The Karman Project

This is exactly what The Karman Project is about - inspiring global space leaders to come together across borders to proactively address the opportunities and challenges they are passionate about, with their knowledge, networks and resources. During Karman Week 2024, Emma Gatti (Editor-in-Chief at SpaceWatch.Global) dreamed up a new idea for positive communication about the critical role that space technologies serve for communities around the Earth. She felt that the Global South was underrepresented in storytelling - and teamed up with Mani Thiru, who has supported from some of the most innovative #spacetech companies within the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Check out their new podcast - #SpaceForGood - below. Episode 1 features Divya Sharma from SatSure - a company that was co-founded by Karman Fellow Prateep Basu ✨ Worlds colliding!

"Ordinary people doing extraordinary things" ✨ Last month, we had the honour of hosting a remarkable session with James Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc., as part of our Karman Fellowship's Leadership Series. Jim shared invaluable insights from his illustrious career, touching on his humble beginnings, his passion for education, and his deep love for the space sector as a child of the Apollo era. Key takeaways included: 1. Knowledge and Preparation as the Antidote to Fear: For leaders, overcoming fear is a personal journey that begins with being well-informed and prepared. Jim underscored the importance of dedicating time to understand the complexities of our world, especially in times of uncertainty and geopolitical tension. 2. Simplicity in Leadership: Jim encouraged our Fellows to focus on reducing complexity in their leadership roles. By simplifying challenges and communicating effectively, leaders can guide their teams with clarity and purpose, making it easier to navigate overwhelming situations. 3. Relentless Positivity and Openness: Every individual has the potential to lead meaningful change, an idea we champion at The Karman Project. In addition to his inspiring leadership insights, Jim has recently authored a book titled 'Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands', where he delves deeper into his philosophies on education and empowerment. We highly recommend this read!! Many of our Fellows are now planning to connect with Jim during his global travels for his book tour, and we look forward to seeing these relationships flourish. 🌟 Thank you again, Jim, for sharing your time and your wisdom with our community. 👉 Read more about the session here: https://lnkd.in/gmCq_gnn 👉 Check out James' book here: https://lnkd.in/g4y8Nyr7 #Leadership #SpaceSector #TheKarmanProject #Fellowship #SpaceforGood

'Yandiwanba,' a word from the Yagarabul language meaning 'from the ground to a higher place,' was gifted by Elder Aunty Kerry Charlton to the QUT Centre for Robotics as the name for their new lunar test bed. This beautiful exchange, shared at QUT Aerospace Society's Industry Night by Thierry Peynot, is a profound reminder of the deep wisdom and knowledge we can learn from our First Nations Elders. In our pursuit of innovation and exploration, let's remember the importance of grounding progress in the rich heritage and teachings of those who have walked this land for millennia. We also had the privilege to hear from industry leaders from Boeing, Southern Launch, Southern Cross Space and CSIRO. I was invited to deliver the keynote address (always terrified when speaking to audiences of engineers, but they were very kind!) and focused upon the role of the private sector in addressing our most time-critical challenges on Earth and in space. This is a big part of the work we lead at The Karman Project, and it is incumbent upon all who work with space technologies to be cognisant of their impact - good and bad. Thanks for welcoming me, Jaidan Rommel Griffin, Kieran Wagstaff, Andrew Close and team.

✨ Once again, we’re so proud of our partnership with the Oxford Space Initiative and the University of Oxford! A special thanks to everyone involved for leading such impactful discussions on the future of the space economy. Our Karman community were honored to share real-world insights, enriching the conversation and inspiring the next generation of space leaders. 🚀 🎥 Watch the video to hear from key voices shaping the future of space. #KarmanProject #OxfordSpaceInitiative Marc J Ventresca Hannah Ashford Emanuel v. Grolman Laura Anne Edwards Davis Cook Abhinav Kshitij Edoardo Mancini Fani Kallianou de Jong Asser Madanat Michal Brichta Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, PhD Raffaele Mauro Oğuz Karasu, PhD

There's no better time to build friendships than over dinner and wine, so we were delighted to once again co-host the Space Community Gala with Oxford Space Initiative at the Riverside Pavilion of St Hilda's College, University of Oxford. The evening was all about connection - uniting our respective communities with a vibrant mix of students and professionals from various disciplines. Oxford Space Initiative Convener (and all round super host!) Professor Marc J Ventresca delivered some welcoming remarks, followed by our Managing Director Hannah Ashford. In true Oxford fashion, we encouraged guests to switch tables between courses, sparking lively discussions, fresh ideas, and even a few friendly debates.

