SGAC Announces Two New Directors of the US Board 

The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) is delighted to announce the addition of two new members to the SGAC US Board of Directors:

  • Jade Tran

  • Pete Worden

Since its establishment in 2001, SGAC’s 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, registered in the USA, has played a crucial role in supporting SGAC’s operations within and from the United States. Recently, SGAC has implemented updates to its governance structure, enhancing the framework of the US Entity’s Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors now comprises the SGAC Chairs, Joshua Critchley-Marrows and Sapna Rao , along with the incoming Class A Directors who will contribute to the strategic management of the US Entity.

The inclusion of these two outstanding individuals represents a significant milestone for SGAC’s US governance and operations. Their expertise and leadership will be instrumental as SGAC embarks on ambitious initiatives, including the establishment of an endowment fund to ensure the organisation’s long-term growth and sustainability.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our new Board members and look forward to the transformative impact they will have on SGAC’s mission and future.

About the US Board Members and Class A Directors

Jade Tran

Jade is passionate about supporting connecting high-achieving innovators with the resources they need to scale and grow. Currently, she is an SVP in Banc of California’s Venture Banking group, working with venture-backed technology companies at all stages, with a focus on Southern California. Prior to joining the bank, she led Culture at Honey (acquired by PayPal in 2019), and a consultant to various SoCal and Silicon Valley venture funds, simultaneously expanding their brand reach, and addressing their portfolios’ unique needs.  In addition to her work, Jade serves on the NextGen board of United Friends of the Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting foster youth in LA County. She sits on the selection committee for the SoCal Venture Pipeline, is a delegate of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue’s Young Leaders Dialogue program, and was named one of LA Times’ 2024 Inspirational Women. Jade holds a B.A., and M.A. in History of Art from The Ohio State University, focusing on art history and material culture, and enjoys surfing and spending time with her rescue dog, Cricket.
 

Pete Worden

Simon Peter “Pete” Worden, (Brig Gen, USAF, Ret, PhD) is the Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and Executive Director of the foundation’s ‘Breakthrough Initiatives’. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. Prior to joining the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Dr. Worden was Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center until retiring on March 31, 2015. He held several positions in the United States Air Force and was research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona. Dr. Worden has authored or co-authored over 150 scientific papers. On July 20, 2015 at the Royal Society in London, UK, Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking launched the Breakthrough Initiatives. At the press conference, Dr. Worden was introduced as the Chairman for the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In this capacity he also leads the Breakthrough Initiatives as its Executive Director. From 2017 to the present, Brigadier General Worden has been an Advisor to the Luxembourg Space Agency and was appointed as a Knight-Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 2018 for his space services.

More information about SGAC’s US governance can be found on this webpage