Agenda

Aarti Holla-Maini is Secretary General of the GSOA. She is a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space, the WEF Global 5G Coalition Network and the WEF Essential Digital Infrastructure & Services Network.

Under Aarti’s leadership, GSOA & its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society - vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.

Since joining the association, Aarti has led the expansion of GSOA from a European association to one that represents the interests of 29 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.

Aarti has 25 years' experience in the aerospace industry, starting at Daimler-Benz Aerospace/EADS (now Airbus) in Germany. In 2000, she moved to Brussels, representing Airbus interests in the European satellite navigation program: Galileo. 

Aarti holds a Masters of Business Administration from HEC, France & Stern Business School, NYC, USA. She qualified as Solicitor of the Supreme Court in the UK in 1995, holding a 2:1 graded LLB Hons Law with German Law degree from King's College, University of London & the University of Passau, Germany. Aarti is of British-Indian origin and holds British and Belgian nationalities. She lives in Brussels, has 3 children and speaks 5 languages.

With more than 25 years of Experience in Telecoms, and 15 of them in Satellite Communications in Sub-Saharan Africa, Daniel is in charge for SES activities in selected countries in the region,

He was responsible for implementing multiple gigabit satcom capacity projects in the continent, including the first NGSO HTS project in Africa (and second in the world), with O3B Networks.

Motoi is heading business development in Africa for over 20 years covering from car trade business to HAPS(High Altitude Platform) in the telecommunication sector.

He started his career in New York working in an accountancy firm and also worked for a venture capital firm in the UK.

He is focusing on developing affordable and sustainable services using the Non-Terrestrial Network implemented in various sectors. 

He is very ambitious to expand the possibilities of the youth in Africa.

Currently, he is challenging the transformation of the educational sector by implementing educational technology (Edtech).

Dr. Abimbola Alale is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Nigeria. 

She is a PhD degree holder of Security & Strategic Studies from Nasarawa State University, Keffi-Nigeria. She also holds a Master degree in Space Studies (MSc) and an MBA degree from the International Space University, Strasbourg-France. 

Other Certificates were obtained at the Massachuttes Institute of Technology, USA and the Management School, London and Lagos Business School, Nigeria.

Dr. Abimbola is a Fellow of African Scientific Institute (FASI), Certified Forensic Investigation Professional (CFIP), Member International Academy of Forensics (MIAF), Fellow of Chartered Public Diplomacy and Management (FCPDM), Fellow of Corporate Administration Institute (FCAI).

She is a current Council Member (2021) of the World Economic Forum:- Global Future Council on Space. She is an active member and one of the major contributors of ESOA (European Middle East Africa Satellite Operators Association). She is one of the conveners of Women in Aerospace in Nigeria. She successfully hosted the 2020 ACTINSPACE Hackathon event in Nigeria being MD/CEO of NIGCOMSAT. She was a board member of Space Generation Advisory Council. She is an advocate of space sustainability and responsible use of outer space and features on events organized by the UNOOSA-United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs/UNIDIR-United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

Being a woman that has passion for the space sector, she has pursued an active career in the sector for over two decades. She has served in various capacities both at the National Space Research Development Agency and Nigerian Communications Satellite as an Assistant Project Director and Executive Director Marketing respectively. She was part of the team that championed the manufacture and launch of the first sub-Saharan Africa communication satellite (NigComSat-1) in 2007 as well as NigComSat-1R in 2011.

 Dr. Abimbola Alale is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Nigeria. 

She is a PhD degree holder of Security & Strategic Studies from Nasarawa State University, Keffi-Nigeria. She also holds a Master degree in Space Studies (MSc) and an MBA degree from the International Space University, Strasbourg-France. 

Other Certificates were obtained at the Massachuttes Institute of Technology, USA and the Management School, London and Lagos Business School, Nigeria.

Dr. Abimbola is a Fellow of African Scientific Institute (FASI), Certified Forensic Investigation Professional (CFIP), Member International Academy of Forensics (MIAF), Fellow of Chartered Public Diplomacy and Management (FCPDM), Fellow of Corporate Administration Institute (FCAI).

She is a current Council Member (2021) of the World Economic Forum:- Global Future Council on Space. She is an active member and one of the major contributors of ESOA (European Middle East Africa Satellite Operators Association). She is one of the conveners of Women in Aerospace in Nigeria. She successfully hosted the 2020 ACTINSPACE Hackathon event in Nigeria being MD/CEO of NIGCOMSAT. She was a board member of Space Generation Advisory Council. She is an advocate of space sustainability and responsible use of outer space and features on events organized by the UNOOSA-United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs/UNIDIR-United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

Being a woman that has passion for the space sector, she has pursued an active career in the sector for over two decades. She has served in various capacities both at the National Space Research Development Agency and Nigerian Communications Satellite as an Assistant Project Director and Executive Director Marketing respectively. She was part of the team that championed the manufacture and launch of the first sub-Saharan Africa communication satellite (NigComSat-1) in 2007 as well as NigComSat-1R in 2011.

Wilgon is currently Project Manager at Smart Africa in charge of network services. 
Prior to this, he has been Director of Sales and Business Development of PCCW Global in charge of business development and strategies in Central Africa region (six countries). He is a result-oriented Executive with a strong ability of analysis, strategies, project management and business development.  
Before joining PCCW Global, he has been Group CTO of Azur Telecom (Bintel ltd) in charge of technical management of Bintel operations in Africa and France. 
Earlier in his career, has been Project Director, Project Manager and Country Manager in many institutions.  He has been involved in numerous roll out and digitalization projects in Africa.
Wilgon holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in Business Development and three other Master degrees (Computer Applications, Project management, Innovation & Production).