Amna Al Owais is the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts and provides high level support to operations, the administration of the Registries, as well as the delivery of a comprehensive suite of ancillary court public services. Amna spearheads special projects across DIFC Courts operations, particularly in the field of technology and innovation, harnessing digital transformation for core courts services, including major partnerships under the Courts of the Future initiative with the Dubai Future Foundation, such as Court Tech Lab and the Courts of Space, in addition to Court of the Blockchain with Dubai Digital Authority and the creation of the Digital Economy Court specialised Division.

In addition to her role as Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, Amna is also Chairperson of the DIFC Courts’ Users’ Committee, Chairperson of the DIFC Courts’ In-House Counsel Committee, and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law. In 2014, Amna was appointed to the Advisory Board of the International Bar Association’s Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee. In September 2019, Amna was also appointed to the College of Law Advisory Board of the University of Dubai.

In 2014, Amna was selected to join the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) – the Young Leaders category, and furthermore in 2018 after the relaunch of the MBRCLD, under the Dubai Executive Office and after an extensive selection process, Amna was selected to join the first batch of the MBRCLD Impactful Leaders Programme. Amna successfully graduated in December 2018.

Amna has played a key part in the establishment and development of the DIFC Courts and creation of the Dispute Resolution Authority in 2014. She also spearheaded the establishment of the DIFC Courts’ Pro Bono Programme, launched in 2009, which is the first scheme of its kind in the Middle East. In 2011 Amna was recognised by the International Bar Association as one of the Top 3 young lawyers in the world and was listed in the Top 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World and in the Top 100 Influential People Helping to Shape the Emirate of Dubai by Arabian Business in 2018.

Amna was also awarded Legal Services CEO of the Year at the Arabian Business CEO magazine Awards in 2018 and listed among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World in 2019 by Arabian Business, The Middle East’s 100 Power Businesswomen by Forbes Middle East in 2020, and the CEO Women of Influence in 2021, and 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders in 2022 by Arabian Business. Amna was also featured in Arabian Business’ 50 Inspiring Women Leaders 2023. Lexis Nexis also recognised Amna in 2022 as Legal Services Innovator of the Year at the Women in Law Awards and received honourable mention for the Professional Achievement Award. Amna was also included in the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023 by Forbes Middle East and in the 50 Women Leaders 2024 by Arabian Business.

In 2019, Amna was invited to join the Dubai Future Councils, a new initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation. Consisting of 13 councils, its main mandate is to envisage the future agenda of Dubai in strategic sectors and launch initiatives with both private and public sector partners to create the foundation for that future. Amna specifically plays an active role in the membership of the Dubai Future Council on Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystems.

Launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, Amna was also selected by the University Leadership Council and Patheon Assas-Université Paris II to be in the first cohort of the International Business Law LLM and graduated summa cum laude in 2020, making it her second Master’s degree. In January 2023, Amna was also appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Patheon Assas-Université Paris II, Dubai Campus.

Amna has also successfully completed the Director Development Programme for Corporate Governance (4 modules) provided by the prestigious Hawkamah Institute in 2019 and in 2020 Amna was selected to join the inaugural members of Pathway2020, a regional board career accelerator dedicated solely to building the pipeline of highly competent female board directors and connecting them to boards of listed and large-scale private companies.

In 2021, Amna was accepted to join the selective Strategic Leadership and Public Governance course provided by the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). The Programme is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Singapore in collaboration with the international embassies, who then coordinated with the Singaporean consulate in each country to nominate qualified personnel.

In 2023, Amna was selected to join the Dubai Future Fellowship, an initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The programme aims to engage current and future economic leaders to contribute towards shaping Dubai’s policies, regulations, and business practices and further enhancing the city’s leading regional and global role as an incubator for the most promising innovators of the future.

Previous to her employment at the DIFC Courts, Amna practiced as a lawyer in the litigation department with Hadef & Partners, formerly Hadef Al Dhahiri & Associates. Amna holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Law from the University of Sharjah and obtained a Master’s Degree (LLM) with Commendation in International Commercial Law from Kingston University, London.

