
About
Friends of Europe’s Dharmendra Kanani engages with Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), in a timely conversation that delves into ESA’s recent successes and its evolving role in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. With new European leadership and key budgetary decisions on the horizon, this exchange will examine how ESA is navigating strategic, security and societal imperatives to position Europe as a global leader in space.
The conversation will explore ESA’s perspective on space as a source of security and resilience, its priorities for the upcoming Ministerial Conference and EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and the concrete steps needed to ensure Europe’s space assets are recognised – and funded – as strategic infrastructure. Crucially, it will consider how to build a stronger business case for investment and make space more visible, relevant and meaningful to European citizens.
This edition of Critical Thinking Live aims to connect policy, purpose and citizen engagement – putting ESA at the centre of Europe’s path from orbit to impact.
#CriticalThinkingLive is the latest expansion in our #CriticalThinking family, bringing influential voices from across a range of sectors to challenge, inspire and influence current thinking on the biggest issues facing Europe and the world.
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Schedule
Speakers

Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA)
Thirty years ago, Josef Aschbacher began his career at the European Space Agency (ESA) where he was seconded as the ESA Representative to Southeast Asia at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok. Later, he joined the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy, where he served as scientific assistant to the Director of the Space Applications Institute. Upon his return to ESA headquarters in Paris, he was tasked with advancing Copernicus activities within ESA, going on to become head of the Copernicus Space Office, where he led all activities for Copernicus within the Agency and with external partners, in particular the European Commission. Before taking office as the ESA’s Director General, Aschbacher was entrusted with planning the ESA’s Earth Observation Programme, as well as formulating and implementing programmatic and strategic decisions across the Directorate.

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Spokesperson of Friends of Europe
Prior to joining Friends of Europe, Dharmendra Kanani was director of policy at the European Foundation Centre (EFC). He was the England director at the Big Lottery Fund, the largest independent funder in the UK and fourth largest in the world. Dharmendra has held senior positions in the public and voluntary sectors and advisor to numerous ministerial policy initiatives across the UK.
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