Mentoring Programme

Cesare Tamburi

Graduate in aerospace engineering and master student in mechatronic engineering. I wish to create a network to make space more accessible to everyone.

Laura Morelli

Law & IR undergraduate student, currently studying a double career in Spain and wishing to specialize in Space Law & Policy. I wish to encourage the strengthening of links within the space sector, in order to enhance international space policy.

Matteo Zambon

I am a Space Engineering graduate, currently working as a systems engineer for flight simulators. I have a deep interest in all the opportunities Space has to offer, and I believe that involving a broader audience in Space-related activities will be necessary to face most of our future challenges.

Natascia Arcifa

Legal and communication counsel. Interested in Human Rights and Law-Innovation with a focus on AI. I wish to promote a space policy based on the objectives of security, justice and freedom.

Gabriel Lazazzara

I am a graduate student in International Relations currently specializing in Space Policy. I wish to foster collaboration between space enthusiasts, dreamers and experts to harness their full potential in shaping the European space sector.

Marcello Graziano

Developer interested in technology and space. It’s time to shape the Space economy and exploit its potential.

Annamaria Nassisi

Master degree in Physics and Geophysics at the University “La Sapienza” in Rome (Italy) and collaboration with the university as Research Fellow for the study on thermodynamic irreversible processes applied to the temporal evolution of bradyseism. In 1986, joined a software system company (GEPIN) as software analyst and commercial responsible of new hardware/software integrated products.
In 1989, joined Selenia Spazio (today Thales Alenia Space) by starting the space experience as System Engineer for Earth Observation’s (EO) Space System for Military/Civil customers and spanning wide responsibilities as Project Manager, Ground Segment Chief Designer, Navigation Project Manager, EO Programs Manager for Institutional Customers (ESA, EUMETSAT, EC, EDA, ASI, MIUR) and Head of EO Data Exploitation Engineering Unit.
In 2002, for the recognised ability of intimacy with the customers, changing to Commercial Department as Earth Observation Business Development Manager reporting to the Vice President as worldwide interface for EO export market and Head of the Defence Marketing mainly focused on Military TLC (SICRAL).
In 2004, after the joint venture with Alcatel (Thales later), changing as Deputy of Bid Unit and Head of the New Initiative Development and Program Manager for Remote Sensing Department. In 2010, changing to Institutional Customer and Business Development JV Department as Manager of Business Development Initiative for Security.
In 2013, based on the large experience, changing to management activities and responsible of OEN (Observation, Exploration and Navigation) Strategic Business Plan coordination as Operational Support reporting to CEO TAS Italy. Later on also Manager of Market Intelligence Unit and EURASIA Area Export Manager.
In 2017, after internal organisation, changing to M&S Department as Manager Strategic Marketing Observation, Exploration and Navigation until the current position of Manager Space Economy Observation and Navigation.
She has actively worked in more National and European working groups/forum as member and/or chairperson on different thematic matter such the European Pillars GMES (today COPERNICUS), Security, SSA (Space Situational Awareness) and Space Policy. Appointed as expert in numerous National and European Working Group such as: Italian GMES Steering Group, Chair of Thematic Area Surveillance for S-IMG (Security Industrial Management Group), Chair of Security Thematic Area for SPIN-IT (Italian Space Platform) and for SERIT (National Security Platform) and participation to Finmeccanica (today Leonardo) Security Community and space export opportunity for AIAD (Defence
Industry Association).
Today, Member of COPERNICUS National User Forum and National Committee for GGIM (Global Geospatial Information Management) as EO expert. Member of IAF (International Astronautical Federation) for Security Committee and Earth Observation & GEOSS Committee, Member of IAA (International Academic of Astronautics) for Space Debris Permanent Committee. Authored several technical/scientific papers and mentor of young people with a Master Degree in political, economic, law science and business schools to introduce them in the space arena.