Angeliki Kapoglou is a multidisciplinary researcher at the Human and Robotic Exploration Strategy Department at ESA. Her research is focused on the emerging commercial lunar ecosystem, ESA’s new space resources strategy and assessing future lunar exploration scenarios; while developing European priorities and activities for a sustainable future on the Moon. Angeliki is also contributing to ESA’s Post-ISS commercialisation strategy for low earth orbit. Passionate about near-term space policy coordination issues, Angeliki is also a Phd student with the UCL Institute of Public Purpose and Innovation and a fellow with the Open Lunar Foundation. Before that, Angeliki spent a year at one of the world’s leading centers for innovation, the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (the d.school) at Stanford University. In the past, she has also worked at CERN and NASA’s JPL Innovation Foundry on early space mission concept formulation and she’s passionate about exploring the intersection of science, engineering, policy, art, and design.

Anna Veneziano is the Deputy Secretary General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). She is a Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Teramo, Italy, where she was formerly the Director of the Department of Private Law. In the period 2013-2017 she was tenured Professor of European Property Law at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Her education includes a Law Degree with honours from the University of Rome La Sapienza, an LL.M degree from the Yale Law School funded by a Fulbright scholarship, and a PhD degree from the University of Florence (Italy). Her main research and publication areas are on secured transactions as well as international, comparative, and European contract and sales law. Among her institutional activities before joining UNIDROIT she was a member of the Italian delegation with respect to the Cape Town Convention on International Interests on Mobile Equipment and its Aircraft Protocol as well as its Space Protocol. She was also a member of the Study Group on a European Civil Code and of the Compilation and Redaction Group on a Draft Common Frame of Reference on European Private Law (DCFR), and of the restricted Expert Group set up by the European Commission on a common European law on sales. At UNIDROIT she was, inter alia, involved in the drafting of the UNIDROIT/FAO/IFAD Legal Guide on Contract Farming, in the implementation of the Cape Town Convention Protocols and in the negotiations of the Mining, Agricultural and Construction Protocol. She represented UNIDROIT in the drafting of the Tripartite Guide on uniform contract law and was Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the ELI-UNIDROIT European Rules of Civil Procedure project.

Ayesha was appointed as a Registrar of the DIFC Courts in November 2022. She currently oversees case progression at the DIFC Courts, as well as sitting as a judge and mediator with the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT). Ayesha also hears applications in the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and the Enforcement Department. Ayesha also oversees the day-to-day function of the DIFC Courts Wills Service.

Ayesha joined the DIFC Courts in the role of Case Progression Officer in March 2015 and was promoted to the role of Assistant Registrar in 2018. In 2019, Ayesha was appointed as the Deputy Registrar of the Small Claims Tribunal and in 2020 Ayesha was appointed Deputy Registrar of the DIFC Courts.

Ayesha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Political Science from University of Saint Joseph Dubai and studied on a scholarship from the Edad Leadership Programme. She is also qualified to appear before the local and federal courts in the UAE.

Dan Katz is a former business lawyer turned innovation entrepreneur.

Dan started his career as a business lawyer and practiced for over 10 years in a high-profile corporate law firm in Paris. He then embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and founded his first startup in mobile media, which pivoted and was eventually sold to a larger player. Since then, he has been active in various innovation sectors such as digital education, big data analytics and more recently Space transportation. He even launched a chain of coworking cafés in Paris.

Along the way, he also assumed some corporate positions, such as VP of business development at the IP Licensing, Research & Innovation Division of Technicolor, an international media technology group, and later as Chief Data Officer of Safran, a world leader in the propulsion and aerospace equipment sector.

Dan then joined Space Cargo Unlimited, a Luxembourg-based New Space startup, and after having successfully executed several Space missions, Dan is currently leading the efforts of Space Cargo Unlimited to develop, build and operate the first fleet of Space vehicles dedicated to Space manufacturing.

