Honorary Board

Adigun Ade Abiodun received his undergraduate and graduate education from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science (1965), Master of Science (1966) and his Ph.D. (1971) in Civil Engineering (Hydraulics and Hydrology). His academic and professional experience included his services as (i) Civil and hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle (1966-68), (ii) Hydraulics systems research engineer with the Boeing Company, Seattle, USA (1968-71), (iii) Lecturer and Senior at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1971-77; (iv) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of the National Research Council of Canada, tenable at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (Dec. 1974- Feb. 1976); and (v) Remote Sensing Specialist (1977-1981) and later as the United Nations Expert on Space Applications, (1977-1999). He was appointed United Nations Expert on Space Applications in November 1981 and served in that position until September 1999 when he retired from the services of the United Nations. In this capacity, he initiated, designed, implemented and supervised, globally, the United Nations Space Applications Programmed, including the establishment of the Un-Affiliated Regional Centres on Space Science and Technology Education. He is a contributor to five books and the author of over 68 scientific and technical publications. Thereafter, Ade Abiodun also served/(is serving) as (i) Senior Special Assistant to the President (of Nigeria) on Space Science and Technology.(March 2000 –June 2003); (ii) Member of the College of Commissioner of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission–re Iraq (UNMOVIC), 2000-2007; (iii) Chairman, Board of Directors, Spaceweek International Association (Oct. 2001– Oct. 2004); (iv) Chairman, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), June 2004 – June 2006; (v) One of 20 global panelists that explored, in Feb. 2006, ‘Space and Humans in the Next 1,000 Years’ for the “Foundation for the Future,” Bellevue, State of Washington, USA; (vi) Member of the Association of Space Explorers’ Panel on the Mitigation of Asteroids Impact (2007-2008); (viii) Trustee, The ISPRS Foundation, and (ix) Founder, African Space Foundation.

Ciro Arevalo is the Chairman of the Latin American and Caribean Regional Group of the International Astronautical Federation. Prior to this post, he was the Chairman of COPUOS as well as the advisor on space matters to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has worked in the space sector for the past twenty years. He has law degree from Universite de Lausanne, Switzerland and postgraduate studies in international relations and international public law at the Universidad de los Andes. He is a member of Colombian Bar Association since 1985. Member of the Colombian delegation to various international entities including ITU, IAEA, UNTAT, ILO, CBTO etc. Dr. Arevalo Yepes was one of the main organizers of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas held in Cartagena, Colombia in 2002, during which the Colombian Space Commission has originated. In addition to his diplomatic career, Dr. Arevalo Yepes has dedicated portion of his time to the academics. He was a Dean of the Post Graduate International Business Program at University of Bogotá, UJTL and a Founder and Director of the Centre of U.S. Studies, CEUS, Bogotá. He authored a number of papers and articles on Space related matters, Space and Society, and Space and Education.

Michael Brett is the outgoing Chair of SGAC. He lives in Canberra, Australia where he works as a consulting systems engineer on a range of projects including the HIFiRE hypersonics research program and Antarctic Broadband satellite program. He has a degree in Aerospace Avionics Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia and is currently studying an Executive Masters of Business in Project Management also at QUT. Michael was a delegate at SGS 2002 in Houston, Sponsorship Manager for SGC 2005 in Fukuoka, moderated a group at SGC 2009 in Deajeon, and was SGAC’s Treasurer for four years. He has been actively involved in the Australian space community for many years assisting the Australian Youth Aerospace Association, Royal Aeronautical Society, Aerospace Futures conference and National Space Society.

Lance Bush has designed and analyzed human space transportation systems, including space shuttles, space station rescue vehicles, aerospace planes and Moon/Mars vehicles. He was the Chief Structural Engineer and System Configuration Manager for the HL 20, the most advanced human spacecraft development program since the shuttle. In the course of the HL 20 program, he also developed state-of-the-art software to perform optimal designs for safety and efficiency of space vehicles. While working as Manager for International Space Station Commercial Development at NASA Headquarters, Dr. Bush managed the International Space Station Entrepreneurial Offer Program. There he developed policy and technical reports for, and responses to, the US Congress and the White House regarding space commercialization programs. He also represented NASA as a space commercialization expert to international bodies including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations, and International Astronautical Federation.

Chris De Cooker holds law degrees from the University of Amsterdam and of Columbia University. He was for nine years senior lecturer in international law at the University of Leyden in the Netherlands. He then joined the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1984, where he held a number of positions, mainly concerning internal institutional matters. His current position is that of Head of the International Relations Department. He is Head of the ESA delegation to COPUOS. He has authored a large number of publications, mostly in the field of International Administration. He has also been advising many regional and global international organisations. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

J.R. Edwards is Manager of Space Exploration Programs based in Lockheed Martin’s Washington DC-area office, where he develops and manages strategic partnerships and special projects in support of critical national missions. Frequently, he is called to advise on the unique and distinct roles that private industry, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and Federal entities can play in realizing shared visions. An alumnus of Lockheed Martin’s Executive Development and Growth Enhancement (EDGE) Program, Mr. Edwards has been acknowledged for his global leadership in outreach and advocacy before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Edwards is an Associate Fellow and lifetime member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He served on the American Astronautical Society’s Board of Directors. And, he represents Lockheed Martin to the International Astronautical Federation. A Senator Richard G. Lugar Scholar, Herman B. Wells Scholar, and Ronald E. McNair Scholar, he is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University. Mr. Edwards is an arts enthusiast and classically trained pianist and vocalist, having studied with Ms. Camilla Williams, the first African-American to hold a professional opera contract, and American heldentenor Mr. James King.

