I am a space ecosystem builder. A tall order for today's growing global space economy. We live in exponential times where technology has essentially democratised access to space and the barriers to entry have come down due to launch and manufacturing price as well as off-the shelf components. Today, anyone who can be patient to acquire skills by experience or online has the opportunity to be part of the space industry. Unfortunately, that opportunity is still unequally distributed around the world. This is why we founded SpaceBase to help catalyse space econsystems in developing and emerging countries - to shrink the gap between space faring nations and the rest of the world. My role includes educating, advising, consulting, mentoring, and delivering activities that can help create and grow the ecosystem. I give briefings and speak at different programs and conference to multi-stakeholders, advise national and local govt as well as founders and startups. I run a bi-annual Pacific region space competition leveraging space tech to solve grand challenges like climate change on Earth. I influence decision makers to look at the space sector for economic growth and innovation. What I practically do is unrelated to my educational background but having a grounding in the sciences and tech helps me talk the language fo space.

I've always been focused on one day working in space since I was young. I chose Physics because it was the only pathway available for me growing up in the Philippines. Then I won a scholarship at the International Space University to attend a summer program in France. This opened up the doors to getting another scholarship for my masters in space science, to working for several space startup companies from space tourism (Space Adventures) to lunar companies building rovers and landers for the Moon. I firmly believe that education and experience is key to a fulfiling a space career but the power of your network is critical for getting to where you want to go. Amassing a global network and community in space has led me to job offers, project opportunities, global activities that I would never have dreamed possible if not for the people I know over three decades in the space community. THe power of networks should never be underestimated!

Seeing actual impact and connecting the dots of what we have done bearing fruit in growing the industry is the most fulfilling thing in what I am currently doing. While the life of a social entrepreneur means there is always uncertainly on sustainability, I would never exchange it for working on connecting founders for funding or potential customers, to helping craft strategy that gets incorporated in policy. Speaking to students that get inspired to work on space projects they otherwise would not even think about makes it all worth it. Learning along side fellow ecosystem builders in different countries doing the same thing as we have and interacting with a community that has like-minded goals towards an abundant future for everyone in space is what keeps me going.