IAC HOSTS SUMMIT – Thirteenth Session

AGENDA

Welcome Coffee

Introductory Teaser “The Road to IAC Success: Resilience, Experience, and Legacy”

Welcome by Master of Ceremony (3 min)

• Peter MARTINEZ, Chair of the IAF Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC) / President, Secure World Foundation (SWF)

Hosting Beyond Borders: Winning Bids in a Fragmented World (10-min Keynote)

• Christian FEICHTINGER, Executive Director, International Astronautical Federation (IAF)

In an era of geopolitical tensions, regional rivalries, travel restrictions, economic uncertainty, and competing national priorities, hosting a truly global event has become increasingly complex. A successful IAC bid must demonstrate not only technical excellence and organizational capability, but also the ability to serve as a platform that brings together the global space community without excluding anybody. What makes an IAC bid globally relevant and compelling to an international audience?

This session will explore how IAC candidate hosts can build broad international support, foster inclusivity across regions and stakeholder groups, address geopolitical sensitivities, ensure accessibility and participation from emerging space nations, and position their proposal as a unifying opportunity for the global space community. Drawing on experiences from previous bids and hosts, the keynote will examine how IAC can continue to serve as a bridge across cultures, nations, and sectors in an increasingly divided world.

Mission Resilience: Preparing IAC for an Unpredictable World (30 min)

Major international events are increasingly exposed to operational, security, geopolitical, health, and environmental risks. How can IAC Hosts strengthen preparedness while maintaining continuity and protecting the delegate experience? This session will examine practical approaches to risk assessment, contingency planning, crisis management structures, insurance coverage, stakeholder coordination, and decision-making during disruptive events, drawing on lessons from recent international congresses and major events.

Moderator:

• Peter MARTINEZ, Chair of the IAF Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC) / President, Secure World Foundation (SWF)

Panelists:

• Salem Humaid AL MARRI, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rachid Space Centre (MBRSC)
• Dunay BADIRKHANOV, Acting Chairman, Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos)
• Steve EISENHART, Retired Sr Vice President - Strategic and International Affairs, Space Foundation / Former IAF VP for IAF GNF / Member, Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC)
• Henriette CYUZUZO, International Cooperation Analyst / GLOC 2026 IPC Co-Chair, Rwanda Space Agency (RSA)
• Lionel SUCHET, Director General, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) / Former IAF VP

The Experience Factor: What Makes an IAC Truly Exceptional? (30 min)

A successful IAC is measured not only by attendance, but by the quality of the participant’s experience. How can Hosts enhance engagement before, during, and after the congress? This session will explore strategies for attendee journey design, networking facilitation, digital engagement, host city integration, and destination showcasing, with a focus on delivering a distinctive and memorable experience for delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, and partners.

Moderator:

• Steve EISENHART, Retired Sr Vice President - Strategic and International Affairs, Space Foundation / Former IAF VP for IAF GNF / Member, Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC)

Panelists:

• Mukhiddin IBRAGIMOV, Deputy Director, Uzbekspace Agency / IAC 2028 LOC (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
• Lisa VITARIS, Director, IAC 2025 LOC (Sydney, Australia)
• Łukasz WILCZYŃSKI, President and Co-Founder, European Space Foundation (ESF) / Chair, IAC 2027 (Poznań, Poland)
• Enrico ZAPPINO, Associate Professor at the Politecnico di Torino / IAC 2024 LOC (Milan, Italy) / Member, Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC)

The Legacy Equation: Measuring IAC Success Beyond Attendance (30 min)

Hosting the IAC is more than organizing a one-week event: it is an opportunity to generate lasting benefits for the local space ecosystem, scientific community, industry, and society. But how should success be measured? This session will examine methodologies and case studies for assessing economic, educational, institutional, and reputational impacts, while exploring strategies to build a meaningful and enduring legacy that extends well beyond the IAC week.

Moderator:

• Christian FEICHTINGER, Executive Director, International Astronautical Federation (IAF)

Panelists:

• Michael DAVIS, Chair, The Andy Thomas Space Foundation / IAC 2017 LOC (Adelaide, Australia) / Member of IAF Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC)
• D. GOWRISANKAR, Director, Office of International & Interagency Cooperation (OIIC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) / GLEX 2025 (New Delhi, India)
• Mukhiddin IBRAGIMOV, Deputy Director, Uzbekspace agency / IAC 2028 LOC (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
• Imran MUKHTAROV, Head of Space Academy of Azercosmos / IAC 2023 LOC (Baku, Azerbaijan)
• Yao ZHANG, Deputy Director General in Charge of Academic Activities; Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA) / IAC 2014 (Beijing, China) and GLEX 2017 (Beijing, China) / Vice-Chair, Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC)

The 2029 Bid Candidates Showcase: Vision, Ambition and Impact (30 min)

An interactive session providing 2029 IAC Host Candidates with an opportunity to present their hosting concepts, strategic priorities, and key differentiators. The session will conclude with a drawing of lots featuring questions prepared by the IAF Congress and Symposium Advisory Committee (CSAC). Each participant will have one minute to respond to their question.

Closing Remarks by Master of Ceremony (3 min)

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Group Photo

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IAC Hosts Summit Lunch

13:00-14:00

Cafeteria, First Floor, NEST