Dr Mamatha Maheshwarappa is the Head of Research & Development within Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) at the UK Space Agency. Previously, as a Payload Systems Lead, she provided technical leadership on various UK Space Agency programmes and projects, by offering technical oversight/assurance. At RAL Space, she was the technical lead on SPEQTRE (Space Photon Entanglement Quantum Technology Readiness Experiment) satellite project. Mamatha has worked on transceivers for ExoMars and Lunar Polar Sample Return projects while at QinetiQ. She has a PhD in Software Defined Radios for Multi-Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey, UK. Mamatha is the co-chair of the Women in Aerospace-Europe (WIA-E) UK Regional Network representing UK Space Agency.

Ms Laryssa Patten is the Head of the Space Technology Adoption and Resilience (STAR) team at the NATO Communications and Information Agency. Laryssa has spent her career in the space field on civilian, government and military space programs. This includes working at the Canadian Space Agency on RADARSAT operations and International Space Station operations where she trained astronauts and cosmonauts to operate robotics in space. She also supported the European Commission on European Space Policy Development and Galileo Applications. For the last 10 years, Laryssa has been part of NATO, responsible for both Space and the Alliance Global Hawk activities within the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance service center and the Chief Technology Office at NCI Agency.
 

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).
 

Wing Commander Daniela Nowalski joined the RAF in 1999. Her posts have primarily been at the forefront of the UK’s air movements & transport operations and included operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. She has served in the Joint Force Logistics HQ during Op HERRICK drawdown and in the UK’s Permanent Joint HQ supporting emergent UK operations in the broader Middle East. She commanded Logistics Squadron at RAF Waddington, supporting and enabling the RAF’s ISTAR Force. She has served as the Aide de Camp to Commander British Forces Cyprus and as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff. Following a year planning and executing the world-wide baton relay to commemorate RAF100 in 2018, she then served as Executive Officer on 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing at RAF Wittering, the home of the RAF’s high readiness deployable logistics capability.

Daniela assumed the role of Deputy Commandant of the Tedder Academy of Leadership in 2021, a role that shapes and influences leadership training and education across the RAF Whole Force. As coaching & mentoring desk-lead for the RAF she sets the conditions for mentoring to be adopted as best practice and as part of an individual’s continued pursuit of excellence in leadership.
An experienced mentor Daniela represents the RAF on the alta steering group - an award winning mentoring initiative for women, by women, in the air, aviation and space sector. Additionally, she has led cross-organisational mentoring circles within the Business in the Community initiative and is a CV-mentor with the Young Women’s Trust. Daniela sits on the coveted Women in Defence mentoring scheme selection panel, and in 2021 as a member of the scheme, she won the national Most Committed Mentee Award.

Daniela is also an Alumni of the Windsor Leadership Trust, a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserves), a CAS Fellow and a mum of 2.

Dr Chiara Palla has been working as Project Manager at MDA Space UK since February 2020. She currently manages multiple projects focusing on the design and development of space sensors for exploration and on-orbit servicing missions, and space-based communication technology, including the Radiofrequency distribution network for HLCS, which will be onboard the Lunar Gateway. Her day-to-day job involves interactions with diverse teams, international space agencies, commercial customers and suppliers to ensure the programs are timely delivered.
Previously (2017-2020) she worked at Imperial College, Space Magnetometer Laboratory of Space Physics group, as Instrument engineer for Magnetometer payload on ESA RadCube, VIGIL and JUICE missions.
She holds a PhD from Cranfield University (2017) specialising in Space Debris Mitigation technologies for de-orbiting. During the PhD, she also worked as part time President for the Cranfield University Student Association.
She is co-lead for the non-profit organization WIA-Europe (WIA-E) UK Regional Network, which is committed to promoting female talent and leadership across all levels of the European aerospace sector.
Aside from the Space sector, Chiara is a qualified Ski Instructor with BASI.
 

