Our 2025 Speakers

Jahangir Ahmad is the Group Managing Director of NETS International Group globally, where he has led the transformation of the company from a regional player into a multinational force in telecom, energy infrastructure, and digital innovation. An engineer by training and Georgia Tech...

Mashood Ahmad is the CEO and founder of Gigabit IQ, an award-winning UK broadband provider dedicated to delivering safer, smarter, and faster internet through fully managed Wi-Fi and industry-leading online safety tools. A recognised voice in digital inclusion and child online protection, Mashood...

Paul Alexander is VP - Market Unit Head, Nokia UK&I & Head of Cloud Infrastructure, Europe. Having dived into Telecoms straight from university in the very early 90’s, Paul has witnessed first-hand the evolution of communications from the first generation of Mobile Telephony through to...

40+ years in telecoms, first in finance at Morgan Stanley, then operationally at Broadway Partners, focused on rural broadband, and now at Seneca Enterprise, delivering intelligent connectivity solutions to SMEs and the public sector.

Ste leads the Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity team at Worcestershire County Council, he was the SRO of the Worcestershire 5G, focussed on Industry 4.0 and Security by Design, that built the first 5G network in a UK factory; he’s led the transition into nexGworx, a new entity providing...

Lucy is an experienced leader in the telecoms industry, delivering large scale communication programmes critical to public safety. In her role as Head of ESN Customer Advocacy, Lucy gained the confidence of senior leaders from UK’s Emergency Services Network to aide their adoption of the network. ...

David Barber has more than two decades experience in the telecommunications sector. He joined Zen as Sales Executive in December 2000 and has held various positions throughout the business before becoming Portfolio Director in June 2021 and joining Zen’s Executive Committee (ExCo).More recently...

Jennie Bayliss is a visionary leader with a passion for driving innovation and transformation in the telecommunications industry. As the CEO of Mantralis, a leading technology company specializing in connectivity solutions, Jennie has a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge strategies that ...

Daren Baythorpe is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at ITS. Daren is a dynamic leader who drives the strategy, growth and direction of ITS. He has led the business to be the UK’s leading business fibre network, building innovative commercial models across public and private sector, and building a...

Sarah Bazen is currently the Digital Infrastructure Strategic Lead for West Sussex County Council.  Sarah is at the forefront of shaping Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity in the Sussex region, leading the countywide digital agenda on behalf of 8 councils.   With a strong background in...

Natalie Black CBE joined Ofcom in 2024 as Group Director for Communications and Networks and Executive Board Member. She is also responsible for leading Ofcoms’s work on the implications of Artificial Intelligence. Previously, Natalie was the UK’s first His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia...

Dave Boddington is the Group Product Manager for RCS (Rich Communication Services) at Infobip, a global leader in omnichannel communication solutions. With over a decade of experience in the mobile and telecommunications industry, Dave has a proven track record of driving product innovation and...

As a Director at AI & Partners, Europe's leading professional services firm for firms subject to the EU AI Act, this leverages 10+ years of experience in financial services, compliance, and technology to help clients navigate the complex and evolving regulatory landscape of AI. This...

David works for the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government and leads the team responsible for delivering Scotland’s Digital Telecare, Shared Alarm Receiving Centre and Telecare Data programme’s. Prior to moving into this role, he was a Senior Manager with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care...

Sir Chris Bryant was appointed Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 July 2024. Previously he served as Chair of the House of Commons Committees of Standards and Privileges from 2020 to 2023 and a Member of the Foreign...

Currently, Director of Regulatory Policy at All Points Fibre Networks. Previously, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Swish Fibre and then Cuckoo Fibre. Before that, I worked in the Civil Service for almost 20 years, latterly as the Deputy Director for Broadband Regulation & Investment, where I was...

David Burns is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. As the Chairman of UKWISPA (UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association), he is at the forefront of shaping the future of connectivity in the UK. David is known for his strategic...

Dominic Butcher is the Metering Strategy and Operations Manager at Northumbrian Water Group, where he leads the strategy and delivery of the installation and connection of over 1.4m smart meters over the next 10 years. With a strong background in commercial transformation and operational...

