Current Advisory Board Members

SGAC’s Advisory Board is designed to give strategic direction and advice to SGAC in order to help guide the organisation in its fulfillment of its goals and objectives. It provides comment substantively on the work of the organisation and suggests ways in which to improve its functions and its engagement. The board is composed of twelve board members, each of whom serves for a one-year term. Our Advisory Board members are influential members of the international space community who have been strong supporters of the goals of SGAC and of the organisation itself.

Members in alphabetical order:

Abimbola H. Alale Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)
Andrea Jaime Business Development Manager at OHB System
Clayton Mowry Sales, Marketing & Customer Experience, Blue Origin
Danielle Wood Assistant Professor in the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Fatma Ali AlSumatti Officer – ST Planning & Follow up Section, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC)
Jonathan Hung President and Founder of the Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA)
Kai-Uwe Schrogl Chief Strategy Officer of the European Space Agency; President of the International Institute of Space Law
Miglena Zhekova Project Manager at SMG Aerospace
Nobu Okada Founder and CEO, Astroscale
Pablo Gabriel de León  Director of the Human Spaceflight Laboratory at the University of North Dakota (UND)
Reinhold Ewald Professor of Astronautics and Space Stations, University of Stuttgart; Pre-2009 ESA Astronaut
Steve Eisenhart Senior Vice President – Strategic & International Affairs, Space Foundation
Valanathan (Val) Munsami CEO, South African National Space Agency

Abimbola H. Alale

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)

Abimbola H. Alale is currently serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Abuja, Nigeria. She holds a postgraduate degree in Space Studies and an MBA degree from the International Space University, Strasbourg, France. A current Ph.D. student of Peace, Security &Strategic Studies at the Institute of Governance & Development Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. For over seventeen years, she has pursued an active career in the Space Sector, a career that began at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) where, as the Assistant Project Manager she was part of the team that championed the manufacture and launch of the first sub- Saharan African communication satellite, NigComSat-1 in May 2007. Abimbola Alale actively worked on some national priority projects such as the NigComSat-1, NigComSat-1R projects and the establishment of a National Direct-to-Home Digital Transmission Centre. She is presently driving the full commercialization of NIGCOMSAT Ltd.

Andrea Jaime

Business Development Manager at OHB System

Andrea Jaime Albalat (Andrea Jaime) is a Spanish aerospace engineer that was born in Onda, Spain. She earned in 2007 a double undergrad- uate degree in both Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), in Barcelona. During these studies, she spent one year at the North East of Wales Institute (NEWI) in the United Kingdom. In 2010, Andrea earned her masters in Aero- space Science and Technology, also from UPC in Barcelona (2010). Additionally, Andrea is an alumni of the International Space University’s (ISU’s) Summer Studies Program (SSP) 2009 which was hosted by the NASA Ames Research Center in California, USA. Andrea also completed the CVA (Communauté des Villes Ariane) Summer School, hosted by Rome in 2011. She started her professional career working as part of the organisational committees of several work- shops and conferences including, ISU’s SSP 2008 in Barcelona. After, Andrea worked at the European Space Agency as a Young Graduate Trainee for a year. Based at ESTEC in the Netherlands she worked for the Human Spaceflight and Operations Directorate. In October 2011, she moved to Vienna to work as the Deputy Executive Director of SGAC, which lead her to become the Executive Director in July 2012. In 2015 she moved to Munich, Germany, and started working as Business Development Manager for OHB SE, in the domain of Human Spaceflight and Exploration. Andrea is an enthusiast of space exploration and strongly believes in the power of the space sector for the development and improvement of Earth.

Clayton Mowry

Sales, Marketing & Customer Experience, Blue Origin

Clayton Mowry has worked for over 20 years in the commercial launch and satellite sectors serving in government, as the leader of an industry trade association and as a senior executive for leading commercial launch services companies. Mr. Mowry joined Blue Origin in September 2016 to lead global sales and marketing for the innovative private company developing the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle and other technologies to enable commercial satellite and human space transportation. Mowry previously served for 15 years as the President and Chairman of Arianespace, Inc. As the head of the Arianespace’s U.S. subsidiary, he was responsible for managing the company’s sales, marketing, strategy, government relations and corporate communications activities.  Before joining Arianespace, Mr. Mowry served for six years as Executive Director at the Satellite Industry Association, a non-profit alliance of U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers and ground equipment suppliers.Prior to his role at SIA, he worked as a commercial space industry analyst and Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Clay Mowry received a Master of Business of Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.  In addition to his work at Blue Origin, Mr. Mowry currently serves on the advisory boards of Via Satellite magazine and the Space Generation Advisory Council. Mr. Mowry is also the founder and Chairman of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals.

