle propulsion systems, Mars and Lunar in-situ resource utilization technology, EVA life support and propulsion, and robotic exploration systems. As leader of the Mars Society, he led the construction of two Mars analog research stations – one in the Canadian high Arctic in 2000 and the other in the American desert in 2001 - and has overseen a program involving over 200 simulated Mars exploration missions at those stations during the period since. Prior to founding Pioneer Astronautics, he worked as a Senior Engineer at Lockheed Martin, in thermonuclear fusion research, nuclear power plant safety, and as a high school science teacher.

Technical University of Munich / MIT

Alessandro Golkar is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich, Chair of Pico-, Nanosatellites, and Satellite Constellations. His research interests are in systems engineering and in the development of novel mission concepts of spacecraft systems, with particular interest in nanosatellites and satellite constellation systems. Prof. Golkar served as co-PI of the FSSCAT CubeSat mission - a satellite mission sponsored by ESA, 1st Prize Winner of the ESA Sentinel Small Satellite Challenge, and Overall Winner of the 2017 Copernicus Masters. From 2012 to 2022, Prof. Golkar was among the founding faculty members of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) in Moscow, Russia, a new research university founded in collaboration with MIT. From 2017 to 2019 Prof. Golkar took a sabbatical leave from academia and joined Airbus as Vice President Concurrent Engineering of the Technology Planning and Roadmapping unit of the Corporate Technology Office at group level, in charge of creating the Airbus Concurrent Design Facility and running roadmapping studies for supporting the steering of the overall group R&T budget of 800 MEUR per year. Professor Golkar holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. He serves as Associate Editor of the INCOSE Systems Engineering journal.

European Space Agency

Anna Burzykowska has over 15 years of experience in the space and Earth observation industry. She currently works at the European Space Agency (ESA) Copernicus Space Office, where she supports the programmatic management of the next generation Copernicus infrastructure, including Sentinel Expansion and Extension missions. Throughout her career at ESA, she has held various positions, including at the Agency Office in Washington, DC, World Bank, and the European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy. In these roles, she managed partnerships with international financing institutions under the ESA's 'eoworld' and Earth Observation for Sustainable Development (EO4SD) initiatives and led numerous projects that demonstrated the use of satellite remote sensing for sustainable development, environmental, security applications as well as EO entrepreneurship development programmes. Currently, she is leading activities exploring Future Connectivity technologies for EO as well as DirectionEarth.Space initiative aimed to engage youth and next generations of researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs in ESA and international space activities.

European Space Agency

Nico Dettmann is the Group Leader for Lunar Exploration Development Projects in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. In his 17 years at ESA, Nico was in charge of the ATV Phase-E Programme (ATV-2 to -5) from the very beginning and managing the transition from development to recurring production and merging the ATV Operations with the ATV Flight Segment activities. Nico also was the ATV-2 Mission Manager. In 2013 the Groups responsibility was enlarged by the development and production of the European Service Module (ESM) in the ORION cooperation with NASA. The ESM represents Europe’s first manned programme participation beyond low earth orbit. The Group also manages all ESA ISS Payload development. In 2016, the Group took over the management of the ExoMars project, a 2-mission project in cooperation with the Russian Space Agency (ROS), and the Russian Lunar Lander program as well. Since summer 2020, Nico is in charge of all Lunar mission related developments, this includes the ESM development and production, the ESA Gateway projects I-HAB and ESPRIT, as well lunar robotic instrument developments. In this role Nico also acts as ESA Orion and Gateway Programme Manager. Prior to his work at ESA, Nico spent 14 years at Airbus Defence and Space (former Astrium GmbH), where he managed in his last function the Ariane 5 Upper Composite Development and Production. Nico holds a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Applied Science in Aachen and a post-graduate Master of Business in Economics Engineering.

