Events

Dr. Zolana Rui João is one of Africa’s leading space pioneers, recognized for transforming Angola into a rising force in the global space economy. As the Founding General Manager of Angola’s National Space Program (GGPEN), he led the launch of ANGOSAT-2—Africa’s only government owned high-throughput satellite—and established GEDAE, the continent’s first geodata center of its kind. He chairs the SADC Shared Satellite project, uniting 16 nations to design Africa’s first jointly owned regional satellite, while also serving as Vice President for ITSO Region D, Research Affiliate at MIT, and co-founder of several international space ventures. The longest-serving space agency head in Africa, João has built Angola’s space program from the ground up, blending technical expertise in satellite communications, earth observation, and geospatial intelligence with leadership in policy, strategy, and international diplomacy. João’s work encompasses contributions to the African Space Agency, the United Nations COPUOS, and negotiations on satellite frequency spectrum and orbital position, ensuring Africa’s priorities in space governance and diplomacy. He holds a Doctorate in Engineering from George Washington University, has been featured by CNN and BBC, was a featured speaker at the White House U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit, and is honored with the ROSCOSMOS Medal “Space Without Borders.