ABOUT
We offer expert consultancy in space, cyber and technology law and policy, specializing in designing and delivering tailored workshops, advisory briefings through to full-scale conferences. Our services empower government and industry to understand regulatory challenges, engage in meaningful dialogue, shape strategic legal and policy decisions and foster collaboration in these cutting-edge fields.
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We also undertake research studies on the intersection of space, cyber, and technology policy and the law to strengthen global governance. Through in-depth analysis, we provide strategic insights that inform international cooperation, promote responsible governance, and address the challenges posed by technological advancements in an increasingly interconnected world.
INSTITUTE LEAD
DR REBECCA CONNOLLY
Founder and CEO
Dr. Connolly is a leading expert on the intersection of strategy and legal governance for outer space relating to commercialisation, militarisation and security. She is the current Chair of the Board of the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Connolly is the 2025 McCain Fulbright Scholar at the United States Naval Academy where she taught on Space Power and International Law. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Law School where she leads the International Space Law research and teaching program. Dr. Connolly also holds the position of a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council (GeoTech Center). She was the Australian 2023 Thawley Scholar in International Security with a visiting research placement at both the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Lowy Institute for space policy and national security. Dr Connolly has published widely on international space law in academic journals and policy platforms. Dr Connolly has also guest lectured at Harvard University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She currently sits on the SIAA Space Industry Policy Working Group and is a member of the International Institute of Space Law.
ADVISORY TEAM
SAADIA M. PEKKANEN
Dr. Saadia M. Pekkanen is the Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor of International Studies, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is also the founder of SPACEAIMS, an enterprise she set up to help strengthen, support, and secure the foundations of space diplomacy. Dr Pekkanen is the founding director of the Program on Strategy, Policy, and Diplomacy Research at UW and the Founding Director of the Space Law, Data, and Policy Program at the School of Law. She works at the intersection of international relations and international law, specializing in the commercial, legal, and security policies shaping outer space affairs. She is a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR).
KELLY SOVERNS
Kelly Soverns is a space economy strategist who bridges the gap between policy frameworks and business execution. Her experience spans government engagement, commercialization models, and the geopolitics shaping the global space economy. Through her firm, StellarEpoch LLC, she advises emerging and established ventures on commercial strategy, partnership development, and market positioning within evolving regulatory landscapes.
Drawing on dual master’s degrees in Space Studies (Policy) and International Relations (Conflict Resolution), Kelly translates complex policy dynamics into actionable growth strategies. Her work focuses on helping companies thrive amid shifting norms of space governance, advancing both public–private collaboration and responsible commercial expansion.
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LAURA DELGADO LÓPEZ
Laura Delgado López is an independent space and geospatial governance expert with Pathway 2, LLC, Ms. Delgado López draws from over 15 years working in space policy in the Washington, D.C. area. Her career has spanned industry, the nonprofit sector, and government, having most recently served as Policy Advisor in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA HQ. Her research on space policy and international cooperation, with a particular focus on Latin America, has appeared in trade and peer-reviewed publications, as well as in media outlets in English and Spanish. She holds a master's degree in international science and technology policy with a focus on space policy from George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Puerto Rico.
CATHERINE BAIR
Dr. Catherine Bair is an accomplished global leader, strategist, and scientist with over two
decades of experience spanning medicine, science & technology, defense, and innovation ecosystems. She currently serves as Senior Director Business Development and Australia Lead for Swan Technologies and is Director of the industry-led AUKUS Industry Collaborative Network (AICN). Dr. Bair is a Board Member of the Future of Space Cooperative Research Centre, a Mentor with the Defence Trailblazer Program, and a trusted consultant to several Australian SMEs, where she supports the growth of cutting-edge multi-lateral capabilities and innovation pipelines.
Prior to relocating to Australia, Dr. Bair served in the U.S. Department of Defense as a GS-15 Chief of Science & Technology and was the U.S. Lead for the Five Eyes S&T Working Group.
SCOTT SCHNEIDER
Scott is Special Counsel at International Aerospace Law & Policy Group. His areas of expertise include law reform, public international law and licensing and liability management for space activities.
In 2020 Scott led the team obtaining Australia’s first commercial launch and spaceport approvals and has contributed to several key legal developments facilitating NewSpace launch activities. He holds a Master of Laws in Air and Space Law and teaches law and economics to undergraduates, MBA students and professionals around the world.
Scott’s work focuses on the development of law and policy in the interests of business, innovation and community welfare. In this pursuit, Scott serves on the council of Live and Let Live, a global movement working for all law to protect everyone living in any peaceful way they choose.
Scott is the Managing Director of raker, a curated team of experts assisting in capability growth and asset protection for entrepreneurs and managers in distributed networks services, in aerospace and in international business.
KIRSTEN ARMSTRONG
Kirsten Armstrong is a strategic leader with 20+ years of experience navigating the global space
ecosystem and advising senior executives across government and industry.
Kirsten is the President of Petra Strategy, a policy and analysis consultancy providing specialized expertise on emerging trends in the space industry to support strategic decision making.
Kirsten led the development of key space industry reports for NASA, including “Start-Up Space,” and “The State of the Satellite Industry Report” for the Satellite Industry Association. Her research activities include entrepreneurship and new business formation; space commercialization and investment; models for emerging space economies; US government contracting and industrial base; and broad industry trends.
Having lived in Greece, Morocco, Jordan, Spain, and the United States, Kirsten brings a global perspective to her work, enriching her insights into international space policy and
market dynamics.