Danielle Wood

Assistant Professor in the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Professor Danielle Wood serves as an assistant professor in the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Within the Media Lab, Prof. Wood leads the Space Enabled Research Group which seeks to advance justice in earth’s complex systems using designs enabled by space. Prof. Wood is a scholar of societal development with a background that includes satellite design, earth science applications, systems engineering, and technology policy for the US and emerging nations. In her research, Prof. Wood applies these skills to design innovative systems that harness space technology to address development challenges with collaborators around the world. Previously, Prof Wood held positions at NASA, the Aerospace Corporation, Johns Hopkins University, and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. Prof. Wood studied aerospace engineering, policy and development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD ’12, dual SM ’08, SB ’05).

Fatma AlSumatti

Officer – ST Planning & Follow up Section, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC)

Jonathan Hung

President of the Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA)

Mr. Jonathan Hung is President of the Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), Singapore’s lead, industry association focused on supporting the development of the space technology industry. His international work experience includes management roles with the Contraves Group, a Rheinmetall Defense & Boustead Joint-Venture, Flex International and CAE Inc. Prior to CAE, he managed Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Singapore Technologies Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems) and ST (Satellite Systems). Earlier in his career, Mr. Hung was the Centre Director for Middle East & North Africa Operations at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). There, he handled portfolios in aerospace, marine/offshore and luxury yacht sectors. In particular, he led the development of the space incubator unit that is presently EDB’s space office. Mr. Hung currently serves on the Board of the Air Transport Training College, Spacetime Technology Pte. Ltd., Space Generation Advisory Council and sits on the Steering Sub-Committee for the new Science Centre Singapore. He is also a member of the Singapore Tourism Board’s Conference Ambassador Programme. He also serves as Vice-President of the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers (SIAE), Co-Chair of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) – SIAE Singapore Aerospace Technology & Engineering Conference, Member of the National University of Singapore’s Physics Task Force, International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Commercial Spaceflight Safety Committee, and the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Aerospace Technology Advisory Committee. Mr. Hung was also nominated to the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum’s (APRSAF) Executive Committee. Jonathan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, double majoring in Aerospace Science and Aviation Business Administration, and currently serves on the ERAU Asia Alumni Council.

Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl

Chief Strategy Officer of the European Space Agency; President of the International Institute of Space Law

Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl is the Chief Strategy Officer of the European Space Agency (ESA, Headquarters in Paris, France). From 2007 to 2011 he was the Director of the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria, the leading European think tank for space policy. Prior to this, he was the Head of the Corporate Development and External Relations Department in the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany. Previously he also worked with the German Ministry for Post and Telecommunications and the German Space Agency (DARA) in Bonn, Germany. He has been a delegate to numerous international forums and has served from 2014 to 2016 as chairman of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the highest body for space law making, comprising 73 Member States. He also was chairman of various European and global committees (ESA International Relations Committee and two plenary working groups of the UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee, the one on the launching State and the other on the registration practice, both leading to UN General Assembly Resolutions). He presented, respectively testified, at hearings of the European Parliament and the U.S. House of Representatives. Kai-Uwe Schrogl is the President of the International Institute of Space Law, Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (recently chairing its Commission on policy, economics and regulations) and the Russian Academy for Cosmonautics as well as Corresponding Member of the French Air and Space Academy. He holds a doctorate degree in political science and lectures international relations as an Honorary Professor at Tübingen University, Germany. Kai-Uwe Schrogl has written or co-edited 15 books and more than 130 articles, reports and papers in the fields of space policy and law as well as telecommunications policy. He launched and edited until 2011 the “Yearbook on Space Policy” and the book series “Studies in Space Policy” both published by ESPI at SpringerWienNewYork. He sits on editorial boards of various international journals in the field of space policy and law (Space Policy, Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht, Studies in Space Law/Nijhoff; previously also Acta Astronautica).

Miglena Zhekova

Project Manager at SMG Aerospace

Miglena is the Project Manager of the Global Aerospace Summit and the Global Space Congress at SMG Aerospace, United Arab Emirates both high-level conferences, traditionally hosted by Mubadala Investment Company and the UAE Space Agency, respectively. Miglena also heads the outreach programme Next Gen Leaders, a focused workforce development initiative that promotes STEM education, brings awareness and inspires young people to pursue careers in space and aerospace. She works closely with the top UAE academic institutions, government bodies and agencies, as well as major UAE and international space and aerospace companies. As part of Next Gen Leaders, Miglena developed the youth and space focused international conference: the Young Space Leaders Forum, as well as the UAE Young Space Leaders Advisory Board in alignment with the UAE Space Agency’s policy. Miglena holds a master’s degree in Public International Law from the University of Oslo, a postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of London and a certificate “From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development” from the University of Oxford.

Nobu Okada

Founder and CEO, Astroscale

Nobu founded Astroscale in Singapore in 2013 due to a strong desire to address the growing threat of space debris. He used his personal funds as seed money and hired a team in Singapore in 2013 and opened an R&D office in Japan in 2015, a UK office in 2017, and a US office in 2019 whilst raising US $132M USD capital. The team call themselves, “Space Sweepers” and their mission is to secure long-term space flight safety by developing space debris removal technologies.

