Rastislav Sopko has long been involved in sales and marketing in managerial positions, mainly in the energy sector. He is also active in environmental issues through several platforms. He has been working as a Director of the Mám Dron Association since the beginning of 2022.

Martin is the Director, Future of Security Programme at GLOBSEC, focusing on European security and defence policy issues and Transatlantic . In 2023, Martin served as Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic, as part of a technocratic government.

Previously, Martin served as Director General for Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic. He was responsible for developing and implementing defence policy, defence planning and international cooperation.  Between 2011 and 2020 he worked at the at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic as the Security Policy Director and was posted to the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, DC. He transferred to the MFEA in 2011 from the Slovak Ministry of Defence, where he held various positions, including Director for International Relations. The Ministry of Defence posted Martin to Brussels to be its representative in working bodies of the EU Council from 2006 to 2009. In 2010 he deployed to UNMIK in Pristina, Kosovo as a UN Volunteer.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic and Government Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence

Ing. Radoslav Štefánek is an experienced leader in the field of digital transformation and innovation in public administration. He specializes in strategic management and crisis management and has long held key positions in state administration as well as in public enterprises.

At the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, he leads the main agendas of digital transformation of public administration, including information technologies, innovation, and cybersecurity. He is responsible for strategic coordination, policy-making, and effective implementation of the ministry’s priorities. Based on Government Resolution of the Slovak Republic No. 368 of 4 July 2025, he was appointed Government Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence.

In the past, he served as Director General of the Railways of the Slovak Republic (2023) and as a board member and Director of Services at the Slovak Railway Company (2016–2022). At the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, he held several managerial positions, including Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the Service Office (2012–2016), Director of the Management Support Department, and Director General of the Social Affairs Inspectorate (2024–2025).

He studied Marketing and Management at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, where he obtained the degree of Engineer (Ing.). He further pursued professional education at RISEBA University of Applied Sciences in Riga, focusing on project management.

Ing. PhDr. Ľubomír ANDRASSY, MBA. – President of the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic | Experienced Economist and Public Administration Analyst | Focused on Transparency, Efficient Use of Public Resources, and Modernization of Audit Processes.
I have long been active in the field of public finance and local government, with an emphasis on open communication and strengthening citizens’ trust in institutions. My goal is to bring innovative solutions into state auditing and to support the connection between audit findings and higher-quality public policies.

Mr. Eyal Engel, a Major (Reserve), serves as the Director of UAV Sales & BizDev. for Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). With a distinguished background as a former UAV Pilot and flight instructor at the Israeli Air Force (IAF), he has been operating UAVs since 1995. Focusing on the European market, Mr. Engel is committed to delivering cuttingedge technology and UAV systems to the Slovak Republic. His expertise and strategic vision are focused on providing the most upto- date solutions to meet the evolving needs of the region. Through his role at IAI, Mr. Engel aims to strengthen partnerships and enhance capabilities, ensuring Slovakia remains at the forefront of UAV innovation and security.

Until 2024, Štefan worked in key Czech and Slovak state institutions in the field of civil aviation, where he dealt with the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the common airspace. He has been a member of several international and national working groups dealing with the issue of UAS and protection against their illegal operation. Currently, he and his team at ZEPHYR UAS are involved in the integration of UAS into commercial corporate environments, consultancy services and the provision of complex advanced UAS services, with a particular focus on the energy, security, construction and civil aviation sectors.

Gergely Németh is a defence policy planner with 20 years of experience in the defence sector. He has led the development of key strategic documents, including the HDF Force Vision 2032 (2017), the Hungarian National Security Strategy (2020), the Hungarian National Military Strategy (2021), and NATO’s Strategic Foresight Analysis (2023). As Hungary’s national representative to NATO’s Defence Policy and Planning Committee (DPPC), he contributed to the development of major NATO initiatives, including the Defence Investment Pledge (2014) and the Readiness Action Plan (2016).

His previous roles include: Deputy Defence Counsellor to NATO (2013–2017); Deputy National Armaments Director (2018–2019); Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy (2019–2022); and Head of Strategic Foresight at NATO Allied Command Transformation (2022–2024).

Dr. Németh holds a PhD in War Studies and an MA in Defence Policy from the Hungarian National Defence University. He completed executive education at George Washington University (National Security Executive Program) and earned a Certificate in Strategic Foresight from the University of Houston. He is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Foresight Network, Chair of the US Army West Point Social Sciences Seminar, Futures and Defence Planning Working Group (2024, 2025, 2026) and Director of Science for the Hungarian War Sciences Association (since 2025).

He is a recipient of the Ordre du Mérite National.

Imrich Petruf is recognized as an expert in defense and security technologies. In his presentation, he will focus on anti-drone systems, highlight the role of electronic warfare, and explore the potential of deploying tactical cloud solutions in managing military operations. He will also discuss current trends and technological challenges shaping the future of the digital battlefield.

Mr. Frank – Marketing and Business Development at Elbit Systems – 25 years in Unmanned platform as an operator, system engineer, poject manager, marketing and buisness development.  

Imrich Marton worked in foreign service (2000-2024). He served in New York, Budapest and London. From 2018 till 2024 he was Director for Analyses and Policy Planning in the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. He studied law at Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Foreign Service Programme at the Oxford University. Currently he is PhD Candidate at Comenius University Bratislava, Associate Partner in Adapt Institute and founder of foresight platform Facta Pro Futura (www.factaprofutura.com).

