Speakers
Alon ABELSON
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder - High Lander Aviation Ltd.
Alon Abelson is a visionary leader in aviation and airspace technology, bringing over 25 years of experience as a military air traffic controller and more than 15 years in C-level and board-level roles across the B2B software and finance industries. A trained economist and widely recognized expert in airspace management, Alon is shaping the future of unmanned aviation. As CEO and founder of High Lander, he leads the creation of next-generation UTM and fleet management solutions that are setting new global benchmarks for safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Dr. Sophy ANTROBUS
Research Fellow and Co-Director - Freeman Air and Space Institute, King’s College London
Dr. Sophy Antrobus researches contemporary air power in the context of the institutional, cultural and organisational barriers to innovation in modern air forces, in particular the RAF, at the Freeman Air and Space Institute, King’s College London, where she is a Co-Director and Senior Research Fellow. Her current research areas are on deterrence, integrated air and missile defence, and risk. Previously, Sophy served in the Royal Air Force for twenty years including in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a tour with the Royal Navy.
Emese BALOGH
Business Development Manager - Rotors & Cams Zrt., 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Plc.
Emese Balogh is the Business Development Manager at Rotors & Cams Zrt., a Hungarian SME focused on the development and integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for defense and dual-use applications. The company is part of the 4iG Space & Defense portfolio, where it serves as the group's dedicated UAV competence center. Emese plays a key role in shaping strategic collaborations and market entry initiatives, leveraging her background in air traffic control and experience in NATO environments.
Dr. Balázs BARTÓKI-GÖNCZY
Director - Institute of Aerospace and Telecommunications Law
Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs - Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies
Balázs Bartóki-Gönczy is a lawyer, he obtained a Hungarian law degree from Pázmány Péter Catholic University, a French law degree from Panthéon-Assas Paris II and Paris Saclay universities, specializing in telecommunications and space law at the latter. He earned an MBA degree at the University of Lyon III and a PhD degree at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University School of Law. He is the Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies of the Ludovika University of Public Service (Budapest), associate professor director of the Institute of Space Law and Policy. His field of research is electronic communications and space law, which he teaches in Hungarian, English and French. On December 14, 2021, the Hungarian Parliament elected him as a member of the Media Council of Hungary.
Gábor HETEI
Technology Expert and Advisor - HungaroControl
Gábor Hetei is a technology expert and advisor at HungaroControl, the Hungarian air navigation service provider. With over a decade of involvement in regulatory and concept development for drone operations and in both domestic and European contexts, he plays an active role in shaping the future of unmanned traffic management (UTM). Gábor’s nearly 20-year career in aviation began with military air traffic controller qualification from Zrínyi Miklós National Defense University, followed by service in the air force and roles in the field of CNS at the Aviation Authority. Currently focused on technological aspects of air traffic management, he has contributed to multiple European R&D and strategic initiatives on UTM.
Prof. Dr. Gábor KARDOS
Full Professor - Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
Prof. Dr. Kardos holds a PhD in International Law from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1995) and a Doctoral Habilitation from Eötvös University (2005). Since 2007 he has been a full-time professor at the same faculty. The main teaching and research interests of Professor Kardos are International Law, International Human Rights Law, Law of European Union, International Protection of Minority Rights, and Non-Military Aspects of Security. He authored six books and published more than two hundred fifty papers. Between1998 and 2022 he was a member of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (Council of Europe).
Brig. Gen. Prof. Dr. László KOVÁCS
Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs - Ludovika University of Public Service
László Kovács is a full university professor at the Ludovika University of Public Service. He has been involved in electronic warfare, information operations and cyber warfare for over twenty-five years. In addition to university education, as a scientific researcher, he conducts research in the fields of cyberwarfare, information terrorism, and the protection of critical information infrastructures. In September 2020, he was awarded the title of Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences with his dissertation on cyber security strategies. Between 2019 and 2023, he was the Cyber Defense Inspector of the Command of the Hungarian Defense Forces and then the Commander of the Cyber Operations Command of the Hungarian Defense Forces. His main task was the management of the cyber defense and cyber operations of the Hungarian Armed Forces, as well as the development of its organizations. He is currently the vice rector for academic affairs of the Ludovika University of Public Service.
