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

Chris Quilty beganshaping the space sector more than two decades ago as a trusted analyst, mediacommentator, and two-time Wall Street Journal “Best on the Street” honoreeduring his tenure at Raymond James. He launched formal coverage of the spaceindustry in the mid-2000s and has since authored thousands of company-specific,macro, and thematic research reports.

Building on deep sectorexpertise and a reputation for sharp, data-driven insight, Chris founded QuiltySpace (formerly Quilty Analytics) in 2016. Today, he’s recognized as a leadingvoice across the entire space ecosystem — spanning manufacturing, launch,satcom, Earth observation, hardware, and downstream analytics. He frequentlyadvises investors, government agencies, prime contractors, and satelliteoperators.

Chris holds a B.S. inSystems Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from the Universityof Chicago.

Charles F. Bolden Jr. charted a pioneering career in the U.S. Marine Corps and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  He flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and orbited the Earth on four separate occasions as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot and commander. In 2009, President Barack Obama asked Bolden to serve as the 12th Administrator of NASA. He was the first African American confirmed by the US Senate to take on the role, a precedent that Bolden insists is only important if he is one day followed by women or persons of color.  With a focus on the future, he tells his audiences that he is just an ordinary person who has been blessed with opportunities to do extraordinary things as he challenges them to consider what can be accomplished when people dream big dreams together.

Melody Korman is the Executive Director of the Israel Space Forum, and Space Mission Manager at 'Rakia Mission', leading initiatives that drive innovation and international collaboration to position Israel as a key player in the global space industry. Her work focuses on building partnerships that strengthen Israel’s space ecosystem and contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and education.

Previously, Melody served as Flight Operations Manager for Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe’s 'Rakia' mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

She holds a dual B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and Geosciences from Tel Aviv University and an M.A. in Human-Computer Interaction from Reichman University. Melody is also an alumna of the International Space University and a Karman Project Fellow.

Einat Ben Ari is an experienced data leader, currently serving as the Head of Data at Start-Up Nation Central. With a strong background in statistics, she has built a career focused on leveraging data science and advanced analytics to drive strategic decision-making and generate actionable business insights.

Throughout her career, Einat has held significant roles at several prominent global companies, including PayPal, eBay, and NICE Actimize. Her professional trajectory highlights a consistent focus on leading teams and implementing sophisticated analytical frameworks across diverse industries.

Einat holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering, and a master’s degree in Applied Statistics.

Dr. Alon Stopel was appointed as Chief Scientist of innovation in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and Chairman of Israel Innovation Authority  in 2024. 

In 2016 Dr. Alon Stopel was appointed as Elbit Systems’ Corporate Chief Scientist and Vice President. 

From 2007 until his, 2015 he served as a Lt. Col in the IMOD’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development  (DDR&D) as Head of the System Multi-Technology Project and as Head of the Sensors Department in Israel Missile Defense Organization. Prior to that he served in a number of technological and management positions in the DDR&D, which he joined in 2001.

Between 1996-2000 he was an entrepreneur and CEO of a marketing company in the tourist industry and an internet company.

From 1989-1995, Dr. Stopel served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, holding command positions in the Intelligence Corps.

Dr. Stopel holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the Israel Institute of Technology -Technion, an MBA from Tel-Aviv University and a PhD in Electrical Engineering – Physical Electronics from the Tel-Aviv University.

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.