The following keynote speakers and lecturers are subject to change
Course Director and Speaker
Claudia Anita Maria Fiorentino started her career in the space sector joining Alenia Spazio spa (ALS now Thales Alenia Space Italia) where she has held different positions in the field of Satellite AIV/AIT working 12 years in several GEO and LEO TLC satellite projects (SICRAL, Globalstar, ARTEMIS, Italsat FM2), and LOE OE projects as Radarsat-2 and PRIMA, the TAS “Common Platform” for LEO Earth Observation programmes. She joined the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in 2006 where she has been involved in the Cosmo-SkyMed integrated ASI/It-MoD Programme Office as E2E System Verification Manager of the first generation and then Mission Manager of the Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation Programme. At ESA since 2017 as Senior Satellite System Development Engineer in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC) she is also currently the CSC Directorate Security Officer.
Course Director and Speaker
After an experience as an Officer of the Italian Army (
1997-98), Manfredi Porfilio started his career as a PhD student and Researcher in astrodynamics at “La Sapienza” (1998-2006). In 2006 he joined the Italian Space Agency where he worked as a System Engineer and Project Manager in different space domains, and gaining experience in complex, dual-use, space systems.
He joined ESA in May 2022, as an End-to-End Information Security Engineer. His main role at ESA is Alternate Information Security Officer for the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate.
University Graduations:
• Laurea degree (master) in Aeronautical Engineering, Space specialisation, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 1996;
• PhD in Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 2001;
• “Second Level Master” (post-graduate University course) in Governance of Information Technology Systems: Development, Management, Monitoring, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, 2011.
Course Director and Speaker
Mark Diamantino Caribé began his career at Thales SIX, developing realistic cyber-attack scenarios, conducted penetration testing and risk assessments on military systems, trained defense professionals and supported security architecture activities. His work in cryptographic protocol security led to the design of Belgium’s first post-quantum key establishment protocol. He later transitioned to space cybersecurity, joining the European Space Agency – Directorate of Technology, Engineering, and Quality, where he contributed to the cybersecurity of EGNOS V3, the next-generation European GNSS augmentation system.
Currently, he is engaged in cybersecurity engineering and management for IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite), working within the integrated program team between ESA’s Connectivity & Secure Communications (CSC) Directorate and the European Commission’s DG DEFIS (Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance Unit). His role focuses on ensuring the resilience and security of Europe’s next-generation satellite infrastructure.
Speaker
Laurent Jaffart is the European Space Agency’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications and Head of ECSAT in Harwell, United Kingdom, since 15 May 2024.
In this role, Mr Jaffart leads the ESA satellite telecommunication programme, including the implementation of the full portfolio of the ARTES 4.0 programme activities, Moonlight, Civil Security from Space, and the ESA contributions to the EU Secure Connectivity Programme, IRIS2, in collaboration with the European Commission.
From France, Mr Jaffart has over 20 years of experience in the European space sector, most notably in senior leadership roles at Airbus Defence and Space.
Speaker
Professor Anu Ojha OBE is a member of the Executive Committee of the UK Space Agency . Included in his portfolio are leadership of the Agency’s International and ESA teams as well as UKSA’s public/parliamentary affairs, communications and education/future workforce programmes.
Prior to joining the Agency and Civil Service in May 2023 he was the founder of the UK National Space Academy programme and a Director of the National Space Centre. Appointed Honorary Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester in 2016, he was co-investigator in the University’s programmes for nuclear power applications for exploration as well as the development of new technologies for planetary drilling. He also has extensive experience in analysis from ESA’s Rosetta, Mars Express and SOHO missions and was Principal Investigator for the ESA/UKSA Astro Academy Principia education experiment suite conducted by Tim Peake during his mission to the International Space Station. He continues to teach on the University’s MSc course in Space Exploration Systems specialising in human survival in extreme environments and helped develop and teaches on the University’s new undergraduate-level Fundamentals of Space training course for space professionals.
