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Mr. Mario Maniewicz was elected Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He took office on 1 January 2019.
Mario Maniewicz is an electronic engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with the ITU for over 30 years, where he has served in high-level management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors as well as in ITU Regional Offices.
As Director, Mr. Maniewicz is responsible for the management of the Radiocommunication Bureau, which organizes and co-ordinates the work of the Radiocommunication Sector whose aim is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient, and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
Before joining the ITU, Mr. Maniewicz occupied a managerial position in Uruguay’s main telecommunications operator and was Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering of Uruguay’s main University.
Mr. Maniewicz is married and has two children. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
Mario Maniewicz
Director, BR, ITU
UNOOSA Director, Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, maintains responsibility for the Office’s management and administration, provides strategic guidance to its work and ensures that it is implemented in accordance with the mandates of the General Assembly, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), and the established policies of the United Nations. She develops the work programme of the Office and ensures the Office’s efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Ms. Holla-Maini serves as the senior advisor to the Secretary-General and represents the SG at meetings and conferences on matters relating to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. She also discharges the Secretary-General’s obligations under the UN treaties and principles on outer space.
Alongside the team in the Office of the Director, Ms. Holla-Maini oversees and coordinates the strategic direction and operational priorities of the Office, including the preparation, monitoring and implementation of the work plan, budget and the strategic framework of the Office.
Aarti Holla-Maini
Director, UNOOSA
Hamid Akhavan is the CEO and President of EchoStar, overseeing all aspects of the company and serves as a member of the Board of Directors. DISH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar. Before joining EchoStar, Hamid was most recently a partner at Twin Point Capital, an investment firm, and a founding partner of Long Arc Capital LLC. He held a variety of executive leadership positions including CEO of Unify Inc. (formerly Siemens Enterprise Communications), Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Telekom and CEO of T-Mobile International, in connection with which he also served as a member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Telekom. Hamid has been a member of the Board of Directors of Vonage Holding Corp., a global cloud communications company, since 2016, and also serves on that Board’s Technology and Transactions Committees. In addition, Hamid has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Anterix Inc., a wireless communications company, and is a member of its Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Hamid earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the California Institute of Technology and his Master of Science in the same fields from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He’s an avid photographer, woodworker and music enthusiast.
Hamid Akhavan
CEO & President, EchoStar
Eva Berneke is Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat Group, the world’s first GEO-LEO integrated satellite operator formed through the merger of Eutelsat Communications, a global leader in geostationary (GEO) satellite operations, and OneWeb, a world-class low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network.
Eva Berneke joined Eutelsat on 1st January 2022 from KMD, Denmark’s leading IT and software company, specialising in IT solutions and services for the public and private sector, and now part of the NEC Group. During her tenure she oversaw the transformation of KMD from a mainly government service provider to a modern, digital company competing in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to that Eva held several senior positions at TDC, formerly TeleDanmark, the largest telecommunications company in Denmark, notably as Head of Strategy and Head of the company’s Wholesale Business division. Eva began her career at McKinsey where she developed a specialization in the TMT sectors and where she was based for 10 years at the group’s Paris offices.
Eva sits on the Boards of international groups Lego and Vestas Wind Systems as well as France’s Ecole Polytechnique. She is a graduate of Denmark’s Technical University, where she gained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and holds an MBA from INSEAD.
Eva Berneke
CEO, Eutelsat Group
Carlos Baigorri
President, ANATEL Brazil
Dr. Mohammed Altamimi, Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), has extensive experience in organizational governance, politics, and competitive economics, and is recognized as a global expert in wireless networks and cloud computing.
Prior to taking on the Governorship at the CST, Dr. Altamimi served the organization as Deputy Governor for Regulation and Competition and acting Deputy Governor for Consumer Protection and Partnership.
A prominent contributor to the international discourse in the field of wireless technology. He has been instrumental in the establishment of a number of specialized research societies in Saudi Arabia, including the Saudi Association for Information Security (Hemaya) where he sits on the board of directors, and his work with the CST has seen him spearhead the preparation of systems, legislation, and regulations in the telecommunications and information technology sector in Saudi Arabia.
Among his many academic achievements, Dr. Altamimi has published several scientific papers in the field of telecommunications engineering and organizational economics. He is the vice president of a research group specializing in wireless networks, next-generation networks, and cloud computing at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva. He also sits on the board of the Saudi Space Commission and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority.
Dr. Altamimi graduated from Harvard University’s Leadership Development program and holds a Ph.D. in telecommunications and networking from the University of Pittsburgh in the USA, a master’s degree in communications technology and policy from the University of Strathclyde in the UK, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals in Saudi Arabia.
H.E. Mohammed Altamimi
Governor, CST
Jeremy Jurgens is Managing Director & Head of the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He is responsible for the Member and Partner companies essential to the mission of the Forum as the International Organisation for Public-Private Cooperation. His responsibilities include oversight of all industry initiatives, innovation and technology pioneer communities, the Forum’s offices in China, India and Japan as well as the Centre for Cybersecurity. He has served in various functions since 1999 including Chief Information Officer, Chief Representative China, the head of the Annual Meeting in Davos and the architect of the Forum’s Strategic Intelligence Platform.
Prior to joining the Forum, Jeremy Jurgens has worked at Microsoft, Patagonia and the Japanese Ministry of Finance. He holds a Master in Education from Harvard University and a BA in Economics and International Relations, from Claremont McKenna College
Jeremy Jurgens
Managing Director, World Economic Forum
Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers from the 1984 batch. He had superannuated as Chairman & CEO, Railway Board on 31st August 2023 after a career spanning about 37 years Indian Railway. He is a graduate in Civil Engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, with gold medal and has master’s degree in engineering (Structures) from IIT Roorkee. He has worked in various positions in the Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central Railway, as well as in the Railway Board.
Besides Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, some of the important positions held by Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti include Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, General Manager of Central Railway and Western Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Lucknow, Northern Railway, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Northern Railway and Executive Director, Railway Board. Post his retirement, Ministry of Railway had appointed him to a One-Man Expert Committee for improvement in inspection and maintenance of track. In December 2023, Gati Shakti Vishvavidyalaya, Vadodara, a Central University appointed him as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.
His expertise includes railway operations, track maintenance, project execution and station redevelopment. During his illustrious career, Shri Lahoti initiated several reforms in execution of infrastructure projects and took several initiatives to modernize and mechanize track maintenance on Indian Railways. During his stints as CRB & CEO, GM and DRM, he brought about significant improvement in freight transport performance and took several customer friendly initiatives to improve the quality of service and ease the customer interface. He has also extensively contributed to planning and structuring of station redevelopment projects in various positions served by him.
Shri Lahoti has travelled to various countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia in connection with official assignments. He has undertaken executive training programmes at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA, SDA Bocconi Business School, Milan, Italy and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
He was born to Freedom Fighter Late Shri Ratan Lal Lahoti and Late Smt. Kanchan Devi Lahoti at Guna, M.P. and is the younger brother of former Chief Justice of India Late Justice R.C. Lahoti. His wife is a homemaker and his son is a working professional in Bangaluru.
