Olympiapark, Munich | Satellite imagery © 2024 Maxar Technologies provided by European Space Imaging
European Space Imaging (EUSI) is pleased to once again host their conference in Munich, Germany. This invite only conference brings together like-minded experts from all sectors where geospatial technologies and remote sensing are applied to enhance learning, provide innovative ideas and create conversations.
EUSI has new partners, datasets and platforms to share with all the conference delegates. Held over two days, networking and fostering new relationships are a key part of the conference. The conference begins with an Ice Breaker cocktail reception to assist networking among the delegates and will also include a Gala Dinner whereby ideas can be generated and shared in a relaxed environment. The conference will conclude with a networking lunch on the second day.
European Space Imaging looks forward to welcoming back returning delegates and meeting new attendees.
DATE & TIME
May 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – May 20, 2026, 3:00 PM
Location
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski
Maximilianstraße 17, 80539 Munich
https://www.kempinski.com/de/hotel-vier-jahreszeiten
Agenda
monday 18 MAY
1:00PM – 5:00PM
GROUND STATION TOUR & VISIT OF THE CENTER FOR SATELLITE BASED CRISIS INFORMATION (ZKI)
Join us at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Visit the newly upgraded EUSI ground station and take a guided tour of the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI), both located at the Earth Observation Center (EOC). The ZKI conducts research and delivers innovative Earth observation services for crisis management, humanitarian aid, and civil protection. Learn how the team analyzes satellite, aerial, and drone imagery to produce user-friendly products such as emergency maps and monitoring services.The bus leaving for Oberpfaffenhofen will depart from platform 2 at the ZOB (Zentral Omnibus Bahnhof – Arnulfstrasse 21).
6:30PM – 11:00PM
ICE BREAKER NETWORKING EVENT
Meet and greet your fellow delegates at this cocktail reception designed to “break the ice”. Get to know fellow delegates, speakers and the European Space Imaging Staff.
Tuesday 19 MAY
8:30AM – 9:00AM
REGISTRATION & COFFEE
9:00AM – 5:00PM
CONFERENCE DAY 1
9:00AM – 9:10AM
EUSI OFFICIAL WELCOME
There is a lot of excitement right now, not only at EUSI but within the entire Earth Observation community. Significant expansion of valuable datasets and new satellite launches are bringing unprecedented insights to fill growing demand in our region. Adrian will discuss EUSI’s strategy for becoming a “hub” for EO data, how they are pushing the definition of “low latency”, and the outlook for our resellers, customers and the entire European and North African EO industries.
9:10AM – 9:20AM
INTRODUCTION
Philippe Moreels, GAF AG
Philippe Moreels , GAF CEO, will briefly introduce himself and the company. He will also highlight the long-standing partnership between EUSI and GAF, drawing on key benefits.
9:20AM – 9:40AM
The ESA EO programmes and the future of commercial EO data contributions
Katrin Molch, European Space Agency (ESA)
Earth Observation (EO) programmes increasingly depend on a balanced interaction between institutional and commercial missions. Institutional missions provide long‑term, high‑quality and wide‑area reference data for operational monitoring and science, while commercial missions complement them with high‑ and very high‑resolution capabilities, improved revisit rates and thematic flexibility. ESA programmes such as Copernicus, Earthnet and Future EO already rely significantly on commercial VHR data. Commercial EO use is also expanding beyond Copernicus within the European Commission, including DG AGRI and DG REGIO, alongside national procurement initiatives and a growing emphasis on resilience applications. As the European commercial EO landscape diversifies, maintaining data quality is essential and is ensured through mechanisms such as the Earthnet Data Assessment Pilot. Increased reliance on commercial data raises challenges in data management, interoperability, virtual constellation coordination and timeliness, addressed through sustained coordination and dedicated forums such as the VH‑RODA and Copernicus Contributing Missions workshops.
9:40AM – 10:00AM
ATOM is a direct satellite tasking platform designed to put operational control into users’ hands. Accessible via web or API, it goes far beyond traditional aggregator applications by combining archive access, advanced tasking, and end-to-end project management in a single environment.
This session demonstrates how Dynamic Tasking within ATOM enables users to task satellites in real Presentation time, accessing feasibility in seconds and placing collection requests up to 30 minutes before satellite pass. With imagery delivered within 15 minutes of acquisition, users can establish continuous situational awareness while events are still unfolding.