From 2018 to 2023 he was a member of ESA’s Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) working with the Director and Executive of ESA’s human and robotic exploration directorate. He was a member of the final site selection team for the ESA Rosalind Franklin mission targeted for the Oxia Planum region of Mars and has helped develop ESA’s science exploration strategies for human and robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Since 2020 he has supported MOD Space Directorate and UK Space Command in a number of areas related to skills development, space capabilities and international perspectives through both his ESA experiences and his long-standing participation as a leader of the UK-China Joint Laboratory in Space Science and Technology. In addition to being a member of STFC Council from 2018-2024, he was also invited by the UK Secretary of State for Defence to contribute to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
Prior to joining the space sector in 2008 Anu spent fourteen years as a state high school science teacher and also with British Forces Cyprus. During this time he was appointed as National Lead Practitioner for Physics by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and was also Assistant Headteacher/Advanced Skills Teacher at the largest school in England at the time. He was appointed OBE for services to science education in 2014 and co-led the National Space Academy/Loughborough College team that shared the Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2023 – the UK’s highest national honour in education.
Anu has been a British Skydiving member since 2000, has completed over 1400 jumps and was involved as a science consultant for the Red Bull Stratos stratospheric skydive programme in 2012. Since 1993 he has led many high-altitude expeditions in India and Nepal and his other interests include scuba/free diving, triathlon, amateur astronomy and contemporary world politics.
Speaker
Silviu Rogobete (BA, PhD Brunel, UK), Honorary Professor of Stellenbosch University (School of Public Leadership, 2016), South Africa, Professor of Applied Moral Philosophy at the Department of Governance Studies, West University of Timisoara (Romania), former Diplomat serving as Consul General of Romania in South Africa. In the summers of 2001 and 2002, as a Visiting Academic, he benefited of postdoctoral instruction (Human Rights under Professor David Robertson) at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University, where he was admitted as Associate Member of the Senior Common Room. In 2023 he completed the European Advanced Strategic Course on Security and Defence, under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College, where he also established and regularly directs coures on Diplomacy for Peace, Security and Defence. Currently as Director of the Doctoral School of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science, Professor Rogobete succefuly coordintaed 15 Doctoral thesis in the UK, South Africa and Romania. He teaches courses on Human Rights, Philosophical and Political Anthropology, Religion and Politics, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Globalisation and Human Security. He has published with reputable publishers such as Routledge (2024) or Springer’s Religion and Human Rights Series.
Speaker
Bernard SIMAN, O.B.E., is a Senior Associate Fellow at Egmont- Royal Institute for International Relations. Egmont is the think tank associated with the Belgian Foreign Ministry. He is also Head of Cyber Diplomacy and Statecraft at the Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In addition, he lectures at the European Security & Defence College and at the Belgian Royal Military Academy.
He specialises in Hybrid Warfare and Threats, Southern European,Maritime, and Middle Eastern geopolitics, and Japan; and is a Member of both Chatham House and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
He advises both governments and corporates on strategic foresight, strategic communications, risk assessment, Maritime Security, hybrid threats and global geopolitics. He worked in the UK, Japan, Turkey, the Mediterranean region, and the Gulf.
He was honoured by HM the late Queen Elizabeth II as Officer in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and by HM King Filip of Belgium as Knight in the Order of Leopold, the most senior Order in Belgium.
Speaker
Prof. Michel Bousquet retired from ISAE-SUPAERO, the French Aerospace Engineering Institute of Higher Education where he directed master programmes and was leading a research team in communications and navigation. Born in 1951, holding degrees from University of Toulouse and Supaero, he is still active in non-profit organizations involved in research activities or support to students. With over forty years of teaching and research experience related to several aspects of satellite systems, participation to many European and ESA R&D projects, he is the author/co-author of many papers and textbooks and stood on the boards of European research programmes (COST, SatNEx Network of Excellence).
Visiting lecturer with several foreign universities, emeritus faculty of the International Space University (ISU), organizer of numerous workshops and short courses in the fields of satellite communications, spacecraft engineering and technologies, he is recipient of the 2019 AIAA Aerospace Communication award for his “For his outstanding contribution and promotion of education and proliferation of knowledge on aerospace communication and navigation”.
Speaker
Mario Polino is Head of CyberSecurity at Leaf Space where he takes care of the security of the ground stations service. He is adjunct professor at the Politecnico di Milano. He received his Ph.D. from the same institution in Italy in 2017. He worked at the NECST laboratory as part of the Computer Security group inside the Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB). He has done research on malware analysis with a specific focus on behavioral analysis to assist malware analysts. Mario is interested in various computer security topics and has worked in several areas, ranging from cyber-physical systems to static binary analysis, bank fraud analysis, and Android security. He enjoys playing Capture the Flag security competitions and is captain of the famous Italian team mhackeroni (winner of hack-a-sat 4). Notably, he serves as the coach of Team Italy (Italian National Cybersecurity Team) and Team Europe (EU International Cybersecurity Team).
