Team

Namira Salim is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Space Trust. She is internationally renowned as a Collector of Firsts in her capacity as the first Space Tourist from South Asia, First Astronaut from the Common Wealth [excluding the realms], First Pakistani Astronaut, First Astronaut from Monaco and First Female Astronaut from the UAE [Dubai], to have gone to space aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 04 Mission, on 6th October 2023 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, personally introduced Namira to the world press in Dubai in 2006, as one of the earliest Founders of Virgin Galactic. This launch, which was aimed at raising an investor for Virgin Galactic, landed Virgin its biggest stakeholder worth $380 million.

Namira is an avid promoter of Private Spaceflight, the new age of space exploration and a keen advocate of peaceful uses of Space. She has undertaken pioneering peace expeditions to all three poles of the world, and is the first Pakistani and first woman from Monaco and the UAE to have reached the North and South Poles in 2007/08, as well as the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over Mount Everest during the historic First Everest Skydives in 2008.

Namira holds an Ivy League Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. She has held official peace themed events and exhibitions during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, UNESCO’s Executive Board and UNESCO’s OIC Day in Paris and has held events under the Patronage of Royalty from Monaco and Dubai.

Namira has served as Honourary Ambassador of Tourism for Pakistan and as First Honourary Consul of Pakistan to Monaco, having spearheaded diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2009. She is based in the Principality of Monaco since 1997. Namira was decorated with the Medal of Excellence by the President of Pakistan in 2011.

Namira currently serves on the Henley & Partners’ Board of Advisors and its Global Citizen Award Committee.

Namira Salim has been a keynote speaker at the following conferences.

COMMERCIAL SPACE AS A STIMULUS FOR INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION TOWARD THE MOON, MARS AND BEYOND presented at a High Level Panel during the 21st Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference in Washington D.C. United States, Wednesday February 7th 2018.

0G PEACE MISSION 2020 presented at the High Level Panel during the United Nations – United Arab Emirates High Level Forum in Dubai in the lead up to UNISPACE+50. United Arab Emirates, November 9th 2017.

(Zero Gravity) 0G SUMMIT – MAKING “SPACE FOR WOMEN” LEADERS presented at the UNOOSA-UN Women United Nations Expert Meeting on Space for Women in New York. United States, October 4th 2017.

0G SUMMIT – SPACE DIPLOMACY IN THE AGE OF NEWSPACE presented a Global Networking Forum during the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide. Australia, September 27th 2017.

0G SUMMIT on the sidelines of the UNGA 2017 held in partnership with Concordia Summit in New York. United States, September 18th 2017.

0G SUMMIT – SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN A NEW SPACE AGE presented during the Breakout Session on Space Diplomacy at the United Nations Office of outer Space Affairs – UAE High Level Forum in Dubai in the lead up to UNISPACE+50. United Arab Emirates, November 22nd 2016.

SPACE NEW FRONTIER FOR PEACE – Keynote Address during the conference marking the launch of SPACE TRUST, a non-profit initiative by Namira Salim, inaugurated by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Principality of Monaco, November 2015

SPACE FINAL FRONTIER FOR PEACE – Keynote Address during the 63rd World Congress of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondial (FCEM), organized by Bahrain’s Business & Professional Women International Federation, inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SWC). Kingdom of Bahrain, March 2015

INAUGURATION OF THE CONSULATE OF PAKISTAN TO THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO – Keynote Address by Namira Salim, as the First Honourary Consul of Pakistan to Monaco, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco and His Excellency Mr. Michel Roger, the former Prime Minister of Monaco. Principality of Monaco, March 2012

BEYOND THE POLES – Keynote Address and documentary premiere at Pakistan Airforce Academy upon the personal invitation of Chief of Air Staff, featuring Namira Salim’s peace expeditions to the three poles of the world and milestone events with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. Risalpur, Pakistan 2011

BEYOND THE POLES – Conference participation and documentary premiere at UNESCO featuring Namira Salim’s peace expeditions to the three poles of the world and milestone events with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, during the OIC Day in UNESCO. Paris, September 2011

FIRST PAKISTANI ASTRONAUT – Key Note Address during the nation-wide press launch and exclusive press conference by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan. Islamabad, August 2006

FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT FROM DUBAI – Q & A with AFP. Official launch of Namira Salim as one of the earliest Founders of Virgin Galactic by Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, during a global press conference marking the launch of Virgin Galactic. Dubai, March 2006

Namira Salim has organized visually compelling exhibitions with engaging audio visual content during the following exclusive presentations, official events and top conferences of the world, since 2000.

SPACE NEW FRONTIER FOR PEACE – During 2015 – Russian Year in Monaco. In the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. A solo exhibition marking the launch of SPACE TRUST, a non-profit initiative by Namira Salim. Principality of Monaco, November 2015

BEYOND THE POLES – Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Member of the Ruling Family of Dubai, President DCAA, Chairman & CEO Emirates Airline & Group. A solo exhibition and documentary launch, directed by Namira Salim about her peace expeditions to the three poles of the world and milestone events with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. Dubai, May 2011

SAARC SOULS IN HARMONY – Official solo exhibition during the SAARC Summit in Pakistan, highest Regional Meeting of South Asia. Islamabad, January 2004

PEACE MAKING WITH NATIONS SOULS – Official solo exhibition in support of the United Nations General Assembly “Special Session for Children.” Innovative revolving jewelled art objects containing build-in messages in the actual voices of World Leaders. New York, May 2002

PEACE MAKING WITH NATION SOULS – Exclusive presentation for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Principality of Monaco, 2002

PEACE AND SOUL – Official solo exhibition of mixed media sculptures and decorative arts during the Executive Board of UNESCO. Paris, October 2000

PURELY A SOUL AFFAIR. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Member of the ruling family of the UAE, President of DCCA, Chairman & CEO of Emirates Airline & Group. A solo exhibition of mixed media and decorative arts. Dubai, September 2000

A SOUL AFFAIR – Exclusive unveiling for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Principality of Monaco, December 1999

Namira Salim creates a signature line of exquisite arts and collectibles, conceived and designed in Monaco since 1998.

These have made high level gifts to the following Statesmen.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. 2000 – Present

HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruling Family of Dubai, President DCAA, Chairman & CEO Emirates Airline & The Emirates Group. 2000, 2011

H.E. Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa. 2000

HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Former President of the UAE. 1990s

HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. 2000

HH Sheikha Fatimah, wife of Former President of the UAE. 2000

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group. March 2006, November 2006

HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Former Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, UAE. 2006

His Excellency General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan. February 2008

His Excellency President Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan. December 2010

Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, The Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan. June 2010