TV Personality Victoria Bonya and Model Victoria Silvstedt / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference Gala Dinner

Colonel Ron Garan visited the Principality upon the initiation of Monaco resident Zsolt Szemerszky, to meet and greet the future generation. Local students enjoyed an exciting and insightful presentation about space and had the chance to ask the former-NASA Astronaut their most intriguing questions.

Monaco Students attend ELEVATE Monte-Carlo / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference

ISM Students with Ron Garan — Monaco Students attend ELEVATE Monte-Carlo / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference

The conference, driven by awe and wonder with actionable takeaways, was followed by a spectacular two-Michelin star VIP dinner prepared by renowned SBM chef, Marcel Ravin. The gala dinner was attended by Monaco dignitaries, socialites, and UHNW individuals, with a combined net worth of 27 billion euros. Among the distinguished guests, one could find Cécile and Antoine de Massy, Bernard d’Alessandri, Alexey Antropov, Safia El Malqui, David Yakobashvili, Marina Melia, Vitaly Malkin, Victoria Silvstedt, Victoria Bonya, Régis Bergonzi amongst other influential guests.

Baroness Cécile de Massy with son Antoine de Massy / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference Gala Dinner

During the daytime, Ron Garan held a public conference inspiring the guests with amazing stories of spaceflights and spacewalks from his journey beyond the edge of space, as well as the evolution of his perspective on humanity.

Zsolt Szemerszky, David Yakobashvili, Victoria Logvinsky, Vitaly Malkin / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference Gala Dinner

The conference’s main message was that we can achieve more together in peace and unity. Ron Garan’s philosophy is to zoom out to a greater perspective where we can see one planet as one borderless spaceship, called planet Earth. This can foster collaborative environments where teammates can achieve their true potential.

Safia El Malqui with Ron Garan / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference

The Astronaut’s message was in harmony with the thoughts of the Chilean philosopher, Dario Salas Sommer, known especially for his exploration of moral aspects of human life and personal development.

A private letter from the Chilean philosopher, founder of the Latin American Foundation Simon Bolivar was at the disposal of the organisers thanks to a Monaco resident student of the late philosopher.

Bernard d'Alessandri, Alexey Antropov — Bernard d’Alessandri, Alexey Antropov / ELEVATE Monte-Carlo Space Conference Gala Dinner

In this letter, written a year before his death, Dario Salas Sommer said:

“Human beings and nations urgently need to reach an understanding by communicating with each other in a genuine and harmonious manner. If not, their actions turn against them and as a species and as humanity we are inexorably bound to disappear.”