High-Level Policy Introduction
Announcement coming soon!
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Juan Carlos Cortés – Director, Spanish Space Agency
He began his professional career in 1990, after working in the private sector in the aerospace field, he joined the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) as a flight test engineer, working on the “Eurofighter” Program, in the development of remotely piloted aircraft (DRONES) and at the Logistics Center for Armament and Experimentation (CLAEX) of the Air Force.
He has been head of the Spanish Delegation at ESA and vice-president of the ESA, vice-president of the International Relations Committee, president of the Committee for the preparation of the 2019 Seville Space Ministerial Meeting and member of the Board of Trustees of FIDAMC (Foundation for Research and Development of Composite Materials).
He is currently a delegate on the Board of the European Space Agency (ESA) and a representative of Spain on the Horizontal Management Committee of the European Space Programme (EU 21-27). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the company Hispasat SA.
Rodrigo da Costa – Executive Director, European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), formerly the European GNSS Agency (GSA). Prior to this, he was the Galileo Services Programme Manager from March 2017. Before joining the GSA, Rodrigo da Costa held several senior project management, business development, and institutional key account management positions in the space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. Rodrigo da Costa holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the “Instituto Superior Tecnico” in Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Delft, and an MBA from the EuroMBA consortium of Business Schools.
Josep Colomé Ferrer – Director of Area, Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia (APEC)
Josep Colomé is the Director of the Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia at the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). As the director of this area, he is responsible for promoting the Catalan space sector in coordination with the Government of Catalonia, within the framework of the NewSpace Strategy, which was approved in October 2020.
Josep holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Barcelona and has over 20 years of experience in the space sector. Throughout his career, he has held leadership and management roles in terrestrial infrastructures and instrumentation, including at the Montsec Observatory. He has also served as a state-level manager for ESA missions such as Ariel and LISA.
Maria Galindo Garcia-Delgado – Secretary for Digital Policy, Government of Catalonia
Maria Galindo (Barcelona, 1982) has over 20 years experience in public policy and consulting, specifically in Digital Policy and International Affairs.
She has served in different positions in the public administration: in the Government of Catalonia, currently as Secretary for Digital Policy (since 2024), as Director-general for Digitalisation and Urban Agenda (2020-2022), and as project manager in ACCIÓ (2006-2011).
She also worked at the Barcelona City Council, implementing the city’s Smart City vision and managing the Barcelona Institute of Technology for the Habitat (BIT Habitat) (2011-2015).
She has also developed her professional career in consulting, leading the International and Smart City practices and directing projects in Latin America, Europe and Asia.
She has represented the different organisations in front of the European Commission, the Inter-American Development Bank and United Nations, and was a recognized member of the high level group of the European Commission on Smart Cities and Communities.
In September 2022 the European Commission appointed Maria as Board Member of the European Mission to deliver 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.
She has published and co-authored a number of papers and articles, including the European Commission’s Rolling Agenda for Smart Cities, or the World Economic Forum’s Guidelines for Sustainable IoT Adoption.
She lectures at a number of universities (La Salle in Barcelona, University Externado Colombia, ISDE in Madrid, Bocconi in Milan) and participates in conferences worldwide. She’s also member of the Women in Tech global movement and is a Jury member of the Women in ICT Awards and the Smart City Expo Global Awards.
She studied Economics at the University of Barcelona and the London School of Economics (LSE) and holds an Executive Master in Public Administration (ESADE Business School), and a specialisation course on ESG and Climate Change at Wharton – University of Pennsylvania.
European Union Space Components
Aitor Alvarez Rodriguez, GSC Manager, EUSPA
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Christina Giannopapa, Head of the Office of the Executive Director, EUSPA
Dr. Christina Giannopapa is the Head of the Office of the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Prior, she was advisor to the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance in Greece, seconded from the European Space Agency (ESA). In ESA, she held various posts including the Head of Political Affairs Office of the Director General. She has received 14 academic scholarships and awards and has more than 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals, books and conferences. She has co‐edited the Springer “Handbook on space security”. She is the Vice Chair of the Committee on Space Security of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and prior was the Chair of the Committee for Liaison with International Organisations and Developing Nations (CLIODN). She is also the Chair of the Board of Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-E). Dr. Giannopapa holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Mathematics; an MEng in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Mechatronics; and an MBA in International Management from the University of London.
Marie Menard, Senior Communication Officer, EUSPA
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Announcement coming soon!
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Space assets supporting the Disaster Risk Management Cycle
Jordi Corbera, Head of the Earth Observation Area at the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya
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Elena González Alonso, Head of Service, SG Monitoring, Alert, and Geophysical Studies at the National Geographic Institute (IGN)

Elena González has been part of the Volcanic Monitoring Unit at the National Geographic Institute for more than ten years. Her work focuses on measuring ground deformations using interferometry techniques with radar sensors.
The products obtained have been highly valuable for decision-making in managing the last two eruptions that have occurred in national territory: the underwater eruption of El Hierro in 2011 and the eruption of La Palma in 2021.
Fernando Belda Esplugues, Special Advisor, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET)

