Mark Rigolle, ABS’s new CEO, brings vast experience in the telecom and satellite sectors, focusing on innovation and growth. He’s known as a visionary leader in the satellite industry.  

Prior to ABS, he held key roles in top organizations like Rivada Space Networks, LeoSat, and KLEO Connect. As CFO of SES and CEO of O3b Networks, Mark raised $1.2B for satellite projects. He co-founded Kacific to enhance Asia-Pacific connectivity.  

Mark holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Leuven, Belgium. 

Adrian is the Head of Engineering and Company Director at ACESAT Satellite Corp. Pty Limited.

ACESAT has been providing Advanced Satellite Ground Station systems since 1981. ACESAT designs, manufactures, supplies, integrates, installs and sustains advanced satellite ground stations across all bands VHF/UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, Q and V Bands.

Adrian was born in Australia and raised in PNG, he’s worked across Asia and Pacific from Taiwan to French Polynesia and everywhere in between.

Stephane Vesval joined the defense and space industry in 1998. He held various positions in industrial operations, project management and business development.

From 2009 to 2018, he was based in Asia heading sales for Telecom Satellites then Airbus Defence and Space portfolio. In 2018, he moved to France and held the position of Vice President for the global sales for Commercial and Export space business.

In 2020, Stéphane Vesval took over the responsibility of Senior Vice President, Head of Sales Space Systems of Airbus Defence and Space, including Institutional, Defence, Governmental Export and Commercial businesses.

Paul Mattear is the Head of Global Satellite, Aerospace, and Satellite Solutions at Amazon Web Services, where he plays a pivotal role in promoting cloud adoption and providing strategic direction within the satellite communications sector. His work includes integrating generative AI technologies to enhance operational efficiencies. Paul’s extensive background features leadership roles at Kymeta and Intelsat, and 22 years of distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps, underscoring his profound impact on global SatCom initiatives.

Mr. Huang Baozhong, Executive Vice President of APT Satellite Company Ltd (APT) responsible for marketing and sales. Before joining APT, he had been working in a series of senior positions such as the Vice President of China Satellite Communications Corporation, Vice President of China Direct Broadcast Satellite Company Limited and Vice President of China’s SINO Satellite Company Limited.

Vivian Quenet is the Managing Director of Arianespace Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore.

Prior to assuming his role, he was Vice President and Managing Director Asia-Pacific for maritime satellite communications provider KVH Industries PTE LTD.

Quenet previously served as the Asia-Pacific Chief Representative and Sales Director for mobile satellite communications provider Marlink in Europe and then in Asia.

Raymond Chow is AsiaSat’s Chief Commercial Officer. He joined AsiaSat as Vice President, Business Development and Strategy in 2018 and was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of the company on 1 June 2023. 

With over 20 years of professional experience in the satellite industry, Raymond is responsible for the global commercial strategies for AsiaSat and its subsidiaries/associated brands including sales, marketing, solutions as well as new product development to meet ever-changing customer requirements. 

Ken Chia is a member of the Firm’s IP Tech, International Commercial & Trade and Competition Practice Groups.

He is regularly ranked as a leading TMT and competition lawyer by top legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

Ken is an IAPP Certified International Privacy Professional (FIP, CIPP(A), CIPT, CIPM) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.

Thomas Jones is co-head of Bird & Bird’s global Satellites and Space Activities Group, as well as being a telecommunications regulatory and competition law specialist. Thomas also co-leads the well-established Technology and Communications sector group within Bird & Bird Australia. In the space and satellites area, his expertise has particularly centred on LEO satellites and regulatory regimes linked to satellite launches and communications. Thomas is recognised by “Who’s Who Legal” as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Telecoms and Media.

Josef “Joe” Bogosian is vice president, Business Development, for Boeing Satellite Systems International (BSSI). In this role, he leads a team working with customers to provide satellite connectivity solutions and ensures alignment of Boeing’s capabilities with long-term market needs.
Since joining Boeing in 2008, Bogosian has held roles in systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and satellite operations. Prior to his current position, Bogosian was senior manager for Global Sales and Marketing at Boeing Phantom Works Space Systems.

Jeremy Rose is a partner at COMSYS LLP, a satellite communications consulting firm based in London.   Since founding COMSYS in 1983 Mr Rose has been responsible for satellite system consultancy within the firm – advising clients on implementation strategy for new telecommunication and satellite technologies.  He also leads the firm’s commercial and market due diligence teams and manages the technical analysis team at COMSYS. Jeremy has assisted AVIA/CASBAA for more than ten years in planning the programme for the annual Satellite Industry Forum. 

Thomas Choi is the founder and Executive Chairman of Curvalux and Saturn Satellite Networks. Curvalux develops wireless broadband platforms delivering 1 Gbps up to 10 km. Saturn develops HTS constellations in GEO and mobile broadband in NGSO. Mr. Choi was the Founder and CEO of ABS and CEO of Speedcast. Mr. Choi has won the prestigious Via Satellite’s Satellite Executive of the Year Award in 2012. In 2017 Mr. Choi was inducted into SSPI’s Satellite Hall of Fame.