Built to support both agile teams and complex organizational structures, ATOM enables structured project management, granular control over ordering, and seamless integration into all workflows and procurement processes. Now fully operational across a wide user base, the platform continues to evolve through ongoing feature development, user-driven improvements, and expanding data integrations.
10:00AM – 10:20AM
GLOBAL URBANIZATION: SURPRISING DEVELOPMENTS OBSERVED FROM SPACE
The largest migration movement that mankind has ever experienced is in full swing: from the countryside to cities. Although mankind is in the information age, there are still major gaps in our knowledge of urban phenomena. With remote sensing data from space, different dynamics, dimensions and structures of physical transformation processes on our planet can be vividly documented.
10:20AM – 11:00AM
MORNING COFFEE BREAK
11:00AM – 12:00PM
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PANEL DISCUSSION
EUROPEAN RESILIENCE FROM SPACE: ALIGNING POLICY AMBITIONS, COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE CONVERGENCE OF CIVIL AND GEOINT APPLICATIONS
Moderated by Adriano Baptista, European Space Imaging
Panel Members: Katrin Molch, ESA & Radu Tanase, SATCEN & Rainer Malmberg, IABG & Dr. Konstanze Lechner, DLR ZKI
This panel will examine how Europe is strengthening resilience through space-based capabilities, aligning policy ambitions with operational needs and market realities.
It will explore the growing convergence between civil and defence applications, and the evolving role of key institutions in shaping future capabilities.
The discussion will highlight emerging opportunities for industry—particularly SMEs—including expected services, procurement mechanisms, and access to funding.
Finally, it will address the balance between national systems, EU programmes, and commercial providers in delivering integrated and effective solutions.
12:00PM – 12:20PM
IMAGERY INTELLIGENCE: METHODOLOGY TO PROCESS EFFICIENTLY SATELLITE IMAGERY
Alexandre Roosen and Kolia Leboucq, Geo4i
They will present their methodology for efficiently processing raw satellite imagery to produce intelligence products for military applications. At the same time, they enable customers to build their own AI models, which can be integrated into an environment designed to enhance the capabilities of image analysts.
12:20PM – 12:40PM
SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE FROM SPACE: FUSING RF, SAR AND OPTICAL FOR NEXT-GEN ISR
Signals Intelligence from Space enables next-generation ISR by integrating RF, SAR, and optical data into a unified intelligence layer. This fusion enhances detection, geolocation, and characterization of targets, delivering faster, richer, and more actionable insights for defense and security missions.
12:40PM – 2:10PM
NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK
2:10PM – 2:30PM
CAN WE USE THIS? – EO DATA IN THE COURT ROOM
Christian Riesner, International Criminal Court
Exploring the usage of EO data for evidentiary classification and corroborating existing information for judicial processes. How can EO data bring valuable insights for decision makers in the judicial domain? Investigating international crimes expose several challenges where EO data are sometimes the only option to gain actual insights to separate facts from fiction. The increasing quantity and quality of available data creates opportunities in an environment of high requirements.
2:30PM – 2:50PM
2:50PM – 3:10PM
UNLOCKING IRIDE SERVICES WITH COMMERCIAL HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE DATA
Sergio Samarelli, Planetek Italia
IRIDE, Italy’s “constellation of constellations” (~68 satellites), will provide multi-sensor Earth Observation services. IRIDE includes the implementation of 70 processing chain for specific applications. This presentation shows how commercial very high resolution data enhances IRIDE services capabilities, improving detail, timeliness, and operational value across applications.
3:10PM – 3:50PM
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK
3:50PM – 4:10PM
4:10PM – 4:50PM
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PANEL DISCUSSION
MONITORING VULNERABILITIES: EARTH OBSERVATION FOR URBAN RISK AND INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRITY ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN & CAUCASUS REGIONS
Moderated by Prof. Dr. Hannes Taubenböck, German Aerospace Center (DLR) / Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg (JMU)
Panel Members: Enjy Salah, Geomakani & more information to come
This panel will explore how Earth Observation (EO) is transforming the monitoring of urban vulnerability and infrastructure integrity across the Mediterranean and Caucasus regions.
It will examine the shift from project-based analysis to continuous, institutionalised monitoring, addressing urban expansion, risk accumulation, and exposure to climate and seismic hazards.
The discussion will highlight EO’s role in supporting proactive risk management, infrastructure oversight, and evidence-based planning, including the detection of land-use changes and stress indicators.