Free Lecturer for International Master on Capacity Building in Astronautics for “La Sapienza University” DIAEE (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Astronautica Elettrica ed Energetica) with a module of 12 hours. From the beginning of her career she always supported gender diversity actions by promoting a female role model and she was member since 2016 of Women In Aerospace Europe (WIA-E) association and point of contact for Thales Alenia Space (WIA-E Platinum Corporate), later on Director of Communication and WIA-E Chair. Today, Co-leader of the Rome Local Group to be closer to the members and new generation. She is also member of the BPW (Business Professional Women) Italy, to represent the space sector, and she received in 2018 an award as Recognised Leader.

Antonio Scannapieco

Antonio Scannapieco holds an MSc (2013) in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD (2017) in Industrial Engineering awarded by University of Napoli “Federico II”, Italy. His main areas of research are Aerospace Systems, Remote Sensing, and Autonomous Systems. During his career, he joined Fraunhofer FHR as Visiting Research Student (2016) and served at Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) as Post-Doc Research Fellow in Navigation and Guidance (2017) and as Visiting Researcher (2019). While at CDS, Antonio was highly involved in the H2020 Integrated 3D Sensor Suite (I3DS) project and with DSTL. Antonio was also the Rapporteur in the “Highly Integrated Distributed Systems” session at IAC 2018. After the academic experience, he worked in the field of Autonomous Driving at Stellantis (2019) and now deals with Urban Air Mobility. His keen interest in the space sector led Antonio to Space Generation Advisory Council in 2015. During the years, he was more and more involved in the organization, being in the Organizing Team of the First Italian Space Startup Competition (ISSC) and Event Manager for the NSE SpaceGen Track (2019), the Second ISSC Edition (2020) and the NSE-SGAC Webinar (2020), as well as being involved in the activities of some Project Groups. Antonio also holds the role of SGAC National Point of Contact for Italy since 2020, together with Aureliano Rivolta.

Rami Ibrahim

Rami Ibrahim is Founder of Orbofleet, Mentor at SGAC, and Chief Innovation Officer at Tod’Aers. He received the Master “degree” of Science in Space Studies from the International Space University in Strasbourg, France in 2018. He received the Bachelor degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Amman Al-Ahliyya University in Amman, Kingdom of Jordan in 2007. He has around 13 years of experience in the Satellite filed, space and ground segments. Working as Director at Orbofleet Space Co. in Strasbourg, France since 2019. He has also worked with SES Satellites under the department of the Satellite Systems Performance and Engineering in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2018. He has worked as Business Development and Project Manager, Satellite Communications at Saudi Net Link Co. in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from 2013-2018 and with the Satellite Support Group at Saudi Aramco Company, the Oil/Gas and Maritime sector. Also, he has worked as Satellite Uplink Engineer with the Radio and Television Co. in the field of Satellite TV Broadcasting from 2007-2010.

Jean-Jacques Tortora

Since June 1, 2016 Jean-Jacques Tortora serves as the Director of the European Space Policy Institute.
From 2007 to mid 2016 he was the Secretary General of ASD-Eurospace, which is the trade association of the European Space Industry.
From 2004 to mid 2007, he was head of the French Space Agency (CNES) office in North America and the Attaché for Space and Aeronautics at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.
Previously he was Deputy Director for Strategy and Programs, responsible for the Industrial Strategy of CNES, the French Space Agency. Prior to that position, he was France’s representative in the ESA Industrial Policy Committee and
Joint Communication Board.
From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Tortora was adviser to the French Ministry of Research for Industrial Policy Funds management, aiming at industry competitiveness support and new space applications and services development and promotion.
From 1996 to 1998, he was appointed by Arianespace in Evry, France, to lead a risk mitigation and cost reduction plan covering to the end of operational life of the Ariane 4 launcher.
From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Tortora was based in Kourou, French Guiana, as Head of Arianespace Operations Quality Department. There, he led the Quality Management of the Ariane 4 launchers final integration and of the launch pad operations and maintenance. He supervised the industrialization and the implementation of the associated control plans.
Mr. Tortora started his career in 1984 at the French military procurement agency, DGA, as a naval weapons integration and test engineer, expert in signal processing and warships acoustic discretion.