ESA Project Astronaut

Sławosz graduated with honours with a master's degree from the Technical University of Łódź, Poland, in 2008 and a master's degree from Université de Nantes, France, in 2008. In addition, he received a Diplôme d’Ingénieur from École Polytechnique de l'Université de Nantes, France, in 2008. In 2011, Sławosz earned his Doctorate in radiation-tolerant designs for space applications from the Université d’Aix-Marseille, France. During his doctorate, Sławosz worked as a radiation effects engineer at STMicroelectronics focusing on the next European radiation-tolerant and radiation-hardened digital CMOS technologies for space applications in Crolles, France. In 2011, Sławosz joined the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, working as a reliability expert. His duties included for example leading radiation test campaigns in ESA test facilities to qualify electronics components and systems for space and accelerator use. In 2013, he was appointed as a project lead and senior reliability engineer at CERN where he was in charge of the creation of a radiation-tolerant power converter control system which has been a core part of the Large Hadron Collider LHC since 2017. From 2018 to 2020, he was an Engineer in Charge of LHC, being responsible for the day-to-day 24/7 operations of CERN’s largest accelerator and assuring its optimum exploitation. In 2019, he was serving as a technical expert and evaluator for the EU's research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 reviewing European space technologies for the Research Executive Agency (REA) at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. In November 2022, Sławosz was selected as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve. Sławosz joined the European Astronaut Corps on 1 September 2023 as an ESA project astronaut for the duration of his mission duties on a future spaceflight opportunity.

Thales Alenia Space

Maria Antonietta Perino has got a Degree in Nuclear Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino. In 1988 she attended the International Space University (M.I.T., Boston, USA) and became Faculty Member. She is currently member of the Academic Council. Maria Antonietta works at Thales Alenia Space as Director for Space Economy Exploration and International Network. She is involved in different activities promoting the development of young professionals in the space industry. Author of several publications, papers, and reports, and Acta Astronautica Co-Editor. Member of the Académie de l’Air et de l’Espace and of the International Academy of Astronautics, and former IAF Bureau Vice President. She is President of Explore Mars Europe. Awarded “Woman of Excellence 2010” by AIDDA and “Stella al Merito del Lavoro” by the Italian Republic President. Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.15 billion euros in 2021 and has around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US.

USGS-NASA PGM

Jim is a Supervisory Geologist, Project Chief, and USGS-NASA Planetary Geologic Mapping (PGM) Program Coordinator, which focuses on production of standardized planetary (non-terrestrial) geologic maps. He specializes in the characterization of planetary landscapes using geologic mapping and comparative terrestrial analogs, with focus on planetary basins, stratigraphic architectures, traverse planning, mapping strategies, and cartographic representation of geologic environments. Since becoming a USGS geologist in 2000, Jim has been active in the planetary geologic mapping community and involved in geologic mapping-based training for NASA engineers, managers, astronauts, mission teams, and students. Recent work focuses on the refinement of geologic maps and mapping strategies to support a sustained presence on the lunar surface. Prior to USGS, Jim worked in the private sector as a field geologist for both hydrocarbon and environmental industries.

Polish Space Agency

Grzegorz Wrochna serves as the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). He is a professor of physics. He served on the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, closely working with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) labs, in Geneva and Hamburg, respectively. From 1991 to 1998, while at CERN, he participated in the design and construction of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). During his professional career, Prof. Wrochna served at the Institute for Nuclear Studies, as director of the Institute, following his leadership of the Astroparticle Apparatus Laboratory. He initiated the creation of the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), and he served as its director. At NCBJ, among other achievements, he established the Department of Astroparticle Physics, and involved the institution in several space-related projects. Prof. Wrochna represented Poland at EURATOM, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, and the Board of Governors of the European Union’s Joint Research Center. He served as the President of the Scientific Policy Committee and as Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, where his responsibilities included overseeing cooperation with the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA).

