Géraldine Naja with the WIA-Europe award

ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja received the 2026 Women In Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe) Outstanding Achievement Award on 7 October 2026, recognising her leadership and longstanding contribution to European space activities.

Accepting the award on the third day of the 77th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2026, she reflected on her career at ESA and the collaborative nature of Europe's space endeavour. She also highlighted the increasing opportunities available to women across the space sector and the importance of inspiring future generations to pursue careers in the space sector.

“Today, there are more opportunities than ever for women to build careers, lead projects and bring their ideas and unique perspectives to our sector. As a mother of two daughters, this is also something that resonates with me personally. I hope they, and all young women, feel that there is a place for them to contribute, lead and shape the future of space”, she said.