Mr. Mario MANIEWICZ - Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau ​ 

Mr. Mario Maniewicz was elected Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He took office on 1 January 2019. 

Mario Maniewicz is an electronic engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with the ITU for over 30 years, where he has served in high-level management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors as well as in ITU Regional Offices. 

As Director, Mr. Maniewicz is responsible for the management of the Radiocommunication Bureau, which organizes and co-ordinates the work of the Radiocommunication Sector whose aim is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.​

Dr. Abdulhadi AbouAlmal has more than 15 years of wide telecom, IT and digital expertise in UAE and international levels. He has various leadership roles and contributions in the work and activities of international organizations (e.g. ITU, 3GPP and GSMA, SAMENA… ).

He is the Chairman and Vice-chairman of various international Expert Groups such as ITU-T Q6/SG20 and WP 2/20 on IoT & Smart Cities, ITU-R Task Group 6/1, WG3 of TG 6/1 on current and future usage of UHF spectrum … etc.

He has been the head of Technology stratrgy in Etisalat by e&, leading development of Telecom and IT strategies, Spectrum Management, IoT and Smart Cities development, Radio

Access evolution (e.g. 5G, Open RAN… ) and digital transformation in UAE and the Region since 2008. He is a board member of Lablabee, and has been engineering advisory board member in Ajman University and American University of Sharjah.

He has been the SPOC of Arab Group in many international treaty-making conferences and events (e.g. ITU WRC, WTSA, WTDC and PP) in the fields of radiocommunication, technology standardization, ICT development… etc.

He is also the Liaison Rapporteur of ITU-T SG20 with ITU-R and 3GPP on IoT and Smart City issues.

Before 2008, Dr. AbouAlmal joined many UAE universities and research centers. He has been leading several national and international initiatives including cost modeling of telecom services, development of business cases … etc.

Dr. Abdulhadi has PhD degree in wireless and mobile communication, from UK. He obtained his MSc degree in Engineering Systems Management, and BSc in Electrical /Telecommunication Engineering, from UAE. He is the author and co-author of many journal and conference papers and has many research publications across various areas including propagation modeling for Gulf region, IMT harmonization for new verticals, wireless network modeling and optimization… etc.​

Engineer, Abdullah Alnahdi, is currently working on Saudi Arabian Airlines technical services as Manager of Aircraft Reliability Engineering Avionics, with more than 29 years experience on Saudia aircraft aviation. During his work, many projects have been accomplished on Saudia Aircraft Systems, especially on aircraft navigation, power and instrumentation. Also, he has worked on new system installation such as Connectivity and In- Flight Entertainment.​

With broad experience in the telecoms and technology sectors, Andy has a particular interest in spectrum (auctions and valuation) and the impact of new technology (5G, AI, IoT and Big Data). Spectrivity, his latest venture, exists to support companies in maximising the opportunities created by spectrum auctions. Andy has recently supported major clients in auctions in the US, Canada, South Africa and Zambia. He also provides expert advice around spectrum policy and pricing, most recently in Australia and Hungary.

Through his roles as Head of Policy for the GSMA and as Director of Spectrum Policy at Ofcom, he brings a deep understanding of both the industry and regulatory perspectives around the world. Previously, Andy spent 12 years at Vodafone, where he held various senior product development, corporate strategy and policy roles. As Head of Spectrum Policy, he was responsible for managing spectrum policy and auctions across the Vodafone Group. He was frequently in Africa, India or Europe, supporting Vodafone's local operating companies, and managed the acquisition or renewal of spectrum in over 20 countries for a total of €9.5bn.

In 2000, he was part of the senior management team which spun an internet payments and encryption company out of NatWest. He was formerly a management consultant and a research scientist at Sharp Laboratories of Europe and Sony Corporation, based in Japan. He has a doctorate in Engineering Science from Oxford University and an MBA.

Ben is leading the Altaeros team on its journey to bring modern infrastructure to the billions of un-served and under-served people around the world. He is driven by a belief that business and technical innovation are the key to creating positive, scalable impact. At Altaeros, Ben is responsible for setting the company's strategic vision and keeping the whole team moving towards that vision, as well as providing operational direction for the company. Ben originally developed the idea for Altaeros while researching compact, efficient turbomachinery as part of the MIT Gas Turbine Lab. After developing the initial prototypes, Ben co-founded Altaeros in 2010. He holds a BS and MS in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT.

