Meet Our Judges

Antonio Franchi, Head of 5G/6G NTN Programme Office, European Space Agency

Antonio Franchi works at the European Space Agency as the Head of 5G/6G NTN Programme Office in the Telecommunications & Integrated Applications Directorate.​ Antonio has over 30 years of experience in the satellite telecommunications industry. Prior to ESA, Antonio worked for over 20 years with a major global satellite operator, spearheading a new generation of satellite communications systems, covering various technical and managerial responsibilities for design, development, implementation and operation of advanced satellite systems and networks.​ Antonio received an MSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome and an MBA from the London Business School. ​He is author of 30+ articles and papers published at international conferences and professional magazines, and he holds six international patents in the satcom field. Learn more about Antonio.

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Zack Hester, Head of U.S. Office, Novaspace

Zack Hester leads Novaspace’s U.S. office in Washington, D.C., where he oversees strategy, operations, and client delivery across the U.S. space sector. With over a decade of experience shaping the space and national security landscape, his career spans private equity, defense primes, satellite communications, and management consulting.Prior to joining Novaspace, Zack executed more than $3.5 billion in financial transactions, including leveraged buyouts, venture capital investments, structured debt, and corporate divestitures, across both commercial and government markets. His work has included structuring investment models, validating business cases, and leading diligence efforts for technologies ranging from satellite communications to next-generation launch and in-orbit services. Across these roles, he has helped organizations assess execution risk, align capital with mission needs, and scale emerging capabilities. Zack holds a Master’s degree in International Science and Technology Policy, with a concentration in U.S. Space Policy, from George Washington University. He also earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Political Science from North Carolina State University. Learn more about Zack.

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Silvano Payne, Founder & CEO, Satnews Publishers

Over the past 35 years, Silvano Payne has acted as Founder and CEO and of Satnews Publishers, a company specializing in publications and events catering to the commercial and military ends of the satellite communications industry.  In addition to his leadership role, Mr. Payne has written and spoken extensively about the industry throughout his career. Silvano received a B.Sc in Mathematics, B.Sc Hons degree in Psychology, and MBA from the University of Cape Town.  He currently lives in Sonoma California and when not overseeing Satnews, can be found in the field or the cellar crafting fine wines. Learn more about Silvano.

 

Satnews Publications gathers an extensive and eclectic group of readers, publishing both Satmagazine and MilsatMagazine, as well as daily and weekly email newsletters.  These publications are subscribed to by more then 25,000 readers and widely regarded as a foremost source of news within the industry.  In addition to publications Satnews produces and hosts three annual conferences on the business and finance of satellite systems.  ​​​​

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Randy Segal, Co-head of Space and Satellite Group, Partner Hogan Lovell

Randy is a partner at Hogan Lovells in areas of telecommunications, satellite and transactional practice. Previously she was Senior Chief Legal Executive serving as key business and legal adviser to Board of Directors and senior management, for both public and non-public companies. She has extensive complex transactional experience both domestically and internationally. Highly developed negotiating, interpersonal and communicative skills to drive successful results in challenging and sophisticated business environments.  She earned a B.S. and M.S. in collective bargaining and arbitration from Cornell University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She was also Vice President and Senior Counsel and Secretary at Skyterra. Her specialties are  ​Mergers & Acquisitions, Complex Commercial Contracts, Strategic Joint Ventures, Satellite Transactions, Telecommunications, International Transactions, and Corporate Compliance. Learn more about Randy.​

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Chris Quilty, Founder, Quilty Space

Chris Quilty is the founder and a partner of Quilty Space, which is an independent boutique offering subscription research, strategic advisory, and investment banking services across all aspects of the Satellite & Space industry. Prior to establishing Quilty Analytics (now Quilty Space) in 2016, Chris served as a sell side research analyst with Raymond James for 20 years, publishing hundreds of company-specific, macro, sector, and thematic research reports on the industrial, defense, space, wireless, and communications industries. Chris is widely-acknowledged as the leading Wall Street analyst on the Satellite & Space sector and has participated in 30+ capital markets transactions over the past five years valued at over $2.5 billion. Chris received a BS degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1994. Learn more about Chris.​