WIA-Europe would like to welcome Kai-Uwe Schrogl to his new role as the WIA-Europe Board Chair.
A message from the WIA-Europe President on this appointment:
I am delighted to announce that the Board of WIA-Europe has formally appointed Professor Dr Kai-Uwe Schrogl as its new Chair.
Kai-Uwe brings decades of distinguished leadership at the highest levels of European and global space governance. Serving as Special Advisor for Political Affairs and former Chief Strategy Officer at the European Space Agency, former Director of the European Space Policy Institute, former Strategy Head of the German Aerospace Centre, and past President of the International Institute of Space Law, he combines institutional wisdom with a profound commitment to our community and has effectively supported us as an external partner and institutional ally. Having already contributed to WIA-Europe as a trusted Board Member and Co-Chair of our Grants and Awards Committee, his dedication to mentoring, equity, and the growth of our members makes him an outstanding choice to lead our Board.
As President, I look forward to working closely with Kai-Uwe as we advance the four pillars of our strategic agenda:
- Talent and Innovation: Through his longstanding experience in the ESA, ESPI, DLR, IISL and the University of Tübingen, he has a deep understanding of the challenges of the European space sector. With his proven record in co-overseeing our Grants and Awards, Kai-Uwe will champion workforce development initiatives that identify critical skill needs and open clear leadership trajectories within Europe’s aerospace sector.
- Standardising Excellence: With deep experience directing international institutes and shaping agency-level strategies, he will help reinforce our governance standards, providing consistent, robust support to our more than twenty regional networks across the continent. Over the past months, Kai-Uwe has worked hand in hand with our Regional Networks to expand our footprint in Europe and bring benefit to our members.
- Digital Connectivity: Drawing on his established experience managing nongovernmental organisations and international associations, Kai-Uwe understands firsthand what is needed to leverage digital tools and platforms. He will help us optimise our digital architecture and cultivate active online communities, connecting our members with European and global aerospace leaders.
- Policy Advocacy: Kai-Uwe’s extensive international stature, notably as former Chair of the United Nations COPUOS Legal Subcommittee, will significantly amplify our presence in European and multilateral space diplomacy. He will be able to ensure that our association actively shapes key policy dialogues through WIA-Europe’s permanent observer status at UNCOPUOS and as a member of the European Union DIVERIS network.
Please join the entire Board and me in warmly congratulating Professor Dr Kai-Uwe Schrogl on his appointment as Chair of the Board. We look forward to an impactful chapter of collaboration and continued progress for aerospace across Europe.
