The SGAC Pioneer Award

In 2018, SGAC decided to create a new award to recognize those who truly go above and beyond in their work for our organization. The Pioneer Award was created, and consists of a special pin with a certificate that states the accomplishments of the recipient, along with recognition on the SGAC website.
The award was named “Pioneer” since it reflects the innovative and adventurous spirit of SGAC, and the recipients are those select few who personify the values of our organization and have consistently gone above and beyond in fulfilling our mission. These space pioneers represent our “best of the best”, and are selected through a nomination process and independent review board, with a handful of SGAC members ultimately being eligible for the award.
Pioneer Awards are assessed twice a year: in Spring and Autumn
Nominations for Autumn/Winter 2023 are open.
Please submit nominations no later than October 15, 2023 using the following online form.
Eligibility criteria
SGAC Pioneer awardees are:
- SGAC members (with a registered account on our website) who care about the SGAC mission and vision, aged below 36 years and 6 months on the nomination date
- SGAC members with a track history of contributions to SGAC, along with their most recent role(s)
- SGAC members who reflect the values of the award – Creativity, Innovation, Empowerment, Moving the organisation forward
Number of Awards
- An awardee may receive the award only once
- Not more than four awards are conferred each year
The intent of the Pioneer Award is to provide additional recognition to members who represent the organization’ ‘best of the best’ for their professional development.
The award is presented to an SGAC member that:
- Demonstrates ongoing support and genuine care for promoting the organisation,
- Is actively involved in SGAC volunteering roles, supporting space events and activities, empowering young space professionals and students in pursuing their space career development.
Eligibility rules:
- The history of the person’s contribution to SGAC should be considered, along with their most recent role(s).
- The award should never be given for pure completion of a particular role or project – rather for the attributes displayed in the person’s work that reflect the values of the award such as creativity, innovation, moving the organization forward etc..
- The award shall never be given to a current or former SGAC Chair or Paid Staff – the intent is to recognize members. Members who are running for Chair or in the process of applying for a paid position are eligible until they are elected or appointed to Chair/Paid Staff.
- Members are eligible for the award up to 6 months after they age out of the organization and become alumni (allows for someone to be eligible for consideration if they achieved accomplishments right before they aged out).
Nomination and Selection Rules
The nomination is encouraged for the wider SGAC community.
The Jury Panel is formed of 7 members:
- SGAC Executive Director (1)
- SGAC Co-Chairs (2)
- SGAC Executive Committee representatives (4)
Evaluation Process
The Jury Panel evaluates and selects the winner, providing rationales for the choices based on the independent assessment process of each nomination.
Timeline
Spring
1 February – 15 March: Call for nominations is open
15 February – 15 March: Call for 4 judges
16 March – 30 March: Nominees are contacted for additional information
1 April – 14 April: Evaluation period
15 April: Announcement and notice to the awardee
30 April: Announcement is published on the SGAC website and on social media
Autumn / Winter
1 September – 15 October: Call for nominations is open
15 September – 15 October: Call for judges
16 October – 30 October: Nominees are contacted for additional information
1 November – 14 November: Evaluation period
15 November: Announcement and notice to the awardee
30 November: Announcement is published on the SGAC website and on social media
August 2023
Pioneer Award: Yulia Akisheva
Yulia Akisheva is an aerospace engineer by training currently finishing a PhD in Protective Use of Regolith for Planetary and Lunar Exploration, or PURPLE in short. This PhD is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), TRAD Tests & Radiations and ISAE-SUPAERO under the ESA OSIP collaboration platform.
July 2023
Pioneer Award: Matej Poliaček
Matej is currently working in the ISS Flight Operations, as a member of the Columbus Flight Control team, responsible for the commanding and monitoring of the Columbus systems and payloads, as well as providing support to the astronaut crew and other flight control positions in regards to technical aspects of the module.
December 2022
Pioneer Award: Daniel Seybold
Since 2020, Daniel Seybold is the CEO of TeleOrbit, a company focused on the sales and marketing of satellite navigation equipment, such as antennas or receivers. At TeleOrbit he is, among others, responsible for the overall project, contracts, and IPR management.
September 2022
Pioneer Award: Tasman Powis
In 2012, Tasman attended his first SGAC event, the SGC in Naples, and said that after the event; “I knew the SGAC was something I needed to be a part of. Through the SGC and IAC, I learned very quickly that my passion lay within the engineering and science that made space travel a reality.”
Pioneer Award: Tensae Alemayehu Ali
Immersed in the concept of Space Science and Engineering at a young age, he derived himself to take part in the space sector aided by wisdom and leadership. Tensae Alemayehu Ali is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Mekelle University.
Pioneer Award: Laura Gonzalez Llamarez
Laura is a Space Systems Engineer at the Satellite Applications Catapult, supporting the space sector through advanced manufacturing for space, microgravity and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing activities.
July 2021
Pioneer Award: Antonio Stark [KangSan Kim]
Antonio Fowl Stark [KangSan Kim] is a South-Korean born International Business Developer and Space Policy Consultant, his expertise is in global corporate strategy and technology evaluation.
Pioneer Award: Saira Roxana Williams
Roxy Williams is a Computer Engineering student, SGAC National Point of Contact for Nicaragua and General Coordinator for the Open Course Introduction to Space Engineering in Space Generation Advisory Council - SGAC.
Pioneer Award: Rania Toukebri
Rania is a Space Engineer working on the design, verification and integration of spacecraft. She has been part of several European Space Agency projects for earth observation, planetary defense and space exploration. Among them: HERA, Biomass, Plato, JUICE etc.
December 2020
Pioneer Award: Sahith Reddy Madara
Sahith has brought his passion for connecting and empowering individuals to advance the future space economy to many organizations in his years of study.
Pioneer Award: Pauline Delande
Pauline Delande graduated from INSA Toulouse (Mechanical Engineering) and ISAE-Supaero (Space Systems Engineering), she is now working at CNES in Toulouse as Earth Observation Satellite Operations Engineer.
Pioneer Award: Tania Robles
Tania Robles is a Mechanical Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She is co-founder and former director of the Aerospace Association of the Engineering School at UNAM. National Point of Contact of SGAC in Mexico from 2016 to 2019, and current Regional Coordinator of the NCAC region.
April 2020
Pioneer Award: Maria Grulich
Maria grew up in Hanover, Germany and graduated with an [...]
January 2020
Pioneer Award : Harriet Brettle
Harriet Brettle is a business analyst at Astroscale where she [...]
Pioneer Award : Ahmed Abdi
Ahmed Abdi is the founder & programme manager of Africa [...]
October 2019
Pioneer Award: Carmen Victoria Felix Chaidez
Back in 2002, I joined a trip to Houston, to [...]
October 2018
Pioneer Award: Bruno Sarli
My journey in the SGAC began in 2011 through a [...]
June 2018
Pioneer Award: Lauren Napier
My name is Lauren Napier and I have been a [...]
April 2018
Pioneer Award: Chantelle Dubois
In April 2018 I was presented with one of the [...]
Pioneer Award: Anthony Yuen
For the longest time, doing anything space related seemed impossible. [...]