ISMAT – Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes

Gabriel Patrocinio is an Associate Professor of Design (since 2019) and co-director of the Master’s in Design for Circular Economy, and researcher at ISMAT Portimão (Portugal); Adjunct Professor at UERJ, the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) since 1993, and former Director of ESDI/UERJ School of Design. He holds PhD in Design Policies from Cranfield University, UK (2013), his thesis was awarded with First Prize of the Museum of the Brazilian House MCB Design Awards 2014, and a Gold Award at Objeto:Brasil 2016. Co-organizer and co-author of the book “Design & Development: Leveraging Social and Economic Growth through Design Policies” (Blucher 2019, e-book). The Portuguese version of the book, launched in 2015, got awards from MCB 2016 and Objeto:Brasil 2016. Author of the book “Design Policies & Intellectual Property: Demands for a New Era” (Sebrae, 2018). Former member of the Design Curatorship Committee of the Modern Art Museum of Rio de Janeiro (2014-2016) and of the Design Consulting Group of the State Government of Rio de Janeiro (2007-2009), as well as a member of the Board of the Associations of Graphic Designers and Product Designers in Brazil, and of the Advisory Council of the Brazilian Association of Design Companies. Curator of international exhibitions (Design Dialogue: Poland Brazil, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Poland; exhibited at 4 Brazilian museums in Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, São Paulo and Curitiba, 2015-2018). Organizer of international conferences (Design Policies, Brazil Design Week, 2008; Design Policies, Brazilian National Development Bank, 2004; ESDI 40, 2003). Organizer/Curator of the Design Movies Festival CineDesign (Modern Art Museum of Rio de Janeiro 2014 and Brazilian Design Biennial, Florianopolis 2015). Jury member for several Design awards such as iF Design (Germany, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023) and A’Design Awards (Italy, 2015), MCB (Brazil, 2019, 2021).

CFA, FRM

Raphael Roettgen is the founder of E2MC Ventures, a space-focused early-stage venture capital firm. He is also the co-founder of Prometheus Life Technologies, a space biotech startup that was the first startup to win the Orbital Reef innovation challenge. He lectures on space entrepreneurship and finance at several universities including the International Space University (ISU) and the Swiss Institute of Technology at Lausanne (EPFL), hosts the popular Space Business Podcast, and is the author of “To Infinity”, an introductory book on the space economy. Previously, Raphael Roettgen held senior roles at global investment banks and hedge funds and was also a fintech entrepreneur in Brazil. He holds degrees in finance from Wharton, machine learning from PUC-Rio and space studies from the International Space University, where he also serves as a governing member.

Nauka. To Lubię Foundation

Dr. Tomasz Rożek is a leading Polish popularizer of science, known from the YouTube channel “Nauka. To Lubię” (Science. I like it). For many years in a comprehensible way, he has been explaining to adults and children how the world works. Author of popular science books and "Academy of Superheroes ". Advisor to the Director General of the European Space Agency, and founder of the Science. I like it Foundation. Privately, a fan of sailing and motorcycles.