Finally, it will consider governance challenges, including responsibilities, coordination, and the integration of EO into long-term monitoring frameworks.
4:50PM – 5:00PM
6:30PM – 11:00PM
GALA DINNER
Join us for our official gala dinner as we celebrate our achievements and look ahead to what’s next.
Wednesday 20 MAY
8:30AM – 9:00AM
REGISTRATION & COFFEE
9:00AM – 1:00PM
CONFERENCE DAY 2
9:00AM – 9:10AM
9:10AM – 9:25AM
9:25AM – 9:40AM
9:40AM – 9:55AM
EXPANDING CAPABILITY AND COLLABORATION ACROSS EUROPE’S EVOLVING EARTH OBSERVATION ECOSYSTEM
Pascal Schichor, European Space Imaging
This session looks ahead to how EUSI is evolving within Europe’s rapidly changing Earth observation ecosystem, and how we are expanding both capability and collaboration to meet what comes next.
Long-standing partnerships continue to deliver critical value, supporting demanding civil and security missions with proven reliability, while growing relationships with new data and solutions providers are broadening the scope of what we can offer. Together, they reinforce our role as a hub for geospatial solutions in Europe.
EUSI’s response to the new landscape defined by increasing demand, fragmented procurement and the “need for speed” is reflected in our continued investment into the ATOM platform, which fills an important niche for institutional users in the market.
As the industry accelerates, we are pushing operational boundaries, expanding capacity, and developing new services while remaining committed to the personal, trusted relationships that have always defined how we work.
9:55AM – 10:15AM
THE GAF ELEVATION SUITE – HOW THE EVOLUTION OF COMMERCIAL SATELLITE DATA IS TRANSFORMING ELEVATION DATA
Andreas Uttenthaler, GAF AG
Since 2008 GAF is a trusted provider of digital elevation models and 3D information (30 cm to 5 m resolution) based on multi-source stereo satellite data. In addition to partnerships and R&D activities, the evolution of commercial satellite data has also been a key driver and has led to more detailed and accurate products, faster delivery times and greater flexibility in customisation.
10:15AM – 10:35AM
HIGH-PRECISION NATIONAL MAPPING: LEVERAGING WORLDVIEW LEGION FOR UKRAINE STATE GEOSPATIAL DATABASE
Oles Yasinsky, TVIS UKRAINE, LLC
A technical case study on creating 1:10,000 scale state orthophotomaps using Vantor WorldView Legion data. The session covers end-to-end workflow: from satellite data acquisition to high-precision geodatabase (GDB) delivery. Learn how new Vantor satellites provide a reliable digital baseline for national infrastructure in areas where traditional aerial surveys are strongly restricted.
10:35AM – 11:15AM
MORNING COFFEE BREAK
11:15AM – 12:05PM
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PANEL DISCUSSION
NATURE RESTORATION REGULATION (NRR): IMPACTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND EO’S ROLE
Moderated by Michelle Hermes, Earsc
Panel Members: Anica Huck, European Space Imaging & Simon Marggraf, Landbanking Group & more information to come.
This panel will examine the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), now a binding EU law, and the pivotal role of Earth Observation (EO) data in supporting National Restoration Plans.
It will address the transition from policy to practice, including the translation of EU targets into spatially explicit national strategies and the harmonisation of data and indicators across countries and ecosystems.
The discussion will highlight EO’s value chain, from compliance monitoring and reporting to informing policy design, leveraging both public (e.g. Copernicus) and private data services.
Finally, it will explore key challenges and emerging innovations, including data limitations, the shift from data to actionable solutions, and capacity-building needs across stakeholders.
12:05PM – 12:25PM
COPERNICUS4GEOGLAM VALIDATION SERVICE: ACTIVATION FOR CAMEROON
Kasimir Orlowski, EC-JRC (Fincons S.p.a.)
The JRC’s Copernicus4GEOGLAM Validation Service offers independent validation of country-produced commodity maps that can support EUDR risk assessment processes. This presentation showcases its activation for Cameroon, validating a cocoa probability layer produced by the Technical Working Group and FAO for 2020. Similar activities have been concluded for Côte d’Ivoire and are ongoing in Honduras.