Dr. -Ing. Csaba Singer studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Stuttgart/Germany until 2005 and participated since May 2001 in R&D activities concerning High Altitude Platforms. Following his aerospace engineering studies in Germany he invented a new concept of flying that can also be used for tasks related to the exploration of Mars. Dr. Singer started his doctoral work in the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in February 2007. With his doctoral thesis he contributed to the development of solar thermal power plants. He formulated a complete power plant system out of a large number of available computational models. This allowed him to analyze the impact of individual components, depending on their type and operational strategies, on the cost reduction potential of the entire power plant. He completed his PhD in June 2012 on the topic of an innovative direct absorption receiver with molten salt. Since 2011 his research is dedicated to an internal strategic project at DLR, whose objective is the scientifically founded identification of game changing receiver technologies for solar tower systems.

Dr. Emma Gatti is the Editor in Chief of SpaceWatch.Global, a Cambridge graduated and a former NASA scientist with ten years of experience in the field of planetary science and geology. She was working as a post-doctoral scholar at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and California Institute of Technology before returning to Milan in 2018 to start working as space analysts in the field of Space Economy and Space geopolitics. Since 2021 she is the Editor in Chief and radio host for SpaceWatch.Global.

As Managing Director of Space Sector of the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) , Frank supports the build-up and operation of the Space Programmes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prior of SSC, Frank worked 19 years for the European Space Agency (ESA) as

Head of Innovation and Ventures Office. He also headed the Technology Transfer Programm Office (TTPO) as well as the Commercial Development for Human Spaceflight and Exploration. His ESA team initiated over 370 industry transfers, aided 1,300 start-ups via the ESA BICs and supported over 1,000 downstream business cases. 

Before joining ESA, Frank held the position of Founder and CFO / COO for an IT start-up, headquartered in Munich, Germany. Frank also spent seven years at Apple Computer. 

Furthermore, he has published myriad papers in esteemed conferences and prestigious journals and supervised many master's theses and PhD dissertations on spectrum affairs. He was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2007 and was also chosen as one of three finalist candidates for the Professional Achievement Award (UK Graduates) in 2018.

Greg Wyler is a technology entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor who conceived and founded O3B and OneWeb. He holds over 35 patents related to the design, implementation, and use of satellite communications technology. Greg founded O3B Networks, in partnership with Liberty Global, in 2007 with the goal of unlocking MEO orbit to deliver Internet to remote areas without the need for laying fiber. SES, Google, and HSBC became investors in O3B Networks in 2009, which raised over $1.2bn. By 2016, O3B had a firm backlog of $350 million with more than $100 million in current-year revenue, and SES exercised its option to purchase the company. After the success of his first company, Greg moved on to an even more ambitious venture: creating a network of hundreds of LEO satellites to deliver low-latency, high-speed Internet to connect the unconnected around the world. He founded OneWeb in 2012 with investment from Softbank, Bharti, Airbus, Intelsat, Virgin Group, Qualcomm, Hughes, Grupo Salinas, Maxar, and Coca-Cola. He raised over $3.3bn to further OneWeb's mission to connect all the unconnected schools of the world and provide Internet to fuel economic growth, improve education, social development, advance gender equality and make healthcare more accessible across the globe.

Guy is based in Munich, Germany and is currently responsible for spectrum regulatory issues involving the recently launched Emergency SOS via satellite feature on the iPhone 14.  Prior to joining Apple in 2020, Guy held a number of regulatory and market access positions with Viasat, Inmarsat/Global Xpress, Boeing and Alcatel.

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Hiroyuki Tsuji received D.E. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, in 1992. In 1992, he joined the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL, now part of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, or NICT). From 1999 to 2000, he was a visiting research fellow of the University of Minnesota. His research interests are antenna systems and related signal processing for wireless communications, unmanned aircraft communication systems, and other satellite communication systems. He is now the Director of the Space Communication Systems Laboratory of Wireless Networks Research Center in NICT.

