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Jana Pérez Ruiz

Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (SASEMAR). Spain

Head of the Vigo Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

Jana holds a degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport, and a Master’s degree in Foreign Trade and International Transport and Communications, both from the University of Cantabria.

She started her career in the merchant marine as a merchant navy Officer, sailing on oil/chemical tankers, reefers, and Ro-Pax vessels.

In 2010, she joined the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (SASEMAR), initially as a VTS Operator and MRCC Coordinator, and later as Head of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Vigo. She specializes in the supervision and management of Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, pollution response operations, and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).

Eduardo Santana de Porras

Ghenova. Spain

Naval and Ocean Engineer.

I am Eduardo Santana de Porras, a Naval Engineer graduated from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, later complemented by a Master’s Degree in Naval Engineering (enabling qualification) at the University of A Coruña, Ferrol. There, I began my professional career at GHENOVA, working on the F110 project within the Structures Department.

After this initial stage, I moved back to the Canary Islands to join GHENOVA Group’s Business Development area. Since then, I have been involved in the company’s expansion and consolidation in the archipelago, which led me to assume the position of Director of GHENOVA Canarias, a role I currently hold.

In addition, I serve as a board member of the Official Association of Naval Engineers (Canary Islands Territorial Delegation), where I collaborate in promoting and advancing the profession.

In my current role as Director of GHENOVA Canarias, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Atlantic Association of Emergencies (AAE), actively participating since its early stages and contributing to strengthening ties among the entities dedicated to maritime emergency management in the Canary Islands.

Eduardo Pereira

Fuerteventura Technology Park SA MP. Spain

CEO.

Eduardo Pereira is an Aerospace Engineer, specialized in Airports and Air Transport from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, with advanced training in Business Administration and Financial Management. As a member of the Spanish State Aeronautical Engineer Corps, he has built a distinguished career in the Spanish airport sector, combining technical expertise with high-level public and private sector leadership.

He worked for over 15 years at AENA, Spanish company in charge of airport management, holding key positions at the airports of La Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, and Fuerteventura, where he served as CEO for more than a decade. He led the € 500 million expansion of Fuerteventura Airport, which under his management became the 8th busiest airport in Spain. He was also a member of the strategic committee responsible for the development of airport infrastructure across the country.

He currently serves as CEO of the Fuerteventura Technology Park SA MP (public company), where he leads groundbreaking initiatives such as the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS and the Canarias Geo Innovation Program 2030, focused on Unmanned Aerial Systems, High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite Platforms and aerial R&D operations for innovative solutions EO, Security, Defence and Telecom (a Canary Islands program) and regional Committee of Spanish Space Agency”.”

He has received multiple institutional awards for his contributions to the aerospace and tourism sectors and society. He represents to Canary islands as a member of council of boards of NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies, that represents the interests of European regions that use space technologies whilst simultaneously highlighting the regional dimension of European space policy and programmes. Eduardo has recently been designated, by the Canary Islands Government, for the Coordination Regions Committee of the Spanish Space Agency. He es member of boards of UAS Spanish Association.

Jorge García

Repsol. Spain

Marine Terminals Safety and Environmental Manager.

Jorge García is an experienced professional in the energy sector with over 25 years of expertise in marine terminal operations, logistics, and safety management. As Marine Terminals Safety and Environmental Manager at Repsol, he leads audits, inspections, and risk analyses to ensure compliance, operational excellence, and environmental protection.

His career spans roles such as Merchant Marine Officer, Terminal Manager, and Technical Advisor, with proven experience in managing hydrocarbon operations, terminal assurance, and emergency response.  He played a key role in coordinating maritime pollution control efforts following the Mare Doricum spill in Peru.

He holds advanced degrees in Occupational Risk Prevention and Propulsion Engineering and Navigation, and represents Repsol in the OCIMF Ship to Shore Interface Expert Group. Certified in IMO OPRC Level 3, ISPS Code, and ISO 9001, 14001, and OHSAS 18001 auditing, he combines technical expertise with strong leadership in safety and environmental performance.

Augusto Sepp

ORBITAL. Spain

Oceanographer.

Augusto Sepp is an oceanographer driven by a lifelong curiosity for science, it runs in the family, and an almost childlike excitement for turning complex research—his own and others’—into real-world, functional solutions.