12:25PM – 12:45PM
EVIDERI – EARTH OBSERVATION AS EVIDENCE IN “CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY” INVESTIGATIONS
Felicitas Bellert, IABG
The EVIDERI project, founded by ESA, aims to demonstrate the importance of integrating Earth Observation (EO) data with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), to enhance the value of the information extracted and utilize it as legal evidence in international crime investigations. Based on the ICC Requests, the EVIDERI team conducted case studies to develop workflows for creating evidentiary products. The approach used diverse data types, including earth observation data like optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), combined with contextual information such as event monitoring and conflict timelines.
12:45PM – 1:05PM
ŠURUPPAK FROM ABOVE: RECONSTRUCTING AN ANCIENT CITY IN IRAQ THROUGH SATELLITE IMAGERY
Karlotta Herbst, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich
Šuruppak (modern Fara, Iraq), legendary city of the Flood, once flourished as a major 3rd millennium BC center. Little is visible today. Yet from above, the buried city is still alive. Satellite and drone imagery in connection with modern archaeological methods reveal its urban layout. Time-series imagery also maps large-scale looting and destruction in 2003 during the Iraq War in near real time.
1:10PM – 1:15PM
1:15PM – 3:00PM
CLOSING NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK
Speakers
Adrian Zevenbergen
EUROPEAN SPACE IMAGING
CEO
Prof. Dr. Hannes Taubenböck
GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER
HEAD OF GEORISKS & CIVIL SECURITY DEPARTMENT
Hannes Taubenböck is head of the department “Georisks and Civil Security” at the Earth Observation Center (EOC) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). He also holds the chair of “Global Urbanization and Remote Sensing” at the University of Würzburg. He holds a Diploma from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University München (2004), a doctoral degree from the Julius Maximilian’s University of Würzburg (2008), and in 2019, he habilitated at the University of Würzburg.
Alistair Maclenan
QUARRY ONE ELEVEN
FOUNDER
Alistair has been selling, marketing and promoting space-based data, technologies and services since he helped to setup the EMEA ER Mapper office in the mid-90s. Subsequently, he was part of the management team that sold Dataview Solutions to Cyient before setting up the Quarry One Eleven business promotion & marketing agency in 2005 to support geo-clients, around the world. Alistair is also the Chair of the British Association of Remote Sensing Companies and a trustee of charity, MRKH Connect.
Felicitas Bellert
IABG
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER &
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EU PROGRAMS
Ms. Bellert has been working as a project manager at IABG and has over 30 years of professional experience in various fields. In addition to managing large-scale projects, her current responsibilities also include business development at the EU level for geospatial solutions. Her professional experience and responsibilities generally focus heavily on the management of large-scale and international projects with an emphasis on GIS and the use and application of EO data in connection with disaster risks, security contexts, and the development of GIS related software modules. In this role, she extensively supports an extended circle of customers and coordinates externally associated companies, mostly in a European context.
Sergio Samarelli
PLANETEK ITALIA
CTO & HEAD OF B2B SBU
Sergio Samarelli has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of Geomatics, Earth Observation and Systems Development. He is a founder of Planetek Italia and had a role in the growth of the company, dealing with technical and management activities as a Technical Director with responsibility of production activities. Today he is Chief Technology Officer and manager of the Business to Business Strategic Business Unit.
Alexis Conte
NOVASPACE
SENIOR MANAGER AND EARTH OBSERVATION CONSULTANT
- Management consultant in the space sector with a specialization in EO.
- Project manager and contributor to business plans and commercial strategies to due diligence projects for various customers, including space agencies, leading commercial satellite operators, start-ups, and investors worldwide.
- Chief Editor of the company’s flagship Market Intelligence report, The Earth Observation Data and Services Market Prospect.
- Representative of the EO Space sector, participating in international conferences, supporting communication and marketing teams.
Pascal Schichor
EUROPEAN SPACE IMAGING
VP SALES
Pascal began his career with European Space Imaging in 2005 in various key positions which enabled him to gain a vast set of skills vital to the industry. Keen to expand his knowledge of Remote Sensing and Earth Observation, he became the Sales Lead EMEA for Phase One Industrial in 2017 and was responsible for the overall sales in the EMEA region. In mid-2018 he returned to European Space Imaging in the role of Sales Director, bringing with him experience in team leadership and surveying projects. He now leads the Sales Department as well as managing the company’s strategic business partnerships, particularly within government.