Joe Chan is Director of Flight Dynamics at Intelsat.  He oversees the FDS operation

and engineering of more than 70 geostationary satellites that Intelsat currently operates. He has been with Intelsat for 24 years.  Prior to joining Intelsat he worked at Goddard Space Flight center on the TOPEX/POSEIDON and Mars Observer projects.

Ms. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies (August 2021-). She is an MBA graduate from Bradford University in the UK. She also holds several degrees from the University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University). She held different positions in both the public service and private sector. She started as a lecturer at the University of South Africa. She is the former Spokesperson of the Premier in Limpopo (South Africa). She worked as a Chief Information Officer in Limpopo. Minister Ntshavheni also worked for the Trade and Investment Limpopo as a Tourism Investment Manager. She was also a Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. She was also the Chief Operations Officer at the State IT Agency. She served in several boards including DENEL (SA's arms manufacturing company). Minister Ntshavheni was previously Minister for Small Business Development (2019 -2022 August). She was also the acting Minister in the Presidency (January 2021 until 05 August 2021). She is a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and a party member of the African National Congress.

With 25+ years of experience in the satellite, ICT and consumer electronics sectors, Markus Fritz spent more than 10 years with SES ASTRA, and over two years with Arabsat, before joining Eutelsat in the role as EVP of Commercial Development, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships for seven years. As Managing Director or Regional Vice President he has held P&L responsibility across EMEA and led strategic and commercial development initiatives on global scale. In addition, he held several senior managerial positions within leading industry associations such as ZVEI, which brings together in Germany the manufacturers of electric and electronic products, and within Digital Europe, the Brussels-based association representing the digital technology industry as well as other leading industry associations. Currently, he is advising and supporting leading brands, institutions, and investment funds in the fields of business and digital strategy and digital transformation, future connectivity strategy, business development, top-line growth, and strategic partnerships.

Mishaal Ashemimry is an aerospace engineer, aerospace entrepreneur, commercial pilot, speaker, and influencer. She is the first female aerospace engineer in the GCC. Ashemimry is a consultant in her field and was a professor at the University of Miami Mechanical and Aerospace Department. Currently, Ashemimry is an International Astronautical Federation Vice President for Diversity Initiative and a special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission with a strong focus on developing Saudi's role in the global space market. Prior to joining the Saudi Space Commission, Ashemimry was a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman. Moreover, she is living her passion everyday by educating and inspiring others through conferences, webinars, and her social media channels. While based in Miami, Florida, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace at age 26, to pursue her ultimate dream of building rockets. Her company's objective was to design and build their own rockets to launch small satellites (500 kg) or less to Low Earth Orbit. Previously, she worked for Raytheon Missile Systems' Aerodynamics Department and contributed to twenty-two different rocket programs. Her professional experience and areas of expertise include aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis and rocket stage-separation analysis, with a strong focus on computational tool development.

Matias is an Ecuadorian engineer and space enthusiast. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA), where he obtained both his Bachelor's and Master's of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering and a Minor in Robotics Engineering. Additionally, Matias obtained a Physics teaching license from the state of Massachusetts. Matias started his career in Germany, and then returned home to Ecuador to become a space entrepreneur. Matias is the founder and CEO of Astralintu Space Technologies, which focuses on providing in-orbit and ground segment services from latitude cero. Astralintu looks to grant easier space access to emerging actors in Latin America and the world.

Additionally, Matias volunteers as the STEM Program Director for the Sideralis Foundation acts as the SGAC's National Point of Contact for Ecuador, is the current Vice-Chair of the IAF Administrative Committee for Developing Countries and Emerging Communities, and is the Chair of the IAF Latin American and Caribbean Subcommittee. Matias has been recognized as an Emerging Space Leader by the International Astronautical Federation and as a Space Generation Leader by the SGAC. Through engineering and education, Matías looks to lead and promote the development of the New Space industry in Latin America so the region can attain all its benefits.

