Aarti Holla-Maini is the director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Prior to this role, Aarti was Secretary General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), which she led and expanded since 2004.

Under Aarti’s leadership, ESOA & its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society - vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.

Since joining the association, Aarti has led the expansion of ESOA from a European association to one that represents the interests of 21 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.

Aarti has 23 years' experience in the aerospace industry, starting at Daimler-Benz Aerospace/EADS (now Airbus) in Germany. In 2000, she moved to Brussels, representing Airbus interests in the European satellite navigation program: Galileo. While at EADS, Aarti organized workshops on negotiation skills for young managers. She was named one of the Faces of Satellite of 2014 by the Society of Satellite Professionals International.

Aarti holds a Masters of Business Administration from HEC, France & Stern Business School, NYC, USA. She qualified as Solicitor of the Supreme Court in the UK in 1995, holding a 2:1 graded LLB Hons Law with German Law degree from King's College, University of London & the University of Passau, Germany. Aarti is of British-Indian origin and holds British and Belgian nationalities. She lives in Brussels, has 3 children and speaks 5 languages.