Radu Tanase
SATCEN
TEAM LEADER – DATA PROVISION SERVICES
Radu Tanase serves as the Team Leader of the Data Provision Services within the Operations Division of the EU Satellite Centre, based in Madrid, Spain. He is also a former officer in the Romanian military, bringing extensive expertise in remote sensing for security and defense. Over the course of his career, he has held several key positions, including Imagery Analyst at the EU Satellite Centre, Officer-Engineer at the Romanian Geospatial Information Agency, or Research Scientist at the Research Centre for Spatial Information of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest.
With respect to his education, Dr. Tanase holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geodetic Engineering from the Military Technical Academy of Bucharest, as well as Master’s and Doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees in advanced optical and synthetic aperture radar image processing from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. He also undertook several research internships at the Remote Sensing Technology Institute of the German Aerospace Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
Oles Yasinsky
TVIS COMPANY
CEO
CEO and founder of TVIS With 25 years of experience in GIS and Remote Sensing, Oles is a pioneer in the Ukrainian satellite imagery market, having processed his first high-res IKONOS image in 2001. He specializes in managing large-scale mapping projects, LiDAR and SAR/optical data analysis. Being a recognized expert in using EO for forensic evidence and damage assessment, his work currently focuses on documenting the environmental and infrastructure impacts of the war in Ukraine.
Enjy Salah
GEOMAKANI
CHAIRMAN
Enjy graduated with a BCom in Business Administration from Cairo University in 2010. That same year, she embarked on her professional journey by joining Edge Pro for Information Systems, driven by a passion for technology and a desire to become an expert in satellite images. After completing specialized training courses, she was promoted to Marketing Manager in 2013. Continuing her pursuit of knowledge and professional growth, Enjy earned a Marketing Diploma from RITI in 2014 and completed an Entrepreneurship Specialization from the University of Maryland in 2018. In 2020, she advanced to the role of Business Development Director, where she demonstrated her strategic leadership and ability to drive growth and played A pivotal role in expanding her network across the MEA region, strengthening relationships, and building trust with clients and partners.In November 2024, she was appointed Chairman of Geomakani, a sister company within Stadia Group for Investment, solidifying her reputation as a dynamic and influential leader.
Adriano Baptista
EUROPEAN SPACE IMAGING
Senior Advisor
Adriano Baptista has over 35 years of expertise in the IMINT and sectors, with a strong focus on defence and security. He is currently a Senior Advisor for Defence, Security, and Intelligence at European Space Imaging. Previously, he was the Head of the Operations Division at the European Union Satellite Centre (EU SatCen). In this role, Adriano was instrumental in managing and directing the centre’s operational activities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality geospatial intelligence to support Member States and the decision-making processes of the EU in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Adriano’s extensive career also includes 15 years as an officer in the Portuguese Air Force, where he served in various capacities, including Imagery Analyst, Aerial Photography Operator, and Intelligence Officer. He qualified as an Imagery Analyst at the Joint School of Photographic Interpretation (UK). He holds a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from the University of West Florida (USA) and has completed the High-Level Course in Common Foreign and Security Policy at the European Security and Defence College
Alexandre Roosen
GEO4I
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (AR)
Business Development Manager in the imagery intelligence sector, he has grown within Geo4i since the start of his career, developing strong expertise in satellite imagery domain with the perspective of strategic growth, and international expansion. As Head of Partnerships and Export Sales Lead, he drives global initiatives and supports operational projects thanks to his academic background—Master’s in Geopolitics & GEOINT, Sorbonne Université—which brings an analytical perspective to his work.
Andrea Bersan
HawkEYE 360
GM/VP INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP
Andrea Bersan is a senior executive in the space and defense sector, currently leading as GM/VP the Growth, Innovation and Partnerships team at HawkEye 360. He specializes in developing sovereign space capabilities and go-to-market strategies for government and enterprise customers worldwide. With leadership roles at Maxar and DigitalGlobe, he brings deep expertise in Remote Sensing, ISR, RF analytics, and building global partnerships for intelligence and defense markets
Kasimir Orlowski
EC-JRC (Fincons S.p.a.)
SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT
Kasimir is a consultant at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission and PhD researcher at the University of Twente’s ITC, where he also obtained his MSc in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation. With 6.5 years of experience in the EO sector, his work at JRC focuses on EO-based solutions for commodity mapping. His PhD research applies GeoAI to cocoa mapping in West Africa using very high resolution satellite imagery
Karlotta Herbst
LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH – INSTITUTE OF NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Karlotta Herbst is a PhD researcher at the Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology at LMU Munich. Within the framework of a DFG-funded research project, her work focuses on everyday life in third-millennium BC Mesopotamia.