Once a lawyer, always a lawyer! Dan’s pursuit of innovation regularly takes him to unchartered legal territories, where he faces the challenge of comprehending and defining new situations with the existing legal framework.

Dan has a diverse multicultural background and speaks several languages fluently. He is a graduate of HEC, the Paris-based elite School of Management, and holds a Master of International Law from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas and a B.A. in Chinese from the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.

He also acts regularly as a mediator for corporate disputes between investors and founders and as a consultant and mentor assisting corporates and startups to execute strategic projects.

Donald Moore is a lawyer, investor and entrepreneur with extensive global experience. He is the Managing Partner of U.S. Legal Advisors, PLLC (www.USLegalAdvisors.com) and the President of Rebelyon Development Group, LLC (www.Rebelyon.com), both focused on the global security, transportation and infrastructure sectors, including the commercial space industry. Having graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in political science and with a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and later earning an M.B.A., he has spent most of his life living and working around the world. With business experience across more than 50 countries, Moore has lived in Miami, Brazil, Hong Kong, the UAE and New York City working as a partner in global law firms, a restructuring advisor for distressed businesses and a consultant and investor in frontier locations. He has particular experience in Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East and lived in Abu Dhabi for 10 years. Moore has been the lead advisor on restructurings and transactions in the security, transportation and infrastructure sectors valued at many billions of dollars involving aircraft and vessel financing, leases & sales, airport construction, transportation projects, military facilities and seaport developments and concessions.

Moore also serves as the Legal Counsel to the Michigan Legislature’s Defense & Aerospace Caucus (www.MI-DA-Caucus.org) which promotes the development of a commercial space industry in the U.S. State of Michigan through the Michigan Launch Initiative (MLI), he is partner in the CHAMP Team that was selected for the Command & Control Center of the MLI, is an Assistant Adjunct Professor for the University of Michigan Law School’s International Transactions Clinic and is a Faculty Advisor to the school’s Society For Space Law and Law of the Sea. Moore has served on various corporate and not-for-profit boards and currently is the Vice Chairman of the Great Lakes Boat Building School (www.glbbs.org) and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of New York (www.HKANY.org). More information can be found at www.donaldpiercemoore.com.

Hamza Hameed is a Pakistani lawyer presently serving as the Chair of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). Hamza works as a Senior Policy Manager for Access Partnership in Singapore. He supports governments and the private sector with legal, regulatory, and compliance-related matters in the space, satellite, and telecommunications industries.

Prior to this, Hamza worked as part of the Secretariat of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome. He led the effort towards establishing an international system of secured transactions law for the space sector, as well as advising governments on issues related to blockchain law and crypto law.

Hamza holds an LLM from the International Institute for Air and Space Law at Leiden University. He teaches spacecraft financing at various universities and is a member of the International Institute for Space Law (IISL) and INSOL International

Héloïse is a former fellow and current project coordinator of the Breaking Ground trust at the Open Lunar Foundation. After training in digital and aviation law in France, she completed the MSS program at the International Space University and is currently doing a Ph.D. at Otago University in New Zealand. Her thesis is focusing on the future of the law and governance for lunar settlements and is supported via a grant by the Luxembourg Space Agency.

Héloïse’s work is turned towards the relationship between the law and new technologies and how to find innovative solutions using existing tools. She has worked as a research scholar at NASA Ames Research Center on the legal and ethical questions regarding artificial intelligence and she has been published a couple of times for her work on blockchains.

Justine Kasznica is a shareholder at and the Chair of the Emerging Technology Practice Group at Babst Calland LLP. Kasznica is a technology and corporate attorney who represents the legal and regulatory needs of clients who are customers and vendors of software, SaaS, IoT, AI, robotics and other technology products and services across diverse industries from banking to transportation. She specializes in supporting the regulatory and business services needs of clients in the autonomous mobility (UAS and AVs), and commercial space industries. She serves as outside general counsel to a number of aerospace clients across the U.S., including Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, Inc.

