SpaceGen United Organising Team Members
A big thank you to the wonderful team we have this year working towards SGU 2020!
Davide Petrillo
SGU Manager
Davide has a M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Padova (Italy). His professional experience brought him to London (UK) as a Business Manager for Alten Ltd and previously in Milano (Italy) as a Business Analyst for Accenture, global management consulting company that provides strategy, consulting, technology and operations services. Previously, he was the Team Leader of FELDs Experiment selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Drop Your Thesis! 2014 programme. FELDs tested a tethered electromagnetic soft docking technology in microgravity conditions at the Drop Tower of the Centre of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) in Bremen, Germany. In 2015, he won the “Hans Von Muldau Team Award” for the best team project that took place in Jerusalem at the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Davide joined SGAC in 2016 and has been appointed as part of the 3rd E-SGW organizing team, the SGC 2018 organizing team specifically focused on the organization and management of the Special Track “Bridging the Space Divide” Working Group, Space Generation Congress 2019 Deputy Manager (Washington D.C., USA) and Space Generation Congress 2020 Manager (Dubai, UAE).
Victoria Carter-Cortez
SGU Deputy Manager
Victoria is an astrophysicist and aspiring space policymaker. She currently works as a consultant at PwC’s Space Practice where she is actively involved in projects that support both the public and private sector in decision-making, space policy development, and carrying out economic impact assessments. Prior to this, Victoria was working at the European Space Agency’s Washington D.C. Office as part of ESA’s External Relations Department. There, she analysed developments from key space actors and worked to strengthen international partnerships across the Atlantic. Victoria carried out her Master’s degree at University College London where, in partnership with the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, she investigated Jupiter’s X-ray auroral activity. Opening opportunities in STEM, particularly for women, is close to Victoria’s heart. To this end, she has worked as an academic mentor internationally, sharing her passion for space and delivering interactive courses to engage and inspire the next generation of space scientists and engineers.
Delegates Team
Joseph Levine is an analyst at Bryce Space and Technology, based in Washington, DC. He has previously served on the SGC 2019 and SGFF 2020 organizing teams. He also has continued work with an NGO that applies telecommunications and cashless banking inside Afghan rural communities. In 2019, Joseph won the Patti Grace Smith Scholarship for rising young professionals in the commercial space industry.
Sabrina Alam is currently working at SES as an Associate Programme Member doing a two-year rotational programme in various departments in different international locations. After her bachelor’s in Theoretical Physics, Sabrina decided to step foot into the ‘world of space’ by doing her masters at the International Space University and graduating with her MSS18 class. During her time at ISU she went to NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre to work on an Astrophysics project and later went to ESA/EAC to work on a project relating to radiation shielding of a moon base using lunar regolith. She has experience in a range of industries and took on roles within data analytics to management and has recently been involved in designing STEM programmes for young people in schools across London. Sabrina has been a member of SGAC since 2018 and was part of the Delegates Team for the SGC 2019 in Washington DC.
Chris is currently a PhD candidate in the Astronautics group at the University of Southampton. His research is focused on characterising how the additive manufacturing process affects materials properties in the context of a high temperature resistojet. Passionate about space since watching Star Wars at a young age, he previously worked as a Young Graduate Trainee at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands where he worked on corrosion related issues to assist in the recent mission BepiColombo. He entered the world of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) after receiving the Young ESA diversity Scholarship to attend the 2018 SGC and IAC in Bremen. He continues to promote diversity in the space industry to the next generation through regular outreach activities including being involved with the programme “STEM the violence” which aims to combat knife crime in London through promoting STEM activities.
Clément is an astrophysics master student at Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. Currently working on ultraluminous X-ray sources at IRAP (Toulouse), he also worked on gamma-ray bursts at the IAP (Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris). Clément is also completing a master degree in aerospace engineering at ISAE-Supaero and studied at Ecole polytechnique, two french engineering schools. He was an intern at ispace (Tokyo) in 2018 where he worked on trajectory design and optimization. He joined SGAC in 2019 and wishes to promote the aerospace sector to the public.