During his PhD at the University of Bologna, Augusto got into oil-spill risk management. He developed science-based best practices and built numerical tools to help put those ideas into action.

Now, as Head of Oceanography at Orbital, Augusto has found his professional home and expanded his focus to tackle other risks too, like maritime navigation and ocean health.

Lorenzo Iannini

ESA – European Space Agency. The Netherlands

Mission Scientist.

Lorenzo Lannini is a remote sensing scientist with over 15 years of experience in Earth Observation and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). He holds an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and a Ph.D. in information Engineering, both awarded by Politecnico di Milano.

For the past four years, Lorenzo has been working at the Earth and Mission Science Division within ESA ESTEC and has been supporting the science activities related to the future Copernicus SAR Missions. Throughout his career, he has been involved in multiple projects focused on developing radar signal processing algorithms, designing SAR system concepts, and evaluating the performance of spaceborne SAR systems.

Mirem Garbiñe Ayensa

INTECMAR. Spain

Head of the Documentation and Scientific Support Unit.

Garbiñe Ayensa holds a PhD in Biological Sciences and has been working for over two decades to protect the marine environment from accidental pollution. She is head of the Documentation and Scientific Support Unit at the Technological Institute for the Control of the Marine Environment of Galicia (INTECMAR), a reference centre under the Galician Ministry of the Sea (Xunta de Galicia).

Her work focuses on providing technical and scientific support to the CAMGAL Plan — Galicia’s contingency plan for accidental marine pollution incidents — which is part of the Spanish National Response System. She has taken part in numerous international projects aimed at improving preparedness for these types of risks, and is one of the driving forces behind the Galician Coastal Observatory, a key tool for understanding the region’s coastal environment.

She is currently involved in various European projects, including MANIFESTS GENIUS (DGECHO), which seeks to improve response capacity to toxic cloud incidents in marine settings.

Captain Krzysztof Orlowski

National Maritime Safety Authority. Papua New Guinea

MSc, Navigational Engineer, AFNI, Maritime Management Professional, Class 1 Master Mariner.

Accomplished leader with over 40 years of combined experience in the maritime industry including 14 years in command of commercial vessels, mainly container and ro-ro of British, French and German Owners, operated by A.P. Moller-Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Hamburg Süd, Delmas, Hartman, Peter Döhle and MOL.

8 years on position of Executive Manager Maritime Operations at PNG National Maritime Safety Authority. In charge of 7 operational departments including: MRCC, Marine Environment Protection, Ship Survey & Inspection, Small Crafts, Hydrography, Aids to Navigation and Maritime Domain Awareness. Board Member in the PNG Maritime College.

Marine Consultant, ISM, ISPS Auditor and MLC Inspector, Designated Person Ashore, Marine Casualty Investigator, Crewing Manager, Company Fleet Safety Officer. In charge of cadet training program for Delmas and Peter Doehle shipping companies. Specialise in maritime security, anti-stowaways and anti-piracy procedures in West Africa, evaluation seaworthiness of ships, cargo procedures, IMDG, marine environment protection and quality control. Passionate about implementing modern technologies for SAR, detecting dark ships and oil spill incidents.

Fernando Ripoll

SkyFlare. Spain

Mission System Specialist.

Fernando Ripoll holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). For the past 17 years, he has worked with companies in the emergency aeronautics sector, working in both Spain and South America. Notable projects he has worked on include training and maintaining mission systems and sensors on board maritime rescue aircraft, integrating, designing, and certifying aerial surveillance systems, and managing mission software development.

Ripoll currently works as a Mission Systems Specialist at SkyFlare, where he designs operating concepts, sensors, mission systems, and control software for the company’s UAS.

Jaime Sánchez Mayorga

Spanish Space Agency. Spain

Head of the Defence Programmes Department.

Colonel (EA) Jaime Sánchez Mayorga is a distinguished member of the 40th Class of the Spanish Air Force Academy and currently serves as Head of the Defence Programmes Department at the Spanish Space Agency, within the Directorate of Programmes and Industry.

His career in the space sector began with four years managing the technical aspects of the Spanish Air Force’s CESAEROB program (Earth Observation). He then spent the following 15 years overseeing space programs at the Ministry of Defence, where he served as Program Manager for Pleiades, PAZ, Spainsat/Xtar EU, and later Spainsat NG.