Gernot Grömer was born in 1975 and obtained his masters degree in Astronomy at the Leopold-Franzens University in Innsbruck, Austria. He is an alumni of the Space Studies Programme of the International Space University (Houston, Texas) and was a teaching assistant of the same programme at the ISU Cleveland, Ohio campus. Mr Grömer has international academic experience having already conducted research in Italy, the US and Chile. His experience with outreach activities is considerable having already coordinated such activities for the European lunar mission, LunarSat; for the crewed Mars simulation expedition in Utah; for the 37th ESA Parabolic Flight Campaign as a flight crew member; and for the AustroMars and PolAres, as part of the Programme Management Group. For many years, he has been a professor and researcher in the field of human Mars exploration at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Currently, he works as Director at the Austrian Space Forum.

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.

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.

Johannes Ortner studied Electrical Engineering and Technical Physics at the University of Technology of Vienna and in 1960 obtained his Ph.D. in Meteorology and Geophysics at the University of Vienna. While working as a physicist at the Geophysical Observatory of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at Kiruna, Sweden, he was charged with preparing and performing the first Swedish sounding rocket experiments to measure the energy spectra of electrons causing the northern lights (aurora borealis), which were successfully launched in August 1962. Among his many professional positions, Mr. Ortner worked for the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) in Paris, France, was Assistant Director for Scientific Projects at the European Space Laboratory (ESLAB) in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and was Assistant Director for Program Planning in Paris. In 1974, Johannes Ortner was appointed as Managing Director of the Austrian Space Agency (ASA) in Vienna and directed this agency until his retirement in 1998. In this function, he prepared Austria for full membership at the European Space Agency (ESA), which was obtained in 1987. Mr Ortner has also a respectable history with international institutions dealing with outer space, as he was President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Vice-President of Eurisy (Paris), Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Space University, ISU (Strasbourg), Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Space Science Institute, ISSI (Bern) and Member of several committees of the International Astronautical Federation, IAF (Paris). Additionally, Johannes Ortner was the Director of the annual European Summer School on Space Research in Alpbach, Tyrol, for more than twenty years.

Enrique Pacheco is native of Chalco, Mexico. He has a Bachelor in Electronic Engineer from the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico, and a M.Sc. in Telecommunications from CICESE Research Center. Also he has doctoral studies in Space Technology from Surrey Space Centre at University of Surrey, UK. He has been involved on space technology since 1993, working as Technical Coordinator for SATEX 1 and SENSAT (Self –Explore Nano-Satellite) projects, the latest project aims to research, design, development, and construct High Performance Educative Nano Satellites (HPENS). Also was the leader of a research project to develop a multispectral camera for an UAV and a multispectral optical camera as Payload for the CONDOR mission that is a microsatellite developed jointly between Mexico and Russia under the leadership from Mexico of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Has been lecturer of topics related with telecommunications, space satellite communications and space technology since 1993, also participating in national and international conferences. He is Founder Member of the Mexican Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology and he is part of the Board. Also is part of the Mexican Space Network for Academic Research. He is also a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He started to support the General Director of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) right after his appointment in November 2011. Since January 2012 he has been formally appointed as Deputy Director for Space Science and Technology Affairs on the AEM and from that position has been representative of Mexico on the COPUOS were he is co-chair of the Expert Group A: Sustainable space utilization supporting sustainable development on Earth, that is part of the Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

Dumitru Prunariu is the current Chairman of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for the period of June 2010-June 2012 and is an Associate Professor of Geopolitics at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania. He acted as a Diplomatic Engineer for industrial sector prior to enrolling in the Romanian Air Force Officers Training School in 1977. He was selected for spaceflight training in 1978 as a part of the Intercosmos Program. In May 1981, he completed an eight-day space mission on board Soyuz 40 and the Salyut 6 space laboratory, where he completed scientific experiments in the fields of astrophysics, space radiation, space technology, space medicine and biology. Since 1995, Dr. Prunariu has been the Vice-President of the International Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (EURISC) in Bucharest. He is the former President of the Romanian Space Agency and former Director of the Romanian Office for Science and Technology Union (ROST) in Brussels. He is also a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a member of the Romanian National COSPAR Committee, and a member of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE). He was elected in 2004 as the Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN COPUOS and has also served as a permanent representative of the Government of Romania and ASE to UN COPUOS. Dr. Prunariu obtained a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Politehnical University of Bucharest in 1976 and received a PhD from the Aviation Institute in Bucharest with research on flight dynamics.

Christopher Vasko was born in Vienna, Austria. He studied Physics at the Vienna University of Technology, which brought him in contact with the topic of space and research from a scientific perspective. Ealry during his studies he became an active volunteer in local space organizations in a number of outreach/educational projects. His passion soon brought him to work as an intern at a small privately held Austrian company assisting in developing a novel plasma engine for space applications. Fueled by this experience, Christopher worked as intern at the European Space Policy Institute, the SGAC Vienna office and worked as scientific advisor for an international think-tank based in Germany. Christopher then decided to return to academia for a PhD in applied physics at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. This allowed him to focus on science as well as to remain active in SGAC where was active from 2009 on in various positions ranging from web editor to Treasurer and Chairperson of the organization. After defending his PhD, Christopher worked as an engineer before he started his current job at European Space Agency’s Strategy Department in Paris.