Space Connect Episode 8 (September 2025)

<span data-teams="true"><strong>Bryce Kennedy</strong> is a Space Connectivity Senior Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where he helps countries bridge the digital divide. He is also the Executive Director of the SpaceValley Foundation, positioning New Mexico as a global hub for space innovation and culture, and an adjunct professor at New Mexico Tech, where he teaches space law and policy. </span> <span data-teams="true">Previously, Bryce advised executives at Boston Consulting Group in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic and clerked at both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He holds a law degree from Catholic University and a global management degree from Thunderbird.</span>

Mr. Dewey Yee is a pioneering figure in aerospace finance, aircraft leasing, and space commerce. Appointed in 2013 by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive to the Economic Development Commission, he led the Aerospace Finance Task Force, culminating in the 2017 Inland Revenue Bill that established Hong Kong as a global aircraft leasing hub. Since May 2022, he serves as Professor of Practice in Aviation Finance, Management & Space Commerce at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, overseeing the LMS Academy and developing the Space50 index for the new space industry. A founding partner at Anchor Venture Partners LLC, he previously held roles as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Aergo Capital Asia and CEO of China Everbright Aerospace Holdings. Mr. Yee’s career began in 1982 as an Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, followed by pioneering China’s aircraft leasing market for GPA Group in 1986 under Mr. Tony Ryan. He advanced through senior positions at GATX Capital, Babcock & Brown, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Société Générale, and Credit Agricole Lazard, before founding Future Gate Finance in 2002 and leading aerospace investments post-2011. A frequent speaker at global forums like Airline Economics and China Airfinance Conference, Mr. Yee holds a Juris Doctor from Antioch University (1981), a BA magna cum laude from Long Island University (1976), and attended the U.S. Naval Academy (1972-74).

Dr. Mathias Link is the Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA). He works on the definition and implementation of Luxembourg’s space sector development policy, with a focus on international affairs, legal & regulatory issues, public research & education, as well as finance and innovation. He coordinates the SpaceResources.lu initiative that aims to promote the exploration and utilization of space resources. He is the chairman of the steering committee of the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) and served as its first interim Director between 2020 and 2022. For the past 15 years, Mathias Link has represented Luxembourg in space-related boards and committees at the European Space Agency, the European Union, and the United Nations. He was involved in the preparation of several ESA Council meetings at Ministerial level, as well as of Luxembourg’s presidency of the Council of the EU in 2015. Before becoming a civil servant, Mathias Link spent several years in the private sector, among others at the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton (now Strategy&), Siemens Corporate Technology in Munich and the Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven. Mathias Link holds a PhD in physics from the Université de Lorraine, and a Master in microengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Mohamed-Slim Alouini, was born in Tunis, Tunisia. He earned his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1998 before serving as a faculty member at the University of Minnesota and later at Texas A&M University at Qatar. In 2009, he became a founding faculty member at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he currently is the Al-Khawarizmi Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the holder of the UNESCO Chair on Education to Connect the Unconnected. Dr. Alouini is a Fellow of the IEEE, OPTICA, and SPIE and his research interests encompass a wide array of research topics in wireless and satellite communications. He is currently particularly focusing on addressing the technical challenges associated with information and communication technologies (ICT) in underserved regions and is committed to bridging the digital divide by tackling issues related to the uneven distribution, access to, and utilization of ICT in rural, low-income, disaster-prone, and hard-to-reach areas.

Prof. Kargren is a global leader in space economics and commercialisation, with a career spanning the entire value chain—from ground systems and satellite infrastructure to Earth observation applications and digital services. Until recently, he led Future Programs at the European Space Agency, where he focused on translating cutting-edge technologies into viable markets and shaping the future space economy. He has worked extensively with leading space agencies (NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, NZ Space Agency) and commercial pioneers (SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Planet, Airbus, Maxar, Spire, OneWeb), driving initiatives that bridge public investment with private sector growth. His expertise lies in evaluating economic impact, building sustainable business models for space-based services, and advising governments and industry on strategies to expand participation in the global space economy. Prof. Kargren is a board member, consultant, and educator who helps organizations leverage space-derived data to unlock new revenue streams and efficiencies. His recent focus is on AI/ML and digital platforms for Earth observation analytics, enabling scalable solutions in agriculture, forestry, utilities, energy, and maritime domains. He has played a critical role in shaping national Earth observation strategies and establishing economic frameworks for data infrastructures such as the Open Data Cube, Copernicus Data Hub, and Digital Earth. Actively engaged in global industry networks, Prof. Kargren is a trusted advisor on the economics of space, helping stakeholders capture opportunities in a rapidly expanding commercial landscape valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Sitara Mehdiyeva is the Head of the Spectrum Management Division at Azercosmos, bringing over 14 years of expertise in the satellite industry. With a strong academic foundation in Physics and Microelectronics from Baku State University, she has advanced from engineering roles to leadership in satellite operations. Sitara is recognized for her contributions to spectrum management, including coordination, interference mitigation, and regulatory compliance. Passionate about knowledge sharing, she designs and delivers training programs for industry professionals, government officials, and aspiring engineers. Actively engaged in international forums, Sitara plays a key role in shaping discussions on the future of satellite communications, ensuring Azercosmos remains a competitive force in the global space industry.