During the final years of this stage, he was assigned to a cooperation program with France. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and limited staff at DGAM, he continued his duties from Paris, managing the Helios and CSO programs, as well as Spainsat NG, and participating in various European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO, and EU committees.

Over the past two years, Colonel Sánchez Mayorga has been part of the Spanish Space Agency—initially seconded from the Air Staff and currently as Head of the Defence Programmes Department.

Academically, his background spans from his studies at the Spanish Air Force Academy to the School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSIT) at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), followed by postgraduate studies in engineering, and culminating in a PhD in Economics and Organization from the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR).

Isabela Gómez Luna

ORBITAL. Spain

EO Engineer and Project Manager.

Oceanographer with 15+ years of experience in environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance, and satellite remote sensing. Extensive background in airborne sensor operation and mission coordination, gained during more than a decade at SASEMAR.

Currently EO Engineer and Project Manager at Orbital EOS, overseeing 24/7 operational services, analyst coordination, emergency workflows, and contributing to the company’s internal structuring. Participant in Horizon 2020 R&D projects focused on ocean sensing and integrated marine management.

Mahyar Golabi Rahnema

Cheiron Petroleum Corporation. Egypt

Group HSEQ & Sustainability Director.

Mahyar Golabi Rahnema is a strategic HSEQ and Sustainability Executive with over 22 years of international leadership experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. He currently serves as Group HSEQ & Sustainability Director at Cheiron Petroleum Corporation, driving operational excellence, ESG integration, and energy transition across upstream assets.

Mahyar is known for his forward-thinking mindset, having led major cultural transformation programs and sustainability-linked initiatives in complex operating environments. He is passionate about building purposeful, inclusive, and high-performing organizations.

Amador Castro Pereira

Consellería do Mar de la Xunta de Galicia. Spain

Head of Maritime Search, Rescue, and Pollution Control Service.

Amador Castro Pereira, 49, born in Ferrol and raised in Vigo, is a specialist in maritime safety, emergency response at sea, and marine pollution prevention. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport (National Award, 2002) from the University of A Coruña and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Santiago de Compostela.

With over 15 years of service in the Spanish Maritime Administration, he has held positions such as Merchant Navy Captain, Navy Lieutenant (Honorary Reservist), and civil servant in the Civil Navy Corps. Since 2009, he has worked as Head of the Maritime District, Safety Inspector, and Port State Control Officer in the Harbour Master Offices of Las Palmas and Vigo.

Since 2024, he has led the Galician Coastguard’s Maritime Search, Rescue, and Pollution Control Service under the Xunta de Galicia. He oversees 24/7 emergency coordination, maritime rescue operations, and implementation of the Galician marine pollution response plan (CAMGAL), part of Spain’s national system. The Galician Coastguard is recognized as Spain’s oldest and one of Europe’s most capable civilian SAR services.

Javier García Robles

Open Cosmos. Spain

Data Partnerships Manager.

Javier has +16 years of experience in the Earth Observation sector in positions like Remote sensing engineer and Interferometric SAR data processing specialist, having been the Head of Geospatial Solutions group in TRE ALTAMIRA between 2019 and 2024.

He holds a MsC in telecommunication engineering and Master’s in GIS from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya providing a strong foundation for his expertise in Earth Observation and GIS domains. In January 2016, he was recognized as one of the noteworthy professionals under 40 years of age in the field of geospatial professions and industries.

In mid-2024, he joined Open Cosmos with the role of Data Partnerships Manager, to foster strategic alliances and accelerate a data ecosystem of satellite data, support building solutions (applications and analytics) above the satellite imagery to serve different industries in different sectors.

Valentín Canales

B2Space. Spain

Co-CEO & CTO.

Valentín Canales is the Co-CEO and CTO of B2Space, a leading European company pioneering High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) platforms for advanced Earth Observation and Communication services.

With a BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering, Valentín has led cutting-edge aerospace projects across Spain, Germany, France, and the UK, contributing to flagship programs such as the Airbus A350XWB and the Rolls-Royce V2500 and Trent 1000 XWB engines.

Driven by a strong belief in the transformative potential of stratospheric systems, he is dedicated to expanding the frontiers of HAPS technology to tackle global challenges, enhance life on Earth, and enable sustainable development.

Carlos Hernández Medel

Telespazio Ibérica. Spain

Director of Marketing and Sales.

Carlos is an Aeronautical Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and holds an MBA from Robert Kennedy College. He has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace sector.

