© 2026 International Institute of Space Law (IISL). All Rights Reserved.
Officers
and
Board of Director
➤ Responsibilities
The Board of Directors is elected by the General Assembly and is responsible for the efficient and effective management and supervision of the activities and affairs of the Institute in accordance with its Statutes and Bylaws. The Board meets twice per year and is composed of twenty-one members, five of whom serve as Officers (President, two Vice Presidents, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer).
➤ Tasks and qualification criteria
The general task of all board members is to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and General Assembly and to actively contribute to the realisation of the purposes and objectives of the Institute. The Board members maintain the highest ethical standards and act in the best interest of the Institute.
➤ Elections
Board members are elected for three-year terms and may be re-elected. Elections are run electronically and are managed by an Election Committee, appointed each year by the General Assembly.
Current IISL Officers
President: Highest-ranking Officer of the Institute, chair all conferences and meetings of the Institute and perform all duties pertaining to the office.
Vice-Presidents: Actively assist the President and carry out duties assigned by the General Assembly, the Board of Directors or the President.
Executive Secretary: Keep the minutes of meetings, give notice of meetings and generally perform all duties the office may require.
Treasurer: Custodian of all funds of the Institute, manage the Institute’s accounts and disburse funds upon submission of appropriate bills or statements.
Member of the Board: Individual Member or designated representative of an Institutional Member, significant experience in the juridical or social science aspects of space activities, committed to the Purposes and Objectives of the Institute.
Lesley-Jane Smith
President
Nationality: UK/Germany
Olavo de Oliveira Bittencourt Neto
Interim Vice-President Term: 2025 – 2028
Nationality: Brazil
Ranjana Kaul
Vice-President (Term: 2024 – 2027)
Nationality: India
Dennis Burnett
Treasurer (Term: 2023 – 2026)
Nationality: United States
P.J. Blount
Executive Secretary (Term: 2023 – 2026)
Nationality: United States
Current IISL Members of the Board of Directors