She is a founder and Board Chair of the Keystone Space Collaborative, an a space industry organization serving the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia region. She serves on numerous boards and is involved in many community economic developments initiatives, including the Astrobotic Foundation, Ascender PGH, and the Yale Club of Pittsburgh (former President). She serves on the Council of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Aeronautical and Space Law Section, and is a member of the Registration Project Working Group, a group of experts working with the Moon Village Association and Global Space Law Center to propose domestic and international laws and policy related to space commercialization, including the registration of space artifacts beyond Lower Earth Orbit.

Lidia is the Chief Legal Officer at Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), where she is responsible for overseeing all legal matters, providing strategic guidance to the leadership team, and shaking up the traditional legal world with DFF’s bold and future-first approach. With over two decades of experience in the legal field, Lidia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role and a reputation for finding creative solutions to even the toughest challenges. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in leading some of the first-of-their-kind transactions and innovative deals, making her a seasoned expert in navigating complex legal landscapes and leading the charge on ground-breaking initiatives.

In addition to her professional achievements, Lidia is also a space enthusiast and has a passion for space exploration and the study of space law. She has studied space law at a graduate level, further deepening her understanding of the legal and regulatory challenges facing the space industry. With her unique combination of legal expertise, innovative spirit, and space knowledge, Lidia is committed to helping drive change through Dubai Government’s initiatives and shaping a positive future.

Professor Dr. Mahulena Hofmann is holder of the SES Chair in Space, SatCom and Media Law at the University of Luxembourg. Since 2016, she serves as director of the Master Program in Space, Communication and Media Law. In 2016, she was head of an international team which analysed the framework of space resources activities; afterwards, she has been working on a Draft general space legislation of Luxembourg. Regularly, she is member of the Luxembourg delegation to the Legal Sub-Committee of the UN COPUOS. Between 2017 and 2019, she was representing the University in The Hague International Space Resources Governance Group. M. Hofmann is member of the International Astronautical Academy, and of the Board of the International Institute of Space Law which awarded her a Distinguished Service Award in 2020. She is author of more than 100 articles and seven books; in 2019, she published an “Introduction to Space Law” with Tanja Masson-Zwaan. In 2020, she supported the UNOOSA in the preparation of an online e-learning course in space law. Her main areas of interest are space law and international telecommunication law.

Dr. Maria Pozza is the Principal Lawyer and Director of Gravity Lawyers, a law firm in New Zealand that offers specialist legal advice in space law. The firm also offers legal advice in Corporate and Commercial law, IT, Cyber Security, Data, Technology and UAV’s.

Dr. Pozza holds her own practising certificate as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand. She gained her PhD at the University of Otago, specialising in Space Law and International Relations in 2013 and was also awarded the visiting Lauterpacht Fellowship from the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at University of Cambridge, UK. She also holds a Masters of International Studies from the University of Otago in 2010, completed the New Zealand Law and Practice Exams in 2009, was Called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 2005, completed her Bar Vocational course at the Inns of Court School of Law in London where she also completed a post-graduate Diploma in Legal Skills and Research (whilst studying Arabic) in 2005, and completed her LLB Law (Hons) in 2004.

Dr. Pozza is the Director and Principal lawyer of Gravity Lawyers. Her expertise includes: commercial international space law, international military space law, New Zealand space legislative frameworks over military and commercial uses in space. She has developed expertise in legal and technical frameworks in cybersecurity and IT, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and technology laws. Her law firm also offers legal services in corporate and commercial law, legislative audits, on-site training, and in-house secondment placements. She is currently an Adjunct Lecturer in Aviation Law for the Massey School of Aviation, Massey University, New Zealand, and has been the course coordinator for the University of Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand Cyber Security and International Relations, as well as a lecturer for the International Relations course. She currently supervises PhD Students focusing on space and has supervised at the Master’s level.