Arnaud Durand
EUROPEAN SPACE IMAGING
SALES DIRECTOR
Arnaud Durand has extensive experience managing Earth Observation projects, amongst others within the Copernicus environment. Previously he has conducted several successful consulting missions for the European Commission and the United Nations. Presently in his role as Sales Director at European Space Imaging, he manages the partnerships and sales strategies for numerous countries within Europe and North Africa.
Anica Huck
EUROPEAN SPACE IMAGING
SENIOR MANAGER GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS EUROPE
Ms. Anica Huck joined European Space Imaging in September 2024 taking on the role of the Senior Manager Government Affairs Manager. Her role includes interaction with European Organisations and national government agencies, policy analysis and participation in industry associations. She has more than15 years of experience in Earth Observation (EO) having worked for the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, the European Space Agency, the European Commission and Planet. She has worked across the whole chain from data analytics to policy development helping to untap the potential of EO data to enabling policy makers, scientists, the private sector, and civil society to address social and environmental challenges.
Andreas Uttenthaler
GAF AG
HEAD OF EO PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Andreas Uttenthaler received a master degree in Applied Geoinformatics from the University of Salzburg in 2007. Since 2008, he is working for GAF and is now Head of the EO Products & Services department and Product Manager for digital elevation models (DEMs). His work has focused on satellite image processing, digital elevation model product development and generation. He has been responsible for several projects with focus on the generation of DEMs for national and international, public and industrial clients.
Simon Marggraf
THE LANDBANKING GROUP
SCIENCE PROJECT LEAD
Simon Marggraf is Science Project Lead at The Landbanking Group (TLG) in Munich, leading project delivery for a natural-capital measurement and valuation platform and translating remote-sensing and ecological data into decision-ready insights for corporates, investors, and land managers. Previously, he worked as a Climate Adaptation Analyst at adelphi, contributed to various research projects (e.g. EU H2020 ARSINOE, Client II DroughADAPT), and worked as trainee at the European Commission. As geographer and economist, he holds an MSc in Environmental Change and Management (University of Oxford), an MSc in Environmental Systems and Sustainability (LMU Munich), a BSc in Economics and Business Economics (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and a BA in Business Administration (PFH Private Hochschule Göttingen).
Christian Riesner
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
TEAM LEAD GEOINT
Working in the geospatial domain for about 30 years. Starting from a Surveying Technician to Civil Engineering towards Geospatial Information application for law enforcement and judicial purposes. Since 2017 working at the ICC in The Hague supporting the investigative activities of the Office of the Prosecutor as Lead GeoINT Team.
Michelle Hermes
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF REMOTE SENSING COMPANIES (EARSC)
POLICY OFFICER
Michelle Hermes is a Policy Officer for the European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC). In her role, she is in charge of monitoring and analysing policies at the European Union level to ensure the policy uptake of EO-based services. In doing so, she gathers the inputs of the European EO downstream services industry and represents EARSC members among different stakeholders at the European and international level, focusing on a wide range of topics ranging from the European Green Deal and environmental topics to EO for security and defense. She has an educational background in Political Science and International Relations, as well as a wide array of international experience in the space sector, having worked at NASA, the European Space Policy Institute, and the Center for Space Governance.
Kolia Leboucq
GEO4I
DATA SCIENTIST (KL)
Kolia Leboucq is a data scientist specializing in geospatial intelligence. He develops artificial intelligence methods to process large-scale, complex data from sources such as satellites and sensors. His work focuses on transforming raw data into actionable insights, supporting analysts and improving decision-making in data-intensive environments.
Katrin Molch
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESA)
HEAD OF THE MISSION MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCT QUALITY DIVISION
Katrin holds an M.A. in Geosciences from the University of Freiburg, with a focus on Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. She worked on radar Earth observation data exploitation with stations in industry and academia in Canada, Italy, and Germany. At the interface of science and IT she worked in Earth Observation data management, supporting interoperability and standardization in ESA, GEO and CEOS working groups. Katrin currently heads the Mission Management and Product Quality Division in the Mission Management and Ground Segment Department of ESA’s Earth Observation Directorate.