Angela’s Army career spanned 30 years and included tours in the UK, Germany and NI during the ‘Troubles’. One of the very first mothers to re-join the Army after the rules changed in the early 90s, Angela has always cared deeply about helping women progress with a real passion for gender equity.

In 2011, Angela founded Women in Defence UK. Although best known for its annual Awards, now in their 9th year, its innovative Critical Mass work and its Challenge interviews with senior officers and MOD officials. Its ground-breaking cross-defence sector mentoring programme is in its fourth year and the group continues to collaborate with the MOD and industry on the Women in Defence Charter.

Angela recently reprised her early (Commonwealth Games) athletics career and enjoys sprinting in Masters’ competitions albeit very slowly. She was appointed OBE in the New Years’ Honours List 2021 for her services to women who work in the Defence Sector and was selected to join the Northern Power Women’s Power List in 2024. An exceptionally proud mother of a son and daughter, she is now an equally proud grandmother of two glorious granddaughters!

Helen Weedon is Managing Director of the Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) which is dedicated to promoting innovation within the satellite industry. Helen has been involved with SIG since 2011, previously supporting the group with marketing, PR, and admin activities. Helen has over 20 years’ experience within the satellite and broadcast industries. She is the founder of Radical Moves, a specialist PR and Marketing agency. Helen is fluent in French, German, and Welsh, with a basic knowledge of Dutch and Spanish. Helen regularly addresses the industry on the challenges faced by the satellite industry and the innovative approaches needed to resolve them.

Tina Ghataorejoined Aerospacelab in August 2023 as Group ChiefStrategy and Revenue Officer, and CEO of Aerospacelab's new North American branch. Prior to joining the fast-growing international startup specialized in designing, manufacturing and operating small satellites, Tina served as Chief Commercial Officer of Mynaricand President of MynaricUSA where she led the company’s efforts to position Mynaricas the preferred laser communication provider for aerospace application for both government and commercial markets.
In 2022, Tina's contribution to the aerospace industry was recognized by both the public and industry peers alike when she was voted Via Satellite's "Satellite Executive of the Year", accepting her award in front of a select audience at the industry's leading annual conference 'Satellite 2022’.
Before Mynaric, she was the Executive Vice President of Inflight Connectivity Solutions at Yahsat, a leading UAE Satellite Operator, where she was responsible for the overall strategy and execution of enabling the organization to launch into the Mobility Satcom Services business. In 2007, she founded The EKKAM Group, a strategic management consulting firm focused on serving clients in the aerospace/aviation and telecom industries. Key clients included Airbus, Panasonic and Thales. Tina held multiple leadership roles at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, where she was instrumental in efforts to launch the Panasonics Global Communications Services business, currently serving over 80+ airlines globally. She was also charged to establish the strategy and grow the software, applications and media business, serving the In-Flight Entertainment and Communications industry. Tina began her career at The Boeing Company’s Satellite Systems business unit. She was integral to the building and launch of Connexionby Boeing (CBB) business, the first-of-its-kind true broadband communications services for commercial airlines.
As part of the business development organization, she participated in the early pursuits of the Teledesic (LEO) and Ellipso (MEO) satellite programs. She was also a key member of the due diligence team efforts, resulting in the acquisition of Hughes Space and Communications. Tina received her Bachelor of Honors Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Kingston University in the U.K. She is also a graduate of the International Space University.

Following her degree in Social Policy from the London School of Economics, and five years as a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy, Lucinda joined Airbus in 2000. Since then, she has performed a wide variety of roles in the fields of Service Delivery, Commercial and Strategy, as well as Chief of Staff and Head of Innovations and Portfolio. With a passion for people and values-based leadership, she began a new role as Head of Social Value and Sustainability for the Airbus Defence and Space business in the UK in May 2024. She is also the ADS UK DEI business champion, driving an improvement programme across the organisation, and mentors women on Airbus’ female development programmes.
A military spouse for 26 years, Lucinda lives in Cambridgeshire and is a keen gardener in her spare time. Her daughter is an Engineering Degree Apprentice and her son is studying International Relations with a view to becoming a Royal Marines Officer.
 