Anil Kumar Lahoti
Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority India
More Information Available Shortly
Gilles Bregant
Director General, ANFR France
Sherif Sedky
CEO, Egyptian Space Agency
More Information Available Shortly
H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori
Chairman of the Board, Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre
Dr. Kam Ghaffarian is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to creating companies with a mission to advance humanity and expand human knowledge. Dr. Ghaffarian co-founded and serves as Executive Chairman of several deep-tech companies that push the limits of humankind’s capability. Among his ventures are X-energy, an advanced nuclear energy reactor and fuel company; Intuitive Machines, a premier provider of technologies and space exploration services that became the first company to land on the Moon; Axiom Space, building the first commercial space station while being the sole provider of private astronaut missions to the International Space Station; Quantum Space, creating infrastructure for deep space commerce; and PTX, a space engineering and technology firm. He is also the founder and CEO of IBX, an innovation and investment firm that oversees the portfolio of companies he helped create. Dr. Ghaffarian started his entrepreneurial career in 1994 when he founded Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, which he sold in 2018 for $375mm to KBR. He holds multiple degrees, including B.S. degrees in computer science and electronics engineering, an M.Sc. in information technology, and a doctorate in philosophy of technology. Dr. Ghaffarian is an active philanthropist focusing on education, STEM initiatives, and the pursuit of interstellar travel
Kam Ghaffarian
Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO, Axiom Space
Greg Wyler is a technology entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor who conceived and founded O3B and OneWeb. He holds over 35 patents related to the design, implementation, and use of satellite communications technology. Greg founded O3B Networks, in partnership with Liberty Global, in 2007 with the goal of unlocking MEO orbit to deliver Internet to remote areas without the need for laying fiber. SES, Google, and HSBC became investors in O3B Networks in 2009, which raised over $1.2bn. By 2016, O3B had a firm backlog of $350 million with more than $100 million in current-year revenue, and SES exercised its option to purchase the company. After the success of his first company, Greg moved on to an even more ambitious venture: creating a network of hundreds of LEO satellites to deliver low-latency, high-speed Internet to connect the unconnected around the world. He founded OneWeb in 2012 with investment from Softbank, Bharti, Airbus, Intelsat, Virgin Group, Qualcomm, Hughes, Grupo Salinas, Maxar, and Coca-Cola. He raised over $3.3bn to further OneWeb’s mission to connect all the unconnected schools of the world and provide Internet to fuel economic growth, improve education, social development, advance gender equality and make healthcare more accessible across the globe.
Greg Wyler
Founder & CEO, E-Space
Professor Konstantinos Masselos has been appointed as the President of the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) in February 2018. He has been elected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for 2019.
In 2006 he joined University of Peloponnese, where he is currently a Professor in Computing Systems Design in the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications. Konstantinos served as Rector of the above university the period 2012-2017. During the period 2005 to 2008, he was Lecturer in digital systems at the Imperial College London. Also from 2010 to 2016 he served as Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, at the Imperial College London. From 2001 to 2004 he joined Intracom Telecom SA in Greece.
Konstantinos has been involved in several research and development projects and has consulting experience in industry and public organizations. Since 2005 he has been regularly involved as an expert in different European Commission units. Additionally, Konstantinos was member of the Scientific Committee of European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) organization from 2015 to 2017. He has authored more than 120 papers in international journals and conferences.
Konstantinos Masselos
President, EETT Greece
Philip Marnick is the General Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). He was appointed early January 2022 by the Members of the Board, to assume the position, paving the way for a more effective regulatory framework by continuing the evolution of the telecom sector liberalization.
Mr. Marnick leads the TRA, including the development of consumer protection initiatives and resolving disputes. The TRA develops regulatory rules that promote competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services and facilities, as well as developing a more comprehensive and competitive framework that aligns with international best practices. Ensuring that Bahrain remains a center of innovation and that its telecommunications sector serves everyone while supporting Bahrain’s strategic objectives.
Before assuming his role at the TRA, Philip managed and directed at Ofcom in the UK, where he was the Group Director of Spectrum responsible for all aspects of UK national and international spectrum management – from strategy to delivery including awards, clearance and enforcement.
Mr. Marnick has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 30 years. He has served as a senior executive in technology, operations, and strategy. Mr. Marnick has worked in both start-ups (from inception to sale) and major corporations, in firms such as UK Broadband, O2, Orange, BT, J-Phone in Japan (now Softbank Mobile), Extreme Mobile, and SpinVox (now Nuance).
From analogue to 5G, he has engaged across every mobile generation. Throughout his carrier he has been at the forefront of industry developments – in both fixed and mobile. He has collaborated on the first deployments of mobile networks utilizing new technologies and standards, this has also included innovative products such as the first camera phone and photo messaging service, as well as mobile internet and hosted voice services.
Philip Marnick
General Director, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Bahrain
Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter was appointed Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation, effective April 1, 2023.
Prior to this role, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Aramco, a role he undertook in May 2015.
Al-Khowaiter joined the company in 1984 and completed a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1988. His first assignment was as an engineer with Southern Area Oil Operations, where he worked on the commissioning of the ‘Uthmaniyah gas-oil separation plants.
After earning an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Al-Khowaiter joined the Process & Control Systems Department in July 1996.
After joining the Hawiyah Gas Plant Project as a project engineer in 1997, he became a senior project engineer in 1999. In 2000, Al-Khowaiter was given a division-level leadership role and led the commissioning of the Hawiyah Gas Plant.
In 2002, he was transferred to the Haradh Gas Plant during the construction and commissioning phase and served as superintendent of Gas Plant Operations.
Between 2004 and 2005, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan Fellowship Program, earning an M.S. degree in Business Administration.
In July 2005, Al-Khowaiter was named Manager, Facilities Planning, and in 2006, he led the development of the master plan for the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. In 2007, he was seconded to the university, where he served as Interim Provost and then named Interim Vice President for Economic Development.
Al-Khowaiter returned to Aramco in November 2009 and became Director of New Business Evaluation, before being elevated to Chief Engineer from August 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he was appointed Executive Director of Power Systems.
Al-Khowaiter is currently a member of the Board of Directors of SATORP (Saudi Aramco Total Refining Petrochemical Co.), SADCO (Saudi Aramco Development Co.), the King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology (KACST).
Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter
Executive Vice President Technology & Innovation, Aramco
Parth Trivedi is CEO and Co-Founder of Skylo Technologies. Skylo is a software-defined global service operator, connecting cellular devices directly over satellites, ensuring that you never lose coverage. Skylo’s focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work across critical industries such as agriculture, defense, maritime, logistics, mining, and others, in addition to consumer cellular devices. Skylo is backed by Innovation Endeavors, Intel, Samsung, BMW, Boeing, Next47, Seraphim, Softbank Group, DCM, and Moore Strategic Ventures.
Trained as an aerospace engineer, Parth has led various missions and aerospace projects at MIT sponsored by the US Department of Defense, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He was nominated to the US delegation task force to the UN technical body on global aviation (ICAO). Parth and his co-founders conceived of Skylo at Stanford University, where he was co-leading research in the Space Systems Development Lab, and later spun the company out as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Innovation Endeavors.
Parth has a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University with highest distinction, SM in Aerospace Engineering from MIT, and MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Parth Trivedi
CEO & Co-founder, Skylo
Jaume Sanpera, founder and CEO at Sateliot, is a serial entrepreneur backed by over 30 years of experience and deep expertise in the telecommunications industry.
During his career, Jaume founded several companies, including the global business group Eurona, a leading satellite operator in Europe.
In 2018, he founded Sateliot the company that is launching commercially the first 5G NTN NB-IoT LEO constellation to offer 100% connectivity everywhere on the planet, providing service to commercial cellular NB-IoT RF modules able to support the newly introduced Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) features as per latest 3GPP Release
Jaume Sanpera
CEO, Sateliot
Isabelle Mauro is the Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of 29 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.
Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.
Isabelle has 25 years experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for government and international Affairs. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of Information, Communications and Technology Industries, managing the portfolio for 60+ Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is Chair of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech and is a member of the UNESCO Advisory Group for the Declaration on Connectivity for Education.
Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.
Isabelle Mauro
Director General, GSOA
More information available shortly.
Bocar Ba
CEO, Samena Telecommunications Council
Pacôme Révillon serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Novaspace, based in Paris, France. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in the space sector, Pacôme has been instrumental in shaping strategic initiatives and operational excellence. His wealth of experience includes advising high-profile clients, with a specialised focus on satellite broadcasting, communications, and finance.
Pacôme Révillon
CEO, Novaspace
More information available shortly.
Tracy Trent
CEO, Stellar Blu
Richard Deakin
CEO, Stratospheric Platforms
Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Widely recognized as one of the first humanitarian entrepreneurs, Mikkel has started and grown multiple material science companies whose mission is to benefit humanity.