Philippe Moreels
GAF AG
CEO
Philippe is CEO of GAF AG, an e-GEOS (Telespazio/ASI) company and a leading European geospatial solutions provider. He drives the company’s growth and transformation, delivering Earth Observation imagery and advanced analytics across defence, civil, and commercial markets. With nearly 20 years of experience in established space organisations and New Space ventures across Europe and APAC, he strengthens GAF’s position in the global geospatial industry.
Daniela Valentino
PLANETEK
PRODUCT SPECIALIST
With a degree in Computer Science and Digital Communication from the University of Bari, Daniela embarked on her career at Planetek Italia in 2005 as a web developer. Her expertise expanded through specialized training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Dinamica School in Bologna.
In 2012, she expanded her responsibilities by taking on the role of Pre-Sales Technical Assistant for Geospatial Data.
Her combined experience in web development, GIS, and customer support enables her to deliver tailored geospatial solutions that meet both technical and customer needs effectively.
Dr. Anna Purkhauser
NOVASPACE
MANAGER
Vana Giavi
TOTALVIEW
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Vana Giavi is the Managing Director at TOTALVIEW, Athens, Greece.
She is a Mineral Resources Engineer with MSc in Remote Sensing. In her 30 years of experience, she has managed many EO projects.
A key development step was the Production Manager position at SPACE IMAGING EUROPE, Athens, Greece where she was trained by Space Imaging Inc. as Production Specialist and has been selected to be the Production Manager.
Jonathan Field
MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
VICE PRESIDENT HEAD OF EUROPE
Jonathan joined Maxar a year ago following nearly twenty years in the Defence sector, most recently as VP International Business Development at Hensoldt. Previous experience includes Kelvin Hughes and Smiths Group. His sector expertise covers NBCD, Radar, Electronic Warfare and C4ISR. Jonathan began his career in the Royal Navy, as a warfare Officer in the Submarine service.
Samuel Fonseca
COTESA
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Geospatial Professional with more than 12 years of experience the geospatial industry providing strategic analysis and consulting services, leveraging location analytics to empower clients in making informed decisions and developing innovative solutions based on the power of GIS and Earth observation.
Annijke Wade
UMBRA
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Annijke Wade serves key channel partners and customers at Umbra. Annijke has a background in geospatial and geospatial intelligence.
Daniela Dobreva-Nielsen
BOGDAN ORBIT EOOD
FOUNDER & OWNER
Daniela Dobreva-Nielsen brings over three decades of experience spanning sales, business development, innovation management and communications on a global scale. Her journey into the Space sector began a decade ago, where she has since fostered the growth of Europe’s Space innovation and entrepreneurial network as the Head of Business Development at AZO-Space of Innovation. As of April 2024, she works as industry expert/consultant through Bogdan Orbit GmbH – the company that she recently founded. Daniela holds a M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and a Certificate in Management from The Open University, London.
Patrick O’Keeffe
NATO COE CSW
SPACE OPERATIONS
Patrick O’Keeffe is an international technology and security policy expert focusing on the multidisciplinary environment of aerospace, maritime, and cyber. With a background as CEO and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of technology companies, commercial pilot, commanding officer in the military as well as fellow at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK), Patrick O’Keeffe is supporting various entities in the transformation of aerospace, maritime, and cyber strategies and policies. Patrick O’Keeffe served as a German Navy Officer in various positions including the German Ministry of Defence and at a NATO Centre of Excellence, facilitating between NATO partners, organizations of the United Nations, academia and industry, and presents as guest speaker and opening keynote at technology and security conferences. An aerospace engineer specialized in unmanned systems and satellite operations and a former military aviator, Patrick O’Keeffe studied international law and economics and publishes on international security and space capabilities.
Dr. Eleni Patouni
EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY
PROJECT OFFICER
Dr. Eleni Patouni is currently responsible for the Research &Technology activities of the European Defence Agency (EDA) for space and serves as the moderator of the EDA Capability Technology Working Group Space. She joined EDA in 2020; before joining EDA Dr. Patouni worked in NATO STO CMRE as a Research Program Manager and business development manager for defence and security projects for 6 years and in University of Athens as a Senior Researcher and Project Manager. She also holds a PhD and Post-doc in telecommunications.