Marco Caronna is a seasoned technology executive currently serving as Field CTO at GitLab, where he focuses on the EMEA telecommunications market and partners with DevSecOps teams to deliver strategic value to their organizations. With over two decades of experience in cloud...

Gabija is a senior consultant at STL Partners with a diverse experience of strategic engagements in telecoms and technology industries. She has worked on strategic projects across a variety of domains and has expertise in edge computing and telco transformation. She holds a degree in Economics and...

With over 24 years’ experience, Nandini focuses on accelerating the adoption of innovative digital technologies within UK industry and supply chains. With her expertise spanning a diverse range of technologies such as AI, systems engineering, industrial connectivity and data sciences, Nandini’s...

Ceren Clulow is a nationally recognised strategic leader with over 18 years’ experience in local government, delivering place-based digital innovation that improves lives and drives local economic growth. She was most recently the Programme Director for Connecting Cambridgeshire, where she led one...

With over thirty years’ experience working in frontline and strategic health and social care roles, Glenda recognises and is dedicated to the need for transformational change within the public sector. Ensuring that sustainable, efficacious, and resilient services continue to be developed is at the...

Malcolm Corbett is a director of business consultancy Malvio Ltd. Previously Malcolm founded and was CEO of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (www.inca.coop) until 2025. INCA links public, private and community organisations promoting the development of next generation fibre and...

Welcome to Peira Consulting. We are fully independent UK-based experienced consultants and industry leaders dedicated to providing business and technical consulting solutions for clients in the telecoms and adjacent digital sectors. Our credentials are solid and are cut from decades of experience...

As a principal analyst at STL, Rosalind specialises in mobile private network and manages the Private networks insights service. During 18 years as a telecoms analyst, Rosalind Craven has covered a wide range of topics including customer experience, telecoms IT, strategy and telecoms market...

Working with business, the media and parliamentarians, David is a passionate advocate for investing in service. Drawing on The Institute of Customer Service’s research and leveraging the strength of its member network, he evidences the vital role customer experience plays in enhancing business...

Cathy is Vice President for Visa’s Large Acquirers & Merchants across UK & Ireland; focusing on deepening client partnerships and growing new business by delivering value added services to customers.  Prior to this role she was the Client Director for Barclays, successfully retaining &...

Rajiv has over 25 years’ experience in digital infrastructure centred around the build & management of large fibre-based networks & services in the US, Europe and Asia with a focus on strategy execution, business transformation and operational capability.Rajiv was previously COO at Colt...

Alex heads up the forecasting and consulting projects in Rethink TV, as well as leading the Wireless group - overseeing Wireless Watch, and RAN Research. He particularly enjoys picking the brains of industry experts, to diagnose technologies and business models, and also the occasional rant about...

David is Cartesian's VP for Management Consulting in Telecoms within EMEA and leads Cartesian’s Enterprise practice. David helps service providers manage their large customers, driving efficiency, customer experience, and profitability. His focus is on successful enterprise delivery and helps...

Philippa Davies is Mission Lead for Autonomous & Connected Earth at the Satellite Applications Catapult, where she leads strategy and technology development for space-enabled connectivity and autonomy. Her work focuses on unlocking the potential of space technologies to enable future Network of ...

Claire is the People and Culture Director for ITS, responsible for ensuring we provide a great place to work, with amazing people who are happy, productive, and engaged.A CIPD qualified HR professional with previous industry experience at Amey, as well as more recent experience in a number of small ...

Francisco is responsible for Standardization, Roadmap Evolution and as an advisor on the overall Product and Market Strategy across Radisys, focusing on end-end systems integration and innovation to fulfil market needs in the fixed and ORAN domains. Fran is an active member of the Broadband Forum...

Barry founded SVV (Sure Valley Ventures) in 2017 after successfully building and exiting FeedHenry, the leading mobile cloud middleware platform acquired by Red Hat/IBM. As Managing Partner, he brings firsthand founder experience to help early-stage AI companies navigate the journey from concept to ...

Nicola Egan is a dynamic and forward-thinking Director at NSC Digital, a digital consultancy at the forefront of technical innovation.With over 25 years of experience in Public Sector and 4 years working in collaboration with telecommunications providers, central and local government. Nicola is a...

