Youth & Civil Society

Antonino Salmeri  

Diretor, Lunar Policy Platform

Antonino Salmeri is a space lawyer specialized in the governance of lunar and space resource activities. He holds four advanced degrees in law and currently works as Director of the Lunar Policy Platform (LPP). Dr. Salmeri is also the Chair of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Governing Member of the International Space University (ISU), and member of the Legal Advisory Council of For All Moonkind. Dr. Salmeri is the author of leading international publications in the field of space law and policy, including a book on the Multi Level Governance of Space Mining, the Lunar Policy Priorities Report, the GEGSLA Recommended Framework, the Lunar Policy Handbook, the EAGLE Report, and The Hague Building Blocks. His contributions to the advancement of space law and astronautics have been recognized through several prestigious awards, such as the Young Space Leader Award of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Diederiks-Verschoor Award of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Dr. Salmeri has a profound knowledge of the international civil society and youth communities, developed through his continuing participation and contribution to all major international events in the space sector, including the meetings of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the World Space Forum, the International Astronautical Congress. Throughout his career, Dr. Salmeri oversaw and contributed to the organization of over 50 global events spreading across six continents and totalling thousands of participants.

Youth & Civil Society

Giuliana Rotola

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

Giuliana Rotola is a space law and policy researcher and a PhD student in Sustainable Development and Climate Change at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. She is also a junior fellow at the University of British Columbia – Outer Space Institute. Within the Space Generation Advisory Council, Giuliana serves as SGAC Policy and Advocacy Coordinator.

Youth & Civil Society

Hannah Ashford  

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE KARMAN PROJECT

Hannah Ashford is a non-profit director and lawyer working to promote the cooperative potentials and positive uses of space technologies. As the Managing Director of The Karman Project, Hannah works with public and private sector space leaders worldwide to facilitate forums for strategic dialogue and international cooperation. Previously, Hannah spent five years working in Berlin within the European startup ecosystem, most notably overseeing the Product & Innovation Department at Factory Berlin, Germany’s leading innovation hub. Hannah graduated in Law (Honours) and Journalism from the University of Queensland, and practised as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia before transitioning to the innovation sector. She received a scholarship to complete the Space Studies Program at the International Space University in 2022. Hannah additionally serves on the Advisory Board of The Exploration Company, and as a Mentor with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. 

Youth & Civil Society

Niklas Hedman

General Counsel, COSPAR

Niklas Hedman is General Counsel of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). He also serves as Vice-Chair of the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection. From March 2022 until September 2023, when he retired from the United Nations, he was appointed Acting Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). He was Chief of the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section of UNOOSA for 18 years, where he served as Secretary of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee.