MEET THE JUDGES
Natalia Larrera Brito, Euroconsult U.S. Director
Natalia is Director of Euroconsult US. Prior to this, she was a Principal Advisor at Euroconsult Canada. Since she joined the firm, Natalia has advised numerous international stakeholders in the space sector. She leads assignments for government and private organizations supporting the definition of space policies, investment strategies, and technology and market assessments.
Prior to joining Euroconsult, Natalia worked as Systems Engineer at MDA, Research Associate at NASA Ames and as a trainee at the European Space Agency (ESA). She holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from McGill University (Canada), a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (Spain) and a Diploma in Astronomy and Planetary Science from the Open University UK. Natalia is also a global faculty member at the International Space University. She is the recipient of professional awards including SSPI 20 under 35 and the Promise Award.
Antonio Franchi, Head of 5G and 6G Strategic Programme, European Space Agency (ESA)
Antonio Franchi works at the European Space Agency as the Head of the 5G and 6G Strategic Programme 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.
Brad Grady, Research Director, Northern Sky Research (NSR), an Analysys Mason Company
Mr. Grady has been involved in the Satellite Communications industry since 2005, joining NSR in 2010. He is NSR’s Energy market subject matter expert, and a core member of NSR’s mobility research practice for both civil and government markets. He regularly provides his insights and analysis to NSR’s single-client consulting practice and is also a regular contributor to leading industry publications and forums.
Before joining NSR, Mr. Grady served as the Sustainable Development Projects Coordinator Intern with the Global VSAT Forum where he worked regularly with the GVF Secretariat and the Regulatory Working Group on many of the forum’s initiatives. Working with the Regulatory Working Group, Mr. Grady helped develop and implement various RWG initiatives aimed at protecting satellite spectrum, increasing awareness of satellite services, and working to
promote regulatory reforms across the globe.
Mr. Grady holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park where his research focused on renewable/alternative energies, Information Communication Technologies and the Satellite Communications Industry. He works in NSR’s Washington DC office.
Satcom Post Author Page: http://satcompost.com/author/bgrady/
Elias Naffah, Project Manager for Communications Services Program (CSP), NASA John H. Glenn Research Center (GRC)
Elias T. Naffah is Project Manager for the Communications Services Project (CSP) at the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland Ohio.
Mr. Naffah enjoys a long and distinguished career with NASA, including contributions to the Space Shuttle, Spacelab and International Space Station Programs, and serving as a lead counsel at the NASA Glenn Office of Chief Counsel. He led the Space Flight Systems Directorate’s Orion Project Office at GRC, and went on to serve as Deputy Chief Engineer for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. He later returned to GRC to serve as the Deputy Chief for the Avionics and Electrical Systems Division.
In 2011, Mr. Naffah helped establish the Glenn Space Communications and Spectrum Management Office, which provides support to NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program in the areas of Spectrum Management, Architecture, Standards and Technology Development. In 2020, he initiated formulation of CSP, a major element of NASA’s plan to transition to commercially provided communications and navigation services for near-Earth space and terrestrial users.
A native of Northeast Ohio, Mr. Naffah earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.
Chris Quilty, Founder, Quilty Analytics
Chris Quilty is the founder and a partner of Quilty Analytics, 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 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.