Michel is an Engineer from French Engineering school Sup'Aero, and also a Master of Sciences in Aerospace Engineering from University of Southern California For over 30 years, Michel has worked in defence, aeronautics and telecommunications industries. He commenced his career designing tactical radio networks and ultimately became responsible for the Marketing and Sales towards the French customers of all Thales Communications systems and services which encompass Combat Net Radios, tactical networks, comint products and information systems. In 2003, he moved to Thales Training & Simulation (TT&S) responsible for very large service bids and programs including full financing packages for the German NH90, the A400M, and Helisim simulator training centers. In addition he also managed large bids for the operation of airborne platforms such as the UK MoD and DFTS Search and Rescue Helicopter programs. In 2009, he joined Thales's space division, to be responsible for the sale and lease back of the Syracuse 3 (French milsatcom constellation) and, subsequently, the Syracuse 4 satellite offer to the French MoD. Since 2015, Michel has been responsible for the business development and sales of Stratobus – a new, high altitude platform (HAPS) currently under development in France and in Europe.

Dr. Mohamed El-Moghazi is the Executive Director of National Spectrum Affairs Department at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Chairman of the Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) 1, Chairman of the ATU Spectrum Recommendations Group, and Vice-Chairman, the Preparatory Meeting for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). Dr. Maghazi is holder of B.Sc. in Communications & Electronics Engineering (Cairo University), Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Master Degree in Telecommunications Management; Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methodology for Business, Management, and Engineering (University of Strathclyde); Diploma in Communication Management (University of Colorado).

Furthermore, he has published myriad papers in esteemed conferences and prestigious journals and supervised many master's theses and PhD dissertations on spectrum affairs. He was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2007 and was also chosen as one of three finalist candidates for the Professional Achievement Award (UK Graduates) in 2018.

Dr. Moghazi, also, won Young Researchers Award from the Pacific Telecommunications Council in 2017. He is the founder of the Global Telecom Policy Researchers Network (GTPRN), a non-profit initiative and research society for researchers in the field of telecommunications policy. He has recently published the book “The International Radio Regulations: The Case for Reform", and the book chapter “Towards a Future-Proof International Spectrum Management Policy"

Mohaned Juwad is responsible in assisting Intelsat's strategic long-term spectrum position in the marketplace. In his role, he works closely with the company's vice president on corporate and spectrum strategy and the spectrum strategy team to analyze and identify emerging spectrum opportunities and risks for Intelsat. In addition, he is the Director for managing efforts from across the globe that protect, optimize and leverage the company's spectrum assets in support of Intelsat's broader long-term growth strategy.

Dr. Juwad has over 14 years' experience within the satellite industry where he held various roles in the past. Prior to rejoining Intelsat in 2016, Dr. Juwad served as manager, regulatory licensing and market access, at Avanti Communications Group Plc where he was responsible for managing and acquiring licensing and authorization for Ka-band geostationary satellite services across Europe, Middle East and the Africa region, in addition to overseeing regulatory activities at the ITU, CEPT, and other regulatory bodies. Before that, he worked as a consultant where he worked in ESA funded projects to develop the DVB-S2 standard operating in Ka-band, and also developed Ka-band mortised terminals where he was instrumental in developing a commercial self-aligned antenna.

Dr. Juwad earned a Philosophy of Doctorate (PhD) from Isambard Kingdom Brunel University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering at Herefordshire University.

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) is the world's leading provider of satellite services, delivering high performance connectivity solutions for media, fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and military applications for more than 50 years. Intelsat's satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video and broadband services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and mobile broadband access, with Intelsat, envision your future network, connect using our leading satellite technology and transform your opportunities. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.

He has executed over 20 successful deals with mobile operators in 18 countries and also led HAPSMobile Inc Board Member and Management meetings.

He also leads the strategic planning for SoftBank's African business for underserved communities and schools to provide Sustainable Satellite connectivity and Edtech platform.