Alida is a marketing specialist at Air Navigation Services. She leads the “Létejte zodpovědně / Czech Drone Rules” campaign and believes that even complex drone regulations can be explained in a simple, clear, and in a way that everyone can understand. By combining professional expertise with a human-centered approach, she helps create an environment where flying is safe, responsible, and open to everyone interested in this technology.

Major Ing. Mário MALATINEC works in the Flight Safety Department of the Air Force Command of the Slovak Armed Forces.  In 2000, he graduated from the SNP Military Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš, Faculty of Air Defense. Since 2016, he has served as a civil aviation officer at Sliač Airport, and since 2019, he has worked in the Flight Safety Department of the Slovak Air Force Command. In 2019, he completed the Inter-European Aviation Safety Program Management course at Kapun Air Station, Germany.

Pavol Miroššay is a graduate of the Technical University of Košice, where he began his career as a programmer. He worked as a project and line manager in the IT sector and later led the Košice IT Valley association, focusing on the development of the IT ecosystem in Eastern Slovakia. He played a key role in establishing the state-owned company Slovensko IT and led projects such as GreenPass and Slovakia in Mobile. Today, he serves as Director of Communication, Strategy, and Transformation at Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Košice IT Valley. Over the long term, he has been connecting technology, business, and community with the goal of fostering innovative regional development.

Viliam Ostatník, M.A., Ph.D., is a researcher at the Department of Political Science at the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, where he focuses on the privatisation of warfare, more specifically on private military corporations and their impact on the core functions of the modern state and on the international system/security. He is a graduate of the University of Bologna, Italy. Viliam is also a Director for Research at the Adapt Institute in Bratislava, where he leads projects and initiatives regarding the automotive industry and the defence industry, especially regarding geo-economic resilience and security. In 2022, Viliam was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy at the Brussels School of Governance (VUB) in Brussels. Viliam also works as a private consultant for security and defence. 

Josef Navrátil is the Head of the Drone Division at SIT in Pilsen, where he bridges cutting-edge drone technologies with real-world applications in the public sector. His team works on projects ranging from territorial mapping and monitoring to emergency drone deployments in rescue operations.

Beyond management, he remains active in the field, testing new technologies and sharing his expertise with students. He believes that drones have far greater potential than military use alone – they can become a vital tool for protecting people, the environment, and critical infrastructure.

Tomáš is a designer, entrepreneur, and tech enthusiast who loves pushing boundaries.

– Co-founder of Overhead4D – A company that is „Turning reality into an immersive experience.“ by using photogrammetry, laser scanning, VR, XR and AI. Their work spans across cultural heritage, virtual movie production, industrial inspection, architecture, and real estate.

– Co-founder of 3DISE – A conference dedicated to immersive and reality capture technologies, connecting experts and innovators.

Before becoming and enterpreneur, Tomáš worked as an automotive designer at Volkswagen. His greatest achievement is the redesign of the Volkswagen logo, which replaced the previous version in 2020.

Lucia continually develops her expertise in content marketing, communication strategy, and employer branding. She is currently focused on enhancing communication and customer experience at Pelicantravel.com. Passionate about working with brands, LinkedIn, and connecting people, she thrives on creating engaging and authentic communication.

Martin Pistovčák is the 17-year-old Co-Founder and COO of Aerostacks, a startup using drones, satellites, and AI to enhance avalanche risk prediction and mountain safety. He has gained research experience at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University, building a strong foundation in applied science. Martin is currently studying at GAMČA Gymnázium in Bratislava, where he combines his academic journey with leading Aerostacks’ operations and partnerships.

Michal Haverlík is the 17-year-old CEO and Co-Founder of Aerostacks, a startup developing drone- and satellite-based technologies to advance avalanche risk prediction and mountain safety. He has gained early research experience at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and built a track record as a winner of multiple international hackathons, where he began shaping his entrepreneurial journey. Michal is currently studying at GAMČA Gymnázium in Bratislava, combining his academic path with leading Aerostacks’ vision, strategy, and innovation.

Kristína Krajčírová is a Consultant at the Investment Projects Department of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO). Together with her colleagues, she provides advisory services to investors in the areas of investment aid, R&D tax super-deduction, site selection, and identification of local suppliers. SARIO is a government agency operating under the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, funded from the state budget. Its mission is to attract high value-added investments to Slovakia and contribute to the country’s regional development, while also supporting Slovak companies in expanding to global markets. The agency’s vision is to help transform Slovakia into a technologically advanced and innovative economy and to be a strong partner for companies considering investment in Central Europe.

Martina HLAVATÁ, Operational Project Engineer, EUROCONTROL

Martina is an Operational Project Engineer at EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub, where she supports research, innovation, and simulation activities to advance European aviation. Her work focuses on the development and validation of new air traffic management concepts within SESAR and other R&I projects, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders both from manned and unmanned aviation sector, namely from industry, air navigation service providers, airlines and academia.

She holds diverse roles, from validation specialist to regulation and standardisation lead, contributing to the development of new operational concepts and helping stakeholders address real-world challenges. Her projects span air traffic control and airline operations, involving close cooperation with pilots, dispatchers, ATCOs, as well as interacting with the drone community.

Martina is engaged in research on fairness in U-space as part of the CORUS five project and is also pursuing a PhD. focused on Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management. She brings a strong background in ATM and engineering, with a passion for shaping the future of aviation.

Ing. Jaroslav Šulc is the second co-founder of the companies APROP/ZEPHYR. Since 1989, he has worked first in military and later in civil aviation, where he held various technical and operational positions. He has over 25 years of experience as a flight calibration inspector, focusing mainly on the safety and quality of air navigation service provision. He is also a long-time instructor in this field.