Karen is Head of Telecoms at the UK’s pre-eminent TMT research firm, Enders Analysis, regularlypublishing on industry-shaping issues such as prospects for altnets, the emergence of eSIMs, consolidationand convergence. Karen has been in the telecoms industry for more than 30 years in a wide variety...

I am a Data Scientist in the AI for Public Services team, within the public policy program at the Alan Turing Institute. I have academic education both in Artificial Intelligence and Economics. Before joining the team, I completed a master’s degree in economics at UCL, following my bachelor and...

Chloe Extremera-Allan is an Investment Manager at Octopus Ventures, one of Europe’s most active venture capital firms. She focuses on high-growth B2B and AI software companies, typically leading investments of £3–15 million.

Shaun is a co-founder of Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI) - the ‘cooperative neutral host’ that enables the sharing of passive digital infrastructure - fibre networks and data centres - by contributor and user members in public and private sectors. CNI now operates in major UK...

Paul Finnis, former CEO of Digital Poverty Alliance, Co-Director of The NextPath Device Consortium I have worked for the last 40 years with and for NGOs in the UK, internationally and in Vietnam. My personal focus has always been on helping young people to thrive in a difficult world and mainly...

3-time winner UK CEO of the Year.Chairman, Airband, one of the rural Altnet’s. We’ve raised another c£200m, since I joined. I champion Fixed Wireless Access as an alternative to uneconomic fibre, in rural areas.  In the first fibre roll-out (Cable TV) I ran 2 of Telewest’s 4 regions:...

With a golden thread of helping people, Jess has a background in employability, skills, recruiting and teaching at both undergraduate and masters level. Passionate about creating a more equitable society, and driving digital inclusion through partnership working and collaboration, Jess leads with...

Tim is the CEO and co-founder of UKAI, the only trade association for AI businesses across the UK. As the founder of several AI businesses, Tim champions the needs of the AI sector, campaigning for policies that will unleash AI’s potential to drive economic growth and social progress. Over his 25...

Jo Furber is the Digital Infrastructure Relationship Manager at West Sussex County Council and plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of connectivity in the region. She's supported local authorities to navigate the complex landscape of telecommunications since the early days of Local...

Paul Furnell is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in the field of safeguarding and creating safer communities. As the Director of Safeguarding & Safer Communities at Mitie, Paul is dedicated to implementing innovative solutions that enhance safety and security for...

As General Manager of Telecoms at Uswitch (RVU), Kushal Ghuwalewala is a leader in driving full fibre broadband adoption across the UK. Over the past five years, Kushal has led the broadband and mobiles business at Uswitch - deepening the relationships with both incumbent and new fibre broadband...

Co-founder and CTO of Brsk, now Group CTO for Substantial Group (Netomnia, YouFibre, Brsk).

As the CEO of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP), Charlotte leads the UK's leading membership body for the telecoms industry. She holds a BSc in Psychology and Counselling from the Open University, combining her academic knowledge with her professional experience to drive...

  Irene is the founding CEO and a board director of the ScaleUp Institute, a private sector, not-for-profit company focused on making the UK the best place in the world to scale up a business.  She is a former senior banker at Standard Chartered where she held both European and global managing ...

Chris Grant has a passion for leveraging technology to create a more inclusive and accessible world. As the Community Team Lead at AbilityNet, Chris is at the forefront of driving positive change and empowering individuals with disabilities through innovative solutions and support services. With a...

David has been in the world of Local Government technology for the past 20 years and is currently responsible for Digital Strategy & Portfolio for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Sutton. He was Programme Director for the South London Partnership Innovate...

Dana Haiden, Chief Sustainability Officer, Virgin Media O2   Dana Haidan joined Virgin Media O2 in November 2022 as the Chief Sustainability Officer, leading the delivery of the ESG strategy, the Better Connections Plan. The plan reflects the company’s long-term commitment to use the power of...

With over a decade of experience, Dr Haider is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture, Computing, and Engineering at the University of East London (UEL). Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Scientist at UEL and a Technical Analyst at the Uptime Institute. Dr. Haider also held...

Donal Hanrahan is a visionary leader with a passion for driving innovation and growth in the telecommunications industry. As the Director of Strategic Imperatives at Fibre Cafe, Donal is at the forefront of shaping the future of UK connectivity. With a proven track record of developing and...

