Results of Regional Coordinator Election in the Europe Region
SGAC held elections in November 2024 to elect the next Regional Coordinator (RC) in the Europe Region. We are happy to announce the selection of Niklas Wendel (Germany) as the new Regional Coordinator for Europe.
Detailed election results and the profile of the applicants follow.
Election Report
The election received four applications for one regional coordinator position.
During the election, 19 votes were cast. However, the Committee invalidated three votes from countries deemed to have a conflict of interest, resulting in a final valid vote count of 16.
Explanation:
Pursuant to bylaw 7.3, “during SGAC elections, appointments or any other operation within the organisation, instances of conflict of interest shall be reported to the Elections Oversight Committee in writing, who will clearly communicate this situation to those voting on the matter. Moreover, those with a conflict of interest shall excuse themselves from any involvement in the decision-making process.”
During the 2024 European RC Election, the Committee identified three instances of conflict of interest, due to the situation of three active NPoCs submitting candidacy in the election.
Upon reviewing bylaws 7.1, 7.3, 4.2.1, and 4.2.11, as well as clause 1.0 of Appendix B, in agreement with the Office of the General Counsel, the Elections Oversight Committee resolved that Countries whose NPoCs are participating in the election as applicants are in a position of conflict of interest, and thus shall excuse themselves from the voting. This is based on the fact that as per bylaws 4.2.1 and 4.2.11 the vote of each country is casted collectively by its NPoCs, which is not possible to do in a fair and objective manner if one of them is participating in the election as candidate.
Based on the above, with reference to this round of the 2024 European RC Election, the Committee invalidated three votes expressed by as many countries in a position of conflict of interest. For transparency, the Committee notes that this invalidation has not changed the outcome of the election.
Finally, the Committee understands that the rules laid down in bylaw 7 could have been more clearly communicated to the voting pool, even though all voters are required to check relevant sections from the SGAC statutes & bylaws before participating in the elections. Learning from this instance, in future elections the Committee will make sure to include direct references to bylaw 7 and existing SGAC rules about conflict of interest in elections communications.
For transparency, the Committee notes that this invalidation has not changed the outcome of the election.
The election concluded with the following result:
- Niklas Wendel (Germany) – 7 votes (43,8 %)
- Roser Almenar (Spain) – 5 votes (31,3%)
- Giulio Marano (Denmark) – 3 votes (18,8%)
- Lachezar Lechev (Bulgaria) – 1 vote (6,3%)
- Abstained – 0 (0%)
Niklas Wendel is therefore declared the winner of the election for Regional Coordinator of the European Region.
SGAC congratulates all candidates who took part in this election. Thank you for your participation and involvement.
About Niklas Wendel
Niklas is a research associate at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) where he works on the development of flight instrumentation as well as testing and design of reentry vehicles. In this capacity he serves as the „DrEAM Data Acquisition Systems Lead“ and contributes flight hardware to the aeroshell instrumentation of NASA‘s Dragonfly mission to Titan. Furthermore he works on the mitigation and removal of space debris, an interest which he follows through his research at DLR as well as through founding a private initiative which has been recognized by the INNOspace Masters as well as the Falling Walls Labs.
Niklas holds a B.Eng. from the Cooperate State University Baden Würtemberg, following a dual degree program and a M.Sc. From Aachen University of Applied Sciences, both in aerospace engineering. Niklas currently holds a PhD fellowship at the University of Maryland, within his PhD at DLR and UMD he investigates the physics of dynamic stability of reentry vehicles with particular focus on the Mars Sample Return reentry vehicle.
From 2018 to 2022, he has been chairman of the German Network of Young Scientists, a German non-profit aiming at promoting interdisciplinary exchange of students and young professionals of all STEM domains. Since in 2022, Niklas has also been SGAC‘s National Point of Contact for Germany and was recognized as Europe‘s NPoC of the year in 2023.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to be presented with the opportunity to contribute in this scale to the further development of the European region and SGAC. Of course I first want to thank every NPoC who expressed their trust in me through the election and promise to give my best to fulfill the expectations that have been set in me.The next 2 years will hold many opportunities and challenges for all of us and I am looking forward to contributing my own thoughts and time but also focus on enabling others to effectively navigate them together. With many new countries who are now newly represented in SGAC and the European region and the unprecedented growth of the organization over the last years, our predecessors have set a great foundation. Now it will be our task to continue providing our amazing NPoC’s with the opportunities and information they need, while constantly reinventing ourselves and the organization to ensure future growth and create an agile, transparent and efficient environment for volunteers and members and I am looking forward to supporting the region on this journey.”
“I am thrilled to see Niklas Wendel’s election as Regional Coordinator for Europe. His remarkable dedication to fostering international collaboration during his term as NPoC of Germany has been a testament to his vision and commitment. Niklas’s efforts in building strong cross-border connections and promoting shared initiatives will undoubtedly drive the growth and cohesion of the European region to new heights. I’m very much looking forward to working with him. Congratulations, Niklas!”
“I am very pleased with the last election round for Regional Coordinator of European Region, with four very talented candidates and their unique characteristics and their common goal to grow SGAC in Europe. Niklas, the newly appointed RC, has demonstrated in the last years a sense of community and teamwork that I am sure he will use during his term. I am sure that the region will continue to grow, with inclusiveness and passion for space in all its facets. And I am also sure that Niklas and the European team can count on the support of the other three candidates. Viel Glück and congratulations!”