Mark Wardle has over 30 years’ experience in the broadcast industry. He has held various roles including satellite systems engineer during the 1990’s launch of the SES Astra sports and entertainment services. Mark was Director of Engineering and Operations for British Telecom’s global Media and Broadcast business for ten years, his last two major broadcast projects for BT were as Programme Director for the London 2012 Olympics video network and then for the launch of BT Sport. Mark joined Encompass in April 2019 as VP Engineering & Operations, APAC.

Gregg Daffner is CEO of GapSat, a satellite venture that leases entire in-orbit satellites to satellite operators for use in their orbital slots for interim periods of time, generally until the operator launches its own satellite. Previously Gregg co-founded and was president of Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS).  Gregg is the President Emeritus of the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC).

Yossi has been with Gilat for over 25 years, serving as VP R&D, VP System Integration, VP Sales Operations, as well as VP Engineering and Operations for StarBand, the first residential two-way satellite Internet service in the United States.

Yossi holds a B.Sc. degree summa cum laude from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. 

Peng is the Vice President of Policy & Regulatory at GSOA, where he leads advocacy efforts around spectrum management, licencing, and national policy initiatives. With experience in telecoms, mobile, and satellites, he has advised governments and industry players globally.

Previously at Eutelsat OneWeb, Peng shaped regulatory frameworks for Low Earth Orbit constellations and satellite licensing procedures for WRC-23. At GSMA, he ran a global campaign to improve spectrum licensing conditions for mobile operators.  

Kartik Seshadri, vice president at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), leads the company’s global service delivery of broadband products for international customers. In this capacity, he manages large networks for Hughes customers, bringing together end users, service operators and Hughes engineering teams to meet customers’ evolving needs in global communications and networking. 

Prior to his current role, Mr. Seshadri worked on the Hughes HN/HX satellite ground system, collaborating closely with international and domestic companies to tailor network solutions to their needs.

Pranav Roach is president, Hughes Network Systems India Limited. He serves as a director on the boards of all Hughes companies in India. He was a key member of the team that successfully completed India’s first book built IPO in 1999 and later India’s first private telecom company IPO in 2001. 

More recently, he has been leading Hughes’ new initiative to bring broadband services and applications to rural India through community based computing and connectivity infrastructure to deliver e-governance, internet, interactive education and a variety of e-commerce services. 

Alvaro Sanchez is Integrasys CEO and Marquess of Antella. Alvaro is based in Madrid, where he studied Industrial and Computer Science Engineering in the European University and later a Master in Sales and Marketing at ESIC Business School. Alvaro has worked 14 years at Integrasys, being CEO, GM, Sales and Marketing Director. Now Alvaro is Integrasys CEO and his main function is expanding the company creating the Global presence of the Group and new winning awards technologies.

Jacques-Samuel Prolon is highly experienced in international business within the telecommunications, space and IT sectors, having worked for Appen Butler Hill and Altran Europe. He holds an MBA from the AGSM, a Master of Telecommunications Engineering from France National Institute of Telecommunications and a Master of Medical Imaging. 

As Vice President, and the lead for Lynk’s business in Asia-Pacific, James has launched Lynk’s initial commercial sat2phone service with mobile operators and built Lynk’s government relations throughout the region to provide the foundation for satellite direct to phone services connecting the billions of people still unconnected.

Specialising in providing remote connectivity for unserved locations, James has held sales and marketing positions at Inmarsat, EMC (now part of Anuvu), and SpeedCast as well as other industry pioneers.

Stephen Monks is responsible for the overall management of the London space team and to coordinate all of Marsh Specialty’s activities on technical and insurance coverage and advise clients on a wide variety of technical and insurance coverage issues.

Yau Chyong Lim is MEASAT’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees the management of the company’s business and operations.

Yau has more than 25 years of experience in the satellite industry, with wide-ranging expertise across multiple sectors including sales and marketing, business development, network, engineering and commercial operations.

He holds an MBA in Finance from Keele University, Staffordshire, UK and a BSc in Microelectronics & Physics from Campbell University, North Carolina, USA.

As leader of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group in Washington, DC, Dara’s practice involves representation of satellite and space infrastructure operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications, earth observation and data services companies, banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and other investors in debt and equity offerings, project, structured and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and in negotiating commercial contracts. He also advises on regulatory, sanctions, anti-corruption, national security, foreign direct investment and export control matters.

Business entrepreneur, Technologist, leader, and researcher who devoted his extensive experience and expertise to founding & leading innovative, challenging businesses and technological ventures. 

With more than 25 years of experience and a proven record in ICT, SATCOM & Aviation Field, and Founding & Managing several business ventures in Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, and Germany. 

He is Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Northtelecom Group, based in Dubai, UAE. 

Jacinth Lau is the Deputy Director (Industry) of the Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn), Singapore’s national space office. She joined OSTIn in October 2022 to grow a vibrant, self sustaining space ecosystem, and to develop a pipeline of talent for space. Prior to her current role, she has over a decade of systems engineering, operations, and business strategy experience from various positions in ST Engineering. Jacinth graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Hons) from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Sanjay has built Planetcast from a VSAT service provider to India’s leading media technology company. He leads a team responsible for business operations across Asia, Europe and the Americas, driving Planetcast’s global expansion while also evolving the company’s long-term strategy.  

