Organization and governance
Organization and governance is provided by the members of the Van Allen Foundation’s Board: founder members, elected members and representatives of the University of Montpellier.
Our president
Michel TOGNINI
President
Astronaut
Our honorary president and patron
Jean-Claude GAYSSOT
Honorary President of the Board,
Former Minister
Claudie HAIGNERÉ
Patron
Astronaut, Former Minister
Founder members
6th largest university in France, by student numbers
“The Foundation plays a vital networking role for the University and major stakeholders in the industry, and in steering the No.1 French University Space Centre. Each participant can contribute to the projects.”
Philippe AUGÉ, Président
World leader in 3D electronic components for space
« Le dynamisme et la qualité de l’équipe nous incite à supporter la Fondation depuis maintenant de nombreuses années. Nous y trouvons un grand intérêt en embauchant des étudiants de l’Université de Montpellier bien formés aux contraintes du secteur spatial »
Pierre Maurice, Chairman
World No.1 in Space
Elodie VIAU, SVP – Director of Telecommunications and Navigation Systems
The EXPLEO Group is noted for its technical know-how and proven expertise in complex and critical systems
Alexandre WILLEMONT, SVP – Airbus Global Account Manager
ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
The Van Allen Foundation’s Board includes leading international figures in the space field, who are together defining the strategy for nanosatellite development.
Philippe ADELL
Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA
Arnaud DE ROSNAY
Former Space Systems Director
AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE
Jean-Claude GAYSSOT
Honorary President
Former Minister
Anne LAURENT
Vice-President for Open Science
UM/CNRS
François ROCARIES
Former Scientific Director
F’SATI
Frédéric TESTON
Director of the ESA/ESTEC Systems Department
Franck TOGNINI
CEO
FTC
Michel TOGNINI
President
Astronaut
Pascale ULTRÉ-GUÉRARD
Deputy Director of Strategy, in Charge of Programs
CNES
Representatives of the University of Montpellier
The Van Allen Foundation also comprises various representatives of the University of Montpellier.
Julien AVERSENG
Senior Lecturer, Mechanics and Civil Engineering (LMGC)
Nabil BOUREGHDA
Technician at the IUT of Nîmes
Philippe COMBETTE
Vice President of Partnerships and Innovation
Gilles DESPAUX
Professor, Institute of Electronics and Systems (IES)
Sébastien HESSE
Ground Station Engineer, CSUM
Simona ISPAS
Lecturer
Agnès MIGNOT
Vice President for Research
François PIERROT
Vice President for International Relations
Denis PUY
Professor, Particle Physics UM (LUPM)
Céline RITTERSZKI
Administrative Director of the Continuing Education service
Lionel TORRES,
Professor, Director of Polytech
Our founding president
Michel COURTOIS
Founding President (2012-2019)
Former CTO, European Space Agency (ESA)
Former Director, Centre National d’Études Spatiale (CNES) Toulouse