Radu Tanase
SATCEN
TEAM LEADER – DATA PROVISION SERVICES
“Radu Tanase serves as the Team Leader of the Data Provision Services within the Operations Division of the EU Satellite Centre, based in Madrid, Spain. He is also a former officer in the Romanian military, bringing extensive expertise in remote sensing for security and defense. Over the course of his career, he has held several key positions, including Imagery Analyst at the EU Satellite Centre, Officer-Engineer at the Romanian Geospatial Information Agency, or Research Scientist at the Research Centre for Spatial Information of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest.
With respect to his education, Dr. Tanase holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geodetic Engineering from the Military Technical Academy of Bucharest, as well as Master’s and Doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees in advanced optical and synthetic aperture radar image processing from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. He also undertook several research internships at the Remote Sensing Technology Institute of the German Aerospace Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.”
Dr. Sebastian Carl
GAF AG
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Sebastian Carl, *1966, is supporting the service development of GAF AG.
Dr. Carl graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science in 1992 from the Technical University in Munich-Weihenstephan, with a focus on the “Chaos Theorie” in his master thesis. In his subsequent doctorate he researched Artificial Intelligence as an analysis tool for satellite-based radar remote sensing, and gained his PhD in 1996 (Development and implementation of neuronal network classification of agricultural crop types based on ERS-1 SAR satellite data).
He was already working as a technical manager at GAFs Agriculture Department by 1992, designing, implementing and managing large-area agriculture, land cover and land use mapping and monitoring projects based on VHR and HR satellite imagery.
In 1999, he took over GAF’s Image Processing and Data Products Department, which was responsible for working with the increasing variety of earth observation systems and the resulting possibilities for data analysis and product generation.
He was Head of Geo-Data and Information Services and Key Account Manager for several governmental and corporates in the security, infrastructure and land domains and ran various consulting, SW-development, procurement and production projects.
GAF draws on his longstanding expert knowledge in the design, development and implementation of GIS software and systems and deep-learning technology for the production and dissemination of customized geo-information.
In 2000, he became an authorized signatory of GAF. As a Head of Department Geo-Data and Information Services, he already had significant responsibility for a wide range of corporate business measures.
In 2018, he became CEO of GAF, a German company founded 1985 and based in Munich and Neustrelitz, which provides added value to e-GEOS and the Telespazio-Group as a result of its advantageous geographic location and long-standing expertise in applied remote sensing, geo data and information systems.
In 2022, he changed position and is now supporting the management and the service development of GAF with his profound expertise.
Dr. Sebastian Carl of GAF AG, an e-GEOS (Telespazio/ASI), has held various steering posts, including that of CEO at GAF AG. He has been part of the remote sensing and space industry in Europe and has helped shape it for more than 30 years.
Dr. Carl has extensive knowledge and good insight into and instincts regarding the demand driven development of future sensors and remote sensing systems, esp. also multi-source and AI applications, around the world.
He is one of the few experts in Germany who can comprehensively analyse and demand driven assess all currently available earth observation systems for the commercial and publicly funded sectors.
Steve Allen
MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
SENIOR CHANNEL SALES MANAGER – EUROPE
Steve started his career with Maxar (DigitalGlobe originally) back in 2009 and has been working with both the Sales and Business Development teams over the course of his tenure with the company.
Eager to help customers derive the greatest amount of value from Maxar’s imagery, Steve has worked with the WorldView Global Alliance (WVGA) partner network, along with EUSI, to offer new and exciting products to customers in the European Defense & Intelligence and Civil Governments communities for the past 10+ years.
With over 25 years in Sales and dedicated to building one of the finest Channel Partner Networks in the world, Steve is committed to supporting the WVGA and nurturing Maxar’s Partner growth within the Europe market.
Sean O’Neill
MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
SENIOR SALES ENGINEER
Sean O’Neill works in Maxar’s Earth Intelligence organization, which provides high-resolution satellite imagery to customers for the EMEA region.
He previously worked in the E&P market for marine seismic exploration with a key focus on navigation systems and has an Computer engineering degree.
Piotr Wezyk
PROGEA 4D
CEO
Piotr Wezyk is an Assoc. Prof. at the University of Agriculture in Krakow (UoA, Poland) and CEO of ProGea 4D Ltd. and ProGea Consulting. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1999 at the University of Agriculture in Krakow and the Habilitation degree in 2013 from the UAM Poznan, Poland. He has over 25 years of professional and scientific experience in national and international R&D projects on integration of GIS/WebGIS, digital Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing data, Image Processing technology – oriented on applications in LULC, forestry, spatial planning, nature protection and natural hazards monitoring.