Muriel Médard is the NEC Professor of Software Science and Engineering in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department at MIT, where she leads the Network Coding and Reliable Communications Group in the Research Laboratory for Electronics at MIT and Chief Scientist for Steinwurf, which she has co-founded. She obtained three Bachelors degrees (EECS 1989, Mathematics 1989 and Humanities 1991), as well as her M.S. (1991) and Sc.D (1995), all from MIT. Muriel is a Member of the US National Academy of Engineering (elected 2020), a Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (elected 2022), a Fellow of the US National Academy of Inventors (elected 2018), American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected 2021), and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (elected 2008). She holds Honorary Doctorates from the Technical University of Munich (2020) and from The University of Aalborg (2022). Muriel was co-winner of the MIT 2004 Harold E. Egerton Faculty Achievement Award and was named a Gilbreth Lecturer by the US National Academy of Engineering in 2007. She received the 2017 IEEE Communications Society Edwin Howard Armstrong Achievement Award and the 2016 IEEE Vehicular Technology James Evans Avant Garde Award. Muriel was awarded the 2022 IEEE Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award. She received the 2019 Best Paper award for IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, the 2018 ACM SIGCOMM Test of Time Paper Award, the 2009 IEEE Communication Society and Information Theory Society Joint Paper Award, the 2009 William R. Bennett Prize in the Field of Communications Networking, the 2002 IEEE Leon K. Kirchmayer Prize Paper Award, as well as nine conference paper awards. Most of her prize papers are co-authored with students from her group. Muriel has served as technical program committee co-chair of ISIT (twice), CoNext, WiOpt, WCNC and of many workshops. She has chaired the IEEE Medals committee, and served as member and chair of many committees, including as inaugural chair of the Millie Dresselhaus Medal. She was Editor in Chief of the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications and has served as editor or guest editor of many IEEE publications, including the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, the IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, and the IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security. Muriel was a member of the inaugural steering committees for the IEEE Transactions on Network Science and for the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Information Theory. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Muriel was elected president of the IEEE Information Theory Society in 2012, and serves on its board of governors, having previously served for eleven years. Muriel received the inaugural 2013 MIT EECS Graduate Student Association Mentor Award, voted by the students. She set up the Women in the Information Theory Society (WithITS) and Information Theory Society Mentoring Program, for which she was recognized with the 2017 Aaron Wyner Distinguished Service Award. She served as undergraduate Faculty in Residence for seven years in two MIT dormitories (2002–2007). Muriel was elected by the faculty and served as member and later chair of the MIT Faculty Committee on Student Life and as inaugural chair of the MIT Faculty Committee on Campus Planning. She was chair of the Institute Committee on Student Life. She was recognized as a Siemens Outstanding Mentor (2004) for her work with High School students. She serves on the Board of Trustees since 2015 of the International School of Boston, for which she is treasurer. She serves on the Nokia Bell Labs Technical Advisory Board. Muriel has over sixty US and international patents awarded, the vast majority of which have been licensed or acquired. For technology transfer, she has co-founded CodeOn, for which she consults, and Steinwurf, for which she is Chief Scientist. Muriel has supervised over 40 master students, over 20 doctoral students and over 25 postdoctoral fellows.

Natalia Vicente is the Director of Public Affairs & Communications at GSOA, formerly ESOA (EMEA Satellite Operators Assoaciation), where she works closely with the Secretary General and the CEOs of GSOA Member companies to drive high-level advocacy for the satellite communications sector. Specifically, Natalia focuses on the Development Agenda working with international organisations to ensure nation states understand the value of leveraging available satellite communications services to bridge digital, education and health divides in their countries.

Natalia is also a Board Member of the European Internet Forum where she represents GSOA in front of Members of the European Parliament. Natalia has over a decade of experience in the digital sector, focusing on public policy, government relations and building international partnerships.

Before joining ESOA, Natalia worked for the European Telecommunications Network Operator's (ETNO) working on public and regulatory affairs. Prior to that, she worked for Telefonica, Telecom Italia and TagTagCity, where she was one of the first employees involved in establishing a start-up venture providing mobile solutions to municipalities and local businesses in Belgium.

Natalia is a qualified lawyer with an LLM from the University Autonoma of Madrid and holds a Master of Business Administration specialised in Marketing. She is a Spanish national, lives in Brussels and speaks 4 languages.

Nobu Okada is Founder and CEO of Astroscale, the first private company with a vision for the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company solely dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbits. Since its inception in 2013, Nobu has grown Astroscale from a single person to an international group, established a global footprint in five countries, and raised over USD $300 million. Astroscale is also successfully operating ELSA-d in orbit – the world's first commercial mission to prove the core technologies necessary for removal of space debris.

