Francois Paul Lambert — Co-Founder
Hello, I’m François! Welcome to the intersection of space, strategy, and ambition. I work with visionaries who refuse to see space as science fiction but as the next chapter of civilisation. My career sits where law, technology, and exploration converge — helping governments, startups, and investors turn complex regulatory landscapes into real-world opportunity. My path to space was anything but straight. After law school and a brief stint as a trainee Air Force pilot, a life-altering accident forced me to rethink everything. What began as recovery became reinvention; a shift from flying machines to shaping the rules that govern humanity’s reach beyond them. After two decades navigating space law, spectrum licensing, and government affairs, I’ve learned that progress in space isn’t just about rockets. It’s about systems, governance, and courage. The future belongs to those who can bridge public institutions and private ambition, and I’ve built my career doing exactly that. I began in Europe, where I helped shape the institutional and regulatory groundwork of the EU’s flagship satellite programmes — GALILEO and COPERNICUS — at the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Later, I joined Amazon’s Project Kuiper (Leo), tackling global market access and regulatory strategy for one of the most ambitious commercial constellations ever conceived. Along the way, I advised governments, startups, and investors on launch licensing, orbital sustainability, and cross-border compliance. Today, I wear several hats. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ASCEND™ – The Space Hospitality Company, I’m building a new venture that merges astronaut training, research, and ultra-luxury hospitality into a single platform designed to prepare Humanity for life and work beyond Earth. I also serve as a fractional executive and strategic advisor to DeepTech and aerospace ventures, helping founders build defensible models, secure regulatory clearance, and navigate the sovereign dimensions of innovation. Recognised by the World Economic Forum as an Expert on Space, I contribute to global discussions on space governance and sustainable access to orbit. My network spans the US, Europe, APAC, and the GCC, connecting regulators, investors, and technology pioneers who see space not as an industry, but as civilisation’s next frontier. I believe progress doesn’t start with consensus. It starts with conviction strong enough to earn it, and the people willing to think differently, act boldly, and design the rules before others do. If that resonates, let’s connect!
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in space law and regulatory affairs within the aerospace industry.
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Experience: 19 yrs 4 mos
Skills
- Market Access
- Regulatory Affairs
- Space Law
- Space Sustainability
- Strategy
- Leadership
- Contract Management
- Cloud Computing
- Legal Advice
- Corporate Law
Career Highlights
- Expert on space governance recognized by the World Economic Forum.
- Co-Founder of ASCEND™, merging space training and luxury hospitality.
- Advised on major EU satellite programs like GALILEO and COPERNICUS.
Work Experience
Stealth Startup
Cofounder & Co-CEO, Space (4 mos)
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA)
General Manager, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs (1 yr 5 mos)
Virtus Solis Technologies
Board Advisor (2 yrs 3 mos)
Orbital Reach™
Principal & Fractional Executive (2 yrs 9 mos)
Amazon
Corporate Counsel, Satellites, Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) (1 yr 2 mos)
Azimuth Advisory
Special Counsel (Space) (7 mos)
ANU Institute for Space | InSpace
Mission Specialist (Access to Space) (2 yrs 1 mo)
Special Counsel (Space & Commercial) (3 yrs 3 mos)
The Australian National University
Senior Advisor, National Space Test Facility & AITC (2 yrs 7 mos)
NETSCOUT
Corporate Counsel, ANZ Region (2 yrs 4 mos)
EUSPA - EU Agency for the Space Programme
Legal Officer (4 yrs 2 mos)
IBM
Counsel (Contracts & Negotiations) (1 yr 10 mos)
ERA-STAR Regions
Project Coordinator | Lead Counsel (2 yrs 9 mos)
Airbus
Legal Intern, Office of the CEO (4 mos)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Legal Intern (Blue Book) (5 mos)
Belgian Defence
Trainee Pilot (Officer) (0 mo)
Education
Master at Université catholique de Louvain
Strategic Management Programme (online) at The Wharton School
Licence en Droit at Université catholique de Louvain
ERASMUS Scholarship at Université de Toulon
Candidatures en Droit at UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles
High School at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview High School, Dallas, TX, USA