Jennifer Luce is Vice President of Defense Programs at Stellar Solutions, Inc., a small, woman-owned business and leading provider of high-impact engineering services to significant intelligence, defense, civil, commercial, and international customers. There Jennifer is responsible for oversight of the company’s technology, management, and solutions for Department of Defense customers related to space and missile systems for national protection and security. In this and her previous role as Director, Space Systems, her projects have spanned launch acquisition and integration, global positioning technical and programs, and future systems technology development. She served for over 26 years at the Department of Defense, including as project manager for a variety of U.S. Air Force, DoD, and NRO projects, directing the first consolidated mission integration team for USAF’s launch program. She is a frequent speaker at industry events such as AIAA/ASCEND. She holds a BS from Baylor University, where she was a member of the Arnold Air Society and AFROTC. She attained a Master’s from the University of Central Florida. She is a Certified Program Management Professional with the Project Management Institute.

Preeya’s fascination with space began in her early childhood, inspired by sc-fi television series like Star Trek Voyager and trips to Farnborough Air Show with her parents.
From then she was hooked – and even at the age of just four-years-old was single minded about the career she wanted to follow.
Her academic path saw her completing courses in record time and achieving a BTEC diploma, HNC, HND and a Masters’ degree - all while working full time. Preeya started her vocational journey at Gillette in Reading, where she learned the fundamental principles of mechanical engineering as an apprentice developing and testing new product concepts.
Following the graduation from her apprenticeship, Preeya transferred what she had learned to her next role at AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment), starting off as an engineering technician and working her way up the ranks in the defence industry.
Eventually the opportunity to join Lockheed Martin presented itself and she jumped at the opportunity, learning a range of skills in business operations before moving into project management and to her current role as a Programme Lead.
Preeya is also a STEM Ambassador and has long term ambitions to be a Programme Director whilst continuing to grow the UK space sector.

Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese is a University Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College, as well as serving as the Charles Bolden Chair on Science, Space & Technology. She has also been part of the Government Department faculty of Harvard Extension School and Harvard Summer School since 2004, and a Senior Fellow with Women in International Security. She is the author of Women v Women: The Case for Cooperation (2022), Women, Peace & Security: An Introduction (2nd edition, December 2023) and her new book Leadership in War & Peace: Masculine & Feminine is forthcoming in 2025. She is also the author of 7 books and dozens of articles on space security, testified on space security before Congress on multiple occasions, a faculty member of the International Space University and held positions on multiple space-related boards and advisory councils.

Helen Weedon is Managing Director of the Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) which is dedicated to promoting innovation within the satellite industry. Helen has been involved with SIG since 2011, previously supporting the group with marketing, PR, and admin activities. Helen has over 20 years’ experience within the satellite and broadcast industries. She is the founder of Radical Moves, a specialist PR and Marketing agency. Helen is fluent in French, German, and Welsh, with a basic knowledge of Dutch and Spanish. Helen regularly addresses the industry on the challenges faced by the satellite industry and the innovative approaches needed to resolve them.

Dr Mamatha Maheshwarappa is the Head of Research & Development within Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) at the UK Space Agency. Previously, as a Payload Systems Lead, she provided technical leadership on various UK Space Agency programmes and projects, by offering technical oversight/assurance. At RAL Space, she was the technical lead on SPEQTRE (Space Photon Entanglement Quantum Technology Readiness Experiment) satellite project. Mamatha has worked on transceivers for ExoMars and Lunar Polar Sample Return projects while at QinetiQ. She has a PhD in Software Defined Radios for Multi-Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey, UK. Mamatha is the co-chair of the Women in Aerospace-Europe (WIA-E) UK Regional Network representing UK Space Agency.