Ben Harries is a Policy Director at Ofcom. He leads the Telecoms Access Review 2026, which will set the regulations that will apply to the UK fixed telecoms markets from 2026 until 2031. Prior to his current role, Ben was an Economics Director at Ofcom. He has worked on a wide range of competition ...

Elizabeth Harrison is Head of Broadband at Kent County Council and chairs the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport’s Digital Connectivity Working Group. Elizabeth leads the council’s digital infrastructure policy and engagement work – and previously oversaw the ...

Sarah is an economist and a data and digitalisation expert and has worked internationally across energy, ICT, water and transport sectors over the last twenty five years. She was the lead author of Data for the Public Good, a report about the need to share infrastructure data, which was published...

With more than 30 years' experience in the Water Industry, Jeremy is responsible for the management of clean water innovation within Pennon Water Services. He has a keen interest in innovations that will transform how we manage our water networks, in particular smart metering, smart...

Mark has been in telecommunications for over 25 years, with diverse roles in Fixed and Mobile with AOL, Orange, Wanadoo, EE and now as part of BT. Mark has played a significant role in delivering many strategic projects including Spectrum Auctions, 3G/4G/5G launch, the Emergency Services Network...

Nick is CTO and VP for Architecture at 8x8 Inc, a unified communications provider with offices around the world. Nick splits his time between 8x8's headquarters in San Jose, California and London, UK. Nick has over 30 years experience in the telecoms and IP communications and is primarily...

At Dexgreen, Chris Horgan focusses on working with the customers to ensure the company’s innovation and product development aligns with the evolving needs of network operators and end users. Under his leadership, Dexgreen’s R&D team has introduced a range of intelligent, field-ready solutions...

Annie Iakovaki Head of Industrial Supply Chains: Digital Catapult Annie is a Supply Chain and Operations leader with over 20 years of experience delivering complex supply chain transformation across Industry and Public Sector. Holding a PhD in Supply Chains from Cambridge University, Annie...

I am a highly confident, effective and adaptable leader, manager & team player, with over 35 years experience as a practitioner in all facets of security, particularly cyber and enterprise security risk management, with a focus on 'value-at-risk'.  During my career as a senior RAF...

Professor Kerensa Jennings, FRSA is an accredited executive coach and professional content creator who was recently inducted into the UK Technology Hall of Fame. She previously served as BT Group Director, Data Platforms, CEO of a Royal social enterprise based at Buckingham Palace, and the BBC’s...

Dritan is Director of Technology for Future Networks and Digital Infrastructure at Digital Catapult, with over 30 years’ experience as a technologist and researcher in communication networks, distributed systems, and interoperability. He leads Digital Catapult's Future Networks and 5G...

Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos is a law and cybercrime scholar and cyber‑security specialist with degrees in law from Athens and advanced degrees in IT law and a PhD from the University of Strathclyde. Since 2014 he has taught at the University of Portsmouth, where he is now an Associate Professor...

Parven Kaur is a digital parenting expert and founder of Kids N Clicks, a platform dedicated to helping parents navigate the online world alongside their children. She serves as an expert contributor for Internet Matters, offering practical advice on emerging online safety issues. Her insights...

From May 2020 until being appointed Chief Executive of BT Group, Allison was President & CEO of Telia Company, the leading telecoms provider to the Nordic and Baltic regions. Allison was previously President & Group CEO of TDC Group until October 2019, and President & Group CEO of Tele2 ...

Marina is a research director at STL Partners where she works across major topics, with a specific focus on telecom strtategy and transformation, AI, consumer services and innovation, and cybersecurity. 

Ivo Lansky is a seasoned telecom and technology professional with over 25 years of international experience spanning network innovation, sales strategy, and business development. His career includes leadership roles at Newbridge Networks, Alcatel, Alcatel-Lucent, and Nokia, where he contributed to...

Nick Lansman, President, Corporate Affairs at Clarity Global is a seasoned leader with 30 years experience in Policy & Communications in the Technology and Health Tech sectors. He built a successful consultancy business across Europe advising numerous organisations on public...

Maria is a co-founder and CEO of Weaver Labs. She’s a strategic leader driven by a profound mission—to revolutionise the world through technology. With a career rooted in the telecoms sector, she has thrived amid the dynamic technological landscape, leveraging powerful partnerships to drive...

