SAVE THE DATE: AEROSPACE WOMEN AWARD 2024 (AWA2024)

The Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of the Politecnico di Milano has taken on the mission of promoting the role of women in STEM disciplines and, in particular, in the aerospace sector.

In this context, we have established the Aerospace Women Award (AWA).

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the award ceremony of the AWA 2024 edition, to join us in congratulating the winners:

Serena Gaggi, graduated with a Master degree in Space Engineering and Lucrezia Calzoni, graduated with a Master degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

The event will feature contributions from:

Prof. Marco Lovera, Director of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology
Prof. Flavia Grassi, Deputy Dean of the School of Industrial and Information Engineering
Dr. Silvia Barattieri, Head of the Equal Opportunities Unit of Politecnico di Milano
Prof. Michèle Roberta Lavagna, Member of the Judging Committee
Prof. Pierangelo Masarati, Member of the Judging Committee

Lucia Conconi, Consultant in Engineering and Data Analytics Projects
Luisella Giulicchi, European Space Agency, Lunar Gateway Project Manager; President of Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe)

The award winners: Serena Gaggi and Lucrezia Calzoni

Speakers Bios:

Lucia Conconi graduated with a Master degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano. She is an engineer and manager with over 20 years of experience in Formula 1 and motorsport. Most recently she served as Head of the Vehicle Performance Department at Sauber F1 Team (formerly Alfa Romeo F1 Team), in Switzerland.
Her Formula 1 career includes leadership positions at Brawn GP, Mercedes GP, Lotus F1, and Renault Sport Racing F1, in the UK and previously she worked at Audi Sport in Germany. Her technical work focuses on performance development, vehicle dynamics, suspension systems, simulation and data analytics methodologies.
Currently based in Zürich, she works as a consultant in engineering and data analytics projects, presenting topics related to engineering, performance development, complex systems, team work and innovation in fast paced environment.

Luisella Giulicchi serves as Project Manager at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands, where she leads efforts on the Artemis Lunar Gateway Project—a future space station destined to orbit the Moon and an integral part of the Artemis program. This groundbreaking initiative is a collaboration between ESA, NASA, the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Prior to this role, Luisella dedicated over a decade as System Manager for the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission, which focuses on monitoring sea level changes. A flagship project of the European Commission, this mission was executed in partnership with ESA, EUMETSAT, NASA, the French Space Agency (CNES), and NOAA. Representing the largest operational Earth observation program from space, Copernicus is co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. Luisella began her career as a researcher at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. She joined ESA more than 25 years ago, taking on fundamental technical and programmatic management roles across a range of ambitious projects. These include: BepiColombo: A scientific mission to explore Mercury; SMART-1: Europe’s first lunar mission; LISA Pathfinder: A mission dedicated to measuring gravitational waves; Copernicus Sentinel-1: A radar-based Earth observation mission for environmental monitoring. A recognized leader in aerospace, Luisella is a Fellow of both the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS). She has authored numerous scientific and technical articles and has contributed as an editor for various scientific publications and journals. A sought-after speaker, she frequently shares her expertise at international events. AIAA Board of Directors member for ten years. President of Women in Aerospace-Europe (WIA-Europe): association dedicated to the promotion of gender diversity and inclusion.

28.05.2025