Dr. Merve Erdem Burger currently runs her independent space law & policy consultancy in Switzerland, and provides specialized training in space law for academic institutions and government agencies. Before establishing her consultancy, she completed her post-doctoral research at the Chair of Public International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where she also taught International Space Law in the Master of Law program.

Prior to her time in Neuchâtel, Dr. Erdem Burger served as a research assistant at the Chair of International Law, Faculty of Law, Ankara University, Türkiye, where she also earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Graduate School of Social Sciences. Her extensive research focuses on international space law, including the interpretation and implementation of space treaties, as well as more recent work on the role of national space law and policy in promoting space sustainability and the development of a circular space economy.

She is the co-founder of the Swiss Space Law Forum, a special interest group within the Swiss Society of International Law, where she organizes the Forum's annual conferences and smaller events on contemporary issues in space law. Dr. Erdem Burger is also a member of the International Institute of Space Law and serves as a board member of the Space Exploration Society of Türkiye.

Adrian Leutner is an entrepreneurial engineer focused on advanced aerospace systems and the execution of ambitious engineering programs. As CTO of Elara Aerospace, he is responsible for the technical execution of the initiative, driving vehicle architecture, structural design, and propulsion-related development while coordinating mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines.

Throughout his professional career, Adrian has gained experience across a range of technical and organizational roles. His background spans engineering-driven environments as well as positions within the automotive sector, management contexts, and the financial industry, including work in close proximity to executive leadership. This diverse exposure shaped a pragmatic and execution-focused engineering mindset.

His experience includes contributions within the context of industrial plant planning and production-oriented projects, providing a practical understanding of how complex technical concepts transition into reliable and repeatable execution. This perspective continues to inform his approach to aerospace development, particularly in areas such as feasibility, robustness, and scalability.

Beyond his technical leadership, Adrian contributes to the organizational development of Elara Aerospace, supporting team growth, external partnerships, and long-term program strategy. He earned his academic background in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Munich, specializing in vehicle engineering.

Tom Luca Reinhardt is an entrepreneurial aerospace engineer who combines hands-on technical execution with a strong drive to build ambitious engineering organizations. He is currently completing his Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering at University of Applied Sciences Munich, focusing on propulsion, advanced manufacturing, and complex system integration.

During his time at TUM Boring – Innovation in Tunneling e.V., Tom Luca served on the executive board and as technical lead, contributing to subsystem integration and fundraising efforts that supported the team's 2023 global competition victory in Texas.

In industry, he worked at The Exploration Company GmbH on LPBF-manufactured IN718 components, researching the relationship between surface roughness and pressure drop in rocket engine hardware as part of his thesis. At NOVUS GmbH, he supported executive leadership in scaling operations, focusing on grants, logistics, and process optimization.

As founder of Elara Aerospace, Tom Luca established the operational and technical foundation for a academic-led bi-liquid rocket program targeting the Kármán line, defining the initial vehicle concept, building the team, and initiating fundraising. He also serves as an advisor to Penn Hyperloop, guiding subsystem coordination and strategic direction.

Tobias Jäger is entrepreneurially minded and bridges technical work with a strong interest in operations. He started his first business at 17, delivering media work for medium-sized companies, and carried that founder mindset into his studies at the Technical University of Munich, where he earned a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and later completed a Master's in Medical Technology. Along the way, he worked on complex systems, connecting engineering and compliance constraints into deliverable projects.

During his time at TUM Boring – Innovation in Tunneling e.V., Tobias served as an executive board member and Head of Operations, contributing to the 2023 success of winning the Not-A-Boring-Competition. Through that work he met Adrian and Tom Luca, with whom he went on to found Elara Aerospace gGmbH. He has since taken on interdisciplinary roles from managing sponsorships and team processes to working in the metal workshop.

Markus Häuser is the Founder & CEO of euconvest GmbH and Chairman of Space Cooperative Europe (SCE). He brings more than 25 years of experience in global markets and investment banking, with a strong focus on structuring & origination, private investor and family office advisory, investments, financing and strategic advisory, complemented by formal training in international and corporate law and an MBA in Finance, Strategy & Innovation.