I have a varied and colourful 30+ years, working history within different roles and sectors, including Retail, Hospitality, Childcare, Policing, Health, Private, Public and Local Governement, all of which have provided me with some really fantastic opportunities and skills. One of my biggest...

Oliver is a Principal and has been at Analysys Mason for over seven years. In that time he has built up expertise across transaction support, fibre deployment strategy and business planning. Oliver has managed multiple commercial and technical due diligences of fixed and wireless operators across...

Tom Lowe works for the UK’s consumer association, Which?, where he works as a Principal Policy Advisor leading on the organisation's connectivity advocacy programme. Previously, he worked in policy roles for the digital inclusion charity the Digital Poverty Alliance and within the NHS.  

Graham is an industry advisor with extensive experience driving digital transformation and operational excellence across large, geographically dispersed teams.  Recent engagements have been focussed on data and digital transformation to gain step-change understanding of asset performance, improving ...

I’m a strategic, people-focused Programme Manager with a track record of delivering high-impact initiatives that sit at the intersection of technology, collaboration, and real-world change. With experience across public and private sectors, I specialise in turning ambitious ideas into actionable...

Connor is the founder of Lyons Consulting, which specialises in the practical application of innovative technology for data-driven businesses, including Ports and Maritime organisations.  With a strong background in driving innovation, including previous experience as the Innovation Lead at...

Richard Martin is the CEO of Thinking Machine. After working on the telecom supply side of Enterprise contract management for over a decade at Telstra, the largest Telecom company in Australia, Richard learnt that being able to correctly interpret contracts and spot invoicing issues is a highly...

My role at Hounslow covers  most  operational services including service design team, level 1/2 teams,  teams looking after schools/audio visual service plus team responsible for all servers and networks across all 90 plus sites the Council operates . Hounslow has been doing alot of work since...

Julia McMurdie is a forward-thinking Digital Renewal Manager at North Ayrshire Council, with a passion for leveraging technology to drive positive change and connectivity within communities. Leading North Ayrshire's work to develop a thriving digital economy through investment in advanced...

Barry McNally is a transformation specialist with a background as a Royal Navy officer and over 15 years’ experience leading complex programmes across government, defence, financial services and local authorities. He is currently the lead consultant for Glasgow City Region’s Smart & Connected...

I currently lead the social value strategy at Virgin Media O2 Business, driving inclusive, community-focused initiatives across the UK. With a background in digital inclusion and sustainability, I help drive innovative partnerships that deliver measurable impact—from tackling digital exclusion to...

Andrew's background is in wireless and network engineering, currently designing and deploying 5G and WiFi networks in private and public settings with challenging requirements and economics. Andrew is Engineering Director at Aerix Limited and Technical Authority for Liverpool 5G.

Strategic business development and technology transformation expert with over 45 years of experience spanning military leadership, telecommunications, and consulting.  As Founder / Managing Director of Objective Designers since 2008, I lead strategic marketing and consulting initiatives using our...

Masarra Mohamed is a Senior Research Analyst at IDC, currently based in London. She has spent the past 6+ years developing end-to-end telecom ecosystem expertise, having worked as a telecom practitioner at a globally present telecom vendor and now as an advisor. Masarra has worked in major global...

Em Wilson, Director of Digital at ImpactMatch, is a highly accomplished content marketing strategist with a reputation for delivering standout results - even in challenging, declining markets. With a sharp focus on data-driven decision-making, she blends insight and creativity to shape brand...

Denys Nazarenko is CIO Advisor at Kyiv City Council, where he leads digital strategy and operational transformation to deliver citizen-centred services in demanding conditions. His systems-thinking approach addresses critical urban challenges across public safety, data governance, AI, energy...

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, Ronise remains at the forefront of emerging technologies and industry best practices. With over 25 years working in the field, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having witnessed the power of Digital Accessibility in fostering equitable...

With over 25 years of experience in the Digital and Telecommunications sector, I have specialized in the practical adoption of emerging technologies and technological innovation in companies, cities, and public sector entities. My leadership skills, combined with deep technological knowledge and...