He is the founder and CEO of the aerospace company Sceye, as well as the founder and owner of public health companies LifeStraw and Vestergaard. Mikkel has been recognized for his global leadership in public health innovation and sustainable business by the New York Times, The Economist, TIME magazine, and the World Economic Forum among others.
In 2014, he launched Sceye, an aerospace company with a background in material science that builds and operates a new generation of high-altitude platform stations (HAPS). Sceye’s solar-powered platforms operate in the stratosphere at 65,000 feet, delivering internet and capturing high-resolution imagery of the Earth in real time. Sceye’s impact could be transformational, with the potential to provide universal and equitable broadband access, improve climate change monitoring, and rapidly detect and respond to natural disasters.
Mikkel’s history of using science-based solutions to uplift marginalized populations began with Vestergaard, a material science company committed to public health and food security. Under his leadership, the company developed life-saving products to combat disease and malnutrition. PermaNet has produced nearly 1 billion anti-mosquito bed nets that have helped reduce global malaria deaths by more than half. ZeroFly is the first insecticide-infused storage bag to protect grains and seeds from insect infestations.
In 2005, Mikkel started LifeStraw, a company dedicated to safe drinking water. It manufactures a line of water filters that have helped to nearly eradicate Guinea worm disease. LifeStraw’s personal water filter was named TIME’s “Best Invention of the Year,” and has been used in every large-scale natural disaster over the last decade. Over 55 million people have received clean drinking water through LifeStraw’s products.
In 2008, Mikkel developed and managed the largest HIV/AIDS rapid testing campaign in the world in collaboration with leading public health organizations. A “care package” of nets, water filters and condoms coupled with awareness and advocacy campaigning is now included in new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).
He has served as an advisor to the prime minister of his native Denmark and was chosen to be a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. For his contributions to humanitarian efforts, he was honored with the Social and Economic Innovation Award from The Economist. Mikkel was presented with the Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas, celebrated at the Danish Hero Gala in Copenhagen, and made an elder of the Luhya tribe in western Kenya, a rare and important honor for foreigners who have touched the lives of Kenyans in an extraordinary manner. He has served on the board of directors of the Roll Back Malaria partnership, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Merck for Mothers and UN Women’s advisory board for Nordic countries. He was elected to the “Women Deliver 100” list of the most influential people contributing to the health of women and girls around the world.
Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen
Director of the Board, HAPS Alliance; CEO, Sceye
More information available shortly.
Martijn Blanken
CEO, Neo Space Group
Susmita Mohanty is a serial space entrepreneur and space diplomat. Her latest endeavour launched in October 2021 is India’s first dedicated space think tank called Spaceport SARABHAI (S2). As the Director General, she provides stewardship for S2’s mission and strategy. Armed with perspectives and insights from her rich and multilateral international experiences, she aspires to building broader international consensus and dialogue where space activities of Asia-Pacific nations have an increasingly strategic role to play in the sustainability of space exploration.
Susmita is the only space entrepreneur in the world to have co-founded companies on 3 different continents: EARTH2ORBIT, Bangalore (2009-2021), MOONFRONT, San Francisco (2001-2007) and LIQUIFER Systems Group, Vienna (2004-ongoing). Prior to turning entrepreneur, she worked for the International Space Station Program at Boeing in California and did a short stint at NASA Johnson.
In 2022, when India celebrated 75 years of independence, Susmita was one of 75 women honoured by the Indian government with the Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards. In 2019, she was selected as one of BBC’s 100 Women laureates inspiring and influencing a female-led future. In 2017, she was featured on cover of Fortune Magazine. In 2012, she was voted into Financial Times’ list of “25 Indians to Watch”. Technologies. In 2005, Susmita was honoured on Capitol Hill in Washington DC with the International Achievement Award for promoting international cooperation through her entrepreneurial ventures.
Educated in India, France, and Sweden, Susmita holds multiple degrees including a PhD. She is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Future Council for Space Technologies.
Susmita Mohanty
Director General, Spaceport SARABHAI
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is pleased to announce that Councillor Mothibi Ramusi has been sworn-in as the 6th Chairperson of ICASA, at a ceremony held at the ICASA Head Office, in Centurion.
The ceremony was presided over by the Honourable Professor JCW van Rooyen SC, formerly Acting Judge of the High Court of South Africa. During the ceremony, the newly appointed Chairperson pledged to act with integrity, to uphold the public interest, and to serve the people of South Africa in the provision of electronic communications, broadcasting and postal services, in line with the Constitution and the ICASA Act.
Cllr Ramusi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with over three decades of experience in the ICT sector. He will play a crucial role in advancing ICASA’s mandate to regulate the telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal sectors in the public interest, to promote competition, and to ensure universal access to communication infrastructure, services and content.
The Acting Chairperson of ICASA, Councillor Peter Zimri, warmly welcomed the newly appointed Chairperson, emphasising the significant role the appointment will play in advancing the Authority’s mission of effective regulatory oversight in the sector. “The Council pledges to support and work together with the Chairperson to address the dynamic challenges and opportunities in the rapidly-evolving ICT landscape, including both broadcasting and postal services” added Cllr Zimri.
Cllr Ramusi is a qualified Electronic Systems Engineer. He holds a Bachelors’ Degree (BEng) in Electronic Systems Engineering, and various other formal qualifications. Since 1992, he has held senior positions in the ICT and Space/Satellite.
Cllr Ramusi’s appointment as Chairperson, by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Honourable Mondli Gungubele, was announced in the Government Gazette on 3 April 2024. This appointment is in line with section 5(1B) (c) of the ICASA Act, 2000 (Act No. 13 of 2000), as amended.
Mothibi Ramusi
Chairperson, ICASA
Mishaal Ashemimry is an aerospace engineer, aerospace entrepreneur, commercial pilot, speaker, and influencer. She is the first female aerospace engineer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Ashemimry is a consultant in her field and was a professor at the University of Miami Mechanical and Aerospace Department. Currently, Ashemimry is the Managing Director for the Center for Space Futures, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), which is part of the WEF Centers for the 4th Industrial Revolution (C4IR) network. She is also an International Astronautical Federation Vice President for Diversity Initiatives. Previously, she was a special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency with a strong focus on developing Saudi’s role in the global space market. Prior to joining the Saudi Space Agency, Ashemimry was a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman in the US. Moreover, she is living her passion everyday by educating and inspiring others through conferences, webinars, and her social media channels. While based in Miami, Florida, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace at age 26, to pursue her ultimate dream of building rockets. Her company’s objective was to design and build their own rockets to launch small satellites (500 kg) or less to Low Earth Orbit. Previously, she worked for Raytheon Missile Systems’ Aerodynamics Department and contributed to twenty-two different rocket programs. Her professional experience and areas of expertise include aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis and rocket stage-separation analysis, with a strong focus on computational tool development.
She earned a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engi¬neering from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, and two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Aerospace Engineering and in Applied Mathematics, also from Florida Institute of Technology. Her academic focus included: experimental and analyti¬cal aerodynamics, rocket design and nuclear thermal propulsion.
Mishaal Ashemimry
Managing Director, Center for Space Futures
Jennifer A. Manner is the Senior Advisor for Space and Satellite Policy at the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), advising on spectrum management issues related to space and satellite communications. Prior to NTIA, she was Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at EchoStar Corporation and held senior roles at the FCC, MCI/WorldCom, and Skyterra. Jennifer has led several industry and government organizations, including the Global Satellite Operators Association and the Satellite Industry Association, and served as Chair of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. She has also been a professor of law at Georgetown University Law School, teaching international telecommunications law, and continues to teach at Carnegie Mellon and UC Boulder. An accomplished author, her works include “Spectrum Wars: The Rise of 5G and Beyond” and the upcoming “Spectrum Wars: A New Hope for Connectivity.” She is also a filmmaker, with her latest film, “When Wire Was King: The Transformation of Telecommunications,” available on PBS and streaming platforms. Jennifer holds a B.A. from SUNY Albany, a J.D. cum laude from New York Law School, and an LL.M. with honors from Georgetown University Law School.