Sanjay’s formidable expertise and reputation has not only helped bring in marquee customers from across the globe but also helped evolve Planetcast’s offerings to these customers into contemporary products and services like Cloud Playout, FAST Channels, OTT platform and services and Post Production services.  

Donald Chew has more than 25 years of experience in the telecom and satellite industries in Asia Pacific, including key roles developing maritime and aero connectivity for Singtel and overseeing data and maritime projects for AsiaSat. For SES, Donald was responsible for growing revenue in new markets, including Telcos connectivity in North Asia, Indochina and Papua New Guinea. He was also responsible for developing special connectivity projects at Kacific, a company which delivers satellite broadband to isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia.

As CEO, Katherine drives the company’s position as the world’s largest commercial provider of satellite spectrum and exceptional bespoke consultancy services in spectrum regulatory and market access matters. 

With a background in the space industry, Katherine previously worked on the deployment of satellite and terrestrial technologies to austere environments for military, civil, and commercial initiatives. Katherine serves as Chairwoman of Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), mentors through the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator and Space Generation Advisory Council, and supports the ITU’s Girls in ICT initiative.  

Alexis leverages his broad spectrum of skills and his passion for space to help clients get the global picture, develop strategies, and overcome entry barriers. He has been supporting regulations, policy, and spectrum matters since the early 2000s, when he started as a spectrum engineer. 

Alexis holds a Master of Engineering in optics and electronics from the University of Montpellier, together with a Master of Science in Engineering in Information and Telecommunication Science and Technology from Telecom SudParis.  

Kenichi Shimotsuma is General Manager of Asia Regional Headquarters and Regional Director of Singapore Branch at SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC)

Shimotsuma started his career in 1997 at Japan Satellite Systems Corporation, which later became SJC, and was engaged in Network Operations, Communication Engineering and Global Business. Prior to his current role, he was General Manager of Mobile Business Division responsible for marketing activities for maritime and aero customers. He has been in satellite industry for over 25 years. 

Peter B. de Selding is Co-founder and Chief Editor of SpaceIntelReport.com, a website covering space business issues that began publishing in January 2017. Prior to that, he was Paris Bureau Chief for SpaceNews for 25 years, covering satellite telecommunications, commercial Earth observation and the launch-services and satellite manufacturing sectors.

Jo is VP Market Development and Strategy at ST Engineering iDirect, where he is responsible for the team heading the company’s vertical markets. 

He previously held the position of VP Market Development at Newtec, where Jo was responsible for the market development for HTS and constellations.
Prior to that, Jo was Product Manager where he was responsible for the product definition and market launch of Newtec Dialog®. 

With over 20 years of experience in the satcom industry, Jo began his career at Newtec in 1996.  

Kartik Seshadri, vice president at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), leads the company’s global service delivery of broadband products for international customers. In this capacity, he manages large networks for Hughes customers, bringing together end users, service operators and Hughes engineering teams to meet customers’ evolving needs in global communications and networking. 

Prior to his current role, Mr. Seshadri worked on the Hughes HN/HX satellite ground system, collaborating closely with international and domestic companies to tailor network solutions to their needs.  

Michael Kaliski is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of HummingSat, SWISSto12’s innovative small GEO satellite. Michael joined SWISSto12 in 2019 to launch the HummingSat product line which has grown to four satellites (one for Intelsat and three for Inmarsat). He previously worked for over 20 years at Space Systems/Loral (now Maxar) in multiple roles including telecom payload and program management across several GEO programs.

Mark Ramsey is the Chief Commercial Officer for Space Machines Company, an Australian start-up who is developing Roadside Assistance in Space. Mark is a space industry professional with nearly 20 years’ experience in a diverse range of technical and leadership roles, including roles at Sitael, Thales Alenia Space, Lockheed Martin and NewSat. Mark is also a Director at the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and is the former Chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics Adelaide Section. 

Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of THAICOM and has over 30 years of experience in the satellite industry. Nile has been with THAICOM since its inception in 1992 and is currently leading THAICOM to become a leading regional space tech company.

Nile graduated from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He earned an Executive MBA degree with SASIN Graduate School of Management in Bangkok and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

With over a decade immersed in the IT sector and three-plus years focused on New Zealand’s telecommunications landscape, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges users face in understanding the technical intricacies of technology. My experience extends to addressing internet connectivity challenges in NZ, especially in remote areas lacking mainstream technologies. Collaborating with the Ministry of Education, I’ve worked to address these issues, deepening my understanding of the crucial role of connectivity.

Louis Boswell is the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA). As CEO, his remit is to lead the industry through championing all broad based initiatives that result in a more vibrant and healthy video ecosystem. This includes being at the forefront of industry research, supporting evolving business models, understanding the role of technology, representing the industry in conversations with regulators and taking a leading role in eliminating piracy.