Since January 2020, he has served as Senior Adviser to the President of AEMET in Madrid. Additionally, from January 2023 to January 2024, he held the position of Acting Director of Production and Infrastructure at AEMET.
Between 2017 and 2019, he was the Director of the Observing and Information System Department at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Director of Production and Infrastructure at the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in Madrid. Prior to that, from 2008 to 2011, he was the Director of AEMET’s Regional Office in Murcia.
His career at AEMET began in 1990, during which he held various positions in the departments of Climatology, Forecasting and Nowcasting, Research and Development, and Defense. Alongside his professional career, he has also worked in academia as a professor of Physics, Thermodynamics, and Computer Science.
He has extensive experience in operational research on issues related to remote sensing and its application to the natural environment, as well as in climate prediction and monitoring systems for natural disasters such as drought and floods.
In 2014, Dr. Fernando Belda Esplugues was awarded the Medal of Merit of Civil Protection in its Bronze category with a Blue Badge by the Director General of Emergencies and Civil Protection of the Ministry of Interior, in recognition of his contributions to the field.
He has played a crucial role in the implementation of the Copernicus Users Forum in Spain, serving as the Spanish focal point for the European Commission and as the Spanish Delegate in the Copernicus User Forum and Space Weather Components under the EU Space Programme. He is also AEMET’s focal point in the Copernicus User Forum and Destination Earth. He was also responsible for the signature of the National Collaborative Programme with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System (CAMS), strengthening Spain’s involvement in atmospheric data and air quality monitoring within the Copernicus framework.
He has co-chaired the Nowcasting Satellite Application Facilities and has been a Spanish Delegate in WMO governance bodies, including SERCOM, INFCOM, the Executive Council, and the WMO Congress 2023. Additionally, he is a member of the INFCOM Management Group. His expertise extends to ISO/TC 207/SC7/WG13 and the EU Space Programme, and he is an active member of the Destination Earth Coordination Group.
Further responsibilities include his role as President of the Meteorology Section of the Geophysical and Geodesy Commission and as Chair of the Infrastructure Working Group in RA VI (WMO). His contributions to both meteorological governance and academic research continue to shape advancements in the field.
Dr. Fernando Belda holds a Ph.D. in Physics (CUM LAUDE) from the University of Valencia (UV) and a Master’s degree in Public Management and Leadership from the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP) in Spain.
Cristina Vicente Moreno, Head of Operations, Deputy Directorate-General for Coordination and Emergency Management, General Directorate of Civil Protection, Department of Interior and Public Safety, Government of Catalonia

Cristina Vicente has been a Civil Protection Technician since 2008, holding various positions. Since 2023, has served as Head of Operations at the General Directorate of Civil Protection of the Government of Catalonia, overseeing the development of management tools and quality control processes for operational workflows. Responsible for ensuring internal coordination among civil protection services and external coordination with various agencies involved in emergency response. Additionally, develops and implements procedures and guidelines related to the tasks of the Catalonia Operational Coordination Center (CECAT).
Also a member of the CECAT on-call team as a team leader and part of the European Civil Protection team for aid missions to Ukraine and Turkey, serving as an information manager.
She holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona, specializing in Organic Chemistry, and a Master’s in Public Policy and Security, with a specialization in Risk and Emergency Management.
Laura Moreno, CEO, EarthPulse
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Announcement coming soon!
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Current challenges and opportunities related to the uptake of satellite data
Virginia Díaz de la Cruz, Senior Expert GIS at Telespazio Ibérica

Since 2022, Virginia Diaz is the Technical Manager of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service – Mapping (CEMS) program at service provider Telespazio Ibérica. With a degree in Geology and a Master’s degree in Geographic Information Technologies from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), she has more than 10 years working experience as a senior expert in GIS applications in earth sciences. Currently, its activity focuses on the coordination and management of the Emergency – Rapid Mapping services team.
Announcement coming soon!
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Mercedes Varona, Chief Instructor and air controller, ENAIRE Control Centre in Barcelona
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Camilo Ospitaletche, Generalitat Firefighters Research and Innovation Group (GRIF)

Sergeant responsible for training at the Institute of Public Safety of Catalonia, overseeing the Research and Innovation Group for Training (GRIF) at the Fire Academy.
A professional firefighter for 19 years, previously served in the Special Operations Rescue Group (GRAE), specializing in aquatic and underwater rescue.
Jordi Mazón, Deputy Mayor of the Viladecans City Council

PhD in Sciences (UPC), Master’s in Applied Climatology (UB), Bachelor’s in Physics (UB). Professor in the Department of Physics at UPC, and Deputy Mayor at the Viladecans City Council. Author of around fifteen popular science books in the field of atmospheric physics, and of thirty scientific articles.