Lt. Col. István LAKATOS
Lieutenant Colonel - Hungarian Defence Forces
Dr. Máté LŐWINGER
Director General of Civil Aviation - Ministry of Construction and Transport
Prof. Dr. Ágoston RESTÁS
Head of Department - Department of Fire Protection and Rescue Management, Institute of Disaster Management, Faculty of Law Enforcement, Ludovika University of Public Service
Prof. Dr. Ágoston Restás specializes in fighting against forest fires especially in economic analysis and the application of aerial equipment. He holds mechanical engineering, economist, and disaster manager degrees. In 2008 Restás defended his first PhD thesis, in 2013 defended his second PhD thesis, and habilitation was also passed in 2015. He was appointed as full professor in 2023. Restás is working at the Ludovika University of Public Service, his research focuses mainly on aerial firefighting and using drone supporting law enforcement activities like police, fire service and border control but he used drones even to fight against the new coronavirus.
Jordi SANDALINAS BARÓ
Chief Executive Officer – JS Space Consultants
Adjunct Professor in Space and Drone Law
Drone Pilot
Jordi Sandalinas Baró is a lawyer, speaker, and entrepreneur with expertise in Space and Drone Law and Policy, Satellite Remote Sensing, Intellectual Property, and Marine Environmental Law. He holds a Law degree from the University of Barcelona, an LL.M. in European Business Law from Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands), and a degree in Space Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (USA). He has lectured on drone law at the Open University of Catalonia, on space law for astrobiologists at the International Space University (France) and is currently teaching legal aspects of satellite applications at the University of Madrid (UDIMA). Jordi has been a visiting lecturer at the Institute of Aerospace and Telecommunications Law of the Ludovika University of Public Service since 2024. He is a member of the International Institute of Space Law, the RADA Association of Environmental Lawyers, the Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Aéreo y Espacial, the IUCN Environmental Law Commission, and several GEO initiatives, including the Data Working Group and the AquaWatch Initiative. He has also participated as an observer at sessions of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) on behalf of the International Institute of Space Law. Jordi is currently the founder and CEO of Image Sea Solutions and JS Space Consultants, both focused on supporting startups in the space and drone sectors.
István SÁRHEGYI
CEO - 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Plc.
István Sárhegyi is instrumental in advancing Hungary's space and defence industries. He owns master's degree in law from Eötvös Loránd University and a bachelor's degree in business and management from Corvinus University in Budapest. He completed a Space Studies Programme (SSP) at the International Space University with ESA scholarship. After being a junior partner at the law firm Sárhegyi and Partners and a lecturer in international space law and policy at the University of Pécs, he became managing partner at Herius Capital – Space Fund. István Sárhegyi is currently the CEO of 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Plc., member of the 4iG Group being engaged in the development and production of satellite, UAS and CUAS technologies, as well as defence digitalisation solutions.
Dr. Benjamyn I. SCOTT
Assistant professor - International Institute of Air and Space Law and eLaw Center for Law and Digital Technologies, Leiden University
At Leiden University, Dr. Scott primarily investigates legal and policy issues involving unmanned aircraft systems, urban air mobility, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and unmanned traffic management. He also conducts research in other areas of public and private air law, as demonstrated in his recently published textbook, which is a part of NGAP, titled "Fundamentals of International Aviation Law and Policy". In addition, he teaches at other universities around the world, presents at conferences, and publishes books and articles.