As a highly respected and influential figure in the space industry, Nobu holds several key positions, including International Astronautical Federation's Vice President for Space Economy and Sponsorship, member of the International Academy of Astronautics, member of the Space

Generation Advisory Council Advisory Board, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Nobu was co-chair of the World Economic Forum Council Global Future Council on Space Technologies until 2021 and played a key role in developing the concept of a Space Sustainability Rating, a system designed to ensure long-term sustainability by encouraging responsible behavior among countries and companies participating in space.

Since founding Astroscale, Nobu has received numerous awards and accolades, including 2022 TIME100 Most Influential Companies, 2021 Satellite Technology of the Year, 2020 SpaceNews Company Leader of the Year, 2020 UNESCO Netexplo Innovation Forum Grand Prix, Forbes JAPAN “Start-up of The Year 2019", and World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer in 2017.

Prior to Astroscale, Nobu was an IT entrepreneur and strategy consultant, and had managed IT companies in Japan, China, India and Singapore. He led one company to a successful IPO. Before joining the IT industry, he worked for McKinsey & Company and the Japanese Government in the Ministry of Finance.

Nobu earned his bachelor's degree in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo in 1995 and an MBA from the Krannert School of Business, Purdue University in 2001.

Ram Viswanathan brings decades of experience forging new frontiers in the telecommunications and satellite industries to Omnispace. As President and CEO, Ram sets the strategic direction for the development and delivery of the world's first satellite and 5G-based 'one global network.'

Previously, as CEO of Devas Multimedia, Ram pioneered the development of India's satellite-terrestrial broadband internet and media services platform. Prior to that, he led the strategic partnerships as CSO and EVP of Business Development at Cidera. As WorldSpace's SVP of Corporate Development, he helped formulated the successful U.S. joint venture, XM Satellite Radio.

At McKinsey & Company, Ram worked with U.S. and European telecommunications and technology clients and assisted in establishing its India consulting practice. He also held positions at Goldman Sachs & Company in investment banking, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

Ram is an advisor to Columbia Capital, Telcom Ventures and Adelphi Capital. He holds a master's degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a master's degree in engineering from Stanford University, and a bachelor's degree in engineering and economics from the University of Maryland.

Samer Halawi is a seasoned Telecom executive with a successful track record in building and transforming companies, globally. He brings tremendous experience and expertise, with more than 30 years in the automotive industry, investment banking, telecommunications, and global satellite communications.

Samer is currently the CEO of Airbus HAPS Connectivity Solutions Ltd., an Airbus subsidiary developing a connectivity and earth observation business that leverages the pioneering and record-breaking Zephyr HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations).

Before that, Samer was Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Intelsat, where he was responsible for leading the Company's global commercial operations with revenues close to $2 billion, including the mobility, media, government, and enterprise businesses, as well as the sales and marketing and communications teams.

Prior to joining Intelsat, Samer served as Chief Commercial Officer for OneWeb where he established and oversaw the product management, distribution, communications, business development, strategy, and sales and marketing functions for the company. Before that, Samer held the position of Chief Executive Officer for Thuraya Telecommunications Company for six years, where he led a turnaround in Thuraya's performance and positioning and drove its growth to become a prominent international mobile satellite operator.

Samer spent eight years at Inmarsat in global strategy and running operations for the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. His telecommunications experience includes roles at Flag Telecom and ICO Global Communications (ICO). His role at ICO followed a private placement for the shares of the company that he led during a three-year period in investment banking in the Middle East. Samer began his career in the automotive industry, where he occupied several positions with Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company in Michigan, USA.

Samer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University and an MBA from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the United States. He speaks 3 languages fluently.

With an expertise in technology-based solutions for the shipping and O&G sectors, Scott has more than 20 years of experience in sales and business development.  He joined Inmarsat in May 2019 as a Regional Sales Director for its offshore energy business, which covers the full portfolio of Inmarsat's services and digital solutions.  Previous positions have included roles as VP International Sales Management at the world's largest ship agency and supply chain logistics company, as well as a senior business development position at Weathernews Inc.  He is an alumni of University of Glasgow and Warwick Business School.