Jennifer Manner
Senior Advisor for Space and Satellite Policy, NTIA
Kalpak Gude is the Head of Regulatory Affairs for Project Kuiper at Amazon. He is responsible for global regulatory affairs, including licensing, regulations, ITU filings and regulatory processes, as well as space safety and sustainability. Prior to Amazon, Mr. Gude was General Counsel at Swarm Technologies and President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance trade association. He has also had senior roles in the U.S. government at the FCC and U.S. Senate, as well as in industry at OneWeb, Intelsat and PanAmSat.
Kalpak Gude
Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Amazon Project Kuiper
Nadine Allen joined SES as Global Head of Enterprise & Cloud in January 2024.
Prior to SES, Nadine has held a variety of leadership positions in the telecommunications and enterprise sectors for Ericsson and Marconi. In her last position, Nadine was head of Ericsson’s Enterprise Business and Strategy for Southeast Asia, India and Oceania where she was accountable for building growth businesses in the areas of 5G, Private Networks, Cloud, Security and IoT as well as strategy development and execution across the region.
Before that, she was CEO of Ericsson Thailand, Head of Global Customer Unit Telenor group and Head of Enterprise Business in Western Central Europe.
Nadine is a UK national and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Warwick (UK).
Nadine Allen
Global Head of Enterprise and Cloud, SES
Mr. Matsumori is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Skydweller Aero. He is a space industry veteran that has had executive leadership roles at SpaceX, Virgin, and Impulse Space. At SpaceX, he was Sr. VP of Sales and Business development and his team was responsible for the rapid growth of SpaceX from 2011 to 2015. He was also the CEO of BridgeComm, a laser communications company where he co-developed a patented design for signal transmission. At Additionally, Mr. Matsumori has a background in communications technology as an early member of Qualcomm along with experience in other telecommunications companies.
Mr. Matsumori has a B.S. in Business from Arizona State University and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona. He is also named in over 20 patents.
Barry Matsumori
President and COO, Skydweller
Luciana Camargos is the GSMA’s Head of Spectrum. She directs the GSMA’s range of advocacy issues on public policy relating to spectrum with national governments and multilateral organisations.
Luciana’s career began with Brazilian regulator Anatel where she worked as part of the board advisory team. She joined the GSMA in 2012, where she has continued to be active in shaping the future of mobile services at international fora such as the ITU, CITEL and other multilateral organisations.
She has chaired regulatory groups charged with developing communications regulation at the ITU and in regional organisations. She is an active supporter of the role of women in technology and is a former chair of the ITU’s Network of Women.
Luciana earned an MBA in telecommunications from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, and a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Brasilia.
Luciana Camargos
Head of Spectrum, GSMA
Oliver Wick is a technology scout and futurist, who has promoted future technologies and established forward thinking innovation concepts at BMW since 2012.
He began his career as an engineer at Electrolux where he was soon appointed Lead of Electrolux’s Washing Machine Lab. During his time at Electrolux Labs, Oliver successfully led an international team through the application of fuzzy logic into washing machines. Quickly establishing himself as a lead engineer, Oliver then moved to BMW where he focused on E/E development before taking on the role of Technology Scout.
Today, Oliver is recognized for taking a humanistic approach to address the automotive industry’s most pressing challenges. His vision of future technologies has lifted BMW to the forefront of automotive technology through autonomous driving, quantum computing, blockchain technologies and non-terrestrial networks.
He is responsible for the research areas Sensing, Connectivity and Computing.
Oliver received his Diploma from TU Ilmenau where he focused on neural networks through his studies in technical cybernetics and control algorithm.
Oliver Wick
Technology Scouting, Lead Space Tech, BMW Innovation Management
Jean-Philippe Gillet leads Intelsat’s global sales organization; in addition, he oversees Intelsat’s Media, Mobility and Networks businesses, with responsibilities for developing and executing the company’s global broadband strategy and solutions.
Mr. Gillet previously served as Intelsat’s Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 2014 to 2017, as Intelsat’s Vice President of Sales for Europe and the Middle East From 2006 to 2013 and as Intelsat’s Vice President of Media Sales from 2003 to 2006. In these roles, he successfully grew Intelsat’s business with telecommunications service providers and broadcasters, regularly exceeding revenue and backlog targets.
Prior to joining Intelsat in 2003, Mr. Gillet spent five years with Globecast North America (France Telecom Group) as Vice President of International Sales and Director of Sales for Europe, the Middle East and North America. He began his career at France Telecom as a sales and marketing manager.
Mr. Gillet earned a Master of Science degree in information technology from Ecole Superieure de Commerce and a Bachelor’s in computer science at the Ecole Superieure d’Informatique Engineering School, both located in France.
As the foundational architects of satellite technology, Intelsat operates the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure. We apply our unparalleled expertise and global scale to connect people, businesses, and communities, no matter how difficult the challenge. Intelsat is uniquely positioned to help our customers turn possibilities into reality – transformation happens when businesses, governments, and communities use Intelsat’s next-generation global network and managed services to build their connected future. Learn more at Intelsat.com.
Jean-Phillippe Gillet
Senior Vice President, Media, Mobility ad Networks, Intelsat
Shiro Fukumoto is the Director of Regulatory Development Department at SoftBank Corp., responsible for spectrum-related national regulatory and international standardization activities in ITU-R, APT and 3GPP NTN.
He has more than 15 years in the telecommunications sector addressing regulatory and technology standardization aspects.
Most recently he played a leading role in key discussions and decision over two study periods, WRC-19 and WRC-23, on HAPS at ITU (ITU-R and WRC) and APT for WRC-23 agenda item 1.4, additional identifications of HAPS frequency bands, as an APT coordinator.
He is also working for the vice-Chair of Telecommunications Working Group in HPAS Alliance.
Shiro Fukumoto
Director, Head of Regulatory Development Department, SoftBank Corp
David Willis has been appointed Group Director, Spectrum, bringing 30 years of technology and telecom experience in government and industry to the role. David joins Ofcom’s Senior Management Team.
He joined Ofcom to oversee its Spectrum Group, which ensures that the UK’s wireless spectrum – a valuable, finite national resource – is used efficiently and effectively.
Most recently David was President of the Communications Research Centre, the Government of Canada’s research centre for advanced wireless telecommunications, spectrum management and helping to improve broadband services for Canadians.
Before this David led the Spectrum Engineering and Planning team at Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada. Here his work included international spectrum standards; wireless spectrum engineering and planning; satellite spectrum policy, licensing and coordination; and leading the Canadian delegation at the 2019 World Radio Communication Conference.
David has also held leadership roles in product management, operations and engineering at BlackBerry and Nortel Networks.
David Willis
Group Director for Spectrum, Ofcom UK
Dr. Mohamed El-Moghazi is the Executive Director of International Spectrum Affairs at the NTRA of Egypt, Chairman of ATU Spectrum Recommendation Task Group, and Councillor of Egypt at the ITU. Dr. Maghazi is holder of B.Sc. in Communications & Electronics Engineering (Cairo University), Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Master Degree in Telecommunications Management; Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methodology for Business, Management, and Engineering (University of Strathclyde); Diploma in Communication Management (University of Colorado).
He is the founder of the Global Telecom Policy Researchers Network (GTPRN), a non-profit initiative for researchers in the field of telecommunications policy. He has recently published the book “The International Radio Regulations”, and the book chapters “Towards a Future- Proof International Spectrum Management Policy”, and “Covid-19 Impact on Spectrum Use and Management”.
He is the author of more than 40 papers in prestigious conferences and journals, moderator and proponent of several panels addressing ITU, and speaker at numerous events and conferences. He has presented more than 50 contributions as representative of ASMG, ATU, and Egypt during the last 20 years in different ITU forums and supervised several Master and PhD theses on ITU related issues.