Dr. Attila SIPOS
Senior Research Fellow - Institute of Aerospace and Telecommunications Law, Ludovika University of Public Service
Attila Sipos, PhD. (ELTE), Adv. LL.M. (Leiden), is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Ludovika University of Public Service in the Institute of Aerospace and Telecommunications Law. He was a faculty member of the Master’s Program in Air and Space Law at the University of Sharjah (UOS) in the UAE (2021–2024). He worked as a Bar Association Advisor at the Aviation Division of the MoD – HM EI Plc. (2018 –2021). Dr. Sipos worked for HungaroControl (ANSP) in various positions, such as Legal Director, Alliance Director and Chief Advisor to the CEO (2008–2014). He was also the Permanent Representative of Hungary on the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (2004–2007) and the Vice-President of the Council of ICAO (2006–2007). He worked for MALÉV Hungarian Airlines in various positions, such as Flight Operation and Navigation Officer, Chief Advisor and Legal Director (1989–2004). Dr. Sipos is a committee member of the European Air Law Association (EALA) since 2004 and member of the International Law Association (ILA) Space Law Committee since 2020.
Sanjay SURESH
Strategy & Business Development, LODD Autonomous
Maj. Balázs SZATMÁRI
Professor of Practice - Department of Electronic Warfare, Ludovika University of Public Service
Dr. Tibor SZILVÁGYI
Project Leader - HM Electronics, Logistics and Property Management Company
Dr. Tibor Szilvágyi (PhD) works for the HM Electronics, Logistics and Property Management Company as a project leader at the Aviation Division of the Directorate for Electronics and Informatics. Currently he deals with UAS development and operation, air ambulance helicopters’ maintenance management and ground handling activities. Until 2012 he served in the Hungarian Defence Forces as signal intelligence officer, security and defence policy analyst and military diplomat. His higher education is characterised by degrees of telecommunication engineering, security and defence policy expert, PhD in military science, engineering-economist and UAS specialist. He speaks English, German, Serbian and Russian.
Norbert TROSZT
Project Director - 4iG Space & Defence Technologies Plc.
Norbert Troszt works for 4iG Space & Defence Technologies Plc., Hungary’s first privately-owned large enterprise in the sector, leveraging the expertise of the 4iG Group. He is the Project Director ever since the foundation of the company and as a member of the 4iG SDT’s management team, besides performing the overall project governance duties, also participates in strategical planning and in the development of each business lines. Norbert worked over a decade for T-Systems Hungary Plc. (member or Hungarian Telekom Group), and is a seasoned IT manager with practical experience managing complex ICT projects, in build-up, management and transformation of organisations in enterprise environment.
Prof. Dr. Steven TRUXAL
Director - Institute of International Air and Space Law, Leiden University
Full Professor - Leiden University
Steven Truxal is Full Professor of Air and Space Law and Director of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University, which is a CANSO Research and Academia Member. Truxal directs Leiden’s award-winning Advanced Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme in Air and Space Law. He is Scientific Advisor at the Florence School of Regulation, European University Institute, and serves on the boards of several academic publications. He worked previously for University of London, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
General (Ret.) László TÖMBÖL
Senior Military Advisor - Defence Innovation and Research Centre
Gen (ret) László TÖMBÖL recently works as a senior military advisor to the Defence Innovation and Research Centre. During his 37-year long active military career he served in different command positions both in Hungary and abroad. He served in NATO’s KFOR mission and at the Alliance’s Regional Command South in Naples and at Joint Force Command in Verona. In 2007 under his command was established the Joint Force Command of the Hungarian Defence Forces in Székesfehérvár. Starting from 2017 he had worked for 5 years as a senior military advisor to the Zrínyi Defence and Force Modernization programme. Following this period, he performed the tasks of the National Armaments Director until 2024.
Dr. Tímea VAS
Head of Department - Department of Air Traffic Control and Aviation Navigation, Faculty of Military Science and Defense Officer Training, Ludovika University of Public Service
Lt. Col. Tímea Vas, Ph.D., is a former military air traffic controller officer (MATCO). Since 2008, she has worked in the academic sector at the Ludovika University of Public Service. For the last five years, she has held the position of Head of the Aerospace Controller and Pilot Training Department. Her research focuses squarely on the multidisciplinary approach of unmanned aircraft systems, their integration, and traffic management, as well as safe separation from manned aircraft. She is committed to ensuring that my MATC cadets are well-versed in all aspects of UAS.