Omkar Nikam

Omkar Nikam is an independent space and satellite consultant based in Strasbourg, France. As one of the leading satellite experts in the European market, Omkar specializes in providing market research, analysis, and consulting services for several upstream and downstream space/satellite companies. Omkar also manages an online research and analysis portal, Access Hub, providing a critical analysis on the current developments in the space and defence industry. In his decade long career path, Omkar has spearheaded extensive consulting and market research projects for European and American companies. As an independent professional, he consistently manages upstream satellite communications market studies report for private enterprises with an emphasis on European, Latin American, African, and Asian satellite market. Simultaneously, with a strong foothold in technology and business journalism, Omkar also provides an extensive editorial and communication services for the space/satellite companies. He can be reached at: www.oknikam.eu

Mattia Pianorsi

Mattia is a Researcher at SDA Bocconi School of Management. His collaboration with SDA Bocconi began in 2015 where he has been involved in applied research projects for corporate and financial institutions. He has dealt with risk management topics deepening the analysis of risk valuation models. He is teaching coordinator of national and international custom programs for senior executives. Currently, Mattia is the teaching assistant of Financial Management and Corporate Banking, Financial Management and Financial Markets, and Structured and Project Finance courses at Bocconi University. He was also academic tutor of the CEMS (the Global Alliance in Management Education) project work for ESA (European Space Agency). Since 2018, he has been working as permanent researcher at SEE Lab (Space Economy Evolution Laboratory), a multidisciplinary research lab of the SDA Bocconi School of Management focused on the analysis of the space industry. Within the SEE Lab, Mattia has enlarged his academic interests addressing venture capital investments and start-up development with the main objective to create an innovation program for space endeavors. At the same time, he studies Public-Private Partnership models from a financial perspective to better address issues derived from space exploration programs. Many of the activities he is involved in are available on the SEE Lab website (https://www.sdabocconi.it/seelab). Now, he is carrying out research on Moon mining economic sustainability with a first publication as a co-author. (Sommariva, A., Chizzolini, B., Gori, L., Pianorsi, M. (2020). The economics of moon mining. Acta Astronautica). In 2015, he was appointed as project supervision at Cuora Consulting, a non-profit management consultancy (a Bocconi University student association) offering pro-bono consulting services to non-profit organizations focused on developing a better community. Mattia obtained an MSc in Management in Bocconi in 2014. He attended the Executive Management Program in Banking in 2015 and the Teaching Excellence Program in 2017, both at SDA Bocconi. He is a PhD candidate at University of St. Gallen.

Victoria Carter-Cortez

Victoria Carter-Cortez is an astrophysicist and aspiring space policymaker. She currently works as a consultant at PwC’s Space Practice where she is actively involved in projects that support both the public and private sector in decision-making, space policy development, and carrying out economic impact assessments. Prior to this, Victoria was working at the European Space Agency’s Washington D.C. Office as part of ESA’s External Relations Department. There, she analysed developments from key space actors and worked to strengthen international partnerships across the Atlantic. Victoria carried out her Master’s degree at University College London where, in partnership with the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, she investigated Jupiter’s X-ray auroral activity. Opening opportunities in STEM, particularly for women, is close to Victoria’s heart. To this end, she has worked as an academic mentor internationally, sharing her passion for space and delivering interactive courses to engage and inspire the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

Martina Lofqvist

Based in Stockholm Sweden, Martina Lofqvist is a business developer and researcher with a background in computer science and business management. She is currently conducting research at the University of Glasgow on ways to optimize data processing in space for object detection in satellite imagery. She is also involved with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in the position of Assistant Treasurer where she manages the SGAC Incubator Program, supporting projects through funding and mentorship globally. Additionally, she recently worked as a Solutions Architect at Momentus, an in-space transportation services company, where she managed sales in the EMEA region.