Hayley Obrien is a skilled Project Manager at CJ Founds Associates with a proven track record of successfully leading and delivering complex projects. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset, she excels in driving efficiency and ensuring project goals are met on time and within...

Graeme is CEO of Community Fibre, London’s largest full fibre network, connecting consumers and businesses to a rapidly expanding 10GB capable full fibre network. Prior to joining Community Fibre, Graeme was CEO of Lebara, a European mobile operator active in 6 European countries with over 3...

Jeevan Patil is a dynamic and results-driven professional with over a decade of experience in product management and user experience. As the Vice President of Product Management and User Experience at Linksys, Jeevan is at the forefront of driving innovation and shaping the future of connectivity...

With over 26 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Allie Pennington has built a career defined by innovation, dedication, and a passion for connecting people. In 2003, [Your Name] founded a small telecommunication business, which grew under their leadership and was successfully...

Vimal is the Director for Routing & Switching Business Development for Ciena’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region. In this role, he is responsible for managing and driving sales engagements for adaptive multi-layer network solutions that generate business value for our customers. Vimal has...

Freddie Quek is Research Associate at Henley Business School (HBS), Tech Leader, NED and Advisor to AI startups across healthTech, fintech, edtech and envirotech. Previously he was CTO at Times Higher Education. He is recognised as UK’s top IT leaders by CIO100 and Computing. He founded the...

Freddie Quek is Research Associate at Henley Business School (HBS), Tech Leader, NED and Advisor to AI startups across healthTech, fintech, edtech and envirotech. Previously he was CTO at Times Higher Education. He is recognised as UK’s top IT leaders by CIO100 and Computing. He founded the...

Having worked for over 30 years at Tameside Council, Greater Manchester, in many roles mainly related to IT but also as Assistant Chief Executive, I have a wide breadth of knowledge and experience of working within the public sector.  In 2018 I worked with other public and private sector partners...

Based in London since 2011, Alban has led international business expansion projects with SMEs from various sectors, collaborating with founders and leaders of some of the best performing tech start-ups and scale-ups in Europe. During the summer 2016, Alban joined London & Partners, London’s...

Will Rhodes and his team of consultants across Europe, Middle East and Africa help service providers and subsea partners bring new services that drive top and bottom-line growth to market. Once launched, he helps these Carrier Managed Service (CMS) Partners monetise their investments through sales...

Anna Richey is the co-founder of Two Chicks, the award-winning brand that pioneered the launch of liquid egg whites into UK and European retail. She introduced a new category to UK supermarkets, inspired by a product that she had seen on the market in the US. Since launching in London in 2007, Two...

David is passionate about the development and real-world deployment of emerging dual-use technologies. He joined ARX to lead its expansion in the UK, delivering cutting-edge uncrewed ground vehicles and land autonomy systems. A former Royal Navy Officer, David spent his military career deployed on ...

  Lorna has over 30 years experience delivering innovative and societal interventions across the public and private sector. Currently heading-up the Delivery and Assurance Unit at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Lorna has successfully led on many regional programmes that are...

Giles is the General Counsel and Chief Development Officer at nexfibre. He leads on legal and regulatory policy as well as corporate development and corporate strategy.Previously Giles worked at Liberty Global where he was a member of the team responsible for more than £75 billion of telecoms...

Tony Sceales is a leading expert in digital infrastructure and advanced wireless innovation, with a track record of shaping national and regional programmes across the UK. He served as Head of 5G Programme Development at DCMS, where he led development of the £200m 5G Testbeds and Trials...

David Scott is a forward-thinking professional with a passion for widening access to tech and driving innovation across digital industries. As Head of Product and Service Design at We Are Group, he combines product leadership, service design and solution architecture to deliver...

Alwyn Seeds holds the B.Sc, Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees of the University of London.  After working as a Staff Member at Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as Lecturer in Telecommunications at Queen Mary College, University of London, he joined University College London in...

Mark joined Openreach in March 2017. His job is to develop and implement Openreach’s regulatory strategy, and to manage the relationship with Ofcom. Previous roles include: Independent Chair of the Uniform Network Code (UNC) Modification Panel, which contains transportation arrangements common...

With over 16 years of extensive experience in the technology sector, Tiffany Shurr provides strategic guidance and advisory services to hundreds of global broadband brands. Her career is dedicated to assisting clients as they develop and evolve their own Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies by harnessing...

