François Poncin has extensive experience spanning over 20 years in the financial sector across Asia, having worked in Vietnam, Taiwan, and currently Japan since 2006. While holding management positions in the finance industry, François harbored a profound passion for space exploration. He firmly believes that space activities hold the key to addressing humanity's major challenges in the decades to come. Advocating for international collaboration, peaceful use, and sustainable practices in space, François aligns closely with SPACETIDE’s vision.

After three years of pro-bono involvement in SPACETIDE’s Corporate Planning Office, François joined the foundation full-time in July 2025. In this role, he continues to foster relationships with international stakeholders and to support the foundation’s mission. His main interests center around cis-lunar exploration and development, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), in-orbit servicing/manufacturing, and sustainability—both on Earth through the utilization of space assets and within the space environment itself—seeing these elements as indispensable building blocks to fully realize the potential of the space economy.

François holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Management from HEC Paris and is an alumnus of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program.

Outside of his professional and volunteer activities, François enjoys playing music, traveling with his family, and practicing Aikido.