Dr. Pozza’s expertise in space law and policy has been called upon by a number of overseas and government agencies, domestic and international institutions, research institutions, and legislative development committees.

Her most recent publication is on Risk Management in Outer Space Activities – An Australian and New Zealand Perspective published by Springer, which is part of her Book Series titled Space Law and Policy. She has been involved in the development of numerous space law publications and research projects that range from academic articles, professional publications, guidance materials, and books. Dr. Pozza has supervised at master’s level and is currently supervising at the PhD level in space law.

Dr. Pozza has received a number of accolades and awards in recognition of her work in both international space law and New Zealand’s space law: She was the recipient of New Zealand Elite Women in Law Awards 2022, Finalist Inhouse Lawyers Awards (community Contributions) 2022, awarded “Most Influential Woman in Aerospace Law 2021 – New Zealand”, and noted by AI Global Magazine as “the Women in New Zealand’s Legal Profession to Watch”. Her other awards include the Inter-Pacific bar Association Award in 2016, Finalist for the New Zealand Lawyer of the Year Awards 2017 – Young Private Practitioner category. Dr. Pozza’s space law work has been recognised through the following awars: Peace and Disarmament Education Trust of New Zealand Award, the Claude McCarthy Fellowship, an Otago Postgraduate Scholarship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Historical Research Grant, the New Zealand Political Studies Association Projects Grant, and a number of other professional accolades and awards.

Dr. Pozza has been a Manfred Lach’s external Moot Court Judge and she is also an industry Judge for the Australian Space Awards, the Australian Law Awards, Australian Defence Industry Space Awards and NZ Lawyer Awards. She has held a number of other professional appointments in the legal industry and was appointed as the Director of 2022 Otago Foreign Policy School – New Zealand Space Law and Policy Programme.

Mike Carey the President and Founder of M. Carey Consultants, and Senior Technical Advisor for HII Mission Technologies, Corp. He is also a Partner at Elara Nova, a professional aerospace consultant and co-founder of ATLAS Space Operations, where he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer from 2015 to 2023. With a distinguished career spanning the military and private sectors, Carey established himself as an accomplished commander, visionary space leader, and strategic planner.

During his thirty-four-year career in the United States Air Force, Carey rose to the rank of Major General and showcased exceptional leadership skills in space operations and nuclear operations. He played a pivotal role in establishing groundbreaking organizations such as the Space Test and Training Range, the National Security Space Institute, and an expeditionary integrated space and cyber force, all contributing significantly to US space capabilities and national security.

As a commander, Carey led the 20th Air Force, America’s ICBM force, and led the Air Force’s space test and evaluation group, responsible for evaluating all Air Force space programs. Gen Carey additionally held general officer positions including Deputy Director for Command, Control, and Nuclear Operations at the Joint Staff (J-36) and Deputy Director of Operations at US Strategic Command (DJ-3).

After retiring from the military, Carey established M. Carey Consultants, an aerospace and leadership service supporting both large and small enterprises, and served as the CEO of AAC Microtec, North America, Inc., a US-based Swedish satellite avionics development and manufacturing firm. During his tenure, the company experienced significant growth, including a successful initial public offering in December 2016.

In addition to his current consulting role, Carey serves as an advisor to multiple aerospace companies, leveraging his knowledge and experience to provide strategic guidance and drive innovation. He is passionate about developing businesses and cultivating leaders in the NewSpace sector.

Mike Carey is a respected and energetic aerospace leader. His career accomplishments as a commander, strategic planner, and visionary, combined with his educational background and passion for innovation, have made him a driving force in the dynamic NewSpace and national security industries.

Work History_ Carey, Michael J. 1978 – 2023

May 2023 –Present – Senior Partner, Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy

Jun 2014 -Present – President, M. Carey Consultants, LLC, Defense & Leadership Consultants

Oct 2016 Founded CompressWave, LLC

Jan 2022 Established Klepsydra North America dba under M. Carey Consultants.