Hady Milani

Hady considers himself a true explorer, always seeking to discover more and acquire new knowledge.
He is currently involved as a suborbital scientist astronaut candidate, and as a faculty member at the European Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, being also the director of the Space Entrepreneurship program, Rome Business School and LUISS summer course.
Hady is a space engineer and had the privilege to take part in numerous space related projects collaborating also with German Space Agency (DLR), NASA, European Space Agency (ESA) and Russian Academy of Cosmonautics.
He has been honoured with several awards including being recognized as the best young researcher by the European Space Agency (ESA) and listed among Forbes30 under 30 Europe.
Since 2015 he has been following the growth of the New Space Economy in Europe, being directly involved with it. Hady is also an SGAC member doing space advocacy, in support of the United Nations and was the former co-Lead of the Space Exploration Project Group.

Stefano Piccin

Graduating in physics at the University of Trento. I have an unbridled and rather senseless passion for elevators. I am an avid and pathological reader and collector of books. Founder of astrospace.it

Vladimir Pletser

Vladimir Pletser earned a Master of Engineering in Mechanics in 1979, a Master of Sciences in Geophysics in 1980 and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics in 1990 from the University of Louvain,
Belgium.
He is currently Director of Space Training Operations at Blue Abyss, a company based in UK, proposing a new approach for astronaut training. From 2016 to 2018, he was Visiting Professor – Scientific Adviser at the Technology and
Engineering Centre for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, supporting the preparation and development of microgravity research instrumentation for parabolic flights and for the future Chinese Space Station. Previously, he worked for 30 years as Senior Physicist – Engineer at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) of the European Space Agency (ESA), developing scientific instruments for microgravity research in fluid physics, crystallisation of proteins and zeolites and on dexterous manipulation on board the International Space Station.
He was also responsible of the ESA aircraft parabolic flight programme. He logged more than 7350 parabolas, representing more than 39h 30m of weightlessness, equivalent to 26 Earth orbits, and 53 min and 50 min at Mars and Moon g levels, during which he participated in several hundred experiments in physical and life sciences. He holds the official Guinness World Record for the number of airplanes (14) on which he flew parabolas. He served as Flight instructor for public Discovery Parabolic Flights.
Astronaut Candidate for Belgium since 1991, he was Payload Specialist candidate for several Spacelab missions, including Spacelab LMS for which he spent two months in training at NASA-JSC, Houston, in 1995. He was Astronaut Training Instructor for Parabolic Flights with ESA astronauts and for NASA and DLR astronauts for several Spacelab missions.
Selected in 2001 by The Mars Society, a private organisation promoting the human exploration of Mars, he participated in three international simulation campaigns of Mars missions in the Arctic Circle in 2001 and in the Desert of Utah in 2002 and as Crew Commander in 2009.
He is visiting Professor in 20 universities in Europe, USA, Canada, Africa, Israel, and China. He has more than 650 publications, including 6 books, 16 book chapters, 63 articles in refereed journals and 138 articles in international conferences proceedings.
He is member of the International Astronautical Academy and of several other academies and scientific organizations.

Andy Williams

Dr Andrew Williams is responsible for external relations at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) – an intergovernmental organisation of 16 Member States that constructs and operates world-leading astronomical facilities and fosters international cooperation. Dr Williams supports strategic relationships with current and future Member States, the EU, UN, and international organisations such as the ESA and CERN. He represents ESO at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and recently has been dealing with the policy aspects of the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy. He serves as ESO’s representative on the Executive Board of ATTRACT – a 55 Million Euro project to create a breakthrough technology innovation process using Big Science research facilities. Prior to ESO he worked for over a decade as senior policy advisor for NATO, with areas of expertise in strategic impact evaluation and the implications of future technologies. He began his career as a physicist for the UK government, and has a degree in theoretical physics and a doctorate in public policy.