Throughout his career at NTRA, he has been involved in many activities including national broadband plan, digital switchover, 3G and he has been part of NTRA team that achieved the successful 2 billion$ 4G licenses in 2016. He also developed a customized tool to calculate the spectrum requirement for broadband in Egypt for the next ten years. Currently, he is focusing on 5G deployment in Egypt and 6G vision at the ITU in addition to spectrum management support to the African countries.
Mohammed El-Moghazi
International Spectrum Affairs, Executive Director, National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt
Rahim Tafazolli
Professor of Mobile and Satellite Communications, ICS (Institute for Communication Systems); Founder and Director of 5G Innovation Centre & 6G Innovation Centre
Mohamed-Slim Alouini
Wireless CT Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Ivan Suarez is a global advisor specialising in satellite and spectrum policy and regulation. He assists companies and governments with their strategy, compliance, licensing and policy needs, covering SatComms and other space-related industries. In recent years, he has worked on a vast number of projects related to policy and regulation for D2D products, satellite broadband internet, and the launch of 5G satellite networks. Ivan is actively involved in several regional groups in preparation for WRC-27, focusing on Latin America and Africa. He contributes to several publications such as ViaSatellite and SpaceNews, covering different areas of the New Space Economy. He holds several Masters Degrees in Telecommunications Law and International Relations.
Ivan Suarez
Director, Regulatory & Policy, Newsky.plus
Tareq Al Awadhi is the Executive Director Spectrum Affairs Department of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Al Awadhi has 27 years of experience in spectrum management. He is Chairman of Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) and he has been selected as Chairman of ITU World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2012. He is also Chairman of Arab Working Group for PP-22 Preparation. He headed a number of ITU Working Groups and meetings and contributed towards ITU resolutions, recommendations and studies. He represented the UAE in ITU, IMO, ICAO, Arab League, GCC Telecom Bureau and a number of other international and regional forums.Tareq Al Awadhi played a pivotal role in establishing Spectrum Affairs Department in the TDRA. He pioneered the modern spectrum management concepts in the region and equipped the UAE with one the most advanced and first of its kind fully automated online spectrum management and frequency planning system. He developed UAE 5G Strategic Plan and Beyond (2020-2025) and the UAE ranked 4th Globally in launching and operating the 5G in 2020. This plan serves as a road map to accelerate the pace of introducing the 5G in the country and work with all partners in using this Technology in all sectors in the country (such as health, education, entertainment, infrastructure, military, security, etc.).
He has long experience in satellite coordination business. Under his supervisor; the UAE Administration managed to register their 11 satellites in the ITU Master Frequency Registration for the purpose of it protection, and around 138 files were opened covering a large number of satellite orbital under UAE name.
Tariq Al Awadhi
Executive Director, TDRA
Chairman, ASMG
Gregory Ewert serves as the Chief Commercial Officer & Managing Director, North America, Stratospheric Platforms, Ltd. He is responsible for orchestrating global strategic partnerships and distribution across enterprises, military/government, and MNOs. Mr. Ewert has decades of experience in mobility, satellite, and traditional telecom applications. Prior executive experience spans international, MNOs and mobile satellites where he held various positions at Sprint, GlobalOne, BCE (Bell Canada), Iridium, Inmarsat, and Intelsat, most recently as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development.
Greg Ewert
HAPS Alliance Member and CCO & Managing Director North America, Stratospheric Platforms
Gino Masini is Principal Researcher with Ericsson in Sweden. He holds a master’s degree in Electronics Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and an MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management. He worked as researcher at Politecnico di Milano for ESA (the European Space Agency) and ASI (the Italian Space Agency) on millimeter wave propagation modeling, contributing to preliminary research for radio propagation experiments in space. He joined Ericsson in 1999, working at first with microwave radio link antennas and network planning, and then designing microwave monolithic integrated circuits. Since 2009 he works with 4G and 5G radio access network architecture. He has worked in standards since 2001, representing Ericsson in 3GPP, ETSI, ITU, and CEPT. Active in 3GPP for more than 15 years, he was elected as 3GPP RAN WG3 Chairman for two terms, overseeing the standardization of 5G RAN architecture. He received the 3GPP Excellence Award in 2022. He is the author of more than 80 patents, 3 recent books on 5G and 5G NTN, and a number of scientific articles. He also holds a “Six Sigma” certification.
Gino Masini
Principal Researcher, Standardization, Ericsson
Cessy Karina is a Senior Radiocommunication Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector. She joined the ITU in 2002 to work in the Radiocommunication Bureau’s Space Services Department and now serves as the coordinator for satellite coordination request examination in the Space Systems Coordination Division (SSC). In addition to her core responsibilities, Cessy provides support and guidance to administrations globally and participates actively in ITU workshops, seminars, and conferences, particularly those related to space services. Prior to her ITU tenure, she worked in Indonesia’s private telecommunications sector, where she contributed to frequency coordination, notification, and registration processes for Indonesian satellite networks.
A dedicated advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment, Cessy served as a co-coordinator for the Network of Women for WRC-2023 and has been an active member of the ITU’s gender task force as well as Women in Aerospace Europe since 2015. Outside of work, Cessy enjoys traveling and photography.
Cessy Karina
Senior Radiocommunication Engineer, Space Services Department, BR, ITU
Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu is a Chancellor’s Professor and the Director of the Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Lab at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. His research interests cover many aspects of wireless communications and networks, with a special emphasis on NTN in the recent years. His extensive collaborative research with industry resulted in 40 granted patents. Dr. Yanikomeroglu is a Fellow of the IEEE, the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). He is a Distinguished Speaker for the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and an Expert Panelist of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). Dr. Yanikomeroglu is currently serving as the Chair of the Steering Committee of IEEE’s flagship wireless event, Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC). He is also a member of the IEEE ComSoc Governance Council, IEEE ComSoc Globecom/ICC Management & Strategy (GIMS) Standing Committee, IEEE ComSoc Conference Council, and IEEE PIMRC, IEEE FNWF, and ICTC Steering Committees. He served as the General Chair and Technical Program Chair of several IEEE conferences. He has also served in the editorial boards of various IEEE periodicals. Dr. Yanikomeroglu received several awards for his research, papers, teaching, and service, including the Grand Prize in IEEE Competition on NTN for B5G and 6G in 2022.
Halim Yanikomeroglu
Distinguished Professor, Carleton University
Riccardo De Gaudenzi received his Master degree (cum Laude) in Electronic Engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy in 1985, a PhD from the Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands in 1999 and a Communication Engineering Master degree ad honorem from University of Parma in 2021. He is currently a freelance consultant and University lecturer. From 1986 to 1988 he was with the European Space Agency (ESA), Stations and Communications Engineering Department, Darmstadt (Germany) where he was involved in satellite Telemetry, Tracking and Control (TT&C) ground systems design and testing. In 1988, he joined ESA’s Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands where he has been covering several technical and managerial positions inside the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. As last position, he has been the Head of the ESA’s Electrical Department from 2018 until December 2023. The department staffed with more than 260 professionals covered radio-frequency systems and payloads for navigation, telecommunication TT&C and Earth Observation, EEE components and microelectronics, data handling systems, power systems and energy sources, electromagnetic compatibility, space environments and their effects. He has been responsible for a large number of R&D activities for TT&C, Telecom and Navigation applications. In 1996 he spent one year with Qualcomm Inc., San Diego USA, in the Globalstar LEO project system group under an ESA fellowship. His current interest is mainly related with efficient digital modulation and multiple access techniques for fixed and mobile satellite services, synchronization topics, adaptive interference mitigation techniques and communication systems simulation techniques. He actively contributed to the development and the demonstration of the ETSI S-UMTS Family A, S-MIM, DVB-S2, DVB-S2X, DVB-RCS2 and DVB-SH standards. He has published more than 140 scientific papers and owns more than 30 patents. From 2001 to 2005 he has been serving as Associate Editor for CDMA and Synchronization for IEEE Transactions on Communications and Associate Editor for Journal of Communications and Networks. He is co-recipient of the 2003 and 2008 Jack Neubauer Memorial Award Best Paper from the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He has been awarded the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2022 Aerospace Communications Award.