Representative for Klepsydra Technologies in North America, a leading software company specializing in data processing solutions for real-time applications.

Sep- 2022-Mar 2023 – Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, ATLAS Space Operations, Inc

Jan 2018 -Sep 2022 – Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, ATLAS Space Operations, Inc

Jun 2015 – Jan 2018 – Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, ATLAS Space Operations, Inc

Responsible for P&L, building and enforcing workflow and business processes, strategy development, business planning, and market engagement. Responsible for P&L, building and enforcing workflow and business processes, strategy development, business planning, and market engagement.

Feb 2021 -Sep 2022 Chair, Space Advisory Committee Michigan Legislative Defense & Aerospace Caucus

Jun 2015 – Jun 2018 Advisor, LightSpeed Innovations

Provided access to experts ranging from aerospace veterans to corporate partners,financial industry, government offices, and successful serial entrepreneurs.Focused on the defense, space, and cyber industry.

Sep 2014 – Sep 2017 President and CEO, AAC Microtec North America, Inc ·

Leadership for ÅAC Microtec growth in North America.

Military Career June 1978 – June 2014 as follows:

Jun 78 – Dec 80 communication-navigation system specialist, 63rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.

Dec 80 – Apr 83 – Student University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Apr 83- Nov 83 Unemployed awaiting active duty

Nov 83 – Dec 83 Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry AFB, CO

Dec 83 – Aug 86, satellite operations officer, 1000th Satellite Operations Group, Offutt AFB, NE

Aug 86 – Jun 89, Chief, Operations Training, 17th Surveillance Squadron, San Miguel Naval Communications Station, Philippines

Jun 89 – Oct 89, politico-military affairs officer, International Affairs Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, AF Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO

Oct 89 – Jul 90, executive officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, AFSPACE AFB, CO

Jul 90 – Sep 91, aide to the Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO

Sep 91 – Jun 93, Commander, Detachment 7, 750th Space Group, Falcon AFB, CO

Jun 93 – Jul 94, Chief, Atlas Launch Control Flight, 3rd Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL

Aug 94 – Jun 95, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL

Jul 95 – Apr 96, information warfare joint warfighting capabilities assessment integrator, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Apr 96 – Jun 98, space operations planner, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Mar 98 – Apr 98, student, Joint and Combined Staff Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

Jun 98 – Jun 00, Commander, 321st Missile Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, WY

Jun 00 – Jul 01, student, Naval War College, Newport, RI

Jun 01 – Jun 02, Chief, Space Control Division, Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.

Jun 2002 – Jun 04, Commander, 595th Space Group, Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, CO

Jul 04 – May 05, Vice Commander, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.

Oct 04 – Mar 05, Director of Space Forces, Combined Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia

Mar 05 – Jun 05, student, National Defense Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship, Syracuse University, NY

Jun 05 -Jun 07, Commander, 90th Space Wing, F. E. Warren AFB, WY

Jun 07 – Feb 08, Director, Current Operations (J3B), Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE

Mar 08 – Aug 10, Deputy Director, Global Operations (DJ3), Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE

Jun 09 – Aug 09, Chief, USSTRATCOM Forward Integration Team, Kabul, Afghanistan

Aug 10 – Jun 12, Deputy Director, Command, Control and Nuclear Operations (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Jun 12 – Oct 13, Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, Francis E. Warren AFB, WY

Oct 13 – Jun 14, Special Assistant to Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO

Mike Gold is the Executive Vice President for Civil Space and External Affairs at Redwire Space. In this capacity Mr. Gold supports the company’s business development efforts as well as government and media relations. Prior to joining Redwire Space, Mr. Gold was NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships and also served as Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations. Before joining NASA, Gold was Vice President of Civil Space at MAXAR Technologies and General Counsel for the company’s Radiant Solutions Business Unit. Gold also spent thirteen years at Bigelow Aerospace where he established the company’s Washington office, oversaw the launches of the Genesis 1 and 2 spacecraft, and was a recipient of a NASA Group Achievement award for his role in the development and deployment of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) on the International Space Station. In 2012, Gold was appointed Chair of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, holding this position until joining NASA in 2019. In 2018, Mr. Gold was appointed to the NASA Advisory Council and served as Chair of its Regulatory and Policy Committee. In 2021, Gold was awarded NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal in recognition for his leadership of the Artemis Accords, the Gateway MOUs, and other interagency policy development and coordination efforts. Gold has authored three law review articles on the topic of commercial space and export control reform and has testified several times before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as a commercial space expert. Gold graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of New York.