Today, Markus operates at the intersection of space, life sciences, agri-food and finance, focusing on the commercialisation of space research and the translation of publicly funded innovation into scalable, market-ready applications on Earth. He is a strong advocate for private capital mobilisation, investment-ready structures and clear market access as enablers of sustainable growth and long-term innovation in the space sector.

His career spans senior leadership roles in banking and investment, advisory functions for private and institutional investors, political engagement in economic innovation, and the development of the European space economy, including his role as Managing Partner of the ESA BSGN Industry Accelerator AgriFood.

Gian Baschung is the CEO of AM Design Solution (AMDS), specializing in 3D printing optimization, reverse engineering, topology optimization, and generative design. With a background as a design engineer and experience in partnership with NEO3D AG, he has developed strong expertise in advanced additive manufacturing methodologies.

Driven by the rapid evolution of industry, he continuously refined his technical capabilities to become a recognized specialist in engineering optimization. Through AMDS, he supports companies in unlocking performance and efficiency through cutting-edge design and manufacturing solutions.

Rylan drives procurement, supply chain, and operations excellence within the space sector, with a strong focus on launcher programs and advanced manufacturing environments. As Project Lead Buyer at Beyond Gravity, he supports critical space systems and launch vehicle structures, operating in highly regulated, technology-intensive contexts.

With an academic background in Health & Life Sciences management, biology, and finance, he brings a rare dual perspective combining analytical rigor with industrial execution. His work bridges strategic sourcing, production systems, and high-performance aerospace delivery.

Founder and chief visionary, Philipp is the driving force behind the company. He loves to keep his hands full by participating in the development of the engines and fluidics, while staying closely connected with customers to ensure the best possible product and mission experience.

Dr. Bernd Rattenbacher is a distinguished scientist and Professor at the CC Bioscience and Medical Engineering at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), where he leads a research group at the interface of biotechnology and space research. He is an elected member of the Swiss Committee on Space Research (CSR) of SCNAT (mandate until 2026).

His work focuses on molecular biology, mRNA stability, immunology, and the impact of gravity on cellular processes and space bioproduction. He leads activities related to BIOTESC (Biotechnology Space Support Center), supporting and monitoring biological experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), and has contributed to pioneering research published in Nature Communications on biomining under microgravity and simulated Martian gravity conditions.

Adriano Parisi is a physicist, space engineer, and technology entrepreneur with experience spanning aerospace systems, software engineering, and hardware development. He holds Master's degrees in Physics from the University of Manchester and Space Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, and has worked in embedded software and defence UAV systems engineering, where he introduced virtual and model-based engineering practices.

He previously co-founded an automated vertical-farming startup, delivering a functional prototype, and now leads a venture developing a microgravity platform with long-term ambitions in orbital launch systems. His time with the British military contributes to a disciplined, structured approach to leadership and complex technical projects.

Laura Kiviharju is the founder of dataprotectionAdvice GmbH, where she advises scaling technology companies operating in regulated environments on how to meet enterprise and government expectations around AI governance, cybersecurity, and data protection. Her work focuses on helping companies reduce procurement friction, strengthen governance maturity, and become contract-ready when entering defense, critical infrastructure, and public sector markets.

With over 15 years of experience across legal, security, and compliance domains, Laura has worked on topics ranging from defense procurement and cybersecurity to AI regulation and data protection. She supports technology-driven organisations in translating complex regulatory expectations into practical implementation, often guiding ISO 27001 readiness and structured compliance programs that enable growth in regulated markets.

Laura holds a legal master's degrees in Finland and Switzerland (MLaw, LL.M. Compliance) complemented by certifications in information security and governance, including CISSP, IAPP AIGP and ISO 27001 Lead Implementer. She is particularly interested in how emerging NewSpace and in-orbit service providers can embed compliance and security governance early to build trust, accelerate procurement pathways, and support sustainable growth across European and Swiss markets.