SGAC is proud to present the October 2022 Member of the Month!

SGAC is delighted to recognize members who are committed to its development; those who show hard labour and total dedication to the mission and purpose of the organisation. For October 2022, we are pleased to announce and congratulate the SGAC Executive Secretaries!

Meet the Executive Secretaries!

Phylis Makurunje

Dr Phylis Makurunje is an aerospace materials engineer passionate about developing propulsion materials for aerospace vehicles. Serving as one of the Executive Secretaries of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in support of UN space programs, she is also part of the Space Traffic Management Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). Makurunje contributes to the Wales Space group and the United Kingdom’s Nuclear for Space Working Group. Prior, she served on the President’s Council of Student Advisors of the American Ceramic Society. She recently received a Space Generation Leadership award from the SGAC and is driven toward advancing STEM and space education in rural Africa.

Phylis’s role as part of the SGAC team
I am currently an Executive Secretary of SGAC. I handle the agendas and minutes of the Executive Council, Advisory Board, and General Assembly meetings. I support NPoC elections and coordination activities with the regional secretaries of SGAC.

Phylis, share with us your reaction to receiving the nomination
Winning the MOM three months prior to completing our service of 4 years is an honour and a heart-warming sendoff.

What learnings have you got for those considering joining SGAC?
The SGAC has propelled my space career significantly. It is a unique and exciting global meeting place for learning and contributing to anything space-related.

Would you like to share with us a special quote you feel guided by, or how would you motivate others to stay focused on their goals?
Dream daring space dreams!

Kristine Jane Atienza

Kristine Jane Atienza is a humanitarian and a registered nutritionist-dietitian for the UN World Food Programme practising public health nutrition specializing in Nutrition in Disasters and Emergencies. Aside from her day-job, she has been active in the astronomy and space community in the Philippines and internationally. Apart from being one of the Executive Secretaries of SGAC, she is part of an emerging space nutrition group called ANICE (Astronaut Nutrition in Isolated Confined Extreme Environments). Kristine is also a member of a working group of the International Astronomical Union for Diversity and Inclusion. She has served as the National Coordinator for the NameExoWorld Philippines and as the National Point of Contact for the International Year of Light 2015. In the future, she hopes to send a Filipino dish into space.

Kristine’s role as part of the SGAC team
I am currently the executive secretary of SGAC. I handle the elections and databases of NPoC. I also coordinate with the regional secretaries of SGAC. As secretariat, we handle the agenda and minutes of the Executive Council, Advisory Board, and General Assembly meetings.

Kristine, share with us your reaction to receiving the nomination
Mixed emotions in all honesty. I have been one of the Executive Secretaries for 4 years now, and my term is about to end in 2023, so getting this award is such an honour.

What learnings have you got for those considering joining SGAC?
Joining SGAC, though it’s a volunteer work, is a privilege. You can work with diverse and extremely cool people in their own fields!

Would you like to share with us a special quote you feel guided by, or how would you motivate others to stay focused on their goals?
Think outside the box. Space is for everyone, no matter what your background is.

Johanne Ayeley Ekue

Johanne Ayeley Ekue is a Research Assistant at the University of Ghana and also the founder of Innovation for Ghana Space. She has contributed enormously to the Space sector in Ghana as being part of the few females involved in Space in her country, organizing space workshops and outreach. She loves programming and hopes to apply physics-based machine learning in the space sector. She was recently part of the organising team member of the Space Generation Congress and elected by the Egyptian space agency for training in space technology and satellite system.

Johanne’s role as part of the SGAC team
I am currently an executive secretary member and I help the executive secretary of SGAC

Johanne, share with us your reaction to receiving the nomination
I was very excited since I know how the team works around the clock.

What learnings have you got for those considering joining SGAC?
I have learnt the art of being part of a community and being a team player.

Would you like to share with us a special quote you feel guided by, or how would you motivate others to stay focused on their goals?
Anytime I close my eyes I see space, Space is not just outer space. Space is in our mind and there we see our stars, dreams and future.