PR&Comms Team
Romain is 30 years old and lives in Brussels, Belgium. He holds a master’s degree in Communication & Advertising. He is deeply interested in communication, media and visual arts. He previously occupied the positions of communication manager and graphic designer in an event agency (Swim, Liège). He is now a freelance graphic designer and creates various visual communication supports (print & web) for different advertisers
After completing her Bachelor’s degree in International law at the University of Strasbourg, Lisa pursued her studies at the University of Helsinki, representing the Finnish team at the European Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. In 2019 she graduated from the International Space University’s Space Studies Program, focusing on the legal aspects of advanced space propulsion systems. Besides being involved in the organization of the SG France regional event in Paris, Lisa participated in the European Space Agency’s summer course on space law and disaster management in Messina, Italy. She currently pursues her Master’s in Space Law and Telecommunications at the University of Paris Saclay and works as a space law trainee at the international law firm Bird & Bird.
More recently she became interested in nuclear law and the use of nuclear power sources for deep space exploration missions. Lisa is a member of the European Centre for Space Law and the International Institute of Space Law.
Louis-Alban is a 24 years old french student from Orleans, in the south of Paris. He just finished his master degree formation in ESTACA in aeronautic field, in Paris. He is currently doing an 6 months internship in Polytechnic school on a nano-satellite project named IonSat. He is a musician and played violin during 8 years when he was young. He is passionated in astronomy since his childhood. And most importantly, he is always happy to share his passion with others !
Wijdane Benani,19-year-old, comes from Morocco and currently studies aerospace engineering at the International University of Rabat. Apart from her field of study, she is very passionate about community service, leadership, and bringing the benefits of the space industry and technology to humanity. From passion to action, she worked on different projects to include, inspire, and emancipate youth, promote SDG’s and help to achieve them. As a well-organized, creative, and dedicated Space Camp alumna balancing between her engineering mindset and her devotion to empowering youth and impacting the society she is always excited and motivated to take initiatives and work with various teams on different projects. Now, Wijdane is very excited to be a part of the SGC 2020 PR&Comms Team.
Programming Team
Joshua Critchley-Marrows currently is a GNSS Engineer with NSL, a leading company in Europe focusing solely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. He is project and technical lead of activities across UK, Europe and Australia, including smartphone high accuracy services, broadcast of satellite data in telecommunication networks and satellite mission feasibility studies for PNT applications. Graduating from the University of Sydney with first-class honours in Aerospace Engineering and Science, he was chosen as a finalist for the University of Sydney Convocation Medal. His research thesis into a wide field of view star tracker earned him the Engineer’s Australia Space Engineering thesis prize. He now serves as a research affiliate for the University, leading a research group into developing a test payload for the ISS. Joshua has also worked for DLR and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, as well as publishing several papers in leading research pursuits. Joshua also writes articles in other industry journals on space and GNSS applications.
Senjuti is a lawyer from India who has practiced law and worked with a Judge at the High Court of Delhi, India. She completed her LL.M in International Law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (2019), with a focus on international law, science diplomacy and security studies. She has also taught the 2019 Oxbridge program course on International Law at Harvard Law School, worked as a Research and Teaching Assistant at The Fletcher School, and is the Program Coordinator for Fletcher’s Office of Executive Education. Currently, she is working as an Associate Legal Counsel in LMI Advisors, LLC, Washington DC.
Hashmita is currently pursuing an advanced master’s at ISAE-SUPAERO in Space Applications and Services. She also has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. Hashmita was the Project Lead of a CubeSat mission at the University of Michigan. She was a participant at the International Space University’s Space Studies Program in 2018 (SSP18), and a teaching associate for a project aiming to enhance industrial space competitiveness at SSP19. Moreover, she was the Manager of SGx2019 at the Satellite 2019 Conference in DC. She also worked as a technical developer for a project with the UAE Space Agency.