Dr. Soren Tang Sorensen is a London-based Associate Director at NERA with more than 15 years of experience advising clients on auction design and bidding strategy in auctions. He has extensive experience with spectrum auctions, having advised clients on spectrum auctions in more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Dr. Sorensen helps his clients with auction design and implementation and provides advice on bidding strategies for mobile network operators. He frequently provides on-site strategy support during live auctions, and he has experience with all common auction formats for spectrum auctions, including Combinatorial Clock Auction (CCA), Combinatorial Multiple Round Auction (CMRA), Simultaneous Multiple Round Auction (SMRA), Clock Auction (CA), First/Second Price Sealed Bid Auction (FPSB/SPSB), and various hybrid auction formats.

Dr. Sorensen has developed software for complex optimisation problems. He has developed integer programming algorithms that have been adapted to winner and price determination problems for more than 20 combinatorial auctions; he has implemented satisfiability algorithms to analyse the spectrum re-packaging problem in the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Incentive Auction; and he has implemented graph and network algorithms for optimising fixed line telecommunications networks using GIS data.

In addition to his work on spectrum auctions, Dr. Sorensen has advised clients on auction design and bidding strategies in diverse markets, including natural gas (gas and gas storage capacity); electricity (capacity markets, procurement, interconnector capacity); renewable energy (off-shore wind sites, contract for difference contracts); water abstraction rights; airport slots; TV broadcasting licences; rough diamonds; industrial procurement; and horse racing courses.

Dr. Sorensen holds a PhD in economics from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, where he specialised in microeconomics, game theory, and auction design. He published part of his PhD thesis in Economics Letters and has co-authored a chapter on CCA for the Handbook of Spectrum Auctions, published by Cambridge University Press. He is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences on spectrum policy.

Steve Collar was appointed CEO of SES in April 2018, having previously led both O3b Networks and SES Networks. As CEO of O3b Networks, Steve guided the company through the successful build and launch of its state-of-the-art non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite constellation. In 2015, the company officially became the fastest-growing satellite operator in history. O3b was fully acquired by SES in 2016, and now forms an integral part of SES Networks.

British-born Steve is an industry veteran, having held a variety of commercial, business development and technical roles at SES World Skies, SES New Skies, New Skies Satellites, Astrium, and Matra Marconi Space (now Airbus).

Tamer is the Director of Market Access and Regulatory Affairs for MEA at E-Space, with extensive experience in telecom that extends for more than 17 years. In his current capacity, he is responsible for complying with national and international regulatory frameworks and introducing E-Space in relevant markets. Tamer joined E-Space in mid-2022 as part of the Global Affairs team.

From 2016 to 2022, he served as a senior consultant in one of the leading consultancy firms in the ICT field; he worked on the regional and international levels to enable market access and shape policies for operators and regulators. He analyzed policy developments and market trends, provided intelligence to clients, and lobbied decision-makers to drive policies and regulations in line with clients' interests.

Before that, he served in the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Jordan (TRC) for ten years as Head of Spectrum Planning and Head of the Quality of Services Department. He contributed to TRC's technical and economic plans for introducing the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies then, particularly DVB-T, WiMAX, and UMTS. He also contributed to the design of spectrum auctions from 2008 until 2016. In addition to that, he represented Jordan in ITU: WRCs, RAs, Study Groups, and Regional Radiocommunications Conferences. Tamer is still active in the ITU and regional groups such as ASMG, CITEL, ATU, and CEPT.

Tamer earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Hashemite University.

E-Space is developing a disruptive satellite technology that fundamentally changes the economics and capabilities of space-based communication systems. This innovation enables various governmental and commercial use cases. For more information, visit https://www.e-space.com/.

