• Dr. Anna Mittelholz is a planetary geophysicist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich. Her research focuses on the evolution of planets and moons in our Solar System, with particular emphasis on planetary magnetic fields as windows into internal dynamics and thermal histories. 

    Anna has contributed to planetary missions, including NASA’s InSight mission to Mars, where she analyzed surface magnetic field data to better understand crustal magnetization and external field dynamics. She is also the Principal Investigator of LunarLeaper, a mission concept that proposes the use of novel legged robotic systems to explore and characterize lunar lava tubes—environments critical for advancing scientific understanding and assessing infrastructure potential for future human exploration.

    Her combined expertise in planetary sciences, and active mission development brings a valuable perspective to the Lunar Ledger. 

  • Dr. Guoyu Wang, Dean of the Academy of Air, Space Policy and Law, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT); Professor, Law School of BIT; Deputy Director, China National Space Administration (CNSA) Space Law Center (2017-); Board Director of IISL (2021-2024). 

    Dr. Wang has served as a Chinese delegate and legal adviser to UN Committee for Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS) (2012-), UN Open-Ended Working Group for Responsible Behavior Initiative (2023), UN Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) Governmental Group of Experts (GGE) (2023-2024), UNGGE on Emerging Technologies in The Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) (2024-), as well as a Chinese expert in the UNCOPUOS Long-term Sustainability for Outer Space Activities (LTS) Working Group (2012-2019). 

  • Dr. Jonathan McDowell is an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where he leads the group responsible for science analysis software for the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. He has expertise in theoretical astrophysics, including background radiation, black hole accretion, dark matter, and active galactic nuclei, as well as observational astronomy involving asteroids, X-ray binary stars, nearby galaxies, AGN, and quasars, with experience across the radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray bands.

    He has further expertise in Earth satellite orbital dynamics, satellite constellations, space policy, and space debris. Jonathan managed the science algorithms team for the Chandra mission and contributed to the design of interoperable multi-mission astronomy data analysis tools fundamental to the CIAO package. He authored one of the first studies on the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy, and wrote a widely read paper arguing for the edge of space to be set at 80 km altitude.

    Dr. McDowell holds a B.A. in Mathematics (1981) and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics (1987) from the University of Cambridge. After postdoctoral appointments at Jodrell Bank, CfA, and NASA MSFC, he returned to CfA to work on the Einstein archive preceding his involvement with the Chandra team. His publications address cosmology, black holes, merging galaxies, quasars, and asteroids. He is editor of Jonathan’s Space Report, a free online newsletter founded in 1989, which provides technical details of satellite launches.

  • Marieta Valdivia Lefort holds an MSc in Public Policy from the UCL Department of Political Science and is a current PhD candidate at the UCL Institute of the Americas (London, UK). She works at the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) as Policy and Diversity Officer, and her responsibilities include policy-related work on several areas such as national and international frameworks for protection of astronomy, science policy, satellite constellations and interference on optical and radio astronomy, space science, space sustainability, space policy and law.

    In addition, Marieta actively collaborates with the Space Court Foundation (SCF) as Associate Director for Operations & Programs for Latin America, and with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS) as researcher at the Policy Hub and co-lead of the National Analysis Team.

  • Christopher Newman, BA(Hons), PhD is a Professor of Space Law and Policy at Northumbria University at Newcastle in the United Kingdom. He is active in the teaching and research of space law and has published extensively on the legal and ethical underpinnings of space governance. He is regularly invited to lecture in universities and at specialist conferences on space law and policy across the UK and internationally. 

    Christopher is a member of the International Institute of Space Law and has presented his research on the legal dimensions of discovery of alien life to the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). He has also been invited to be an observer member of the UK delegation to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. He was appointed Visiting Professor of Space Law at the Open University working on the legal and ethical dimensions of planetary protection. He is an academic consultant to 3SNorthumbria, a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) consultancy company based in the North-East of England. Christopher has made numerous TV and radio appearances in the UK speaking as an expert on space law and policy issues.

  • Lucy Mason is a Director at Capgemini Invent leading on emerging technologies and innovation, especially in the defence, space and security sectors. Her interests include the threats and opportunities posed by AI and machine learning, the internet of things, quantum technologies, futures thinking, and the implications of technologies for people and society. Lucy is passionate about bringing industry, academia, and Government together in multidisciplinary teams to better solve major social challenges. 

    Lucy is a member of the UK Government’s Regulatory Horizons Council and led their work on the future regulation of space technologies. She is the founder and former Head of the Government’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) which finds and funds innovation to create novel defence and security capabilities. Lucy is Chair of the Advisory Board for SPRITE+, and is on the Advisory Board for the Common Mission Project, Bath University Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, and CREST Research. She is a Visiting Professor at Cranfield University.

  • Berna Akcali Gur is an academic expert, lecturer, and researcher specialising in international law and policy, with a particular focus on information and communication technologies (ICTs) and outer space. She serves as a faculty member at Queen Mary University of London, where she convenes the LL.M. module on Outer Space Law, educating legal professionals on the legal and governance challenges of space activities. She is also an Associate Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), contributing to the Digital Governance Cluster. 

    Her work has been published in leading academic journals, reflecting her contributions to the evolving discourse on digital and space governance. Berna is actively involved in global research networks, including the International Institute of Space Law and the Global Internet Governance Academic Network, where she engages with interdisciplinary communities shaping the future of international law in the digital age.