Embracing diversity is the cornerstone of SGAC’s principles. The goal of the Middle East Space Leaders Award is to provide an opportunity for interaction between members of the space sector with diverse geographic and professional backgrounds. SGAC is pleased to announce Sarah Sharayah, Veysel Aksu, Sima Moradinasab and Saeed Jafari as the winners of the 2025 Middle East Space Leader Award. The winners will be sponsored to attend the 3rd Middle East Space Generation Workshop to be held in Ankara, Türkiye, 13-14 December 2025.

Congratulations Sarah, Veysel, Sima and Saeed!

 

Sarah Sharayah

Sarah Sharayah is a 20-year-old Jordanian electrical engineering student at Al Hussein Technical University. She is the Lead of the Electrical Power System (EPS) for AlRihm-Sat, Jordan’s first CubeSat supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in collaboration with Exolaunch. The satellite is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in early 2027.
Alongside her high academic performance, she is the President of the Association of Energy Engineers’ HTU Student Chapter, where she actively leads STEM outreach and youth engagement, and under her leadership the chapter earned three international awards in the global energy sector.
Sarah is the first Middle Easterner to win first place in the International Youth Competition for Sci-Fi Works and was hosted by the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos). She is also a Women in Tech MENA Awards 2024 finalist in the Aspiring Teen Category.
With over eight international awards across energy, space, and technology, Sarah is committed to advancing Jordan’s role in the global space ecosystem through innovation, outreach, and youth empowerment.

“What you seek is seeking you… just as a star seeks its orbit.” – Rumi.
“Growing up as a young engineer in Jordan, I’ve seen how curiosity, determination, and collaboration can turn challenges into opportunities. And that seeking knowledge is the bridge from our communities to space. Receiving the Middle Eastern Space Leader Award was more than just exciting news; it was a profound honor that I will always hold close to my heart with deep gratitude to SGAC. It felt like a reminder that the greatest journeys begin with a spark of curiosity and a vision that dares to look beyond the horizon..”

 

Veysel Aksu

Veysel Aksu is an undergraduate physics student at Erciyes University and a dedicated science communicator. He is currently working with a particle physics research group in collaboration with Fermilab and UC Berkeley. His primary interests lie in particle physics, astrophysics, and space technologies.

Veysel has extensive experience within national and international scientific communities. He serves as the General Coordinator of the Bebar Science Society, one of the largest science societies in Türkiye. He was the NASA International Space Apps Challenge Kayseri Local Lead for 2025, organizing the local event. Additionally, his team received a global nomination at the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 in Istanbul.

He is the founder of the Erciyes Physics Society and a founding delegate of the Turkish Association of Physics Students (TAPS), a branch of the International Association of Physics Students (IAPS). Veysel also serves on the Program Team for the Middle East Space Generation Workshop (ME-SGW) 2025.

His dedication to physics, space science, and the future of humanity continues to guide his academic pursuits and professional aspirations.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Middle East Space Leader Award. This recognition shows me that SGAC welcomes people from diverse fields and experiences. With this honor, I am more dedicated than ever to contributing to space science and technology in the Middle East and around the world.“

 

Sima Moradinasab

 

Dr. Sima Moradinasab is an Assistant Professor in Public International Law, specializing in space law at Shahid Beheshti University (SBU) in Tehran. She is recognized by the International Astronautical Federation as a 2025 Emerging Space Leader.

As a talented student, she earned her bachelor’s degree in law (2018), master’s degree (2020), and PhD in Public International Law (2025) from SBU. Sima, as a visiting researcher, conducted and completed her doctoral research at the Leiden University’s International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL). She has also written and published several articles on space law.

Sima is eager to fostering space law discourse, especially among young generations. She has also participated in international conferences, including the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) where she has presented her research on space law issues. She has also been one of the selected speakers of the 2022 Young Lawyers’ Symposium organized by the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL).

Sima joined Space Generation Advisory Council (‘SGAC’) in January 2024 as a member of Space Law and Policy (SLP) Project Group (PG) and a team member of Space Generation Advocacy and Policy Platform. She currently serves as the National Point of Contact for Iran, SLP PG’s research coordinator and co-leads the research group within the SGAC SLP PG. She is also an individual member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL).

” I am truly honored to receive the Middle East Space Leadership Award. For me, SGAC has been a place to grow in the space field, engage with young professionals, develop new skills, and learn every day. After years of dedication to space law and my work with SGAC, this award is a reminder that nothing is impossible.”

Saeed Jafari

 

Saeed Jafari is a linguist and a public engagement and science communication professional with experience of delivering face-to-face science engagement, science journalism and delivering training for practitioners. Saeed holds a Master’s degree in linguistics and cognitive science from the University of Kurdistan in Iran. Saeed is currently serving as Co-chair of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), co-led by UNESCO. Since joining the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in 2012, he has held several roles, including Executive Secretary for the Middle East from 2019 to 2025, during which he built a strategic team and a scalable framework to expand regional and national activities. He was also actively involved in SGAC’s Space Exploration and Near-Earth Object (NEO) Project Groups between 2015 and 2019. Besides this, Saeed worked with the World Space Week Association as External Relations Manager, where he developed partnerships that leveraged shared and external resources to advance WSWA’s mission. For more than fifteen years, he has led astronomy communication, outreach, and education efforts for organisations such as the International Astronomical Union (IAU), SGAC, and UNOOSA. He currently researches public understanding of science across media, technology, and society. In 2019, he co-founded the Under Iran Sky programme, an open online astronomy education platform for disenfranchised and minoritised communities. He is also the developer of several innovative initiatives, including the IAU/UN-funded Heritage of the Sky project, which aims to involve the general public in active astronomy and space communication.

“The Middle East has a rich history of scientific and technological innovation, and receiving this award is a reminder of the incredible potential our region holds. This recognition drives me to work even harder, not only for the advancement of space exploration but to inspire and mentor the next wave of leaders from the Middle East.”