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Dirk Fabian is an experienced technical project lead at SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, where responsibilities include managing online program development, strategy, and IT systems, as well as overseeing the Startup Challenge, a business pitch competition for emerging photonics companies. As community lead, Dirk manages various professional development initiatives and networking programs, while also organizing events as student services lead. Previous experience includes serving as a senior guide at Wilderness Inquiry, where Dirk focused on making outdoor trips accessible to individuals with diverse abilities, and conducting graduate research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in kinematics and chemistry. Dirk holds an MBA from Western Washington University, an MSc in Astronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BS in Astronomy from Villanova University, complemented by studies at the University of St Andrews.