Riccardo De Gaudenzi
Professor, University of Parma
Dr Valanathan (Val) Munsami is Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Saudi Space Commission. Prior to this, he was the CEO of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) for five years, ending in February 2022. He was also a member of the South African Council for Space Affairs (SACSA). Much earlier, Dr Munsami worked in South Africa’s secretariat for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and managed the implementation of a suite of bilateral and multilateral science and technology agreements. He was involved in the development of South Africa’s National Space Strategy, National Space Policy, Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Strategy and the SKA Readiness Strategy for Africa. He chaired the African Union Space Working Group (AUSWG), which was tasked with the development of the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy; facilitated the development of an Implementation Plan for the African Union Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA); and conceptualized the model for the Pan African Space Science University of the African Union. He is inducted as an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and sits on the Advisory Boards of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and ZASpace Inc. (the Space Industry Forum of South Africa). He is currently the Chancellor of the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France and is Co-founder/Director of the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI).
Val Munsami
Deputy CEO, Saudi Space Agency
Abdulaziz Saud Altamrah serves as the General Manager of Strategy and Digital Sustainability at the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), where he leads the organization’s strategic direction, focusing on digital transformation, innovation, and aligning corporate initiatives with sustainability and ESG standards. His role encompasses driving national strategies, enhancing market competitiveness, and fostering digital development to advance Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global digital economy.
With over a decade of experience, Abdulaziz has held key roles in strategy, digital innovation, and R&D. At the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), he spearheaded strategic planning and performance monitoring, contributing to significant advancements in international indices and national ICT strategies. Previously, his R&D work at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) included pioneering projects in radar signal processing, smart traffic systems, and emerging technology foresight.
A published researcher and holder of a Master’s in Computer Engineering from King Saud University, Abdulaziz combines technical expertise with executive acumen to deliver impactful solutions. He is a recognized leader in leveraging digital innovation to drive sustainable growth and strategic excellence.
Abdulaziz Saud Altamrah
General Manager of Strategy and Digital Sustainability, CST
Frank Salzgeber
Acting Deputy Governor for Space Sector,
CST
Abdulah Aljohani (Senior Member, IEEE) He was previously a Research & Innovation Consultant at the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). Currently, he works with the NEO Space Group (NSG), a wholly owned PIF company aiming to be the national champion for satellite operations within the KSA, as a Senior R&D advisor.
He is also an Associate Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, and a Research Associate at the Center of Excellence in Intelligent Engineering Systems, King Abdulaziz University.
He received his B.Sc. (Eng.) degree (Hons.) in electronics and communication engineering from King Abdulaziz University in 2006, and M.Sc. (Distinction) and Ph.D. degrees in wireless communication from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2010 and 2016, respectively.
His research interests include spectrum management techniques, Non-Terrestrial Networks, channel coding, cooperative communications, space-time coding, free-space optical communication, and MIMO systems. He has published over 30 articles and holds 13 U.S. patents. He has won more than 10 research grants and multiple innovation and best paper awards.
Abdulah Aljohani
Senior R&D Advisor, Neo Space Group
Sharif Abdel-Magid manages SSA’s current and future space operations in and beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) with the goal of making the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a top nation in Space. The Space Operations Sector at SSA operates and maintains exploration systems; develops and operates space transportation systems and supports broad scientific research on orbit. Previously, Sharif Abdel-Magid was a NASA test director in Exploration Ground Systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, he is responsible for planning, integrating, scheduling, and conducting operations associated with the functions of the organization. This includes integrated verification and validation, multi-element verification and validation, integrated flight hardware testing, and launch and recovery operations. Before joining NASA in 2018, Abdel-Magid was a test conductor on the Engineering Services Contract for five-plus years, supporting NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Program at Kennedy’s Launch Equipment Test Facility. From Oct. 2007 to Aug. 2012, he served as a senior consultant at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (then Cape Canaveral Air Force Station) as the lead engineer for systems engineering. In 2010, Abdel-Magid earned a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in Melbourne. He also earned a master’s degree in space systems management from FIT in 2015. In 2016, Abdel-Magid received a Space Flight Awareness Award for pneumatics testing for the SLS mobile launcher. He also earned multiple American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) honors, including a Cape Canaveral Outstanding Member Award, first place in team design in AIAA’s regional competition, and first place in team design at the AIAA International Conference. He organized several successful symposia and lectures (for AIAA) related to the space program with many distinguished speakers including past astronauts such as the Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke and the six-time space shuttle astronaut and physician Story Musgrave. Abdel-Magid is a first-generation Egyptian American. He was born in Delaware county, PA on May 21, 1988 and raised in Montgomery county, PA (both are Philadelphia suburbs), He moved to Florida in 2006 and currently resides in Melbourne, FL. During his years at Hatboro-Horsham High School, Horsham, PA, he was a member of the soccer team a member of the track and field team and a member of the robotics team. He enjoys reading and learning about NASA’s space exploration history, he likes traveling the USA and the world and he is a car enthusiast.
Sharif Abdel-Magid
Vice President Space Operations, Saudi Space Agency
More information available shortly.
Nur Sulyna Abdullah
Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, ITU
More information available shortly.
John Janka
Chief Officer, Global Government Affairs & Regulatory
Viasat
More information available shortly.
Ahmed Ali Alsohaily
Board Director, Sheba Microsystems
More information available shortly.
Guy Christiansen
Worldwide Regulatory, Apple
More information available shortly.
Michael Cheng
Director, Earth Space Sustainability Initiative; Chief Product Officer, Aalyria
More information available shortly.
Saeed Al Saeed
CEO, Cyberani
Eng. Alhamedi Alanezi is a distinguished figure in telecommunications. As President and CEO of ARABSAT, he masterfully steers the organization through the complex landscape of satellite communications, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation and service excellence.
Educated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Eng. Alanezi blends operational expertise with strategic business acumen. His professional experience has paved the way for over two decades of impactful leadership and pioneering contributions to the industry.
Since assuming leadership at ARABSAT, Eng. Alanezi has been instrumental in redefining the company’s strategic direction. He oversees all facets of the company’s operations, from operation and technology development to customer service. Under his stewardship, ARABSAT has not only expanded its market presence but has also embarked on the launch of cutting-edge satellite programs that have significantly enhanced its service offerings.
A respected leader, Eng. Alanezi frequently shares his insights and expertise as a speaker at international telecommunications and satellite conferences, influencing industry trends and practices. His dedication to advancing satellite technology extends beyond professional realms; he is deeply passionate about the role of telecommunications in enhancing connectivity across the Arab region.
Alhamedi Alanezi
President & CEO, Arabsat
Experienced senior executive with a successful track record in leadership development, BD, sales & technology management. Also a successful actor and voice artist with movie, TV series and audiobook credits.
A recognized global expert in the development & operation of Lighter-Than-Air technology (aerostats, airships and stratospheric platforms), I have also had significant experience with the development, acquisition and deployment of unmanned aerial and maritime systems.
A 20 year career in the British Army, culminating in 1998 as the UK Ministry of Defence Officer responsible for all CT & SF aviation equipment requirements, was followed by four years at a senior level in the Corporate Headquarters of a German group of companies in aerospace & logistics.
Subsequently ran an independent consultancy, from which I provided technical & managerial support to government agencies & commercial enterprises in the US & the UK, including the provision of specialist third-party engineering services.
Specialties (other than acting): Program Management, business development, CRM, contract negotiation, government liaison, public relations, field operations, training, man management, technology assessment, requirements capture.
Gregory Gottlieb
Head of Aerial Platforms, World Mobile Group
Jean-Hubert Lenotte joined Eutelsat in September 2013, as the Group’s Director of Strategy, and became a member of the Executive Committee in 2016 as Director of Strategy and Strategic Marketing.