Speaker
Head of ESA Security Office
Senior Manager expert of complex Space and Security multinational programmes, such as ISS (International Space Station), MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defence System) and GALILEO, with high knowledge in identifying and managing innovative engineering and technology solutions with regard to complex dual use or military space systems.
More than 20 years of experience in Space, in Security and the Electronic Technology field, most of which was spent leading teams in Industries, in International and Intergovernmental Agencies/ Organisations, such as NATO, the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency, along with Governmental Institutions as Space Security and Galileo Public Regulated Service Expert for the Italian Prime Minister, Military Advisor Cabinet Office.
In ESA since 2010, working in the Galileo Programme, and, since the beginning of 2019, filling the role of ESA Security Authority leading the ESA Security Office Team, with direct reporting line to the ESA Director General. This responsibility, performed in synergy with Member States' security specialists (the ESA Security Committee), includes the identification and analysis of the ESA Security Strategy, the definition of the ESA Security policy and establishment of the security framework, the Corporate and Space Programme Security implementation supervision and Accreditation Engineering Management, and, finally, as Cyber Security Authority, the establishment of specific ESA Cyber Procurements. The Goal, for the ESA Security Office, is to grant an appropriate level of security applied to the ESA
environment and ESA Space Infrastructure in order to safeguard the investments of the European Member States.
Speaker
Claes Hansen works as a Legal Officer in the Public International Law Division of ESA and is the ESA Export Control Manager.
He served on various ships in the Royal Swedish Navy for five years, and he remains a member of the naval reserve. He holds a LL.M in maritime law from the University of Stockholm and the University of Oslo. Subsequently, he joined the Claës Palme & Co lawfirm. Thereafter, he was working for the Swedish Space Corporation. He has been working for ESA since 2002.
Speaker
Antonios Atlasis (PhD) is leading the System Security Engineering section at the European Space Agency (ESA); he is the cyber & space systems security engineer (and occasional security researcher), with a special interest in the security analysis of modern network protocols (space and terrestrial), ground segment security, security of communication links, security monitoring, and new space security architectures and technologies. Dr Atlasis, with over 20 years hands-on experience on security domain, is also a BlackHat Europe Review Board member and occasional speaker in security conferences. He is especially interested in the development and evolution of new security technologies for space applications.
Speaker
Head of Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, European Space Agency
Speaker
Clémence Poirier is a Senior Cyberdefense Researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Prior to joining CSS, she was a Research Fellow seconded by CNES (the French Space Agency) at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria where she conducted multidisciplinary research on space affairs. She also worked as a Researcher for Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia where she carried out policy and legal research on the cybersecurity of the Australian space infrastructure.
She is affiliated with the Open Lunar Foundation and the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies. She is also an Advisory Board Member of the CyberSat Summit and the SGAPP Lead on Responsible Space Behavior at the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
Her research interests focus on space cybersecurity, cyber conflict in outer space, electronic warfare on space systems, and space security issues.
Clémence holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, International Security and Defense as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Applied Languages from University Jean Moulin Lyon III, France.
Speaker
Prof. Bart Preneel, a full professor at KU Leuven, leads the renowned COSIC research group. His expertise lies in applied cryptography, cybersecurity, and privacy. Prof. Preneel has delivered over 150 invited talks across 50 countries and received prestigious awards such as the RSA Award for Excellence in Mathematics (2014) and the ESORICS Outstanding Research Award (2017). He served as president of IACR (International Association for Cryptologic Research) and is also a fellow of the IACR. In 2024 he was elected member of the Royal Academy of Art and Sciences Belgium and he received the title of honorary professor at Shandong University. He frequently consults for industry and government about cybersecurity and privacy technologies and he has testified multiple times for the Belgian and European Parliaments. Prof. Preneel founded the mobile authentication startup nextAuth and holds roles in Approach Belgium, Tioga Capital Partners, and Nym Technologies. Actively engaged in cybersecurity policy, he contributes to ENISA as an Advisory Group member for the EU.