Jean-Dominique Coste

Jean-Dominique is a Strategy Manager at Airbus, where he develops the future of its space and defence division.
Prior to that, he built up a solid career in space engineering and programmes with ESA, NASA, Airbus. Specializing in Human Spaceflight, he led projects for the International Space Station, prepared astronauts operations, and designed exploration missions for future lunar habitat.
Beyond the space scope, he led innovation projects for Airbus, founded a tech startup, and did consulting work in Asia.
A curious mind who has lived abroad for the past 15 years, he will be glad to get to know you and support your journey.

Veronica Moronese

Dr. Veronica Moronese is a Space law researcher and theorist. She is member of the Scientific Committee of the Center for Near Space in the Italian Institute for the Future, and Lead Researcher for commercial space exploration at the International Academy of Space Law. She is also member of the Space Generation Advisory Council, in which she participates in the Space Law and Policy Project Group. In addition, she participates in the Lunar Commerce and Economy Project Group by Moon Village Association. Dr. Veronica Moronese focuses her research activity on the legal challenges related to the development of Space Economy, with particular attention to the sectors of commercial exploration, Space tourism, Space mining, and in general to the problematic recognition of private property in Space, to which she has dedicated several publications. Devoted to anticipation of legal challenges, she also focuses her studies on the legal and political issues that could arise in the hypothesis of establishing permanent human settlements in Space. In recognition of her effort to guarantee inclusion, equal opportunities and the respect of human rights in Space, she has been chosen as role model and mentor in the Space4Women project by UNOOSA for 2020 and 2021. Born in Caserta, Italy, in 1991, she has a Master’s degree in International Law obtained at the University of Verona, Italy, where she lives. She dedicated her research thesis to the competence of the European Union in aerospace matters, subject in which she was an absolute pioneer in said University. She promotes the knowledge of Space law to the public, aiming at bringing young people closer to Space-related professions and at disseminating the importance of Space law for a proper development of Space programs.

Giuliana Rotola

Giuliana Rotola is a research intern at the European Southern Observatory in External Relations and Science Policy Affairs, working on the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy, and a Summer Research Fellow at the Legal Priorities Project. She holds a joint bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Trento in Comparative, European, and Transnational Law and a Master of Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU). Before joining ISU, she conducted research at the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL – ESA) and in the Institut du Droit de l’Espace et des Télécommunications (IDEST), and worked at the Leuven Center for Global Governance Studies. Giuliana is also a research fellow at the Open Lunar Foundation, a 2020 Fellow in Space Studies at the Foresight Institute, and a member of the Legal Council of For All Moonkind. Within Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), she serves as Space Law and Policy Project Group Co-Lead, as an advisor to the Task Force on U.S. Space Legislation, as Co-lead of the Satellite Constellations team for the Space Safety and Sustainability Project Group, and she is a member of the SGAC E.A.G.L.E. Action Team on effective and adaptive governance for a lunar ecosystem.