Explore Mars Europe

Artemis Westenberg is CEO of Explore Mars, Europe, a position she took in 2019, when she stepped down as president and board of director member of Explore Mars, Inc. in the USA. Artemis handed the presidency over to Janet Planet and in Europe Artemis found a European Explore Mars president in Maria Antonietta Perino. At present, Artemis also serves as the mentor / advisor of a number of smaller Mars projects or Space research projects: Artemis serves as Human Exploration Project Mentor at Team Tumbleweed with its winning entry for the Odysseus Space Contest in 2017. The Tumbleweed Mars rover leaves is a non-traditional mars rover with a spherical design aimed at the fast exploration of large areas, making use of the strong Martian winds. For the research project on Space Crime (control) and Security (governance), carried out by Dr. Yarin Eski of the VU Amsterdam in the field of public administration, Artemis serves as advisor and intermediary to enable this project to find the right interviewees and collaborators. Artemis serves on the advisory board of a number of organizations, e.g. the Lifeboat Foundation as well. In 2022, Artemis Westenberg functioned as Mission Director of the Stardust Research Station and Space Centre in Cochrane, First Nation country, Ontario, Canada. This initiative by Jason Michaud, the Founder and CEO of Stardust Technologies in Cochrane & Toronto, aims to have a seamless working relation between all inhabitants of Canada in this Arctic Analogue Research Station. In June 2020 Artemis joined Carbon Capture Coatings in a consultancy capacity with the aim of harvesting the CO2 and N from the atmosphere with the help of lichen (algae). As CO2AT - team this company entered the X-Price Carbon Removal competition in 2021. CO2AT believes that its natural solution of CO2 scrubbing from the atmosphere will save humanity within a decade. From the start of the COVID19 lockdown in March 2020 Artemis joined Janet Ivey (of Janet’s Planet, a STEM education company) living her passion of teaching in daily online zoom classes free for any kid (ages 7-19) that wanted to satisfy her/his curiosity. Together with Janet she had an incredible string of Scientists, Astronauts, Engineers and other amazing people give the class insight in their specialties and lives. During those years Artemis also served as CFO of MMAARS (Moon Mars Analog Academy & Research Science) at Spaceport USA in California, where she also educated analogue astronauts in concert with the founder of MMAARS, Dr. Susan Ip-Jewell. From 2010-2019 Artemis was president, also co-founder, of Explore Mars, Inc., as well as a member of its Board of Directors. EM Inc set up the Humans to Mars Summit among other projects to ensure humans will step on Mars by 2033, a goal that has been set by NASA since 2017. Explore Mars Inc. surveyed the American population in February 2013 to find out what does the American wants with space. From this first survey (and two consecutive ones) the USA Congress learned that Americans should walk on Mars in 2033 and that the American public is fine with doubling the NASA budget of 2013 ($18 Billion to $36 Billion) as long as ‘putting humans on Mars is the overarching goal of NASA. It resulted in the Artemis Missions to the Moon and Mars. Artemis has been a lobbyist for various causes and organizations for over 40 years. Since 2000, Artemis has been involved in space exploration advocacy, as President of the Mars Society Netherlands and Steering Committee member of The Mars Society Inc. After serving as crewmember in a number of MDRS (Mars Desert Research Station) crews and consequently as CapCom for MDRS and FMARS (Flashline Arctic Research Station), also as logistics manager, for the 4 month FMARS crew in 2007, Artemis took on the responsibilities of Mission Director, managing the MDRS since August 2008, which she turned into a financially independent and self-sufficient project. She intends to establish a European Mars analog station, in which design she has been involved from the start. Artemis has organized (inter)national conferences since 1980, among which several conferences for the Mars Society in the Netherlands and Europe. Her former employment includes management in technological multinationals such as Honeywell (in public affairs) and THORN EMI (in business administration), and as president of the Council of Women for Rotterdam. Artemis is a nationally decorated feminist in her home country and started her feminist career as a member of the Dutch government delegation to the UN conference on the status of women, Copenhague 1980. In 2021 Artemis was awarded the high honor of ‘officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau’ by the king of the Netherlands in recognition of over 4 decades of unpaid efforts to better society for all, and especially for women. As president of the Women’s rights organization of the Netherlands, as board member of the International Alliance of Women, as NGO delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN HQ, Artemis still works actively to improve the lives of all, men and women. In the Netherlands, Artemis is often the spokesperson for the space community when Mars is in the Media. She has been quoted in numerous national and international newspapers and magazines and has appeared on national and international television and radio. Artemis enjoys her work as a space ambassador giving lectures for any age about space exploration and Mars. She holds an M.A. in Ancient History and Islam, with minors in International Relations, and in Classical Studies from Leiden University, the oldest university of the Netherlands (1575), and a degree in General Management, from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Society.

OffWorld Europe

Gordon Wasilewski is the Head of Research and Development at OffWorld Europe, based in Luxembourg. With over 7 years of experience, he specializes in the field of space resources and in situ resource utilization on extraterrestrial bodies, particularly the Moon and Mars. Previously, he served as a senior engineer at Astronika, where he led multiple ESA-funded projects on ISRU in the fields of construction, energy storage, and water processing. He earned his doctoral degree from the Space Research Centre at the Polish Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Colorado School of Mines, focusing his research on the extraction of water beyond Earth.

European Space Education Resource Office ESERO-Poland

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. She is a graduate of the University of Bialystok, with a 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 actions taken 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 school's 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.

WeSpace Technologies

Yifat Feffer CEO & Co-Founder WeSpace Technologies (Israel) A former contract and taxation lawyer. The founder & manager of an art-tech company based on laser cutting technology (Est. 2002). Graduate of the Tel Aviv University (TAU), LLB. Yigal Harel CTO & Co-Founder WeSpace Technologies (Israel) A former head of SpaceIL's Beresheet Lunar Lander program. Over 20 years of Israeli defense industry technology leadership positions at Elbit Systems. The team leader of the prestigious Israel Defense Prize award. Graduate of the Technion (IIT), BSc. Aerospace Engineering.

