Meet the Team
Dr. Derek Houtz - CEO
With his PhD in Aerospace engineering, specializing in microwave remote sensing, Derek has been engaged in environmental monitoring for over a decade. Derek built the first TerraRad Tech prototypes in his lab at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
Robert Sedin - COO
With his education and background in International Business, Robert oversees much of the daily operations. In leading the corporate development efforts, he is inspired by the unique market potential of TerraRad and the profound benefit it can have for our natural world.
Lars Horvath - CTO
Lars has a background in Electrical Engineering where he focused his master at ETH Zürich in RF and Chip design. He first lead the product engineering and is now resposible for the R&D and manufacturing.
Stefan Kammerlander - CFO
With his education and background in financing and accounting, Stefan is overseeing our financials.
Simon Bourguigne
Lead Electrical Design Engineer
Simon Bourguigne is an Electrical Engineer with almost a decade of experience in the hardware design industry. He brings the practical skill needed to turn a conceptual design into manufacturable product and be able to scale production. At Terrarad, he will be overseeing design, testing and manufacturing
Santiago Fux
Lead Firmware Engineer
Strategic Advisors
Shaen Bernhardt
Counsel and Business Development
Mr. Bernhardt holds a Bachelor of the Arts in International Relations with a concentration in Security Studies from Boston University, a Juris Doctor with concentrations in National Security Law and Securities Law from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Mr. Bernhardt has also studied International Law at the University of Florence, and International Business at the University of St. Gallen’s HSG.
Mr. Bernhardt is a founder or principal of several start-up ventures.
Hansjürg Valentin
Board Member
Hansjürg Valentin has extensive experience in company leadership, having served as the CEO and President of Valentin Pontresina AG for over 40 years. Hansjürg maintains a large network of potential investors in the Engadin valley of Graubünden, Switzerland..
Dr. Mike Schwank
Chief Scientific Advisor
Mike has spent the last 30+ years studying passive microwave remote sensing of soil and snow. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and his PhD in Physics, Mike has significantly contributed to the ESA Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission, as well as pioneeering many cryospheric remote sensing tehcniques.