Clelia Iacomino

Clelia Iacomino is a Junior Research Fellow of Knowledge of Business Government Relations at SDA Bocconi School of Management that joined in 2018. She is also researcher at SEE Lab (Space Economy Evolution Lab) in policy impact analysis, market analysis and international business strategy. At SDA Bocconi she has been interested in organizing workshops, webinars and international conferences. She participated in a series of international conferences such as: IAC (International Astronautical Congress), Economics of space debris workshop at CODER and Summit for Space Sustainability. She also coordinated numerous research projects for space agencies, space and non-space industries and international organizations. She took part and coordinated to several training activities in the field of space economy, space policy and governance, satellite services (focus on: Telecommunication, Earth observation), evolution of technological trends and business strategies of space industries at an international level. She teaches in both Italian and in English in master, university courses and MBA. Her research activities focus on: the impact of satellites services on demand side ( such as: agriculture, transportations, energy, insurance and telecommunications), technological trends regarding the on-orbit servicing, the impact of policy on corporate and international business strategy, space governance and european market fragmentation,knowledge sharing for innovation in a complex ecosystem, policy and business issues regarding the activities of Moon mining, economic theory applied to space debris scenarios and the role of the industries and public sectors of the sustainalibity of the Low Earth Orbit. She is author of books and articles on space sector. Her works have been published in Il Sole 24 Ore, Airpress, Springer Books, Springer Brief in applied Sciences and Technologies and International Astronautical Congress. She has contributes to the Springer Book "Europe and the Global Space Economy – Institutional Challenges and Policy Solutions", analysing policies and space economy programs of major space faring nations, particularly the Unites States and the present institutional set up in Europe. Clelia earned a MSc Degree in in Political Science – International Relations from La Sapienza University and a Master in Space Institutions and Policies at SIOI (Italian Society for International Organisation), Rome. She is currently PhD Candidate in Management & Innovation at Catholic University of Milan.

Arianna Ricchiuti

Born in 1994 in Italy, Arianna Ricchiuti is Editor of EJR-Quartz for the European Space Agency, working at ESA ESTEC Communication Office in Noordwijk (Netherlands), where she is responsible for internal communications and events. Prior to this role, Arianna had been working for many years as a Planetarium Presenter and Outreach Officer at the Planetarium of Bari (Italy), creating and hosting shows and astronomical observations for schools and general public. Arianna has also been speaker at many astrobiology congresses and festivals all over Europe. Her commitment towards science communication brought her different awards: from the victory in the 2016 national final of FameLab Italia, worldwide competition about science communication, to the 2020 Space Factor Award from EANA, the European Astrobiology Network Association. Arianna holds a Bachelor in Biology from the University of Bari and a Master in Science Communication from SISSA, Trieste. In her free time she enjoys writing for PLaNCK, an Italian science magazine for kids, drawing and playing chess.

Antonino Salmeri

Antonino Salmeri is an Italian space lawyer specialized in lunar governance and space resource activities. Since 2019, Antonino works as doctoral researcher in space law at the University of Luxembourg, where he is pursuing a PhD on the regulatory and enforcement aspects of space mining under the supervision of Prof. Mahulena Hofmann and with the support of the Luxembourgish National Research Fund (FNR) (PRIDE17/12251371). Antonino is a qualified attorney registered at the Italian BAR and holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Catania, an LL.M. in Law and Governance of the European Union from the LUISS University and an Advanced LL.M. in Air and Space Law from the University of Leiden, all obtained with the distinction of cum laude. Within the space community Antonino currently holds the following positions: – Member of Space Generation Advisory Council, where he leads the E.A.G.L.E. Action Team on Lunar Governance as well as the Space Exploration Project Group; – Member of the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), where he co- chairs the specialized group on information sharing; – SSP19 Graduate and Individual Governing Member of the International Space University, where he also served as first Mentorship Coordinator of an ISU Program; – Member of the Space Habitats Committee at the International Astronautical Federation; – Member of the International Institute of Space Law, where he serves as Global Outreach Manager for the Knowledge Constellation project; – Member of the Moon Village Association, where he co-chairs the specialized group on lunar registration; – Chair of the International Agreements Committee for the Space Law Library project of the Space Court Foundation.

Andrea Bennetti

I am an experienced corporate leader, proven entrepreneur and startup Advisor. I advise and operate in growth-oriented, technology, services and engineering start-ups, as well as corporate organisations (as a strategic Adviser). I started-up, co-owned (and/or co-founded) internationally established businesses across Europe (and US) in Tech, Engineering, Services and HR. My true passion is growing business, working with founders (and/or corporate innovators) and their teams, and supporting them in engaging with clients and investors. I like to see a business move from planning through a journey of disciplined entrepreneurship. I especially enjoy when the goal is to quickly find product-market-fit for ambitious products, services and commercial offerings that result in demonstrably scalable, rapid and sustained revenue growth from satisfied clients. I am always interested to hear about and support ambitious Space, Defence and Tech business ventures and projects as an advisor, board member and occasionally as a pre-seed/seed-money Investor.

