New Approaches — Nelly Ben, Founder and Futurist, Nelly Ben Studios

Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian PhD (she/they) is an award winning designer of experiences, creative director and director with over a decade of experience working to build platforms that support plurality, the creation of organized communities and 'impossible' productions, public events, expeditions and projects with socio-political impacts. Uncategorizable, she is also a filmmaker, radio host, keynote speaker, amateur boxer and the author and director of five feature-length movies. She is the founder and director of the International Space Orchestra the world’s first orchestra of NASA space scientists and astronauts. Mattel thought Nelly’s work was so out of this world they created an Nelly Astronaut Barbie.