IAF Global Space Leaders Summit
Day: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Time: 10:30 – 12:30
Location: International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Level 5, Grand Ballroom #
Status: Closed Event (upon invitation only)
Bringing together the foremost leaders of the global space community, the IAF Global Leaders Summit stands as a premier and exclusive platform for strategic dialogue among the heads of the world’s space agencies and national space offices. This distinguished forum convenes the key decision-makers who are collectively shaping the future of space policy, exploration, and cooperation on a global scale.
The second edition of the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit, jointly organized by the International Astronautical Federation, and our esteemed IAF Member since 2011 and IAC 2025 Co-Host – the Australian Space Agency, will take place on 30 September 2025 in Sydney, Australia, in conjunction with the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) under the visionary theme “Global Space Governance: Shaping the Future Together.”
Following the landmark 2024 Inaugural Session of the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit, where each of the 60 participating Heads of Agencies delivered official statements to their global counterparts, the 2025 edition will adopt a highly interactive format.
Participants will engage during four exclusive closed-door, moderated roundtables focusing each on the timely topics of Space Exploration, Earth Observation, Security, and Space Diplomacy, offering an unparalleled opportunity for shared vision, candid dialogue, and strategic alignment.
In tribute to the exceptional leadership of its participants, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) proudly presents the unique IAF Global Space Leader’s Pin – a uniquely crafted emblem featuring a moonstone with a unique serial number. This pin stands as a rare symbol of excellence in space leadership and as lasting token of the leader's esteemed contribution to advancing the global space agenda.
Recognizing the vital need for continued collaboration at the highest level, and building on the momentum of last year’s success of the inaugural session, the second edition of the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit reaffirms the Federation’s commitment to empowering those at the helm of space governance.
Master of Ceremony
Christian FEICHTINGER
Executive Director, IAF Secretariat
France
Welcome Remarks
Clay MOWRY
President, International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
United States
Gabriella ARRIGO
Director, International Affairs Directorate, Italian Space Agency (ASI)
Italy
Enrico PALERMO
Head, Australian Space Agency
Australia
MODERATORS:
Round Table on SPACE EXPLORATION:
Sean DUFFY
Acting Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
United States
Round Table on EARTH OBSERVATION:
Lisa CAMPBELL
President, Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Canada
Round Table on SECURITY:
Josef ASCHBACHER
Director General, European Space Agency (ESA)
France
Round Table on SPACE DIPLOMACY:
Hiroshi YAMAKAWA
President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Japan
ESTEEMED HEADS OF SPACE AGENCIES AND OFFICES:
Yeshurun Alemayehu ADDE
Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Deputy Minister
Ethiopia
Matthew O. ADEPOJU
Director General / Chief Executive, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
Nigeria
Ahmad Belhoul AL FALASI
Minister of Sports and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE
United Arab Emirates
Ibrahim AL QASIM
Deputy Director General, UAE Space Agency
United Arab Emirates
H.E Salem Butti Salem AL QUBAİSİ
Director General, UAE Space Agency
United Arab Emirates
Mohamed AL-ASEERI
Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Space Agency
Bahrain
Pakorn APAPHANT
Executive Director, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA)
Thailand
Dunay BADIRKHANOV
Chair of the Board (a/g), Azercosmos Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Paul BATE
Chief Executive Officer, UK Space Agency
United Kingdom
Michal BRICHTA
Director, Slovak Space Office - Industry Branch
Slovakia
Juan Carlos CORTÉS PULIDO
Director, Centre for the development of Industrial Technology (CDTI)
Spain
Athena COUSTENIS
Member of Governing Board, Hellenic Space Center
Greece
Sean DUFFY
Acting Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
United States
Orsolya FERENCZ
Ministerial Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary
Hungary
Christian HAUGLIE-HANSSEN
Director General, Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA)
Norway
Robyn HENDERSON
Head, New Zealand Space Agency
New Zealand
Francois JACQ
Chairman and CEO, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
France
Shukhrat KADIROV
Director General, Uzbekspace agency (The Space Research and Technology Agency under the Ministry of digital technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Uzbekistan
Mohammed KAMECHE
Director of the Centre of Satellite Development,, Agence Spatiale Algérienne (ASAL)
Algeria
Yusuf KIRAÇ
Chairman of The Board and President, Turkish Space Agency (TUA)
Türkiye
Renato KRPOUN
Head, Swiss Space Office (SSO)
Switzerland
Rodrigo LEONARDI
Deputy President, Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)
Brazil
Madin MASEEH
Founder & President, Maldives Space Research Organization
Maldives
Roberto MELGAR SHEEN
Head, Peruvian Space Agency (CONIDA)
Peru
Humbulani MUDAU
CEO, South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
South Africa
Tuan Haji Azlikamil NAPIAH
Director General, Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA)
Malaysia
V. NARAYANAN
Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
India
Walther PELZER
Director General, German Space Agency, Member of the Executive Board, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Germany
Marc SERRES
CEO, Luxembourg Space Agency
Luxembourg
Teodoro VALENTE
President, Italian Space Agency (ASI)
Italy
Harm VAN DE WETERING
Director, Netherlands Space Office (NSO)
Netherlands
Madis VOORAS
Head, Estonian Space Office
Estonia
Youngbin YOON
Administrator, Korea AeroSpace Administration
Republic of Korea
Bian ZHIGANG
Vice Administrator, China National Space Administration (CNSA)
China