In June 2019, he also took charge of the Deployment Department and is responsible for Eutelsat’s satellite fleet, frequency management, resource planning and innovation. This newly revamped department is now known as the Strategy and Resources Department.
Jean-Hubert began his career at Bouygues where he was notably part of the project team that created Bouygues Telecom in 1994. He joined McKinsey & Company in Paris in 1997 and was elected Partner in 2004. In 2009, he headed the Consumer Service Line of McKinsey & Company in the global telecommunications, media and technology practice.
A Belgian national, he is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and holds a Masters degree in Economy and Finance from the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris.
Jean-Hubert Lenotte
CSO, Eutelsat Group
Lauren is Vice President of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX, overseeing the global expansion Starlink. Her scope includes global licensing, launch of sales in new markets, enterprise customer relationships, strategic connectivity projects, and crisis response. She has been a part of the Starlink team since mid-2020. Lauren has over 18 years of experience at SpaceX. Prior to her current role, she was a Principal Operations Engineer for the executive team. She has also held individual and leadership positions across the company, including working in business development, compliance, finance, risk management, corporate real estate, and human resources. Throughout all roles, she has focused on complex and critical project management. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
Lauren Dreyer
V.P. Starlink Business Operations, SpaceX
Ryo Ujiie, currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for ispace, inc. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in geophysics from Tohoku University in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and M.S. degree in engineering and management from MIT in 2016. He started his professional career at JAXA in 2009 as a software/simulation engineer, was involved in software-independent verification and validation of multiple flight projects, and was engaged in software engineering, Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) simulation, and system safety design research projects until 2015. After graduating from MIT in 2016, he initiated several Multi-disciplinary System Design Optimization research projects at JAXA. In 2017, he became a member of the HTV-X (a JAXA unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft) project team and was primarily involved in GNC tasks and NASA interface management. In 2018, he started his new career at ispace as Deputy Project Manager/Lander System Engineering Group Manager before being appointed CTO in June 2022.
Ryo Ujiie
CTO, iSpace
H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri is the Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). With over 20 years of experience in the UAE National Space Programme, he has played a pivotal role in the development and execution of significant projects at the Centre, including the partnership with NASA to build the Emirates Airlock on the Gateway Lunar Space Station.
AlMarri was instrumental in the UAE Astronaut Programme, shaping its strategy and objectives, and leading the selection process of astronauts. Under his guidance, MBRSC has advanced in satellite technology through the UAE Satellite Programme, developing multiple satellites, and spearheading the Emirates Mars Mission and Emirates Lunar Mission.
He played a key role in establishing the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) in 2006, which merged with MBRSC in 2015. AlMarri also initiated the Knowledge Transfer Programme with the Satrec Initiative of South Korea.
Prior to becoming the Director General, AlMarri held several crucial roles, including Project Manager for DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, Head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, and Deputy Director General at MBRSC. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics and has fostered collaborations with leading space agencies, including NASA, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, and CNES.
AlMarri’s leadership was vital in winning the rights to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2021 and SpaceOps 2023 in Dubai. He successfully led the organising committee for the IAC in 2021, marking the first time the event was held in an Arab nation.
Awarded the Exceptional Public Service Medal from NASA and the UAE Pioneers Award, AlMarri has represented the UAE at international conferences and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPOUS). He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer network engineering from the Higher Colleges of Technology Dubai.
Salem Almarri
Director General, Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
More information available shortly.
Vanessa Cravo
Senior Expert in Cybersecurity, ANATEL Brazil
Ed Kruzins Professor of Space Communications and Tracking University of New South Wales
(UNSW) Canberra Space is a member of the National Council of Space Engineering, member
of Standards Australia, Honorary Fellow of the Australian Federal Science Agency (CSIRO)
and Adj/Professor University of Adelaide. He has worked in Industry, Government and
International space arenas.
Ed was Director 2012-21 of the NASA-JPL/CSIRO Canberra Deep Space Communications
Complex CDSCC in Canberra, tracking 40 international space exploration missions. He is a
member of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group of 27 Space Agencies
collaborating in Lunar and Mars exploration promoting Australian engagement.
As Systems Engineering Manager Raytheon 2004-06 at CDSCC Tidbinbilla, he provided
ground station capability for key space missions including Cassini, Huygens/Titan, Mars &
Lunar Orbiter, Curiosity Rover and the Voyager spacecraft. He holds practical experience in
ground station and spaceflight operations. Ed began his working career in Europe with
BAE/Matra/Marconi Space Systems building commercial satellites Olympus1, Inmarsat2,
Telecom2 and Skynet4. With the European Union his team provided the first study work on
the Galileo navigation constellation.
Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, graduate of the UNSW Business
School and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, his space background
spans over several decades and continents.
Ed Kruzins
Professor, UNSW Canberra
Ali H. Sayed
Dean of Engineering, EPFL
Peng serves as the Vice-President of Policy & Regulatory at GSOA, where he spearheads advocacy efforts in critical policy and regulatory domains, including spectrum management, market access, and national policy initiatives. With a rich background in the telecommunications sector and expertise across mobile and satellite industries, he’s been advising governments and telecom industry globally.
Before joining GSOA, Peng played a pivotal role at Eutelsat OneWeb in shaping international regulatory and policy frameworks, focusing on delivering satellite licensing structures to accommodate Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, and tailoring satellite regulatory procedure during WRC-23. Prior to this, at GSMA, Peng was responsible for the global campaign aimed at optimizing spectrum licensing conditions for mobile operators worldwide. He led a diverse team of policy experts across developing markets, engaging policymakers and regulators to advocate for industry best practices in telecom policy.
Peng holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunication from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne, complemented by an Executive MBA from the London Business School. Peng is fluent in English, Mandarin, and French.
Peng Zhao
Vice President, Policy & Regulatory, GSOA
He is a senior partner in the Middle East office of McKinsey & Company. He advises government and private clients on topics related to technology, transformation and economics. During the past decade, he has supported clients in more than 10 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has deep experience in helping public and private clients unlock value from the smart use of digital and analytics; improving how governments plan, budget and deliver against top priorities; and developing long-term and medium-term economic and fiscal strategies. He is passionate about helping governments drive positive change for their people and believes that the biggest unlock in coming years will be technology. In addition to his client work, he publishes and speaks at conferences on topics including resilience in government, digital transformation and excellence in customs and tax agencies. While he is a native English speaker, he is conversational in Arabic and has lived in the Middle East off and on for almost 20 years.
Tom Isherwood
Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
More information available shortly.
Fahad AlBeyahi
Digital Wellbeing Programme Lead Researcher, Aramco
Dr. Walid Mathlouthi received a PhD in Optics, Photonics and Lasers. He spent his early career at Optical Research Laboratories in France, Italy, Canada and the US with Intel Corp where he worked, among other things, on the first Raman silicon laser.
In 2010, he joined AT&T Labs in California as a Senior Member of Technical Staff. He worked mainly on data mining for complex Analysis/problem solving, Laboratory and field experimentation, 3G, 4G and LTE service quality and optimization, RF optimizations, Self-organizing Networks, Large scale UE data collection and analysis for actionable analytics and IP migrations such as VOLTE services.
In 2014, he joined Google Headquarters in Mountain View managing Global Network Architecture. He worked on building high quality networks to provide broadband connectivity in emergent markets and connect the under-connected. He also led Google Global Data Centre design to support cloud services deployments (compute, storage, ML Pods and AI infrastructure).
In 2021, Dr. Walid Mathlouthi began to work for ITU as the head the Future Networks and Spectrum Management division leading various projects to leverage technologies such as satellite and AI to support economic growth in developing countries and help bridge the digital gap.
Walid Mathlouthi
Head of Future Networks & Spectrum Management, ITU
Ian Jones is an engineer and entrepreneur with a career spent developing the satellite ground segment. His activities span designing the first digital modems for space communications to leading the re-birth of Goonhilly, and establishing the company as the world’s first private Deep Space Communication operator.
