Keynote Speakers

Working Group 1: Specificities of Asia-Pacific Space Development 

Dr Rogel Mari Sese (PhD)

Astrophysicist, Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the Ateneo de Davao University

Dr Rogel Mari Sese is an internationally recognized astrophysicist, educator and space expert and is the Philippines’ leading advocate for space science and technology development. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Trustees and is the Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the Ateneo de Davao University. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Applied Physics from theUniversity of the Philippines Los Banos, Masters in Physics from the University of the PhilippinesDiliman and his doctoral degree in Physics, specializing in Computational Astrophysics at theUniversity of Tsukuba, Japan under the MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship Program.

Dr. Sese led the National SPACE Development Program which crafted the Philippine Space   Development and Utilization Policy and proposal for the creation of the Philippine Space Agency. He wrote and spent years actively lobbying for the law that eventually became Republic Act 11363 or the Philippine Space Act, the Philippines’ first space law that led to the creation of the space agency and policy. He is recognized both locally and internationally, being selected as a 2012 Emerging SpaceLeaders by the International Astronautical Federation, one of the eight Filipinos in the Top 100 Asian Scientists of 2018 by the Asian Scientist Magazine, and recognized in Senate Resolution 882 in 2019 by the Philippine Senate for his contributions to space development in the country.

Dr. Sese has represented the Philippines in international gatherings and has been invited to deliver speeches in numerous local and international conferences to give insights on the perspective of emerging space nations on space science, technology, law and industry development. He has worked also with the private sector, having established Regulus SpaceTech in 2013 and served as a consultant of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and Department of National Defense for several years. He also served as the Focal Person of the Philippine Space Science Education Program of the Science Education Institute, established the Southeast Asian Young Astronomers Collaboration, member of the International Astronomical Union, National Point of Contact of the Space Generation Advisory Council and is a member of various local and international organizations.

Working Group 2: Addressing Global Health (specifically COVID-19) with Space Medicine on Earth

Dr Naoyuki Ishikita (MD, PhD)

Founder & Chief Technological Officer at STONY & Co.
Medical Device Innovation Office Manager at the Clinical Research Department of National Hospital Organization, Niigata Hospital

Dr Ishikita, who is known worldwide to be the “Inventor of the printable E-mail Ventilator”, graduated from Iwate Medical University School of Medicine in 2004. In 2010, he started his research when he came up with the idea of a simple inhalation anesthesia system for the initial treatment of status epilepticus. He has invented several medical devices and technologies, including “VapoJect ®︎”, “MicroVent ®︎”, “Cho-shin UP! ®︎”, and “Sputa Vacuumer ®︎”.

He has been presented the Reseach and Development Innovation Award with his research, entitled “3D printable medical device for long term manned space missions (VapoJET & E-mail Ventilator)”, by the Aerospace Medical Association in 2018. He has also been the Medical Device Innovation Office Manager at the Clinical Research Department of National Hospital Organization Niigata Hospital since October 2019. In 2020, he was recently appointed as a leader in the “Development of 3D printable ventilator (COVIDVENTILATOR PROJECT)” by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Working Group 3: Use of Space Technology for Agricultural Development and Food Security in Asia Pacific Region

Dr Pham Thi Mai Thy (PhD)

Deputy Director of Space Technology Center at Vietnam National Space Center

Dr Pham Thi Mai Thy is a senior researcher majoring remote sensing and GIS at Ho Chi Minh City Space Technology Application (STAC)- Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC)- Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

She got the PhD. degree from Japan in 2013 about Using satellite to detect the urbanization and landcover change. She has experience on some national projects and international projects about EO applications. Besides, she is also a lecturer at universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. From 2019, she joined activities of WGCapD (CEOS) as Vice Chair.

Working Group 4: Cooperation (and Capacity-building) of Asia-Pacific Countries for Space Exploration.

Dr P V Venkitakrishnan (PhD)

Distinguished Scientist, Director, Capacity Building Programme Office, Indian Space Research Organisation

Born on 16 May 1961 in Trichur, Kerala, Dr Venkitakrishnan joined ISRO in 1983. A leader with 37 years of experience in the field of Aerospace Materials & Manufacturing, he assumed various technical and managerial positions ISRO such as Deputy Director (Materials and Mechanical Entity) and Associate Director of the the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Director of the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), before his current position as Director of the Capacity Building Programme Office (CBPO) at ISRO Headquarters.

Recipient of the National Merit Scholarship, Dr Venkitakrishnan graduated from Cochin University (B.Tech.), Annamalai University (postgraduate diploma, MBA) and the IIT Madras (M.Tech., Ph.D.). He is fellow of the Institute of Engineers (India), fellow of Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), and is Governing Council Member at the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).