SGC 2025 Organising Team
— The Heart Behind the Congress—
Months before SGC even begins, our volunteers are already at work from sunrise to sunset, and often well beyond. Despite full schedules filled with studies, work, and personal commitments, they continue to carve out time to build something truly meaningful for the global space community.
Our SGC 2025 Organising Team is truly global. This year, we are proudly working across borders and time zones from Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Germany, Russia, India, Nepal, and the United States proving that passion for space knows no boundaries.
Finding a common meeting time is often a puzzle in itself! what’s morning for one is midnight for another. And yet, this team consistently shows up. Many are full-time students or professionals, juggling academic deadlines, demanding jobs, and personal lives, still choosing to give their time, energy, and ideas to make SGC 2025 something special!
It’s this spirit of dedication, sacrifice, and global collaboration that powers this congress.
To our incredible team! thank you. You are the heart of SGC 2025, and we truly couldn’t do this without you.
—Curious who’s making it all happen? Tap the photos to check out our Organising Team member’s LinkedIn profiles!—
Daniel a project manager in the defence manufacturing sector, delivering complex programs to government clients. With a background in business development, commercialisation, and major funding schemes, Daniel has experience driving industry partnerships and technology transfer initiatives. Passionate about space and emerging technologies, Daniel brings a strategic mindset and operational expertise to the global space community.
Nashide Pelin Kurtaran is a space policy professional with a background in Space Law. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of West London and a Master’ss in Space Law from Northumbria University. As an active Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) member for over two years, she has played a key role in HR operations, recruitment, and community engagement. She has led efforts to enhance team coordination, streamline onboarding processes, and support a global network of volunteers. She has also represented SGAC at major international forums, including COPUOS and IAC, advocating for space law and policy discussions.
A dedicated traveller, Pelin has explored over 25 countries and enjoys solo travelling, hiking, and extreme sports such as skydiving and rafting. She is actively involved in volunteering across different regions, including The Gambia, England, India, and Ghana, contributing to various initiatives that promote education, community development, and global engagement. Passionate about cybersecurity, AI law, child online safety, and space tourism, she integrates her legal expertise with emerging digital challenges. With a problem-solving mindset and a commitment to professional and personal growth, she continues to make meaningful contributions to SGAC and the broader space community.
PR&Comms Team
Kaylee Li is the Co-Founder and CEO of Astraea Technologies Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based space pharmaceutical startup, Founder & Project Lead of the Sydney Interplanetary Rover Initiative, SGAC Asia-Pacific Regional Executive Secretary, and the PR & Communications Team Lead for the Space Generation Congress 2025. She has worked across both defence and commercial space sectors, contributing to projects ranging from the multibillion-dollar JP9102 satellite program at Optus Satellite & Space Systems to Australia’s first lunar rover, Roo-ver, at Lunar Outpost Oceania. Kaylee is committed to fostering a sustainable, diverse, and thriving space industry for future generations. Her leadership and positive influence have inspired many aspiring space professionals in Australia. She is also a member of the IAC 2025 Consultation (IACC) group, supporting the organisation of the International Astronautical Congress 2025 in Sydney.
Oshan is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Physics at Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He is currently serving as the Koshi Province Project Coordinator of the Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) and as SGAC’s National Point of Contact (NPoC) for Nepal. Oshan is an aspiring space scientist and amateur astronomer with multiple provisional asteroid discoveries. He has also been awarded the IAF 2023 Emerging Space Leader Award.
Shae Ingram is a Senior Program Engineer in the Satellite and Space Systems team at Optus. She graduated with first-class honours from a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Honours) at the University of Sydney, where she was heavily involved in student societies, including serving as Co-President of the Sydney Women in Aerospace Engineering society. Shae has been working in the space industry for three years, where she has gained experience working in Satellite Operations, Payload & TCR Engineering, Program Engineering, and Satellite Policy & Industry Engagement. Shae is very passionate about advocating for women in STEM, promoting careers in Space, and participating in outreach programs as a Space Ambassador at Optus, where she spends time educating young people about space, sharing her career pathway, and creating visibility around what an engineer can look like.
Sepehr Saryazdi is a proactive and multi-disciplinary student with a Master’s degree in Mathematics and Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at the University of Sydney. He is now a PhD student with the Australian Centre for Robotics and CSIRO’s Robot Perception and Autonomy Group, aspiring to transfer his skills to the space domain for developing future space robotics capabilities. Outside of robotics, Sepehr was awarded a summer scholarship by the Australian National University’s Institute for Space to research optical communications for contacting NASA’s Orion capsule during Artemis II. Sepehr is now a PR and Communications Team Member for SGC and will direct support the SGC event in conjunction with IAC 2025 in Sydney.
In addition to his academic work, Sepehr has been involved in a multitude of operations and management extracurricular roles; including his 2024-2025 involvement as a team coordinator for the Astra Program in Australia, Project Manager for his team in Milo Mission Academy 2024 and Science Subsystem Lead for the Sydney Interplanetary Rover Initiative. From these wide range of experiences, Sepehr has developed a unique perspective that combines abstraction and detail, enabling decision-making capability at all levels.
Vatasta is a MEXT Research student at SSDL Kyushu University (Kyudai), Japan. She received her Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in Avionics from India. During her undergraduate studies, she was an active member of Infinity Space Club: The Astronautical Society of UPES and served as a senior executive, contributing significantly to the club’s initiatives and fostering a culture of innovation and exploration. Additionally, she co-led Team Agastya: Aero-Design Team of UPES for the AIAA DBF competition excelling in the collaborative environment. She was an industrial intern at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Helicopter Division, and at the 8 Base Repair Depot Indian Air Force, Chennai.
Vatasta is also actively involved with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and gained valuable experience at SGAC while serving on the Public Relations and Communications team for the OGL Hackathon, and the SGx. She is also an active member in SSS PG and SSPG, enabling her to make valuable contributions to multiple research projects. She was awarded the SGAC-BryceTech-Heo-SWF for attending the 6th Summit for Space Sustainability, Tokyo. She was recently awarded the prestigious Nebula Award for attending the SGC and IAC 2024 in Milan, Italy.
Khushi Daga is an X-ray systems scientist at CSIRO and a Host at the Sydney Observatory. Passionate about advocating for diversity, inclusion and accessibility to Space education, she is Co-President of the Space Research Student Committee (SRSC) and Director at the Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge (AVA). Khushi graduated with an Honours degree in Physics and Palaeoscience from the University of New South Wales. With experience in physical chemistry and astrobiology research, Khushi’s interests range from human spaceflight to astrophysics, or the application of Space research and tech towards the betterment of the environment and society. In her free time, she finds joy in hiking mountains, playing instruments, dancing or reading and watching films.
Delegates Team
Maria holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and she has relevant skills applying to different fields within the space sector; Space Mission Design, Engine Testing Campaigns, EO applications, and Management. She also has experience as Data & Business Analyst, providing her ability to manage data structures and modelling data transformation processes that can be applied to the space industry. In 2022 she joined the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) as Knowledge and Technology Transfer Manager and Head of Technology Impact Strategy, assessing commercial potential of research innovations and developing commercialization strategies. In parallel, she is involved in Ground Segment activities as Technical Project Manager for an European project focused on the development of a Rocket Engine Test facility based in Catalonia and she gives support to the development of the operations concept plan for an in-house exploration mission.
Stuart is a software systems engineer with a background in spacecraft software development. He completed a PhD at Curtin University as part of the Binar Space Program, where he worked on improving spacecraft autonomy and resilience through a custom software framework and onboard digital twin technology, which was deployed on multiple CubeSat missions.
He currently works at Fugro SpAARC, focusing on embedded software and avionics systems. With experience in both research and industry, Stuart enjoys tackling complex engineering challenges in space technology.
Sailor is an enthusiastic Bachelor’s student of International Relations and Political Science. Since joining SGAC in 2024, they are a part of the Law and Policy Project Group, and keeps regular contact with other Australian members of the Council. After completing a research project at ESPI in early 2024, Sailor is always excited for opportunities to learn more about space.
Deep Anand holds a background in aerospace engineering from India and is currently working as a systems engineer and a part of the founder’s office at one of the India’s leading and highly regarded defspace startups. His academic and professional endeavors are rooted in a passion for small satellites and their applications, space telescopes, in-space propulsion systems, and the evolving trends within the global space ecosystem. In addition to his technical expertise, Deep is an advocate for advancing scientific literacy through innovative and creative approaches to science communication and outreach. He firmly believes that compelling storytelling, artistic expressions, and engaging methodologies are essential tools for making complex scientific concepts accessible and relatable to a wider audience. He has also been working in dark sky advocacy and outreach by leading a internationally recognized non-profit for the past eight years.
Programming Team
Andrew Murphy is a Senior Spacecraft Engineer at Optus Satellite and Space Systems, specialising in satellite operations, orbital mechanics, and systems engineering. With a background in physics and extensive experience in the space industry, he has worked across multiple domains, including spacecraft mission planning, orbital manoeuvre execution, and technical consulting for satellite programs.
Beyond his professional role, Andrew is actively engaged in the global space community. He has contributed to international knowledge management initiatives, leading the Knowledge Management Team for the IPMC Young Professionals Workshop at IAC 2024. He is also involved in industry outreach through the Space Ambassadors Program at Optus, where he promotes awareness and collaboration in the space sector.
Andrew is passionate about space strategy, industry innovation, and the intersection of technical expertise with business development. He is continually exploring new ways to bridge engineering, policy, and commercial space applications, with a long-term ambition of shaping the future of the global space industry.
Alex is a Mechanical R&D Engineer for Cislune, Inc, where he multi-tasks as both the engineering lead and project manager for Cislune’s development efforts. When he isn’t trying to develop a novel device for the Moon, he’s active in SGAC helping with event planning, and takes an interest in both US and international law and policy. He also teaches swing dancing, middle school science+philosophy club, and occasionally gets to ride a horse.
Karla holds a Bachelor of Science (Physics) from the University of Wollongong. As a lifelong lover of space, Karla first entered the Australian Space Industry through an internship with a space start-up based at the National Space Industry Hub. There she learnt all about the amazing technologies within Australia and set her sights on creating a career in the growing space industry. After spending some time in consulting, she returned to the industry in her dream role as a Space Mission Analyst at HEO. Karla has also been involved in the Astra Program as a participant and most recently as a Program Manager. This is a youth-led initiative which provides tertiary students and young professionals of all disciplines an opportunity to learn about important issues in the Australian space industry. She is passionate about the sustainability and longevity of the space industry, as well as creating an inclusive and diverse environment for young professionals.
Theo, an enthusiast for space exploration, found his passion at a young age while watching Star Trek with his father. Since that moment, his dream has been to become a space engineer and contribute to humanity’s ventures beyond Earth. In 2022, Theo completed his diploma thesis in mechanical engineering, specializing in aerospace engineering, after gaining valuable experience through internships at MTU Aero Engines and Airbus, where he immersed himself in additive manufacturing technologies. Transitioning to a role as a research associate at TU Dresden in 2023, Theo further expanded his expertise by delving into cutting-edge projects focusing on Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for landing structures and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) for space applications. Simultaneously, Theo embarks on a journey towards a PhD., focusing on experimental investigation of lunar landing pads to be additively manufactured via in-situ resource utilization. Outside of academia, Theo contributes actively to shaping the future of space engineering as a member of the VDI Aerospace Advisory Board. Through his dedication and expertise, Theo aims to advance humanity’s presence and capabilities in the cosmos, making significant strides towards the next frontier of space exploration. In his leisure pursuits, he enjoys playing the piano, alongside golfing, climbing, and skiing.
Charlotte Kiang is a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she is a core member of the Space Sector leadership team as well as an active member of the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications practice. She joined BCG in 2020 after several years as a Mission Integration Engineer at SpaceX, where she led cargo integration for the first Dragon 2 flight and sat on console for multiple Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) launches to the International Space Station. Charlotte has been involved with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) since 2014, serving as the USA National Point of Contact and supporting the organizing teams for SGFF and SGC in Toronto. She is thrilled to return as a member of the SGC 2025 Programming Team and looks forward to shaping engaging discussions that bring together space professionals from around the world in Sydney.