Speaker
Franck Perrin is Director of the Space development within THALES sovereign cybersecurity technologies domain. He is recognized as an expert in cybersecurity applied on satellite systems.
He joined the THALES Group more than 15 years ago with responsibility to lead and manage the development of the cybersecurity engineering and solution and resources of Thales Alenia Space activities during the last 8 years. Prior to that, he was also responsible for setting up and operating the THALES Group's first Security Operation Center, and was the Program Manager of different infrastructure and security management contracts for space entities.
Franck started his professional career, after obtaining an engineering degree, as a pre-sales consultant specialised in backup and high availability solutions in several companies such as IBM, which led him to the position of National Practice leader within SOGETI for infrastructure managed services.
Speaker
Francesco Menzione received Master degree (2012) and Ph.D. (2017) from the University of Naples Federico II in Aerospace Engineering and Satellite Navigation.
He spent almost nine years, from 2012 - 2021, working in the aerospace sector as navigation and control engineer.
In 2021, he joined European Commission’s Joint Research Centre as Technical and Scientific Officer for the Galileo Sector within the Space, Connectivity and Economic Security Unit.
He currently provides technical and project management support to different funded EC DEFIS studies and research areas focusing on Precise Orbit Determination, Space Service Volume, LEO-PNT, 5G-NTN , Signal Of opportunity, Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) and GNSS based remote sensing
Speaker
Dr Kasia Balakier is Optical & Quantum Communication Technology Manager at European Space Agency (ESA). She is responsible for the implementation of ESA Strategic Programme Line in Optical and Quantum Communication - Scylight.
Prior to joining ESA, Kasia was a Lecturer at University College London (UCL). Kasia received her PhD from UCL. She was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Fellowship to support her research in integrated photonics for space.
In addition to her academic research career, she worked as Senior System Engineer and Expert in Telecom Payload Photonics at Airbus Defence and Space, where she was involved in development and implementation of optical systems for Communication and Earth Observation satellites. She also worked as Optical Engineer at SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas in Spain and R&D Engineer at LG Electronics in Poland and South Korea.
Speaker
Daniele Dequal is System Engineer for the EuroQCI program of the Connectivity and Secure Communication Directorate (CSC) at the European Space Agency (ESA).
Since 2013 Daniele has been active in the research field of satellite quantum communication, formerly at Padua University and subsequently as a researcher at the Italian Space Agency. During this 10-years activity he participated in the first experimental demonstration of satellite-to-ground quantum communication, the first single photon transmission from MEO orbit and later from GNSS orbit, and to the development of the first Italian Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) receiver for satellite applications.
In 2023, he joined ESA as a System Engineer working for the IRIS2 program first (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) and later SAGA (Security And cryptoGrAphic mission) and EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) as a QKD expert.
Daniele received his M.S. in Physics at the University of Padua in 2009 and his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Padua in 2013.
Speaker
Paul Liias is the Head of Space at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication for Estonia. In this role, Paul leads the Estonian Delegation to the European Space Agency (ESA) and oversees Estonia's participation in the EU Space Programme. He is the architect behind the Estonian Space Policy and Program 2020-2027. Currently, Paul is focused on developing national space legislation and a major space strategy update for mid 2025.
Since July 2023, Paul has been the elected Chair of the ESA Administrative and Finance Committee (AFC), where he deals with administrative, staff, financial, and legal related matters.
Paul's journey in the space sector began in 2008 with his involvement in the first Estonian satellite project, ESTCube-1, where he led the development of mechanical systems. Following the successful launch in 2013, Paul transitioned to entrepreneurship in the space sector until 2016, when he joined the ministry.
Speaker
Cybersecurity & Space Programme Security Accreditation Manager at the European Space Agency.
Passionate about space and security, Andrea has been working since 2020 within the ESA Security Office (ESO), and he is currently responsible for the security assurance process (including security certification and accreditation) of the Earth Observation and Launchers space missions, directly supporting several Agency’s flagship programmes (such as Vega and Copernicus) and interfacing both with the industrial and institutional stakeholders. Andrea is also supporting the Head of the ESA Security Office in the definition, communication and growth of the ESA Cyber Security Strategy.
Before joining ESA, he worked in the Italian space industry as a System Engineer.
