MARCO FERRAZZANI

Dr. Marco Ferrazzani is the Director of internal services and Executive Board member at the European Space Agency, based at its headquarters in Paris.
Since April 2024, his top management position provides ESA with broad expertise and management of ESA policies such as Financial, Administrative, Human Resources, IT and investment in infrastructures. Director work encompasses financial structured instruments for the funding (in excess of annual 7 B€), the human capital and corporate services for the execution of the European space programmes and in-space operations, as well as providing a full range of resources for public programmes management, the management of facilities in several ESA establishments and centres across Europe. Previously as ESA Legal Counsel for 12 years, he has been advisor to the ESA Director General and managed an international team of lawyers qualified in all areas relevant to space programmes, including interpretation of the ESA Convention, regulations, national legislation, as well as legal, policy and regulatory instruments to develop the space sector.

Marco led ESA negotiations of international space agreements, advising on landmark space projects in cooperation with governments and institutions, such as NASA and other space agencies and operators, preparing and submitting decisions for the approval of space programmes and related international agreements.

For leading the ESA team to successful conclusion of the Lunar Gateway agreements, contributing to the Artemis programme, he was awarded the 2020 ESA Teamwork Excellence Award. Marco has been acting in space advocacy, representing European sector interests at international conferences such as ITU, IAC, UNIDROIT or the UNCOPUOS.

Marco Ferrazzani holds a law doctor degree from University of Naples and attended post graduate law courses at Harvard Law School and Georgetown University Law Center.

He authored and presented over 100 conference and journal publications and is regularly invited to panel discussions and academic lectures on the functioning of European space institutions and on laws applicable to Outer space.

He is a graduate of the Italian military school Nunziatella and completed a one-year fellowship with the French Institute of Defence studies (IHEDN) in 2006.

Fellow of the Athens Public International Law Center. Board Member of European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) and of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Member of the Editorial Board of the series Studies in Space Law and for the German Journal of Air and Space Law.  As ESA representative in ECSL he received in 2017 the IISL Certificate of recognition for services rendered to the development of international space law.

In 2021 Marco Ferrazzani has been awarded the honour title of Cavaliere (Knight) by the President of the Italian Republic.

Download the full list of publications here.

email: ferrazz@law.uoa.gr