Space Conference Speaker

Zaheer Ali

Space Paladin, Director of the Space MBA Program, University of Central Florida

Find Me At
Sessions: AI & Space, Moon

Zaheer Ali is a physicist, technologist, and educator working at the intersection of AI, quantum, and space systems. He is Space Paladin, Director of the Space MBA program at the University of Central Florida. In addition, he is a partner at Space Outcomes LLC, NewSpace Finance, and co-founder of Positon Inc., he has held leadership roles at NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, Hewlett Packard, and multiple startups. He has authored over 40 publications, holds several patents, and earned an R&D 100 Award for innovation. A founding executive of Material Mind and AIXIA Global, he advances digital transformation and systems resilience. A first-generation American of Indian Muslim heritage and a practicing Stoic, he integrates Eastern, Western, and Indigenous wisdom in shaping ethical, inclusive futures for space exploration and emerging technologies.

Find Me At
Sessions: AI & Space, Moon


Other Conference Speakers at ISDC

Rachel Long

Student, Aerospace Engineering, Mars Institute and UC Davis

Long, Rachel

Kathleen Brett

Program Analyst, Space Security & Stability, Secure World Foundation

Brett, Kathleen

Burt Dicht

National Space Society Director of Membership

Dicht, Burt

Lalitha Murali

Gifted and Talented Teacher, Glendale River-Hills School District

Murali, Lalitha

Ayden Frey

Student Researcher, Wolfpack CubeSat Dev Team

Frey, Ayden

Stevan Akerley

Space Ambassadors Program Director National Space Society

Akerley, Stevan

Michelle Hanlon

Executive Director, Air and Space Law at Ole Miss

Hanlon, Michelle

Phil Swan

Director of Infrastructure, The Atlantis Project

Swan, Phil

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