Avi Berger is a senior leader in Israel’s defense and space establishment, currently serving as Head of the Space Office at the DDR&D within the Israeli Ministry of Defense. He brings over 30 years of experience in DDR&D, military space systems, and operational leadership, with a strong focus on developing, fielding, and sustaining mission-critical space and remote sensing capabilities in support of national security objectives.

Throughout his career, Avi has held key engineering, program management, and command positions across the IDF and IMOD, leading complex defense programs from early R&D through operational deployment. His roles include senior leadership of the PALANTIR satellite ground segment, command of the IGA Space Center, and executive responsibilities within the Space Program Office, where he drove integration between intelligence, operational users, and the defense industry.

Avi holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, an MBA from Bar-Ilan University, and a Computer Science for Engineers certification from the Technion. He is recognized for combining deep technical expertise with operational insight and strategic leadership, enabling the advancement of sovereign space capabilities and international defense-space cooperation

Christian Maender is a seasoned commercial space executive with over 25 years of leadership in human spaceflight, specializing in business strategy, commercialization, and in-space services.  He has established his new company, Innovian Space, which is focused on building new in-space enterprises, leveraging his expertise to drive the next generation of space commercialization.  

As a founding executive at Axiom Space, he played a pivotal role in scaling the company from a startup to an industry leader, with Axiom securing over $2.2 billion in customer contracts and raising $500 million in investment.  At Axiom, Christian led the development of new market frameworks for commercial space stations while pioneering international government partnerships for private astronaut missions. His work in in-space manufacturing and research enabled the launch of over 100 customer projects to low Earth orbit, advancing novel applications in microgravity. Previously, at NASA, he spearheaded initiatives to expand ISS commercialization, optimize research utilization, and enhance international collaboration.

Jeffrey Manber is recognized as a leading pioneer in the international commercial space community. Currently, he serves as the Senior Representative to the Chairman of Voyager Technologies. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for Nanoracks (since acquired by Voyager.) Jeffrey also leads the Voyager Science Park initiative, VISTA.

Jeffrey is the Co-Founder of Nanoracks. He served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2009 until 2021 where he broke barriers for access to space and oversaw the growth of the company into the largest commercial user of the ISS.

As the only American to ever work officially for the Russian space program, Mr. Manber served as Managing Director of Energia USA, the American arm of RSC Energia. As CEO of the Dutch company MirCorp, he leased the Russian space station “Mir” and oversaw the first ever commercially funded70-day crewed mission. His experience developing the business base for Mir and the International Space Station, helping pave the way for thriving LEO market economy.

Jeffrey is the author of five books and the recipient of numerous industry awards. In 2023, Jeffrey was awarded NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Public Achievement Medal. Most recently he was inducted into the IAF International Hall of Fame.

Kelli Kedis Ogborn is a space economy strategist operating at the intersection of innovation and market formation. She advises organizations navigating the transition from technology development to scalable, market-ready enterprises within complex and capital-intensive environments.

With extensive experience across the U.S. government and private sector, her leadership has influenced the strategic direction of companies entering and scaling within the space market. Her approach integrates technical, policy, and market insight to drive durable competitive advantage, manage risk, and enable sustainable long-term growth within emerging markets.

Kedis Ogborn has held senior leadership roles across aerospace and advanced technology sectors and is a frequently published author and sought-after speaker on the economic and policy forces shaping the global space economy.

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Simon Peter “Pete” Worden, (Brig Gen, USAF, Ret, PhD) is the Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and Executive Director of the foundation’s ‘Breakthrough Initiatives’. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. Prior to joining the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Dr. Worden was Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center until retiring on March 31, 2015. He held several positions in the United States Air Force and was research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona. Dr. Worden has authored or co-authored over 150 scientific papers. On July 20, 2015 at the Royal Society in London, UK, Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking launched the Breakthrough Initiatives. At the press conference, Dr. Worden was introduced as the Chairman for the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In this capacity he also leads the Breakthrough Initiatives as its Executive Director. From 2017 to the present, Brigadier General Worden has been an Advisor to the Luxembourg Space Agency and was appointed as a Knight-Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 2018 for his space services.