Dr. Mohamed Amara is an Algerian qualified lawyer currently holding the position of General Counsel for the Federal Geographic Information Center (FGIC). Mohamed holds a PhD in Private Law from the University of Tlemcen in Algeria and a Master’s Degree in Public law and Economics from the University of Alexandria in Egypt.

Mohamed has been practicing in the GCC region for over 25 years. He is acknowledged as an expert practitioner in several areas of law such as administrative law, public procurement law, pension & retirement, oil & gas, space policy and law, dispute resolution, and corporate governance.

Currently, Mohamed is engaged in advising the FGIC on its policy and legal framework of the geospatial sector in the UAE.

Mohamed has served as a General Counsel for UAE Space Agency for over seven years in which he led the efforts for the establishment of the legal framework for the regulation of the space sector in the UAE and participated as a delegate to the Legal-Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). He also advised the Agency on numerous space technology projects including satellites and communications systems, launch services agreements, export control regulations, and was involved in the negotiations for a number of international cooperation projects. Mohamed is a Member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL).

Before joining the UAE Space Agency, Mohamed worked for the Abu Dhabi National Oil & Gas Group of companies (ADNOC) where he advised the Group on all legal matters related to oil & gas, including the drafting of national legislation. Mohamed is also an independent Arbitrator registered with arbitration institutions including Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre, Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and an Accredited Mediator. He has served as Chairman, Co-arbitrator and Sole Arbitrator in various cases ranging from construction, real estate, contract interpretation, and oil & gas disputes. Mohamed has also published space-related articles and is a speaker at multiple space law, mediation, and arbitration symposiums and conferences.

Dr. Mohamed is fluent in three languages (Arabic, English and French).

• B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Southern California.
• Master Degree in International Negotiation and Policy-Making-Geneva Institute for Graduate Studies.
• Executive Masters in:
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning by MBZUAI | July 2022
  • Program on Fintech Frameworks, Applications, & Strategy by UC Berkeley | Jan 2022.
  • Executive Leadership Program by Prime Ministry Office: Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | May 2021.
  • Program for Chief of Happiness and Positivity Officers: Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | Feb 2017.
• Certified Training of Trainer from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | Jun 2019.

Eng. Naser Alrashdi enjoys 18 years of experience serving the UAE government in the fields of ICT, Cybersecurity, and Space, where he’s gained and applied his extensive experience and professional practical know-how on the areas of Strategy, Policy, Regulations& Licensing, Investment& Entrepreneurship Promotion, Diplomacy, Quality& Risk Management, Awareness Raising and Capacity Building.

Naser held several managerial positions such as the Director of Space Policy& Regulations, Director of Global Industry Accelerator Program, Sr. Manager of Cybersecurity Policy& Planning, Manager of UN-ITU Affairs, Manager of Broadcasting Services. Between 2007-2012 he was assigned with a diplomatic mission as the UAE Representative at the UN-ITU based in Geneva. In addition to his work positions, he was assigned more than 20 leadership responsibilities in national committees, and another 20 leadership positions in international committees on various matters related to ICT, Cyber, and Space. Naser is currently part of the Space Program Quality Assurance and Risk Management Team at the UAE Space Agency. He also teaches as Adjunct Faculty at the Mohamed Bin Rashed School of Governance.

