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...

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...

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 ...

Sarah Bazen is currently the Digital Infrastructure Strategic Lead at 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

George is a Senior Analyst at STL Partners, bringing expertise across a diverse range of topic areas, including edge AI, sovereign AI, and private networks. He specialises in producing research into edge computing and network innovation, contributing to reports and quantitative tools within both of ...

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

  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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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. 

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...

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...

Hamish MacLeod has served as the Chief Executive of Mobile UK since its formation in March 2016. Prior to this, he chaired for 14 years the Mobile Broadband Group, one of the cross industry bodies that was merged into Mobile UK, working across a broad range of public policy matters, including child ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

  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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Josh Turpin is the Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero at techUK, the country's technology trade association. Through this joint role, Josh is dedicated to driving innovation and collaboration within the industry to achieve a more connected and environmentally conscious...

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 ...

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...

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.

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...

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...