My name is Zach Foltz, I am currently a research engineer at ACRI-ST, a remote sensing company in the South of France. My work primarily consists of supporting ESA on activities related to the International Charter ‘Space and Major disasters’ and the ‘Committee on Earth Observations Satellites’ Working Group on Disasters, which are both humanitarian initiatives involving the use of Earth Observation data to better manage disaster situations worldwide. The International Charter focuses on the immediate response phase of natural and man-made disaster events, such as floods, wildfires, Earthquakes, oil spills, etc. During disasters, satellites from the 17 member agencies of the Charter provide rapid imagery of the affected areas, even in remote or inaccessible regions. This information can aid experts in assessing damages, organizing relief operations, and planning the best way to rebuild. I come from the Gulf coast of Florida, in the United States, which is a region frequently affected by hurricanes. I was always interested in science and nature, with an unwavering motivation to figure out how the natural world works. I studied Civil Engineering with a focus in water resources. During my bachelor’s degree I participated in a study abroad program at TU Delft in the Netherlands, where I studied urban planning. This experience motivated me to explore options for moving abroad, eventually deciding on a master’s degree in Environmental Hazards and Risks Management at the University of Nice in France. My transition from Civil engineering to the Earth Observation and disaster management sphere stems from combining my technical background with a passion for the critical environmental challenges we face as a society today.