Speaker
Jean Marc NASR is industrial mediator for ESA since January 2025. Prior to this position he has been leading several business units in Airbus Group. His last assignment was Executive Vice President Space Systems where he was at the helm of the biggest space manufacturer in Europe being present in France, Germany, UK, and the US. He has been cooperating with the space ecosystem worldwide to produce the most demanding satellites such as Skynet in the UK, the OneWeb constellation and many exploration programs.
Speaker
Tomas Hrozensky is a Senior Researcher and Lead on European Engagement at ESPI and is a part of ESPI’s management team. He holds MA and PhD in international affairs from the Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Tomas joined ESPI after previous roles in academia, NGO and government. His experience includes being a Fulbright Scholar at the Space Policy Institute of the George Washington University, a researcher for the Space Security Index, chair of the Slovak Space Policy Association NGO, and member of Slovak delegation to the UN COPUOS.
Speaker
Anna Maria Caramiello is the Head of Teleport and Ground Station Engineering in the Telespazio Line of Business Satellite Systems and Operations. Anna Maria has over 20 years’ experience in Ground Segment systems and has contributed to the design and development of Ground Station Projects for European Institutions and Italian MoD (e.g. COSMO-SkyMed, Goktürk, MTG, SICRAL3, SDSA). In her current role, Anna Maria assures the complex of engineering activities of the Ground Station infrastructures (ground stations, monitoring and control systems, networking and security systems, technological infrastructures), coordinating their design, development, integration, validation and deployment, as well the design of the Logistic Support System and the preparation of operational products for the end-to-end system service.
Over the past years, Anna Maria has been supporting the design and development of Security Solutions in the Ground Segment with particular focus on certified solutions in the Common Criteria Framework. Anna Maria holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”.
Speaker
ESA
David Gomez Otero is the head of the spac
e segment section inside the directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC) of the European Space Agency (ESA). David has over 20 years’ experience in telecommunications and space systems and has contributed to the design and development of a hand-full of space missions (e.g. GAIA, GALILEO, METEOSAT, QUANTUM) across different roles in industry and public institutions. In his current role, David supports a wide range of on-board technology and product developments related to telecommunications satellite systems and services, as well as the initiation of new telecommunication concepts and missions.
Over the past years, David has been leading the technical preparatory work for ESA’s Moonlight initiative, an ambitious project to bring telecommunications and navigation capabilities on the moon, which will support future lunar settlements and maybe become a steppingstone towards human deep space exploration.
David holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC).
Speaker
Alessandro Massa is responsible for the development of Technologies, Products, and Innovation in the Cyber & Security Solutions Division. His main tasks include preparing and updating the technology plan and related product business plans, managing the entire life cycle of the Division's technology portfolio, and ensuring the introduction of new technologies by developing related prototypes.
He was in charge of the company's research laboratories known as "Leonardo Labs." In this role, he was responsible for leading and supervising high-risk exploratory research programs and for developing and coordinating inter-divisional research and development programs for emerging new technologies.
His main technical expertise lies in the areas of artificial intelligence, aerial robotics, onboard avionics equipment, integrated control systems, RF systems (radar, EW systems, and C-UAV), inertial and satellite navigation systems, and real-time digital signal processing. He has been active for 15 years in the field of research and innovation, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence systems and Intelligent Autonomous systems.
After earning a master’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Rome "La Sapienza," he worked as a specialist in systems/software engineering for space, military, and civil applications for various leaders in the aerospace and defense sectors.
Piotr Sitek
Speaker
Security Governance and Accreditation Officer, EUSPA
Speaker
Javier Trujillo leads SES’s strategy for digital ground infrastructure, covering user terminals, gateway modem platforms, the network management system, and their orchestration. After working as a researcher and completing his PhD on active phased array antennas at the Technical University of Madrid, he joined SES in 2015. Since then, he has held various roles across the organization – from ground, payload and constellation modelling and sizing as an Advanced Systems Senior Engineer; to developing the mPOWER lead-to-fulfilment process as Program Integration Manager.
Currently, as a Senior Manager Digital Ground Development, he is focused on leveraging Terrestrial Network advances in virtualization and Cloud-RAN to facilitate the integration of the 5G ecosystem into Non-Terrestrial Networks. He is presently leading the technical development of the IRIS2 User Terminal, aiming to deliver a cost-competitive solution designed to meet the system’s demanding security requirements.
