In cooperation with OHB, SGAC are pleased to announce Zander du Toit and Alessandro Paravano as the winners of the 2025 SGAC – OHB SE Competition. This competition sought innovative ideas on Commercial Space Industry for LEO – Challenges and Future, how emerging markets, technology, science, and resources can drive this, and what role government and global cooperation will play. The winners will be sponsored to attend the 23rd Space Generation Congress (SGC): 25-27 September 2025  and 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC): 29 September – 3 October 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

Zander developed an early curiosity for space and exploration that found its first outlet in learning about rockets and planetary missions. During his school years, he showed a natural aptitude for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Outside the classroom, these STEM interests were further encouraged through hands‑on projects such as building telescopes and programming simple robotics kits.
After being awarded an academic scholarship, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from a leading South African university, graduating with distinction. During his studies, he completed internships with international aerospace component manufacturers and took part in student‑led racing and rocketry teams. After graduating, he spent time working in the aerospace industry, contributing to the development of both piloted and semi‑autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles.
With a clear passion for the space sector, and recognising the lack of dedicated space‑engineering programs at home, he relocated to Europe to pursue postgraduate studies in Aerospace Engineering. He is currently a master’s candidate at the Technical University of Delft, specialising in spaceflight dynamics. His research investigates the guidance and control of momentum‑exchange tethers, a promising propellantless propulsion method aimed at efficiently transporting payloads to higher orbits and between Earth, the Moon, and Mars Upon completing his master’s, he plans to re‑enter the aerospace industry, where he hopes to apply his expertise to advance spaceflight technologies and contribute to establishing permanent human presence on the Moon and Mars.

Alessandro Paravano is Assistant Professor at the School of Management at Politecnico di Milano, where he also works as a senior researcher in the Space Economy Observatory. He studies complex project business, value chain transition, project governance, complex project value and success. He adopts both qualitative and quantitative methods. He is the author of +20 peer-reviewed articles and conference proceedings. His research has garnered grants from prestigious institutions, including the European Union Commission, the International Astronautical Federation, the Space Generation Advisory Council, and the Italian Space Agency. Winner of the “PMI Young Researcher Award”, best PM young researcher in the world in 2024, by the Project Management Institute. He is a member of the IAF Space Economy Committee and Department Editor of the Project Management Journal. He is a lecturer in the Executive Course in “Management for the New Space Economy” at PoliMi Graduate School of Management and teaches “Space Economy and Earth Observation Business” and “Aerospace Project Management” MSc courses at PoliMi. Supervisors: Proff. Paolo Trucco and Giorgio Locatelli. Educated in Politecnico di Milano and TU Delft, where he developed his MSc Thesis. PhD “Cum Laude” and MSc “Cum Laude” in in Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano.