SGx2025 YP and Student Lightning Talk
SGx 2025 Lightning Talks, inspired by TEDx presentations, offer students and young professionals a platform to share experiences and insights on this year’s theme: “Ventures Beyond Earth: Exploration Meets Enterprise.” This dynamic event fosters knowledge exchange on the intersection of space exploration and commerce, while allowing participants to showcase their work, refine public speaking skills, and gain global experience.
Application closed!
Young Professional/Student Lighting Talk Speakers
Karen Abarca is a communication systems engineer at Northrop Grumman with four years of technical experience in the Space industry. To date, Abarca’s engineering portfolio has focused on radio frequency and lasercomm simulation analysis, channel performance, network architecture and unit design.
Before pivoting to a career in engineering, Abarca was a costume designer in the film and television industry. Abarca’s costume designs have been featured in shows such as “Germany’s Next Topmodel” and on the Disney Network.
Presently, Abarca dedicates much of her time supporting and mentoring students pursuing careers and education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Abarca is also an active member of several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Northrop Grumman focused on companywide DEI initiatives, as well as other professional organizations including Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Mujeres, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – South Bay chapter (SHPE-SBLA), and Society of Women Engineers – Los Angeles chapter (SWE-LA).
Abarca received her associate degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from California State University, Long Beach; and master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
Communication Systems Engineer
Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Joanna Quan is a PhD candidate in Business at Virginia Tech, specializing in commercial space, technology adoption, and industry strategy. Joanna’s research focuses on satellite internet adoption from consumer, industry, and policy perspectives. Joanna conducts primary market research at Amazon and leads HR and research initiatives at the SGAC Commercial Space Project Group. With a global background spanning Asia, including China, South Korea, and Singapore, Joanna has also gained research experience across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Joanna holds a master’s in Marketing and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s in Economics from Yonsei University.
PhD candidate in Business, Virginia Tech
Noor Haj-Tamim is a Bioastronautics Researcher, aviator, and Executive Director of Jordan Student Space Outreach and Academic Relations (JSSOAR), where she leads initiatives to bring space and aviation opportunities to underserved communities in the Middle East. Under her leadership, JSSOAR organized Jordan’s first nationwide Cubes in Space event, allowing students to send experiments to space and establishing the country’s first Women in Aviation International Chapter. Noor is the Founder of Avionova, a medical technology startup developing vestibular technologies for aviators. As a student with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), she has gained experience in spacesuit testing, microgravity research, upper-atmospheric studies, and bioastronautics. Driven by a commitment to equity in education, Noor is dedicated to creating inclusive environments where all students can pursue STEM opportunities without sacrificing their culture or roots.
JSSOAR (Jordan Student Space Outreach and Academic Relations), IIASJSSOAR (Jordan Student Space Outreach and Academic Relations), IIAS
Samuel is an aspiring space professional and second-year student at Curtin University studying a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours). He is the mechanical lead for the Perth Aerospace Student Team (PAST), where he plays a key role in structural and deployable systems on a CubeSat. His work has included simulation of space conditions on the structure, deployable antenna design, and mounting solutions for a High-Altitude Balloon Launch. His other interests include additive manufacturing in space, spacecraft design, and robotics. Samuel is also passionate about developing the space industry in Australia, particularly through education and outreach. He was involved in the ASTRA program for 2024/25, where he collaborated with students around Australia to write a paper on finding Australia’s space niche.
Mechatronics Engineering Student (Honours) at Curtin University, Mechanical Lead for the Perth Aerospace Student Team
Madeline Bowne is PhD candidate and graduate researcher from the Aerospace Systems Design Lab at Georgia Tech. Her research focuses on advanced design, modeling, and simulation for space systems, with a particular emphasis on on-orbit servicing in low Earth orbit (LEO) and creating circular space economies. Madeline’s commitment to applying engineering problem-solving and decision-making tools to real-world challenges is reflected in her diverse industry experience, including internships at Relativity Space, Redwire Space, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Madeline holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University, where she spent four years on the Formula SAE racing team. As a 2021 Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, she is passionate about the commercial space industry and space sustainability.
Her multi-disciplinary PhD dissertation, “Flexible Space JAWA (Junk Allocation & Waste Abatement): Flexibility Framework for Screening Strategies & Options for Sustainable LEO On-Orbit Servicing,” aims to improve on-orbit servicing operations by leveraging flexible strategies and policies to stimulate demand and encourage private sector investment in sustainable practices.
PhD Candidate in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. Graduate Research Assistance at the Aerospace Systems Design Lab. 2021 Matthew Isakowitz Fellow
Emma Marion advises space, satellite, and telecommunications companies on regulatory and compliance matters before telecommunications regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She assists space and satellite companies in obtaining spectrum and imaging licenses, participating in rulemakings, and addressing other regulatory matters. In particular, Emma has advised companies in navigating regulatory complexities relating to novel activities such as lunar exploration, in-space experimental demonstrations, and in-orbit services, as well as on emerging developments in space sustainability and safety, mitigation of orbital debris, and in-space liability. Internationally, Emma assists global companies in coordinating market entry across multiple jurisdictions and on issues relating to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations governing the international use of spectrum.
Associate Attorney (Telecom), DLA Piper
Damian Clogher is an early career aerospace professional and an Ambassador of the Planetary Sunshade Foundation, which seeks to popularize the concept of a planetary sunshade as a potential solution to climate change. Damian currently works in the aviation sector but is looking to transition into a space career soon.
Planetary Sunshade Foundation / Boeing
Julia is an electronic engineer from Argentina, graduated from National University of Córdoba. She has just completed a Master’s degree in Renewable Energies, Climate Change and Sustainability in the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. She worked as a power design engineer in the space area, for INVAP, an Argentinian company dedicated to the design and manufacture of complex technological systems. She is passionate about space, and works to encourage youth to follow the space path through her project, MELIORA. She worked at University of Sant’Anna, Pisa in a project of Air Breathing Electric Propulsion and she is currently pursuing her PhD in University of Texas at Arlington. Within SGAC, she is the new regional coordinator of South America.
PhD Candidate at University of Texas-Arlington and Founder at MELIORA