Dimitra Simeonidou is a Full Professor at the University of Bristol, the Director of the Smart Internet Lab and Head of the High-Performance Networks group (HPN). Her research is focusing in the fields of high performance networks, programmable networks, wireless-optical convergence and smart city...

Tom Simpson is a visionary leader with a passion for driving innovation and growth in the Education, Careers and Employability industry. As the CEO of StartingPoint, a leading technology company specialising in connectivity solutions, Tom is at the forefront of shaping the future of UK...

Dr. Ravinder Singh is a distinguished leader in digital consulting and transformation, recently named as part of Computing.co.uk's IT Leaders 100 list for 2025, recognising the most influential IT leaders in the UK. He possesses extensive global experience across both public and private...

Matt is the Programme Manager of the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region, one of the 10 DSIT funded 5G Innovation Regions.  Formerly, Matt ran the Fastershire Project that subsidised the roll out of fixed broadband in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire before becoming the...

Leigh Smyth is the Founder of Impact Match and she is an award-winning pioneer in inclusive and impact-led talent search, digital skills and social impact strategy. Leigh was the first leader to introduce young peoples access to Technology via retail to the UK and then went onto to work for UK...

Adam Soccorsy is a dynamic and results-driven Regional Sales Director at Harmonic Inc, a leading provider of access network infrastructure solutions. With two and a half decades of experience in the telecommunications industry, Adam has a proven track record of helping fixed network providers...

Chris Stening is a master at creating clarity and driving focus and energy to build world-class businesses. With over two decades of experience, he has led the launch, growth, and scaling of multimillion-pound challenger brands, making him the go-to expert for founders and leaders ready to take...

William Stevens is a Director in EY-Parthenon’s Strategy & Execution team, where he leads AI for the TMT sector. With a background in helping clients unlock value through transactions and transformation, William specialises in developing enterprise AI strategies and roadmaps. His focus is on...

Digital Connectivity Manager – Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire County Councils Ian Stoddart is a seasoned digital infrastructure leader with over 20 years of experience driving strategic connectivity solutions across both the public and private sectors. As Digital Connectivity Manager for...

Tim was one of the founders of Community Fibre and has been an INCA Board member since 2022 and has chaired the Board since 2023. INCA is the lead UK trade body representing Alternative Networks. Our members include top Altnet providers, innovative suppliers, and expert consultants working together ...

Penny Syddall leads the digital skills and adoption program at Dorset Council. With a passion for bringing people together to address social inequality, Penny has developed and implemented digital skills programs that drive positive change which have been replicated across the UK.With a background...

Richard is founder and CEO of Zen Internet, the UK’s largest B Corp certified telecommunications and technology service provider. A multi-time Which? recommended broadband provider, and PC Pro’s best provider for 21 years, Richard started Zen in 1995 with only a handful of dial-up modems. The rise...

Owain Taylor-Shaw is the Head of Sales, Business Development & Marketing for ‘ffeibr’, a commercial subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW) that’s been created to commercialise and generate social ROI from the fibre optic cable network running alongside TfWs Metro rail lines. The development of ...

Lynsey Telford is a dedicated Project and Delivery Manager with a proven track record of successfully managing and delivering complex projects in the public sector. With a background in economic development, and a strong focus on the development of the Glasgow digital economy, Lynsey brings a...

Maria V. Thomas is a recognised culture strategist, award-winning DEI leader, and founder of Halden Atlas, a people and culture advisory firm dedicated to building inclusive, people-first workplaces. She also serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisor to London Search & Rescue. With...

Sophie joined Saxton Bampfylde as a Partner and Head of the Government and Innovation Practice from the Civil Service in 2018 where she'd previously led on increasing diversity in senior non-executive and executive appointments and worked in policy and strategy roles. Sophie set up the REACH...

Freedom Fibre is a full-fibre wholesaler delivering lightning-fast, reliable connectivity to homes and businesses across the North West and West Midlands. Since launching in 2020, it has connected over 24,000 customers and partners with national providers including TalkTalk, Zen Internet, and its...

