President Marcos has appointed Gay Jane Perez as the director general of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), where she previously served as the officer-in-charge.
As the head of the agency, Perez expressed her commitment to advance the Philippines' Yamang Kalawaka, which refers to the emergent Philippine space ecosystem, by strengthening the national space ecosystem, advancing research and innovation, and expanding partnerships in support of an inclusive and sustainable national space program.
Before her appointment, Perez was the deputy director general for Space Science and Technology (DDGSST) from 2021. She brought with her extensive experience in space science, research and development, and institutional leadership.
Prior to PhilSA, she led the science team behind the development of the Philippines' first microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, two landmark missions that laid the groundwork for subsequent space technology initiatives, including the ongoing development of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite.
Perez, a recipient of the 2021 National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Outstanding Young Scientist and the 2019 The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award, is also the first Filipino awardee of the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women.
She was recognized for her groundbreaking research using satellite data to forecast droughts and enhance agricultural productivity. Her contributions have also been acknowledged by the Senate of the Philippines through Resolution No. 923 (17th Congress), underscoring the global excellence of Filipino scientists.
Recently, Perez represented the Philippines in key international space initiatives, including collaborative agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the United Nations Space4Ocean initiative, and the Artemis Accords, which promote the safe, transparent, and sustainable civil exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies.
She earned her doctorate in Physics from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and completed her postdoctoral research at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where she specialized in remote sensing and satellite data applications.