Polish Space Agency

The Head of Strategy and International Cooperation Department. Dr. Aleksandra Bukała graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics and Warsaw University of Technology. Dr. A. Bukała has nearly 20 years of experience in high tech industries, including more than 15 years on management positions. She worked for Łukasiewicz Network – PIAP dealing with technologies for mobile robots in security and defence. Then for 8 years she managed two leading space companies in the very interesting time of emerging space industry in Poland. For 4,5 years, until joining POLSA, she was a Board Member in Polish Space Industry Association. Since many years she acts actively as an expert for European Commission, European Defence Agency, NATO and NCBiR. She is a Vice Chair of ESA Industry Policy Committee and Co-chair of Artemis Accords and Space Engagement Strategies for New and Existing Space Actors Working Group. With POLSA from October 2019. Privately, mother of an adult son and offshore skipper.

ESA BIC Poland

Michał Chwieduk is the head of the ESA BIC Poland incubator - the European Space Agency's Business Incubation Centre established in Poland to support start-ups creating and based on space technologies. ESA BIC Poland started its operation in 2023 and it will sign first Incubation Contracts this year, it is operated by Industrial Development Agency JSC. Michał is a power and physics engineer by education, who came to the Industrial Development Agency (ARP) for the technical evaluation of investment projects. For several years, he has been involved in the space sector support program implemented by the Industrial Development Agency. He has gone through a long career path from a specialist through a technology broker to a project manager. A project in which technology transfer is one of the key issues.

Milena Ratajczak holds Ph.D. in astronomy and works as an assistant professor at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. Her research interests are focused on the subject of double stars and extrasolar planets. Milena is a member of the OGLE group - a large-scale sky survey using the Polish telescope located in Chile, and the Solaris project - aimed at searching for exoplanets using a network of robotic telescopes in the southern hemisphere. She cooperates with the international consortium of the BRITE program, which use the nano-satellite constellation to observe the brightest stars in our Galaxy. Milena was included in the Forbes Women list of Women of the Year 2020. In her free time, she popularizes science as a coordinator of the UNAWE educational program in Poland and a board member of the New Space, MultiŚwiat and Polish Astronomical Society foundations. Milena is co-founder of the Science Now creative studio specializing in scientific communication and the development of new ventures at the interface between science, education, art and entertainment. She collaborates with popular science magazines, edits books and games on astronomy. At weekends, she goes jogging, preferably in the mountains.

Jagiellonian University, Institute of American Studies

Patrick Vaughan is a professor of American studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. He was a visiting Fulbright scholar to Poland and has received previous grants from the George Kennan Center and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C. His article “Beyond Benign Neglect: Zbigniew Brzezinski and the Polish Crisis of 1980” was awarded the John Snell Memorial Award and in 2011 his strategic biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski was nominated for the Kazimierz Moczarski Award for outstanding books related to modern Polish history. In 2013 Vaughan contributed a chapter to Charles Gati’s anthology “Zbig” describing Brzezinski’s relationship with Pope John Paul II in helping to gradually undermine Soviet control over Poland in the late 1970s. Vaughan currently teaches a class on the history of modern Science Fiction at Jagiellonian University and in recent years has examined the origins of the American space race in “From Dreams to Disillusionment: The Social and Cultural History of the American Space Program” and in his “H Frame” documentary video on the development of the notorious V2 program in World War II near the city of Blizna, in German occupied Poland, and attempt to sabotage it by the Polish Home Army.

European Space Foundation

German Sarmiento is a professor, researcher and director of the Chapter of The Mars Society Colombia. His main research activities focus on the development of research projects in the area of engineering and space robotics, using a variety of techniques and procedures that contribute to the advancement of space projects. German takes part in the most important international competitions in the development of rovers for space missions such as NASA and the ERC (European Rover Challenge). He supports also the development of educational projects for schools, universities and research centers based on STEM in the generation of food and new technological instruments for the future of humanity and new planetary explorations.