Ivan Sumelzo

Ivan Sumelzo is an Attitude and Orbit Control Engineer at Thales Alenia Space, with 5 years of experience working on the development of future telecommunications satellite platforms. Prior to that, he worked as Flight Dynamics Engineer at the French Space Agency (CNES), conducting preliminary analysis of interplanetary trajectories and developing mission analysis tools that were intensively used in important European missions: Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and GALILEO phasing and rendezvous scenarios. Passionate about space, he is an active member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and participates also as a mentor in the ALAE program (to support young aeronautical engineering students in their early career development at his former university – UPC BarcelonaTech-ETSEIAT).

PJ Blount

Dr P.J. Blount (Ph.D., M.S., Global Affairs, Rutgers University; LL.M., King’s College London; J.D., University of Mississippi; B.A./A.B.J., University of Luxembourg) is a Research Fellow in Cybersecurity Governance and Regulation at SES and the University of Luxembourg. This position is funded by a generous grant from the Luxembourg national research fund. He also serves as an adjunct professor for the LL.M. in the Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, and in the fall of 2017, he was a Visiting Scholar at the Beijing Institute of Technology School of Law. Blount’s primary research areas are legal issues related to Space Security and Cyberspace Governance. He has published and presented widely on the topic of Space Security Law and has given expert testimony on Space Traffic Management before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Space. Blount serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings of the IISL, and was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Space Law. He is the Executive Secretary of the International Institute of Space Law and a licensed attorney in the State Bar of Georgia (USA).

Piero Messina

Piero Messina, born in 1964 in Florence, Italy, is a senior policy & strategy officer in the ESA Director General’s Cabinet. He is in charge of relations with Member States and has been working on several strategic cross-cutting projects such as space resources (e.g. space mining, in-orbit economy), the Moon Village vision as well as on enhancing the nexus between space systems and the maritime domain.
Piero has been working at the European Space Agency for over 30 years in several positions and in different ESA Centres (ESOC, Germany, ESTEC, The Netherlands and HQ in Paris). Before holding the present position he was, for several years, chief of staff / advisor to successive ESA Directors of human spaceflight and space exploration. Previously he was part of the managing team of the Aurora European Exploration Programme and the Secretary of its Board of participating Member States.
Holding an advanced degree in International Economic Relations (Political Science) from the University of Florence, Piero graduated from the 4 th Master in Space Studies (1998-1999) from the International Space Universities (Strasbourg) where he had Adjunct Faculty position. In 2004 he was Adelaide SSP TP Co-Chair for “Lunares”. He holds a Master in History and Sociology of Science and Technology from the École des Hautes Études en Science Sociales (EHESS) in Paris where is also pursuing a PhD focussing on the concept of space diplomacy. He is an auditeur of the French Institut des Hautes Études de Defense Nationale (IHEDN) having completed its 4th national session.

Marco Aliberti

Marco Aliberti works as Senior Associate Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria, where he has carried out and published a number of research projects in the areas of access to space and human spaceflight, governance and International Relations of space, and Asia’s space programmes, particularly those of China, Japan and India. He is also a co-founder and member of the Space Power and Policy Applied Research Consortium (SPPARC) at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Prior to joining ESPI in October 2012, he had positions consistent with his academic background in East Asian Studies. Mr Aliberti graduated in Oriental Languages and Cultures at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, and obtained an Executive Master in International Relations from the Italian Diplomatic Academy (SIOI) in Rome. He also completed a master course in Space Policy and Institutions with the Italian Space Agency and the National Research Council as well as Security Studies at the Institute of Global Studies – School of Government, also in Rome. He is the author of five books on space policy.