Throughout his career, he has held key positions at leading companies in the industry, including GMV, AENA, Tecnobit, Aries, and Everis. Carlos has extensive experience managing both technical and commercial teams and is well recognized in the sector for his solid professional track record in satellite navigation.

He joined Telespazio Ibérica in 2020 as Director of Marketing, Sales, and Business Development.

Maryia Urazaeva

Satellite Applications Catapult. UK

Senior Business Development Manager.

Maryia Urazaeva is an experienced Senior Business Development Professional in the space industry with over 15 years’ background and a primary specialisation in Earth observation, satellite applications, and geoinformation services. She has recently expanded her expertise beyond Earth to explore in-orbit infrastructure and services. In particular, she is focused on the potential of orbital data centres, which enable faster delivery of insights where time is critical and offer more sustainable solutions powered by space.

Maryia is passionate about innovation and committed to advancing the cross-sector adoption of space. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge technologies and real-world applications, supporting commercialisation, user engagement, and sustainable growth in the evolving space economy.

Marco Sposito

Cosine Remote Sensing. The Netherlands

Managing Director.

Marco completed his PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Naples, specializing in airborne remote sensing for air quality and land management. Having worked on various aerospace projects in Italy, most recently as coordinator of the Environmental Research Aircraft Lab of the Italian National Research Council, Marco moved to the Netherlands.

Marco spent almost 4 years at ESA ESTEC as calibration engineer first, in the science department working on EUV to IR sensors calibration for future planetary missions, and then as performance engineer in the Earth Observation department working on Sentinel 5 Precursor spectrometer TROPOMI.

Marco has been involved in a variety of research and development activities at cosine, all focusing on the miniaturization of optical instruments for Earth Observation and miniaturized suites of instruments for planetary exploration. Marco has been leading the development of space products including space Lidars for vegetation and bathymetry, as well as intelligent spectral imagers for EO from small satellites. He has produced more than 40 scientific publications, either as first author or as a co-author.

Having gained experience as system and performance engineer, project manager, program manager and team leader at cosine, Marco became managing director of cosine Remote Sensing as well as of the Italian branch of cosine.

Marco led the commercialization of the hyperspectral product line at cosine, the first ever miniaturized class of imagers able to connect hyperspectral, thermal imaging and artificial intelligence techniques in one compact solution for the Earth observation market.

Marco is currently leading the scale-up of the remote sensing business at cosine as well as the setup of the space factory for the series production of smart remote sensing instruments for Earth Observation.

Pablo Benjumeda

ORBITAL. Spain

COO

Pablo Benjumeda is an Industrial Engineer with an MSc in Remote Sensing. He began his career at Airbus as a remote sensing specialist before joining the Spanish Coast Guard in 2008. Over 12 years of service, he led the team of aircraft tactical coordinators for Search and Rescue operations and environmental monitoring, logging more than 4,500 flight hours and performing over 2,000 in-situ oil spill detections and analyses.

In 2018, Pablo co-founded Orbital EOS, where he serves as Chief Operations Officer. The company delivers expert, satellite-based intelligence for oil spill detection, analysis, and forecasting, leveraging cutting-edge technology to tackle complex environmental challenges worldwide.

As COO, Pablo oversees operations, strategic partnerships, and innovation initiatives, ensuring the company’s solutions deliver measurable impact for clients in the maritime, energy, and environmental sectors.

Pol Llorca

Airbus Intelligence. Spain

Head of Business Development.

Pol Llorca is an engineer and serves as the HAPS Program Manager at Airbus GeoTech, where he leads the development of the Earth observation program using high-altitude stratospheric platforms (HAPS).

He has been involved in the project since its conceptual phase and is currently spearheading its transition to the commercial stage, combining technological innovation with strategic applications for clients across multiple sectors.

Carlos Fernández de la Peña

Telespazio Ibérica. Spain

Chief Executive Officer.

Carlos holds a degree in Physical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and has completed the General Management Program (PDG) at IESE Business School, University of Navarra.

He brings over 25 years of international experience in management, strategy, and business development, with a career consistently focused on technology and the space sector.

From founding Deimos—responsible for launching Spain’s first two commercial Earth observation satellites—to driving business growth and consolidation in his previous role at Open Cosmos, Carlos has built an international career centered on leveraging space technology to solve real-world problems.

