Matie alumna, aerospace engineer and climate-tech entrepreneur Fama Jallow is a woman of firsts – The Gambia’s first licensed female drone pilot and first astronaut candidate working towards a spaceflight qualification by 2029 through Titans Space Industries.

Fama’s journey has not only been about reaching beyond the stars. She’s been looking at the world from a completely different angle while questioning how technology can be used to solve real challenges facing communities in Africa.

“I saw firsthand how issues like climate change, food insecurity, flooding, and environmental instability affect everyday communities, yet many of the data tools and systems needed to respond effectively on the ground remained inaccessible or were nonexistent,” explains Fama, who completed a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China in 2022.

In 2023, she enrolled at Stellenbosch University (SU) for a master’s in mechanical engineering.

“As I became more exposed to aerospace and engineering, I discovered the power of satellite technologies, Earth observation, and geospatial data, and realised that some of the world’s biggest challenges can be better understood from above.”

Her master’s research explored the use of 3D-printed titanium structures to improve the efficiency and performance of hydrogen production systems, thereby advancing clean energy technologies.

She describes her time at SU as a “deeply transformative experience”.

“It was a period of personal growth, leadership development, and learning how to connect research with real-world impact. Beyond the technical research, my studies helped me develop the mindset to approach complex problems with both analytical thinking and creativity, while constantly asking how engineering solutions could make a meaningful difference.”

This approach was strengthened by the mentorship she received from her supervisors, Dr Melody Neaves and Dr Gerrit Ter Haar.

In 2025, she co-founded Hisia Space, a climate-tech and geospatial intelligence company, focused on improving access to environmental and Earth observation data across Africa. The company uses satellite data, artificial intelligence and geospatial technologies to turn fragmented climate and environmental information into practical insights for governments, researchers, startups and communities.

“I believe space technologies can become powerful tools for solving real-world challenges on Earth, and create more resilient and informed societies globally, particularly across vulnerable communities in Africa.”

Fama’s views on leadership, purpose, and impact were further shaped by opportunities like being selected as a fellow of the United States’ Young African Leaders Initiative programme and being awarded a Mandela Rhodes Foundation Scholarship in 2022. 

These experiences turned her into an empathetic, collaborative and purpose-driven servant leader focused on “creating opportunities for others”.

Some of her most memorable moments over the last five years include being awarded the Äänit Prize by the Mandela Rhodes Foundation for the positive social impact Hisia is creating in marginalised communities in Africa and speaking at the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit.

At present, Fama serves as the African Space Education Programme Coordinator and the National Point of Contact for The Gambia under the Space Generation Advisory Council, a global non-profit organisation and network that supports and is represented on the United Nations Programme on Space Applications.

Fama’s success has not come without challenges. As a young African woman in a field that remains largely male-dominated, she has often had to navigate added scrutiny and “prove your technical capabilities and the value of the problems you are trying to solve”. 

She understands that her success carries meaning beyond personal achievement, especially for young African women who are underrepresented in her fields.

“Simply existing and building within these spaces can help inspire other young African women to see themselves in industries they may have once thought were out of reach.”

Her advice to women STEM students is to value the perspectives they bring to the fields: “The world needs more people building with empathy, purpose and diverse lived experiences.”

Drawing on the legacy of the youth of 1976, she hopes her own journey of pushing boundaries will inspire others to dream even bigger.

“My work shows what is possible when young Africans are given access to education, innovation and opportunity. I hope my work in aerospace, climate-tech and geospatial intelligence will build solutions that improve lives, while also creating pathways for more young Africans, especially young women, to see themselves as builders, innovators, scientists and leaders.”