Behnoosh is a PhD candidate in space engineering at Skoltech in Russia. Her background is RF systems design and satellite communication systems integration. She joined SGAC in 2011 as NPoC for Iran and later on, served in different capacities such as ME-RC for 4 years, member of planning team for PMAS 2017, Lead of FAA search campaign for four years and member of organising committee for 4 SGAC related events. She is interested in making international collaborations to provide better opportunities for youth in Middle East and in her free time, she explores cities of Russia and practices bouldering.
Logistics Team
Oluwakorede is interested in GNSS applications in Aviation/Aerospace.
Lama is Kuwait’s National Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council and is the National Coordinator for her country at the World Space Week Association. She is a Mechanical Engineering student at the American University of the Middle East who is paving her path into the space sector with an ultimate goal of making space inclusive to everyone. Since first joining the SGAC family in 2018, Lama has organized a number of events locally to raise awareness on the space sector, and has been interviewed by national TV channels highlighting her influence on the younger generation and her role in bringing Kuwait closer to space.
Curtis is a young graduated Aerospace Engineer working in the satellite insurance business. He has been based in Dubai for the last 6 months after getting hired by the company with whom he did his end-of-study internship in Paris, France. Since then, Curtis has been working in a team spread on three different continents as a Technical Adviser for space technologies and a Junior Underwriter. Curtis also has experience in event organisation from his college years as a Student Union delegate.
Sahith Reddy Madara is currently associated with Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) as an Research Engineer – CubeSat Lab, and also acting as a UAE’s National Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). Prior to SAASST, Sahith was working as a Graduate Engineer Trainee at Collins Aerospace – A Part of United Technologies Corporation; Aerospace Research Engineer (Apprentice) at Masdar Institute (iEnergy); Production/Design & Quality Engineer (Apprentice) at Hydro Middle East; Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Apprentice) at Air India Engineering Services Limited – Boeing 737-800 facility; and lastly AME On Job Training (OJT) at Emirates Aviation Services.
Sahith have kept his research spirit alive, having currently published 25 research & review papers at various International peer reviewed journals; presented 10 technical papers, and been honored with “Best Paper and Presentation Award” thrice at various multiple International Conferences throughout the world. He’s research interest over the past few years have mainly focused on Composite Materials and Structures, Satellite Technologies, 3D Meta-Materials, and Green Aviation. Amongst his noticeable accomplishments also being invited and honored as a Speaker, session chair, resource person, and technical committee member in various international conferences, hackathons, workshops, and events organized by, for instance, Azercosmos – NASA Space App Challenge, IFERP, Sharjah Education Council, UAE GCAA, MBRSC, Curtin University, IEEE, SGAC, RAeS, are a few of them. Sahith is an Aerospace Engineering graduate (Gold Medalist – “MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED” Award Winner) from Amity University Dubai.
Sustainable Development Goals Team
Charlotte Nassey works for the European Space Agency as an Assistant Contracts Officer, in support of the science programme. She graduated with a Master’s degree in space and telecommunications law from the University of Paris-Saclay, and a Master’s in space studies from the International Space University. In addition to supporting SGC 2020, Charlotte is part of the new SGAC initiative for diversity and inclusion in the space sector: ‘Our Giant Leap’
Giulia is a policy and space economy officer at G-nous, a consulting company based in Italy. Now and then, her main work deals with new space economy data analysis, policy contents production and analysis, sustainability, in-orbit servicing. Previously, she was a Resident Fellow and Italian Space Agency secondment at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria. Giulia joined ESPI shortly after completing her Master of International Relations at the University of Rome La Sapienza as well as the Master Course in Space Institutions and Policies with the Italian Society for International Organizations (SIOI) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Giulia holds a Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations and was also a Trainee at ALTEC, dealing with Suborbital spaceflights and Spaceport Capabilities, and Export Control/ITAR, in Turin.
