Dr. Peter Martinez is the Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation. He has extensive experience in multilateral space diplomacy, space policy formulation and space regulation. He also has extensive experience in capacity building in space science and technology and in workforce development.

Prior to joining SWF, from 2011 – 2018 he chaired the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities that negotiated a set of international consensus guidelines to promote the safety and sustainability of space operations. In 2012 and 2013 he was South Africa’s representative on the United Nations Group of Government Experts on transparency and confidence-building measures for space activities. From 2010 – 2015 he was the Chairman of the South African Council for Space Affairs, the national regulatory authority for space activities in South Africa. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the International Institute of Space Law, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and an Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town.

He has authored or coauthored over 200 publications on topics in space policy, space sustainability, astronomy, space research, space law and space policy.

Peter is on the Council of The Off-World Approach.

“Space activities play major role in advancing global peace and prosperity. As more actors enter the space arena, our collective ability to continue to harness outer space for peaceful purposes and human development will depend on our ability to develop a common vision for space activities that is underpinned by shared values. This will require inclusive dialogues that
incorporate a diverse set of views to arrive at shared understandings of the regulatory and policy challenges facing the international community as it addresses the future governance of space activities. Through its Pillars of Justice approach, the Hague Institute for Global Justice is well placed to help the international community to address these challenges.”

– Peter Martinez