He joined Telespazio Ibérica as Chief Executive Officer in December 2022.

José Manuel Allegue

MRCC Almeria. Spain

Chief.

José Manuel Allegue holds a degree in Merchant Marine from the University of Cantabria and a Master’s in Civil Protection and Emergency Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia.

He began his career in the merchant navy, sailing on oil tankers, refrigerated vessels, and container ships. He later transitioned into professional yacht racing, taking part in high-level regattas, including the prestigious America’s Cup and other international competitions.

Following this, he spent six years managing recreational marinas across the Spanish mainland, gaining solid experience in nautical facility operations. In 1999, he joined the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (SASEMAR), initially as a Maritime Traffic Controller, then as Head of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (CCS) in Santander. Since 2021, he has served as Head of the Rescue Coordination and VTS Center in Almería.

Specializing in the planning and coordination of search and rescue operations, remote sensing services, and operational communications, José Manuel is recognized for his leadership and expertise in maritime rescue and emergency management.

Elisa Callejo

Thales Alenia Space. Spain

Telecommunications Engineer.

Elisa Callejo is a Telecommunications Engineer with a Master degree in Project Management. She has been with Thales Alenia Space for 21 years, in several positions.

She is an space enthusiast, and since 2023 she is Sales Manager in Thales Alenia Space in Spain, working in diverse business development activities, with emphasis in solutions for Earth Observation and Science domains and products such as those based on Artificial Intelligence or other innovative techniques.

Armando José Teixeira Rodrigues Pires Lopes

Port Maritime Institute “IMP”
Republic of Cabo Verde

Executive Member of the Board of Directors.

Armando holds a degree in Transport Management, Intermodality, and Logistics from the Infante D. Henrique Nautical School in Lisbon (2005), and a Master’s in Maritime Law and International Trade from Valladolid University in partnership with the University of Mindelo.

Since 2007, he has held various leadership roles at Enapor, S.A., including Port Delegate in Brava (2008–2011), and Head of several departments—Traffic and Goods, Goods, and Ships. In 2022, he briefly served as Director of Operations and Logistics at Porto Grande. He has also served in São Vicente and Brava, and since June 2022, he has been an Executive Board Member at the Port Maritime Institute (IMP), Cape Verde’s national maritime authority.

Miquel Moyano

ARPEL. Uruguay

Senior Advisor.

Miguel Moyano is a Senior Advisor at ARPEL with over four decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, specializing in oil spill contingency planning, environmental management, and operational safety. He is co-author of the international RETOS™ tool and technical guidelines used in over 100 countries.

He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, a diploma in Marine Pollution Chemistry from the University of Liverpool, and an MBA in Oil and Gas from Middlesex University.

Juan Peña

ORBITAL. Spain

CEO

Juan Peña is the CEO and Co-founder of Orbital EOS, a space-tech company leveraging satellite technology to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

With a solid background in oceanography and deep expertise in remote sensing, Juan blends scientific insight with entrepreneurial drive to develop innovative, data-driven solutions. As a current PhD candidate in artificial intelligence, he is strongly committed to advancing the use of space-based technologies to build a more sustainable and resilient planet.

Álvaro M.-Villalobos

CEC. Spain

Director

Colonel (EA) Álvaro M. Villalobos, a member of the 37th Class of the Spanish Air Force Academy, currently serves as Director of the Canary Islands Space Centre (CEC) in Maspalomas, which hosts the Spanish Mission Control Centre (SPMCC) for the COSPAS-SARSAT global rescue system. He is also Spain’s representative to the organization’s Council. His career began as a Search and Rescue pilot in the Canary Islands, accumulating over 2,000 flight hours, before transitioning in 1999 to a path focused on international and NATO assignments. He has served in Spain, Italy, and Belgium — including at SHAPE and NATO Headquarters in Brussels — and graduated from the NATO Defense College in Rome (Senior Course 127).

With a highly diverse background, Colonel Villalobos has extensive experience in intelligence, logistics, operations, human resources, and public relations. He is an internationally recognized expert on cooperation, civil protection, and gender issues in the military. A UN observer during the Balkan War and co-author of a book on child protection in armed conflicts, he was also the only male member of NATO’s Gender Affairs Executive Committee (2020–2023). In early 2022, he commanded the Spanish Air Force Detachment in Senegal before taking his current position as Director of the CEC, which operates over 40 satellite antennas.