WIA-Europe Symposium 2026 – Skills In Motion

This year’s programme combines virtual lunchtime and/or afternoon sessions with a dedicated in-person day, offering practical perspectives on aerospace careers, essential skills, and startup development.

📅 4–7 May 2026

💻 Online · 13:00–14:00 CEST daily and 18:00–19:30 CEST (on selective days)

📍 In-person · Brussels · Thursday 7 May

Event Online Links:

Once registered, you will receive links to each of the online events via email (one in the morning of and one 30 minutes before the event).

Programme at a Glance:

Monday, May 4th >> Start Up Day

The Startup Day brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders in the aerospace sector for a day of learning and discussion.

Tuesday, May 5th >> Career Skills: Breadth and Depth

This day we will explore the different paths that are available to someone who is just starting their career and also look into a specific career on a macro scale.

Wednesday, May 6th >> Developing & Transfering Skills Day

AI Empowerment: Navigating Bias and Mastering Future-Ready Tools, as well as perspectives from a financial institution on how space data and services can shape a more inclusive economy.

Thursday, May 7th >> Brussels In-Person Day – DIVERIS Annual Meeting 2026

Our Symposium in-person day joins forces with the DIVERIS Annual Meeting in Brussels on 7 May, organised by the European Commission during EU Diversity Month. It is a strong opportunity to bring the WIA-Europe community into a wider European conversation on diversity and inclusion across the space and defence sectors.

Day 1: Monday 4 May — Start-Up Day

Two sessions across the day bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders in the aerospace sector for a day of learning and discussion.

>> 13:00–14:00 CEST · Panel: Orbiting the Future – Navigating the Top 5 Waves of 2026

A fast-paced panel spotlighting the technologies and business models shaping the next phase of the space economy. We unpack five waves driving adoption and investment in 2026:

• AI & autonomous systems — satellite autonomy and drone integration
• Dual-use & defence logistics — commercial capabilities aligned with sovereign needs
• In-orbit servicing — life extension, autonomous docking, and continuity of orbital assets
• Space cybersecurity — secure-by-design architectures and protected ground-to-space links
• Geo-intelligence — fusion of EO + GNSS for real-time insights and decision-making

Speakers:

• Justyna Redelkiewicz — CEO, GoCosmic

• Konstantinos Topouzelis — Co-founder & CEO, Scidrones

• Marion Andrieux — Chief Commercial Officer, Infinite Orbits

• Kacper Grzesiak — Sales Director, ICEYE Poland

• Adrian Korczyński — Senior Partner, Cyber Security Practice, 3 Hazel Tree Partners

>> 18:00–19:30 CEST · Workshop: How to Start Your Career in the Space Sector

A practical overview of how to enter and grow in the space economy — whether you are building a career or launching a venture.

In this workshop you will explore:

• Key market and technology trends shaping new opportunities
• How to start a business in the space sector — even without a traditional space background
• Support programmes, funding sources, and accelerators
• How to identify and approach partners and investors
• Where to look for roles and how to break into the industry
• Why networking matters most — and how to build it effectively

Facilitator: Justyna Redelkiewicz — CEO, GoCosmic

Day 2: Tuesday 5 May — Kickstarting Careers

>> 13:00–14:00 CEST · Panel · Online

From Degree to Deployment: Why the first 5 years decide everything.

This lunchtime session examines the critical early-career period in aerospace — exploring the gap between education and industry, and what it takes to build a lasting career.

Questions we will explore together:

• Are universities preparing systems thinkers?
• Why do many aerospace careers stall around years 3–5?
• What may be missing: confidence, networks, or regulation literacy?

The discussion brings together early-career professionals, educators, and industry talent leaders interested in strengthening the aerospace talent pipeline.

Panellists:

• Viktoria Panicharova — Senior Recruiter, HE Space
• Carla Filotico — Partner & Managing Director, Novaspace
• Jules Hyam — Head of Talent, Open Cosmos
• Christina Valagkouti — Scientific Project Manager, DLR

>> 18:00–19:00 CEST · Panel · Online

Optical Engineering in Motion: Bridging Generations, Evolving Skills, and Shaping Careers with ESA.

Evening session on skills evolution and perspectives across the generations, with a focus on optical engineering.

Panellists:

• Kiki Minoglou — Head of Optics, Robotics and Life Sciences Division, ESA
• Kotska Wallace – System Manager FORUM, ESA
• Sinda Mejri – Optoelectronics Engineer, ESA
• Lena Eberhardt – ESA Graduate Trainee in Opto-electronics Section

Moderator:

• Lucy Van Der Tas — Head of Talent Acquisition, ESA

Day 3: Wednesday 6 May — Developing and Transferring Skills

>>13:00–14:00 CEST · Workshop · Online

Navigating Bias and Mastering Future-Ready Tools

A hands-on session exploring how to work with AI tools critically and effectively — with a focus on recognising bias, prompting for equity, and integrating AI into professional workflows in the aerospace sector.

What the session covers:

• Where gender and cultural biases hide within current generative AI systems — and why it matters for aerospace
• Hands-on strategies for fairness-aware prompt engineering
• A practical demonstration of integrating AI into daily research and management tasks
• WIA-Europe student leads showcase tools they have built to solve aerospace challenges using low-code AI

Facilitator: Dr Anwar Sounny-Slitine — Geospatial Scientist & AI Practitioner, International Space University, with WIA-Europe Strasbourg Regional Network members

>>14:15–15:00 CEST · Keynote · Online

How Space Supports Development, Promotes Skills and Economic Inclusion

This session will explore how space-based data and services—from Earth observation and satellite communications to navigation—can accelerate development outcomes, strengthen skills, and widen economic inclusion. Drawing on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) perspective across more than 40 economies, the session will highlight some specific areas where the space domain can improve impact, including partnerships, capacity building, and enabling policy and finance.

Speaker: Fani Kallianou de Jong – Space Economy Lead, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Day 4: Thursday 7 May — Brussels In-Person Day, DIVERIS Annual Meeting 2026

Full day · In-person · Brussels

Organised by DG DEFIS, with the support of WIA-Europe as a member of the DIVERIS network, the Annual Meeting 2026 brings together stakeholders from across the European space and defence ecosystems to exchange practices, discuss challenges, and identify concrete actions to advance diversity and inclusion. Participation is free. Registration via the European Commission link is required. Online activities close at 16:00 CEST.

• Full programme and agenda >>
• Registration link for online stream and in-person day >>.
• Please note that registrations close at 16:00 CEST, Monday 4th May.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This symposium is open to everyone with a stake in the future of European aerospace:

• Students and recent graduates entering the sector
• Early-career professionals navigating their first five years
• Entrepreneurs and founders building in the space economy
• Educators, universities, and talent teams
• Industry professionals looking to connect and contribute
• Anyone curious about where aerospace is headed

All sessions are free to attend. Registration is required.

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Organised by WIA-Europe — Women in Aerospace Europe

wia-europe.org