Nobu is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is also a member of The Future of Space Technologies Council, World Economic Forum and International Astronautical Federation. He also served as a member of the Subcommittee on Space Civil Use, and Space Industry at the Cabinet Office for the Government of Japan. Nobu won the Forbes JAPAN “Start-up of The Year 2019” and was listed as Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017.

Prior to Astroscale, Nobu was an IT entrepreneur and strategy consultant, and had managed IT companies in Japan, China, India and Singapore. He led one company to a successful IPO. Before joining the IT industry, he worked for McKinsey & Company and the Japanese Government in the Ministry of Finance. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo in 1995 and an MBA from the Krannert School of Business, Purdue University in 2001.

When he was a teenager, Nobu attended a camp at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in the United States where he met Japan’s first astronaut, Mamoru Mohri. He received the handwritten message, “Space is waiting for your challenge.” and he has been inspired to work on space ever since.

Pablo Gabriel de León

Director of the Human Spaceflight Laboratory at the University of North Dakota (UND)

Dr. Pablo Gabriel de León has been working in the space field for three decades. He is an aerospace engineer, has a postgraduate degree in space studies and a doctorate in history of science and technology. Dr. de León is the Director of the Human Spaceflight Laboratory at the University of North Dakota (UND) and is also a professor of that university. Pablo de León has been also a Principal and Science Investigator in several NASA-funded projects, among which is the development of space suits, and an analog planetary station for the Moon and Mars. Dr. De León was also integration manager on an experimental satellite (Pehuensat-1, and Payload Manager of seven experiments (Project PADE, Argentine Experiments Package) which flew in the Space Shuttle (STS-108). He is also a graduate of the International Space University (SSP ’97, Houston) and was a founding member of the SGAC in Vienna in 1999.

Steve Eisenhart

Senior Vice President – Strategic & International Affairs, Space Foundation

Steve Eisenhart leads the strategic integration of the public, policy and international affairs of the Space Foundation. He supervises the Foundation’s Washington, D.C. team’s support of the Foundation’s mission and customers, including their government affairs and research and analysis efforts, work with government agencies, other space advocacy organizations and associations, and corporate interests. Eisenhart is principally responsible for the Space Foundation’s global strategy and relationships with international space agencies and organizations, foreign embassies, and U.S. organizations involved with international space programs. He is directly responsible for the program development and integration of key Space Foundation activities including the widely acclaimed Space Symposium. Since joining the Space Foundation in 1996, Eisenhart has had a broad range of responsibilities, serving as senior vice president of strategic communications, director of communications and public affairs and communications manager. Eisenhart was military public affairs official and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Dr Valanathan (Val) Munsami

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – South African National Space Agency

Dr Munsami holds a PhD in Physics and has a research background in Solid State Physics and Space Physics. His research focus in space physics was on magnetospheric physics, particularly on the use of artificial intelligence and the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) for the study of magnetic storms. He also holds a Masters degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa, a Space Studies Program Diploma from the International Space University, and a Certificate in International Air, Space and Telecommunications Law from the University of Pretoria.
In 2002, he joined the Department of Trade and Industry, as Deputy Director, working on issues relating to the non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the space sector. In this portfolio he dealt with the import and export of dual-use technologies, relating specifically to nuclear and space technologies. He also provided technical support to the South African Council for Space Affairs.
In 2005, he joined the National Research Foundation, as a Manager, responsible for implementing South Africa’s international science and technology partnerships. He oversaw the implementation of South Africa’s bilateral science and technology agreements, the management of South Africa’s membership to a number of science and technology multilateral fora, and oversight of the South African chapter of the International Scientific Union (ICSU).
In 2007, he joined the Department of Science and Technology as Director (and was later promoted to Chief Director) for Space Science and Technology, where he was involved in the development of South Africa’s National Space Strategy and National Space Policy and oversaw the establishment of SANSA. Within the same institution, he was promoted to Deputy Director- General: Research, Development and Innovation, where he was responsible for Space Science, Radio Astronomy, Biotechnology and Health, Hydrogen and Energy, and Innovations Instruments, which included oversight of SANSA, the Technology Innovation Agency and the
National Intellectual Property Management Office.
On winning the bid to co-host the SKA in 2012, he then became the Chief Specialist for Astronomy and African Space Science. In this role, he led the development of South Africa’s Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Strategy and the SKA Readiness Strategy. He also chaired the African Union Space Working Group, which was tasked with the development of the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy that was approved by the African Union Heads of State in January 2016. These instruments have now laid the foundation for the African space programme.

As of January 2017, he has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SANSA. As CEO, he is responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate strategies for the Agency and developing and maintaining effective management teams and management processes that enable the Agency and the local space sector to function optimally. He is currently a member of the South African Council for Space Affairs (SACSA) and is a Vice President of the International Astronautic Federation (IAF) for Developing Countries and Emerging Nations. He has also been recently inducted as an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).