During his career journey, Naser helped establishing more than 15 Departments in the Fed. Government. He managed over 60 national projects. He led the development of more than 36 national policies, strategies and regulations. He led and supervised over 73 national and international studies, and coordinated the preparation of over 590 conference paper contributions in over 210 international conferences that impacted more than 135 international decisions in the field of Space, Cyber, and ICT. Naser established in 2019 the UAE space entrepreneurship program (GSIA), and supported incubation and accelerated of more than 14 Space Startups. He coordinated the government authorization/licensing of over 18 ICT/Space activities, and led the int’ registration of more than 303 telecom and satellites stations. He coordinated the government signing of 20 international treaties& agreements, 14 MoUs, and the join of more than 10 international organizations/committees.

Dr. Numa ISNARD is an attorney-at-law based in Paris. He is the founder of SPACEAVOCAT, the first boutique law firm entirely dedicated to space activities. His practice is worldwide, advising diverse stakeholders such as NewSpace ventures, SMEs, large groups, public institutions, and governments. SPACEAVOCAT provides a wide range of services including space law & regulatory consulting, dispute resolution as well as corporate, contractual, transactional or IP matters. Prior founding SPACEAVOCAT, Numa worked at several law firms and telecommunications companies; he graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law and Université Paris-Saclay (LLM Space&Telecommunications Law ‘11, Ph.D ‘15).

Romain Loubeyre: has 10 years’ experience in space insurance underwriting. Comes from a Space legal and insurance background. Worked in a research position at the Space Policy Institute (George Washington University) and a consulting contract for the Agence Nationale des Frequences. Following underwriting and claims training at SCOR Global P&C, he joined elseco Limited in DIFC in 2011. In addition to underwriting space risks, Romain is Managing Director of ATOM Technologies Limited (an elseco Group company) developing the ATOM insurance operating system. Holds a Master’s degree in Space and Telecommunications Law and followed the Space Systems Engineering Course at University of Southampton.

Professor Dr. h.c. Stephan Hobe is a Professor for German Public Law, Europe-an Law and Public International Law and Director of the Institute of Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law as well as Director at Law Centre of European Integration Co-operation at the University of Cologne. Moreover, he is Holder of the Chair for Public International Law, European Law, European and International Economic Law as well as Jean-Monnet Professor for the Law of European Integration. Professor Hobe is also the Managing Director of the International Investment Centre Cologne. In 2017, he became Co-Director of the Cologne Research Center for National and In-ternational Sports Law, and in 2018 of the Research Centre for Law and Ethics of Digital Transformation, both at the University of Cologne.
In 2017, Professor Hobe was Director of the Centre for Excellence at The Hague Academy of International Law.
In 2018 Stephan Hobe was conferred with Honorary Degree Doctor Honoris Causa of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

He is also Vice Chairman of the German Society for International Law, is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law, the committee of the European Air Law Association, and several scientific academies.

Furthermore, Stephan Hobe is the editor of the German Journal of Air and Space Law, ZLW and member of several scientific associations, namely: International Institute of Space Law, European Center for Space Law, special rapporteur and designated rapporteur of the space law committee of the International Law Association, heading the special working group on air and space law of the ILA German Branch, membre titulaire of Académie française de l’Air et de l’Espace and member of American Society of International Law as well as nominated by Germany as ICSID Arbitrator.

Stephan Hobe also teaches as an honorary and visiting professor at the law faculties of the Universities in Pretoria (South Africa), Sofia (Bulgaria), Gujarat and Bangalore (India), the Beijing Institute of Technology and Beihang as well as at Xiamen University in China, the University of Lazarski in Warsaw, Poland, and the University of Paris XI (Paris Sud) in France.

Scientifically Prof. Hobe stands out with a textbook on International Law, one on European Law and one on Space Law, as well as about 350 articles on various areas of international law.

The special research interests include international law in the age of globalization, future legal questions of European integration, new challenges of space law and the special challenges posed by digitization and cyber technology.

Thanks to his wide network of international relationships, Prof. Hobe is an internationally acclaimed expert in air and space law.