​Tariq Al-Awadhi, Executive Director, Spectrum Affairs, TRA UAE
Tariq Al Awadhi is the Executive Director Spectrum Affairs Department of the Telecommunications and Digital Government ​Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Al Awadhi has 26 years of experience in spectrum management. He is Chairman of Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) and he has been selected as Chairman of ITU World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2012. He headed a number of ITU Working Groups and meetings and contributed towards ITU resolutions, recommendations and studies. He represented the UAE in ITU, IMO, ICAO, Arab League, GCC Telecom Bureau and a number of other international and regional forums. Tariq Al Awadhi played a pivotal role in establishing Spectrum Affairs Department in the TDRA. He pioneered the modern spectrum management concepts in the region and equipped the UAE with one the most advanced and first of its kind fully automated online spectrum management and frequency planning system. He developed UAE 5G Strategic Plan and Beyond (2020-2025) and the UAE ranked 4th Globally in launching and operating the 5G in 2020. This plan serves as a road map to accelerate the pace of introducing the 5G in the country and work with all partners in using this Technology in all sectors in the country (such as health, education, entertainment, infrastructure, military, security, etc.). He has long experience in satellite coordination business. Under his supervisor; the UAE Administration managed to register their 11 satellites in the ITU Master Frequency Registration for the purpose of it protection, and around 138 files were opened covering a large number of satellite orbital under UAE name.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful holds a certificate in Government Integrity from the International Law Institute, Washington DC, a Project Management and Planning Certificate from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and a Masters in Conflict Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. She is a lawyer, women's rights activist, technology advocate and a product of the University Of Ghana And The Ghana School Of Law. She was called to the Ghana Bar in October 1990. 

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful worked for 10 years as an associate at Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co., Legal Practitioners and Notaries Public. From Sept 2005 to May 2008. She was the acting Managing Director, Western Telesystems (Westel), and from May 2008 to January 2009, became the Corporate and External Affairs Director, ZAIN Ghana. 

She is a member of the Ghana Bar Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA).

She is the development Queen (Nkosuo Hemaa) of Akyem Asuom in the Eastern Region of Ghana

AWARDS​

• ​Received the 'CRANS MONTANA FORUM' S GOLD MEDAL, at its 30th anniversary forum held in Geneva, Switzerland. She joined the late former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings and Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan as the only Ghanaians to have received the coveted award.
• Awarded by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), a Non-Profit Organization of women lawyers for her tremendous work in the protection of the rights of Women and Children.
• Recognized for her exceptional commitment and participation as a valuable partner in ITU Telecom World
• Awarded Digital Leader of the Year at the 11^th Ghana Information Technology and Telecom awards (GITTA)
  

Waleed Alasmary received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, in 2015. During his Ph.D. degree, he was a Visiting Research Scholar with the Network Research Laboratory, UCLA, in 2014. He was a Fulbright Scholar with the CSAIL Laboratory, MIT, from 2016 to 2017. He is the advisor for the Governor of Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) from 2020 to 2021. He is the Founding Director of Research and Innovation Center at CST where he currently works.

Mr. Al-Ulyan is the Saudi Aramco Vice President for Information Technology, where he is responsible for driving the company's IT strategy and maintaining a reliable and secure IT infrastructure across Aramco and its affiliate organizations. As VP, key responsibilities include building a skilled digital workforce, maintaining robust cyber defenses and reshaping IT as part of Aramco's digital transformation program. He was appointed Manager of Aramco's Computer Operations Department in July 2007.  From June 2012 to May 2016, he was General Manager responsible for Aramco's EXPEC Computer Center, one of the largest scientific computing facilities in the world. He led Aramco's crisis response and rapid recovery plan following a massive cyber-attack in 2012. In May 2016 he assumed the position of Executive Director of IT, before being appointed VP for IT in May 2017. He chairs the not-for-profit National IT Academy and is a Board member on the CITC and SAV.  He completed the Executive University Program from INSEAD Business School in France in 2008 and attended Oxford Energy Seminars at Oxford University in 2013, as well as Saudi Aramco Management Development Seminars in Washington, D.C.  

He holds a BSc in Computer Science from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

Prof. Zhili Sun is a Chair Professor and Director of PhD Program at the University of Surrey, UK. He works at the 5G & 6G Innovation Center (5GIC & 6GIC), Institute of Communication Systems (ICS), School of Computer and Electronic Engineering. As project leader, he worked many major research projects on satellite communications and networks. He has supervised many doctors and postdoctoral fellows, published more than 240 papers in international journals and conferences and three books on satellite communications and networks. He has actively participated in and contribute to ITU-T and ETSI's works on satellite communication networks, as well as IEEE future networks on satellite 5G/6G development and research on Mega Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation networks. He has served as Editorial Board member for several international journals related to satellite communications, security and space technology and the TPC member and Session Chairman in international conferences. He currently is an Editorial Board Member of Nature – Scientific Report on Space Technology, and Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking