2026 Meridian Space Diplomacy Forum
Panels
Virtual Remarks by Aarti Holla-Maini
Multilateral cooperation is essential for ensuring the safety, sustainability, and inclusiveness of space activities. These remarks highlighted UNOOSA’s role in convening governments, industry stakeholders, and international partners, supporting space situational awareness, traffic coordination, and broader governance frameworks that enable responsible growth across the outer space ecosystem.
Speaker: Aarti Holla-Maini | Director, United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs
Meridian's Space Diplomacy Initiative
Meridian’s Space Diplomacy Initiative advances collaboration in the global space economy by fostering transatlantic partnerships, enabling co-investment, and engaging international stakeholders. The session framed how strategic cooperation across borders and sectors can support sustainable growth, innovation, and shared opportunities in the evolving space ecosystem.
Speaker: Frank Justice | Vice President, Open Diplomacy Programs; Director, Space Diplomacy Initiative, Meridian International Center
Accelerating Investment in a Multipolar Space Economy
As the global space economy grows, the United States is focused on fostering collaboration and creating an environment that attracts investment and innovation. This fireside explored how voluntary commercial standards, industry frameworks, and policy initiatives can support safe, interoperable, and sustainable growth. The discussion highlighted how public-private partnerships and international engagement help strengthen U.S. leadership while enabling shared opportunities in a multipolar space market.
Speakers:
T.H. Taylor Jordan | Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation & Prediction, NOAA; Director, Office of Space Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce
T.H. Fred Hochberg | Chair, Board of Trustees, Meridian International Center (moderator)
Public-Private Alignment for Orbital Stewardship and Space Standards
As space activity expands across both government and industry, effective orbital stewardship increasingly depends on deep public–private collaboration. This session explored how governments and corporate operators can jointly shape technical standards, data sharing frameworks, and responsible operational norms for space situational awareness, debris mitigation, and long-term orbital sustainability. Panelists examined emerging international coordination efforts, policy incentives that encourage industry participation, and cooperative models that strengthen safety, interoperability, and resilience across a multipolar space environment.
Speakers:
Jacqueline Feldscher | Managing Editor, Payload (moderator)
Andrew Johnson | Deputy Head, New Zealand Space Agency
Anil “Bobby” Prakash | General Director, SIA-India
Dr. Jong-Shinn Wu | Director General, TASA
Strengthening Global Satellite Supply Chains
Innovation and resilience are critical to a robust global satellite supply chain. This session explored strategies for securing critical components, accelerating technological development, and fostering collaboration between industry and international partners to ensure a sustainable and competitive satellite ecosystem.
Speakers:
Adel Al-Saleh | Chief Executive Officer, SES
Kellee Wicker | Vice President, Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space, Meridian International Center (moderator)
Financing Sovereignty: Capital Strategies for Global Space Partnerships
Private capital is enabling nations to build sovereign space capabilities, develop critical infrastructure, and compete in the global space economy. Panelists discussed the role of private investment in building space infrastructure, fostering collaboration between foreign companies and national governments, and enabling public-private partnerships. Attendees gained insights into risk-sharing frameworks, blended finance approaches, and case studies where financial innovation has accelerated space sovereignty for emerging and established spacefaring nations.
Speakers:
Fredrik Gustavsson | Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, SWISSto12
Caitlin Heffernan | Senior Vice President, Macquarie Group
Kelli Kedis Ogborn | Strategic Advisor, Global Markets & Industry Engagement, Commercial Space Federation (moderator)
Praveen Vetrivel | CEO, SLI
This program was made possible with support from:
