Co-Chair

Natacha Callens graduated with a double PhD in Physics awarded by the Université Pierre et Marie Curie and the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She started her career in the space sector as local research manager of the ESA/PRODEX project BIOMICS (BIOMImetic and Cellular Systems) successfully launched in the MASER 11 sounding rocket. She joined the ESA Education Office in 2009 as programme coordinator, where she developed and coordinated for several years some ESA hands-on programmes. From 2015 to 2023 she has been in charge of the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Programme offering short-duration training sessions to university students to complement what they learn at university and better prepare them for a space-related career. In 2024, in parallel to a secondment at BELSPO to support the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the space-related aspects, she started developing the ESA Academy Engagement Programme. This programme aims at offering structured collaboration models both within ESA and externally with academia, space industry, and institutions to contribute together to the preparation of the future talents in terms of knowledge, skills, and competences.

Role In WIA-Europe: Since several years Natacha has been a member of the WIA Grants & Awards Committee. In January 2025 she became co-chair of this Committee and also co-leader of the WIA Brussels Regional Network.