Shrriya is a freshly minted M.Sc. Physics graduate specializing in astrophysics. An avid participant in international conferences, summer schools, and public scientific outreach programs, she thrives on sharing the wonders of the universe and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Her contributions have been recognized through prestigious scholarships and leadership roles in astronomy organizations.
Beyond the world of stars and equations, Shrriya believes that every conversation is like reading a new chapter of a book—each person has a story worth discovering. She loves solving puzzles (both celestial and cardboard), crafting, devouring books, and curating the perfect music playlist for every mood.
Logistics Team
Brearne is a Senior Network Engineer in the RF Engineering and Satellite Regulatory team of Optus Satellite and Space Systems. In her role, she works on the design, build, and maintenance of Optus’ satellite communications ground systems, which provide essential services such as broadcast, television, and broadband across Australia and New Zealand. She also ensures compliance with Radio Regulations and coordinates spectrum use with other operators. This aspect of her role includes participation in domestic and international forums under the ITU-R, which study changes to the Radio Regulations to adapt to industry developments.
In her free time, Brearne enjoys gallivanting among the fields of her many hobbies, currently dabbling in rug making and afternoon fishing. At home, she is kept on her toes by her two cats, who have firmly established themselves as the true rulers of her household.
Subhrajit is a PhD student in biotechnology, specializing in sustainable agricultural systems and space food. Within SGAC, he is serving as the Co-Lead of the Mentoring Committee and the PR & Communications Coordinator of SSS PG.
Rongxuan is a final-year UNSW Aerospace Engineering (Honours) and Material Science student. Has undertaken leadership and technical positions with AIAA UNSW, Engineers Without Borders UNSW and the Astra Program. Excelled in numerous business and engineering case competitions, developing strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. His undergraduate thesis focuses on LEO satellite reentry prediction utilising ROM density models. Passionate about space exploration, sustainable infrastructure and political science, Rongxuan is a driven and interdisciplinary thinker poised to make meaningful contributions.
A mix of archaeologist and chemist. Outside academia, I’m a rugby athlete. Driven by the passion to study the past, evolution, and dinosaurs, I studied archaeology and molecular biology. My passion for space started really early, but I put it aside, yet it came back even stronger. In my PhD, I am studying how life can emerge from the interaction of minerals (in hydrothermal vents) and organics on Earth and beyond. In this research, I am combining geology and chemistry, while creating and optimising microfluidic systems to observe dynamic interactions between mineral and organics. While working on astrobiology, I also advacate for ouuter space environmental and human hertage protection policies. With SSSPG, I am co-leading a team to recognise Earth’s orbits as a intangeble cultural heritage.
Ritambhara Ganesh (often known as ‘Rita’) is a very passionate space enthusiast, committed towards making a significant impact in the space industry. With an aspiration to use space technologies to solve critical problems on Earth that deserve more attention, and to help humanity better advance in its methods of exploring the vast expanse of the universe, she has been actively involved in the space sector.
She is the founder of The Extraterrestrials (E.T.) Pty Ltd, an early-stage space tech startup focused on developing an efficient way to monitor Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Currently pursuing a degree in Space Engineering at the University of Sydney, she actively contributes to various initiatives that aim to advance the space community.
Additionally, she serves as the Secretary of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ University of Sydney Student Branch (AIAA USSB) and has also co-authored a white paper on ‘Regional Space Collaboration in Oceania and Southeast Asia’ with Team Casuarina in the Astra program organized by the Australian Youth Aerospace Association (AYAA). She aims to make lasting contributions to the space sector and lead its next generation of advancements. With her big ambitions and relentless drive, Rita is on track to become a key player in the space industry.
National Points of Contact
Darcey Watson is the Executive Officer of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, specialising in education, industry engagement and innovation strategies for the sector. She holds qualifications in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Adelaide and Space Studies from the International Space University. Darcey was an Australian delegate for the International Visitors Leadership Program with the United States State Department, is a serving committee member with the International Astronautical Federation, Co-Founded the CoLab Society Podcast and is the Chair of the Spence Club Inc Board of Directors.
Luke is a young professional working to see the growth of the Australian space industry and the application of AI/ML to space-related data. AI and space are two key growth sectors of the future and I want to see young people getting their foot in the door as soon as they can.
