Space Connect Episode 6 (June 2025)

Patricia Cooper is a leading expert on satellite communications, regulation and space policy, and is the founder of the space consultancy, Constellation Advisory, LLC, where she advises smart space and satellite ventures and international projects.

For six years, Cooper led Government Affairs for the Starlink satellite broadband constellation project at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), where she secured Federal Communications Commission authorization for a record 12,000 satellites, and market access in more than 30 countries. She advocated for updates to spectrum, telecom competition and space safety regulations in the US and around the globe to support the coming generation of satellite networks. Today, Starlink serves over 2 million users worldwide with a constellation of over 6,000 satellites in over 70 countries.  

Prior to SpaceX, Patricia was an executive at geostationary satellite fleet operator Intelsat and as for nearly 7 years, President of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading trade organization representing U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers and service providers. At SIA, Patricia advocated in regulatory and national security arenas, for fair trade and competition rules internationally, and spearheaded a successful bipartisan, bi-cameral legislative initiative to reform satellite export control legislation. Previously, Patricia had served in both the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Commerce, and led international outreach at two start-ups, CoreExpress, an Internet fiber infrastructure play and PanAmSat Corporation, a disruptor in the early satellite services market.  

Patricia holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in International Economics from the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and German from Kansas State University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). 

Dr. Danielle (Dani) Poole is a population health scientist notable for her contributions to the evidence base for humanitarian decision-making. Dr. Poole applies methodological approaches spanning the epidemiological, geospatial, and biostatistical sciences. Recent and ongoing research contributions that have informed humanitarian response include the Yale University independent and review of the Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (in partnership with UNOCHA). Findings from her work have been featured at numerous conferences, including meetings of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as peer-reviewed and popular media publications.

Dr. Poole completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Neukom Institute for Computational Science of Dartmouth College. She earned a ScD from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, an MPH from Brown University, and a BA from Seattle University.

Mr. Czaran is currently the Chief of UN-SPIDER in Vienna and the Officer-in-Charge for the Space Applications Section at UNOOSA. Starting his U.N. career at Headquarters in the Cartographic Section, Mr. Czaran’s career spans multiple roles across various U.N. institutions, including the Department for Peacekeeping Operations, ReliefWeb at UNOCHA, and the GRID3 Project at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York, where he led the geospatial modernization of the organization.

In his current role, he represents the United Nations in the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and the ISO/TC 211 Committee.

Rebeca MORENO JIMENEZ is currently Lead Data Scientist at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Innovation Service.

Over the last ten years, she has supported UNHCR field operations across Asia, MENA, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, focusing on the use of data science and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance protection and decision-making.

Her career spans the humanitarian–development–peace nexus. In addition to her work at UNHCR, she has previously contributed to the humanitarian sector by conducting research for the World Food Programme on funding shortfall affecting Syrian refugees in Jordan.

In development, she spent five years at the World Bank’s Mexico office, focusing on access to information, open data communications, and data protection policy. In peacebuilding, she supported ICT and early warning systems for conflict prevention with GAPS Uganda. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and an MPP from ITESM Campus Monterrey, a certificate in Foreign Policy from American University, and an Executive Education diploma from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also a Fulbright scholar and holds an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, with a focus on innovation management, technology policy, and humanitarian affairs.

Luca Dell’Oro has 20 years of professional experience at the United Nations. Since 2018, he’s been the Head of the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Section at the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

He oversees a team of professionals and experts for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the UNOSAT’s Humanitarian Rapid Mapping Service and Capacity-Development Programmes to leverage space applications to support UN Member States’ resilience-building.

Since 2011, he has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Copenhagen for the Master’s programme in Disaster Management. He has also contributed to numerous international conferences and scientific publications.

Luca Dell’Oro graduated in 2001 from the University of Bologna (MSc. in Environmental Engineering) and holds a professional Master’s degree (cum laude) in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation with a specialization in Natural Hazard Studies (ITC, The Netherlands).