Kayla has over 10 years in technical leadership and business development, designing innovative solutions to complex problems, managing client relationships, and leading cross-functional teams.   Currently helping to establish the AI Programme within the Liverpool City Region Combined...

Chris provides the vision and leadership for Airband’s technology strategy while overseeing the company’s network and IT functions. Chris has over 25 years of experience in the telecoms, IT, and infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining Airband, he held several senior roles at major telecom and...

Jonathan is Head of Policy at Logistics UK, leading policy and stakeholder engagement on behalf of over 20,000 logistics businesses. With 15+ years in policy and public affairs, he develops Logistics UK's voice on national infrastructure issues, working with Government and stakeholders to shape ...

Laura leads #CovConnects, Coventry’s digital inclusion "ecosystem", working across public, private and VCSE sectors to support meaningful, community-led initiatives. In partnership with over 150 local organisations, #CovConnects aims to embed sustainable approaches to tackling digital...

Richard Walters is a seasoned professional with a passion for driving digital connectivity initiatives. As the Digital Connectivity Relationship Manager at Carmarthenshire County Council, Richard plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of UK connectivity. With a strong background in...

With extensive experience leading local government initiatives, Louis is a dedicated manager passionate about fostering digital inclusion to empower communities. Specialising in supporting vulnerable populations within social housing, Louis focuses on enhancing motivation, developing digital...

Ning Wang is a full professor at the Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol and he is also the deputy director of the JOINER project funded by EPSRC, a UK-flagship project for testing future telecommunication technologies including 6G. His research areas include future network...

A prominent leader in the Altnet sector with over a decade of experience in leading telecoms businesses, James has successfully navigated multiple mergers/integrations and taken these business’ from start-up to established market players delivering high growth. The most recent of these is FullFibre ...

Nicola has worked across the payments and telecoms industries and has over 20 years experience as a researcher and analyst. Her recent areas of focus include telco corporate strategies, organisational transformation, upskilling and cybersecurity.

Colin Waterworth is the Senior Director – Global Client Partner at GE Vernova, leading strategy, and execution across its global telco business. With over 25 years in telecoms, Colin has held senior roles across Western Europe and the Nordics, driving customer success and commercial growth. He...

Sara Weller CBE is a highly accomplished and respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. As the Non-Executive Chair and Director of FTSE 100 companies and Government sector organizations, Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise...

I am proud to lead one of the most innovative digital inclusion organisations in the UK.We work with public, VCSE sector and corporates to support and deliver digital inclusion policy and practice. We have a learning product based approach to digital inclusion which supports our clients to scale...

Peter has spent over 25 years working on key digital delivery projects in Wales, more recently supporting or leading Digital Infrastructure developments, in priority areas, such as LoRaWAN deployments in Wales, facilitation of the recent DSIT Funded 5G Drive Project, and the Welsh Government’s...

Joseph’s career began in a call centre, where he was regularly reported for asking too many questions. Autistic and deemed ‘trouble’, he was about to be fired—but fortunately, someone saw his problem-solving talent, called him an analyst, and that moment jumpstarted his career in technical...

Paul is Chair, Smart Cities World.  Read by 1.3m people worldwide, Smart Cities World provides daily news coverage and weekly features about the fast-changing world of urban innovation.  Paul is also Senior Advisor at Open Agile Smart Cities with 170 city members. He is Honorary Research...

Nicole Wong is a Principal Analyst Consultant and EMEA Threat Operations Pillar Lead at Darktrace. She leads high profile investigations across IT and OT, multi-disciplinary threat research projects and she consults with global security teams on driving the proactive use of AI for cyber threat...

Oliver Woolley. CEO and Co-founder Envestors. Envestors is a FCA regulated digital investment platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors.  Envestors has a network of 4,000 investors and was ranked one of the UK’s most active Angel Network 2011-21 by independent research agency, Beauhurst.  ...

From surveying streets to shaping software, Felix has built a career across fibre construction, product management, and solutions consulting. His blend of field experience and digital expertise helps telecom operators streamline builds and deliver networks more efficiently.

Jeanie York is Virgin Media O2’s Chief Technology Officer.Jeanie is CTO of Virgin Media O2, the UK’s leading converged telecommunications challenger brand. She has 26 years’ experience in leading telco and cable business strategy, network planning, engineering, technology development and...