The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has announced the appointment of Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, as IARU Satellite Advisor, effective immediately. Blondeel Timmerman succeeds Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, who had served as IARU Satellite Advisor since 1994. Van de Groenendaal established many of the Amateur Satellite frequency coordination procedures and has been a critical contributor to the IARU coordination process.

The IARU Satellite Advisor represents the IARU to the satellite community and the various amateur satellite organizations and performs satellite frequency coordination. In addition, the Satellite Advisor maintains a database of coordination requests and letters, reports to the IARU Administrative Council on issues related to satellites and satellite frequency coordination, and, if requested, provides technical and operational advice to assist in representing the Amateur Satellite service to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). A panel of volunteer satellite advisory members assist the Satellite Advisor.

Licensed since 1980, Blondeel Timmerman served VERON as its HF Manager from 2000 until 2001 and as Vice President from 2001 until 2008. He was a member of the IARU Region 1 Executive Committee from 2002 until 2008 and served as IARU Region 1 President from 2008 until 2014. He has been European DX Foundation (EUDXF) President since 2004 is a member of the YASME Foundation Board of Directors.

Blondeel Timmerman retired from the Netherlands Army Signal Corps after a 38-year career working on satellite projects and spectrum management.

The IARU expressed its gratitude to van de Groenendaal for his excellent work and thanked him for his years of service. He will remain as special advisor to the satellite committee.