8 New Faces at SATELLITE 2023

The SATELLITE trade show is known for bringing together the biggest leaders of the industry — yet the conference also highlights fresh voices whether they be new executives, end users, or investors. This is particularly important as satellite technology is working to reach new frontiers in space and on Earth. Here are eight people who will be speaking at SATELLITE for the first time.

Chiara Manfletti, COO of Neuraspace

Chiara Manfletti, a researcher and professor and former advisor with the European Space Agency (ESA), is active in the Portuguese space industry and previously helped establish the new Portuguese national space agency, Portugal Space, as its president. Now she is COO of Neuraspace, a company based in Portugal, focused on using AI and machine learning to tackle the issue of space traffic management. Last year, Neuraspace announced a seed funding round during SATELLITE and since then, the company has debuted its space traffic management platform. Manfletti will appear beside panelists from OrbitsEdge and Cognitive Space for a discussion about advanced computing for space. Why We Need More Advanced & Autonomous Computing in Space, Monday at 10:45 a.m., Room 146C

David Gauthier, Director of Commercial Operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

As the director of Commercial Operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), David Gauthier looks at solving national security problems with innovative commercial solutions. The NGA provides geospatial intelligence to warfighters, policymakers, and the intelligence community. The agency ramped up its activity with commercial imagery providers in recent years. Gauthier will bring the NGA’s perspective to a discussion about how to keep the U.S. remote sensing industry competitive. Ensuring Continued U.S. Competitiveness in Remote Sensing, Tuesday at 1:45 p.m., Room 145 A/B

Elena Neira, Head of 5G Standards for MITRE Labs

The satellite industry and cellular industry have been working together for greater integration between space and cellular networks, with many new announcements and partnerships introduced in the past year. Elena Neira is a leader in this area. As head of 5G Standards at MITRE, Neira is a recognized technology expert in the mobile communications industry and its standards, specification, and compliance group. MITRE is actively contributing to 3GPP and to other standards development organizations to integrate non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and mobile networks. Neira will be part of a panel giving an update on the technical progress that has been made on this integration. The Collaborative Effort to Integrate Satellite Systems with 3GPP Mobile Networks, Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Room 146C

Gero Corman, Head of Digital Technologies & Platforms for Volkswagen

The connected car is an elusive market for satellite technology. The development of autonomous vehicles makes persistent connectivity for the automotive industry more important than ever. Gero Corman, head of Digital Technologies & Platforms for Volkswagen Group Production, joins a panel about connected vehicles to discuss if advancements in satellite technology can finally unlock this market. Corman’s teams are responsible for strategies for game-changing technologies for Volkswagen, and he is a technology enthusiast serving as an advisor and board member for startups in the advanced manufacturing and deep tech field. Can Low Earth Orbit Satellites Unlock the Possibilities of Autonomous, Connected Vehicles? Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., Room 147

Jat Brainch, Chief Commercial and Digital Officer for Inmarsat

Jat Brainch was appointed chief commercial officer of Inmarsat in spring 2021, in a wave of new executive moves after former Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri took the helm at Inmarsat. Brainch is responsible for Inmarsat's evolving commercial, digital, and product strategy and roadmap to improve business performance and customer experience, with a particular focus on customer-centric products. She will be a part of a discussion on commercial applications for satellite-based IoT services. This is a key topic for Inmarsat with its Elera global IoT network providing secure narrowband connectivity to industries like agriculture, mining, and logistics. Why Your Business Needs Satellite IoT Services, Wednesday at 10:45 a.m., Room 146 A/B

Jonny Spendlove, Senior Product Manager of Connectivity for John Deere

Agriculture giant John Deere is an interesting end user for satellite technology, as the company announced a request for proposals in 2022 to connect thousands of agricultural machines with persistent connectivity. Thousands of Deere tractors are already equipped with cellular, but the company wants to unlock new capabilities with always-on connectivity. Jonny Spendlove, senior vice president product manager of Connectivity for John Deere is responsible for the company’s enterprise goal of connecting 1.5 million machines by 2026. He joins the commercial IoT panel to share the John Deere perspective on how the company and its customers benefit from satellite-based IoT. Why Your Business Needs Satellite IoT Services, Wednesday at 10:45 a.m., Room 146 A/B

Shanna McClain, Disasters Program Manager for NASA's Earth Science Applied Sciences Program

Aiding in disaster situations is one of the most essential use cases for satellite technology. Satellite communications can be available when terrestrial networks fail, and data from satellites can also help disaster preparedness and response. Shanna McClain, Disasters Program manager for NASA's Earth Science Applied Sciences Program, joins a panel about satellites in disaster relief. NASA's Disasters Program responds to active disaster situations, providing real-time information to support active disaster response teams around the world, like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. She leads a team on issues relating to enhancing and integrating Earth science capabilities for supporting disaster response, reducing disaster risk, and building resilience. McClain holds a PhD in Environmental Resources & Policy and has spent her career studying climate change adaptation and response to disasters. Disaster Relief: Supporting Life-Saving Missions from Space, Wednesday, 10:45 a.m., Room 145 A/B

Tess Hatch, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners

Tess Hatch is an aerospace engineer-turned investor, investing in the future of space. As a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, Hatch focuses on the commercialization of space, drones, autonomous vehicles, and agriculture and food technology. While Hatch has judged the Startup Space competition in the past, this is her first appearance on the program at SATELLITE. She will host a fireside chat with former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, author of the best-selling book “Escaping Gravity,” for Monday’s lunch keynote about the future of space exploration, critical investments in commercial space technologies, and recruiting and retaining talent. Monday Keynote Lunch, 12:00 p.m., Ballroom A/B. VS