Really special to have been invited by UQ Law School and Herbert Smith Freehills to speak at the annual Women in Law event this Thursday. Here I am in my parents' kitchen on graduation night 11 years ago, having no idea that I'd move from McInnes Wilson Lawyers to Berlin and then to the international space sector. The foundational learnings in law have been invaluable, and it's a real honour to be invited alongside such esteemed alumni from The University of Queensland who are doing brilliant work across the bar, private practice, and the pro bono arena. If you're in Brisbane and would like to join, you can register here: https://lnkd.in/gEXTETXU

That’s a wrap on Karman-Oxford week 2024! In the Oxford Spirit, the fourth iteration of the Smart Space MBA Elective brought together esteemed members of the Karman Community and driven Oxford MBA students on the cusp of graduating. This meeting of the minds at the University of Oxford once again paved the way for inspiration and newfound understandings of the future of space governance and commerce. We’re so proud of this partnership and immeasurably grateful to all the amazing people at the Oxford Space Initiative and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford for working with us to once again bring such an extraordinary and valuable program to life. A special thanks to our Karman Delegation for the energy, expertise, and joyful spirit that you brought to Oxford. We’re so excited to extend this partnership into its 5th year in 2025! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gYUqQijV Marc J Ventresca, David M Lehmann, Dimiana F., Oğuz Karasu, PhD, Lucas Kello, Laura Anne Edwards, Edoardo Mancini, Michele Scataglini, Mohamed Mujahid Rahman, Arno Geens, FRSA, Mary M. Murphy, PMP, Shawna Pandya, MD, Melania Guerra, Ph.D., Michal Brichta, Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, PhD, Davis Cook, Fani Kallianou de Jong, Kevin Ramirez, Olayinka Fagbemiro, Raffaele Mauro, Hannah Ashford, Öykü Gürsu, Adrian Flynn

Discussing the latest business trends in space with Fani Kallianou de Jong, Michal Brichta, Hannah Ashford and Mary M. Murphy, PMP at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Thank you The Karman Project for bringing us here!

OXFORD DIARY PART 1: WHY OXFORD MBA STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT SPACE ECONOMY ...AND WHY SPACE COMMUNITY NEEDS IT I was delighted to spend the passing week with the MBA students of the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford as a guest lecturer invited within the The Karman Project. It provided a unique opportunity to reach out from the space professionals‘ community and discuss the space economy and related topics with dozens of experts of diverse backgrounds. And this is important not only for spreading knowledge and understanding but also for gaining new valuable „outsider“ insight. The space economy is (and for quite some time still will be) dominantly integrated into the terrestrial economy on both ends of its value chain, from building the enabling technologies to using satellite data and services. Yet, it still remains a challenge to bridge the traditional space industry with relevant terrestrial stakeholders that significantly affect it and can benefit from it. And this cannot be changed without the active involvement of non-space experts with backgrounds in fields just like business administration. Thank you Marc J Ventresca, Laura Anne Edwards, David M Lehmann, Edoardo Mancini, Oğuz Karasu, PhD, and the whole Saïd Business School team as well as the Karman team Hannah Ashford, Öykü Gürsu, Adrian Flynn for the amazing week creating an ideal platform for stimulating discussion. If you also have a similar positive experience with fruitful cross-fertilization, do not hesitate to share it in the comments!

We are just over halfway through Karman Oxford Week and what a week it’s been! Both in and out of the classroom, Karman Delegation members and Oxford MBA students have forged new connections and put their heads together to better ascertain the particular challenges and opportunities that the space domain presents. Through the Smart Space MBA Elective at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, co-facilitated with the Oxford Space Initiative for the fourth consecutive year, wide-ranging seminar discussions and lectures from both faculty and guest speakers alike have addressed myriad topics in contemporary space affairs. From delineating fundamental distinctions between different space endeavors, to reckoning with the past and present geopolitical situation of the domain, to employing pragmatic analyses of the potential for private sector incentives and more, truly no stone has been left unturned. Outside of the classroom, the Karman Community has immersed itself in the signature Oxford intellectual and cultural environment, with an emphasis on open-minded curiosity and constructive dialogue. In touring the colleges with students, mixing with the Oxford Space Network, hosting an Oxford Space Gala, as well as the obligatory nights out at various local pubs, an already robust, innovative, and cohesive community has been made even more so. Keep an eye out for an in-depth post this weekend following the conclusion of the elective! Marc J Ventresca, David M Lehmann, Dimiana F., Laura Anne Edwards, Hannah Ashford, Öykü Gürsu, Adrian Flynn, Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, PhD, Olayinka Fagbemiro, Michal Brichta, Davis Cook, Shawna Pandya, MD, Melania Guerra, Ph.D., Arno Geens, FRSA, Fani Kallianou de Jong, Raffaele Mauro, Mary M. Murphy, PMP, Kevin Ramirez, Andrew Ratcliffe