Goonhilly has helped to command and monitor over 30 different Deep Space and Lunar missions for ESA, NASA, JAXA, ISRO and a number of private companies.
Ian’s new venture, Ibbynet, is looking at the global ground segment market including all earth orbits as well as options for helping grow the lunar economy and beyond.
He was awarded the OBE for ‘Services to Space Communications’ in King Charles’s 2024 Birthday Honours List.
Ian Jones
Director, Ibbynet; Founder, Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd
Xavier Lobao holds a Master in Telecommunication Engineering by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) a Master in Business Administration (MBA) by the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) and is a graduate from the International Space University (ISU) Summer Session Programme.
He has 35+ years of experience in the space sector, primarily in satellite telecommunications. Since 2000 he is working in the European Space Agency (ESA), where he is Head of the Future Telecom Programmes Division in the Connectivity and Secure Communication Directorate. Current focus areas are the integration of satellite in telecommunication networks (TN/NTN integration), D2D (Direct-to-Device) communications, the role of satellite in 5G/6G, in spectrum sustainability, in the future quantum information networks, communications on the Moon, cislunar orbit and beyond towards the Internet of the Solar System.
Xavier Lobao Pujolar
Head of Future Projects Division, ESA
Mohammad Khiami received his bachelor of science degree with honors in Computer Engineering and master’s degree in Computer Networks from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in 2020 and 2024 respectively. He started his career as a Network Engineer at Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) then he joined Saudi Aramco as a Communication Engineer with experience in designing and operating robust IT infrastructures and solutions.
Mohammad Khiami
Information Technology Solutions Engineer, Aramco
Garnet Mons, a seasoned leader in the aerospace industry, serves as the General Manager of Kratos Arabia Ltd and Business Development Executive for Kratos Space, spearheading the company’s strategic expansion across the Saudi Arabian and GCC markets. With nearly a decade of hands-on experience within the dynamic Saudi Space sector, Garnet has been a key player in pivotal Defense and Commercial space programs, witnessing firsthand the remarkable transformation taking place in the Kingdom.
His deep understanding of the local market, coupled with his extensive technical expertise, has been instrumental in fostering strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, and private sector entities. Garnet’s strategic acumen and entrepreneurial spirit have enabled him to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities, driving innovation and growth for Kratos in the region.
Beyond his managerial responsibilities, Garnet is a passionate advocate for the space industry and its potential to address global challenges. He actively contributes to industry forums and conferences, sharing his insights on the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of space. His commitment to excellence and his dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration have made him a respected figure in the Saudi space community.
Garnet Mons
Director of Business Development, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Fahad Alghamdi is an accomplished expert in satellite regulations and space services, with extensive experience in international frequency coordination and spectrum management. As Satellite expert at the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST), Fahad plays a pivotal role in shaping satellite policy and ensuring regulatory compliance for national and international satellite initiatives. He is the Chairman of multiple strategic groups, including the Radiocommunication Advisory Group Correspondence Group (CG) in the ITU-R and the Arab Spectrum Management Group’s Working Group on Mobile Satellite Services.
Fahad Alghamdi
Satellite Expert, Communications, Space & Technology Commission
Zeina Mokaddem is VP Regulatory and Market Access at Viasat. Throughout her career she successfully championed and introduced a number of pioneering communication technologies globally and in the Middle East and North Africa in particular.
Prior to working for Viasat, Ms Mokaddem worked as a consultant for several international communication players assisting them in opening new markets and shaping favorable regulatory frameworks in different jurisdictions.
Ms Mokaddem has an MSc in Engineering Management from the American University.
Zeina Mokaddem
Vice President, Regulatory and Market Access, Viasat
Barnaby has been in the telecom industry for over 30 years working on early telematics and leading edge solutions in the enterprise mobile operator industry.
Moving to Viasat over five years ago Barnaby continues to innovate in IOT and solution based selling.
A real advocate of ecosystem partners to support the outcome customers need and the value they bring.
Currently delivering use cases for direct to device and exciting opportunities this offers customers, ecosystem partners, MNOs and satellite providers
Barnaby Atkinson
Head of Enterprise Sales Europe, Viasat
More information available shortly.
Omar Alsalik
Director, Radio Spectrum, Communications, Space & Technology Commission
Juha Korhonen is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications and technology industries. He has held several prominent C-level roles, including Group Director of Digital and Innovation at Zain Group and Chief Commercial Officer at both Zain Saudi Arabiya and Wataniya Telecom in Kuwait. Currently, Juha serves as is Vice President of Infrastructure at TONOMUS, the tech and digital subsidiary of NEOM. He was previously a Senior Director and Advisor at Gartner.
Renowned for his ability to drive revenue growth, revitalize underperforming businesses, and capture market share in highly competitive environments, Juha has a proven track record of transformative leadership. In Saudi Arabia, he spearheaded the creation, launch and operation of a fully digital operator, B-Brand. Before that, he led the implementation of a group-wide API program across six operating companies, enabling expansion into new verticals.
Juha holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Computer Science and Telecommunications from the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. He is from Flemington New Jersey, USA, and is married with three children.
Juha Korhonen
VP of Infrastructure, TONOMUS
Sakher has over 15 years’ experience in the satcom industry with comprehensive knowledge of key entities in the region. Leading sales & business development initiatives in the MEA, Central Asia & Turkey regions, with expertise in defense, maritime, and land mobility sectors for driving growth and expanding multi-orbit constellation networks. Strategic planning and a focus on achieving objectives within the dynamic GEO & LEO satellite sectors, exemplary development of regional partnerships and driving application-based demand.
Sakher Alshraideh
VP of Sales & Business Development, Kymeta Corporation
Mr Omar Qaise is the founder and CEO of OQ TECHNOLOGY, a NewSpace customer focused startup which is building a global 5G LEO satellite constellation dedicated for “Internet-of-Things” communication that can provide connectivity anywhere, especially in remote and rural areas
Mr Qaise brings tremendous experience and heritage to his venture as he worked many years in different organizations and enterprises in the satellite and telecommunication industry (European Space Agency (ESA), German Aerospace Centre (DLR), O3b, OHB SYSTEMS, EUMETSAT) by working on missions ranging from Low-Earth Orbit observation and telecommunication satellites and GEO giant satellites to far deep space missions such as the spacecrafts Herschel and Planck. Most recently was with SES Satellites, the world’s largest GEO broadcast satellite operator, where he had responsibility for Satcom sales and business development in regions such as the Middle East and Africa especially in M2M and Oil and Gas. He became fascinated with the possibilities of the IoT technology as a low cost product filling a market gap. Mr Qaise brings extensive customer connections and knowledge of competing Satcom systems and 5G, as well as being the chief architecture of the concept.
Omar Qaise
Founder & CEO, OQ Technology
Abdulaziz Bin Hussain
Spectrum Senior Team Lead, CST
Strategic leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth and innovation in multinational telecom and IT organizations. Recognized for leading cross-functional teams, managing multi-million-dollar engagements, and delivering transformative solutions for service providers and enterprise clients. A results-driven business partner with proven expertise in strategic sales, business development, and operational excellence. Accomplished in building sustainable partnerships, driving market penetration, and cultivating a culture of innovation and growth.
Mohamed Zahran
Head of Sales and Business Development, OneWeb NEOM JV
A spectrum management professional with extensive experience in research and regulatory domains. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from King Saud University, in which he acquired a strong foundation in technical and analytical skills. Abdulaziz began his professional journey in the R&D sector, focusing on emerging technologies, before transitioning to a governmental commission, where he currently serves as a Team Lead at CST. His expertise in spectrum management is instrumental in driving innovative solutions and ensuring the efficient utilization of spectrum resources to support the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving communication needs.
Abdulaziz E. AlJuaid
Spectrum Team Lead, CST
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Connecting the World from the Skies returns to Riyadh on 12–14 October 2026, as part of the Global Space Connectivity & Sustainability Events — a new initiative from CST Saudi Arabia and the ITU, also incorporating the Space Sustainability Forum.