SGAC is delighted and honoured to be awarded the IAF Excellence in 3G Diversity Award for 2018. The award is intended to recognize IAF member organisations (industry, government, academia) worldwide for outstanding contributions to the fostering of “3G” (Geography, Generation, Gender) Diversity within the space sector. It is an annual award presented at the IAC, but is given only when nominations of exceptional merit are received.
SGAC was conceived at the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) in 1999, whereby states resolved, as part of the Vienna Declaration, To create, within the framework of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, a consultative mechanism to facilitate the continued participation of young people from all over the world, especially young people from developing countries and young women, in cooperative space-related activities.
In recent years SGAC has enjoyed unprecedented success in ensuring we have diversity reflected in our interactive events and across our organization. Our network is culturally and geographically diverse, and includes members from government, military, non-profit and private organizations – with more than 13,000 members and alumni in over 150 countries around the world with educational backgrounds that include engineering, management, law, international relations, economics, and more. Many of our events, including our flagship event the Space Generation Congress, have over 40% women in attendance, and proactively ensure a wealth of global representation.
SGAC has worked tirelessly to support a goal of diversity – which enables our interactive events to boast an eclectic mix of attendees which results in a unique range of outputs. In the same discussion group, you will see attendees from a range of backgrounds – such as a young woman engineer at ESA, a CEO of a space startup from Nigeria, a lawyer from a space policy think tank, and an Officer from the US Air Force. Despite their varied backgrounds, they are all united in their passion for space – and the opportunity to learn from each other truly demonstrates how SGAC’s mission not only promotes diversity as a concept – but results in actionable outcomes from it that will bring a positive and brilliant vision for the future of the international space sector. We are honoured to have this work recognized by the IAF and thank all of our members past and present that have made this possible!
