Elif Yüksel

Biography

Elif Yüksel is a pioneering Turkish practitioner in international space policy and diplomacy, providing strategic and operational advisory to senior executives and institutional leadership across the international space sector. Her expertise spans diplomacy-oriented space policy, strategy, and governance, strategic partnerships, and institutional and diplomatic capacity development, with a particular focus on the strategic positioning of emerging space nations. She currently serves as Vice President of Business Development at Global Space Solutions LLC. Her advisory work connects executive decision-making with international space policy, diplomacy, market positioning, and cross-border cooperation. Yüksel developed the practitioner-oriented frameworks “Institutionalising Space Diplomacy” and “Operationalising Space Diplomacy”, addressing the institutional foundations of national space diplomacy and the mechanisms required to translate diplomatic mandates into practice. Her distinct “From Orbits to Outcomes” framework. She also developed a Space Diplomacy Task Force model, with Türkiye as its initial case study, to advance institutional coordination and the implementation of national space diplomacy priorities. Her contributions to space policy and diplomacy have received international recognition, including Highly Commended distinction for the 2026 UACES Public Engagement and Impact Award for her broader work on “institutionalising space diplomacy”. A Fulbright scholar, she also co-authored award-winning policy research conducted for NASA on U.S.-China space diplomacy and engagement with emerging space nations, which received the Space Policy Institute’s 2025 Thacher Prize for Outstanding Publication in Space Policy. Beyond her advisory and policy work, she contributes to international policy dialogue and diplomatic capacity development through invited speaking engagements and practitioner-oriented training for diplomats, policymakers, and space professionals.