Blue Dot Solutions

Krzysztof Kanawka holds Ph.D. DIC. Currently he is the president of Blue Dot Solutions and one of the editors of Kosmonauta.net. After studying in Poland, Germany and Great Britain, Krzysztof returned to Poland and founded the Blue Dot Solutions company, which deals with the practical use of satellite data and supporting other new companies through the Space3ac accelerator. His free time is filled with karate kyokushin, swimming, traveling, astronomy and theater.

Danish Technological Institute

Anna Krzyzanowska is an electrical engineer, working as a 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 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.

NEUROSPACE

Igor Kolek is an embedded systems engineer with years of aerospace experience. In his several accomplished projects he went through all classical or modern development processes. That’s why he is now the project lead at the Berlin-based space startup NEUROSPACE GmbH. With its latest development named CubeR, NEUROSPACE wants to offer their customers the possibility to leave their own footprints on the moon. Thus, they realized a novel, standardized and cost-reducing Moon rover solution. Igor studied communications and information engineering at the BHT Berlin. During his time as the lead of the software department at German Orbital Systems, he developed a system for time-controlled separation of up to 50 small-satellites in LEO. The system was successfully used at Fregat upper stage of the Sojus Rocket several times and is now successfully used at the upper stage of the Falcon9 rocket. In addition, he has several years of experience in the medicine technology industry, where he developed devices for minimal invasive surgeries.

NEUROSPACE

Maximilian von Unwerth is a space robotics expert, passionate lecturer and an enthusiast for space - the final frontier. He is just beginning his doctorate on lunar exploration rovers and is working as development engineer at the Berlin-based space startup NEUROSPACE GmbH. With its latest development named CubeR, NEUROSPACE wants to offer their customers the possibility to leave their own footprints on the moon. Thus, they realized a novel, standardized and cost-reducing Moon rover solution. Maximilian studied robotics and a minor in aerospace engineering at the TU Braunschweig. He was scientific assistant for the development of MIRA3D, an autonomous lunar rover demonstrator for the additive manufacturing of lunar regolith and team leader of the European Rover Challenge winning team 2020. He worked as a scientific assistant for teaching the basics of programming and was the organizer of the preliminary course in computer science. As a LEGO Lab mentor, he inspired young explorers to pursue robotics and the endless reaches of space. To strengthen computer science in schools, he got involved as a teacher at the high school and participated in the First LEGO League together with a team of pupils.

KP Labs, Head of Products

On-board data processing plays a key role for Moon and deep space exploration ensuring higher return on mission thanks to the autonomous operations. As the Head of Products at KP Labs, Helena leads a team of dedicated professionals delivering the Smart Mission Ecosystem, which brings together hardware, software and AI-powered algorithms to complete the mission. Throughout 10+ years’ journey in bringing products into market, Helena has gathered unique approach working in governmental (European Parliament), non-governmental, and commercial (IT, Smart Cities, Space) organizations and now incorporates it into the space industry.

Polish Science Fiction Foundation

Kamil Muzyka is the co-editor of the blog “Law and Kosmos – Cosmic Law”. Lawyer, PhD student, researcher of the state of technology, author of scientific publications, speaker at scientific conferences. Member of the Board of the Polish Science Fiction Foundation, member of many organizations, including: the Polish Transhumanist Association, the Science Advocates Association, the Polish Astrobiology Society and the Space Generation Advisory Council.

Acting Public Affairs Officer, Consulate General of the United States of America

Amelia VanderLaan is a U.S. diplomat serving as the Cultural Consul at U.S. Consulate Kraków where she manages cultural and educational programing. Previously she was the Regional Climate Officer in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs working to catalyze global efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Her other assignments include working in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the U.S. Study Abroad Outreach Officer and serving as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Cyprus managing social media and a number of exchange programs. She also has served in Canada heading the Investment Visa section of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. Prior to the Foreign Service, she was awarded a Fulbright to Turkey and worked as a Fellowships Advisor and in communications. Amelia graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Government and received her M.A. from the University of Athens focused on political and economic issues in southeast Europe.