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Luigi Ardito is currently working as a Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA at Qualcomm. He is leading Qualcomm spectrum and regulatory policy agenda in Europe dealing with various government entities and industry organizations. He is also the Chairman of Digital Europe Spectrum Group and member of the GSA Spectrum management team.
Prior to joining Qualcomm, Luigi worked at Sony Corporation both in Japan and in the UK for over a decade. He has additionally gained a professional experience at France Telecom and at the Italian Public Broadcaster RAI. Luigi has extensive experience in the Media and Telecom industry as well as the Semiconductor Industry gained through his assignments at Qualcomm, Sony, France Telecom and RAI.
He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree from the Politecnico di Torino in Italy, an MBA of Marketing and Finance from the Henley Management College in the UK and a Diploma in Communications and Media Regulations at the European University Institute – Robert Schuman Centre.
Qualcomm presents: Sustainable investment in 5G and innovation in Telecoms Thursday @ 10:40 AM
Seamless connectivity across the UK Thursday @ 11:45 AM
Natalie was the UK’s first HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific from 2018 to 2023. Based in Singapore, she led the UK’s trade strategy and operations across the region. Previously, she served as Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit, Director of the Internet Harms Unit, and Director of the Office of Cyber Security. Before joining the Civil Service, Natalie was the Chief of Staff to the Director of Security at London2012, a management consultant and a Fulbright scholar at Harvard University.
Natalie is responsible for Ofcom’s work in the telecoms, post and network sectors, where our aim is to protect consumers and promote competition. She will also lead our work on the implications of Artificial Intelligence, overseeing any future regulatory impact for Ofcom, and will be an Executive Member of Ofcom’s Board.
Ofcom: Regulating for network growth Thursday @ 1:45 PM
At JRC Peter is responsible for all Management and Operational activities supporting the Operational Telecommunications needs of the UK Energy Network Operators and works closely with key stakeholders in DESNZ, Ofgem, DSIT and Ofcom to ensure that the UK Energy sector has the appropriate spectrum rights and regulatory interventions to facilitate 'Smart Grid' developments.
Telecoms the enabler – cross-sector collaboration and private networks Thursday @ 3:30 PM
Cristina is the Director of Spectrum information and analysis, Spectrum Group at Ofcom and is also a NED of the Energy System Catapult. Cristina currently leads the Spectrum Mobile Data Strategy programme with a particular focus on assessing the implications of growing demand. Prior to working on 5G, Cristina led the development of a new spectrum sharing framework, and launched Ofcom open data policy. In particular Cristina was responsible for the release of the UK Interactive spectrum map and the release of information on spectrum use in open format. Prior to joining Ofcom Cristina held various marketing and strategy roles at Telefonica O2, EE (then Orange), and Ericsson (then Red Bee Media). Cristina holds a Master Degree in Management Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino university in Italy.
Telecoms the enabler – cross-sector collaboration and private networks Thursday @ 3:30 PM
Vikas Dhingra is a Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm, driving the adoption of technologies and products in Europe, particularly AI. He focuses on building relationships with key industry players, including telecom operators, device manufacturers, and application developers, to accelerate the market penetration of Qualcomm's advanced platforms, SoCs, and software solutions. Prior to joining Qualcomm, at Nokia Bell Labs, Vikas collaborated with leading telecom operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia in defining the business and technological roadmap for 5G deployments and network modernization. Vikas actively contributed to the standardization of HSPA and LTE within the 3GPP, resulting in multiple patents. He has been a proactive advocate for the market success of emerging technologies, such as 5G Advanced and 5G mmWave across multiple regions.
Qualcomm headline slot Thursday @ 10:25 AM
Lucy has a background in physics and engineering, and a demonstrated history of concept to delivery in the commercial space and telecommunications sector. Lucy’s experience includes roles at the European Space Agency in Darmstadt and executive management roles at London-based satellite operator Avanti Communications, where she delivered missions to provide communication services spanning continents and helped shape the thinking of the new Space Data Association along with the exec member organisations.
In her role as Deputy CEO and Chief of Missions the Satellite Applications Catapult, Lucy supports innovative enterprises in a range of sectors throughout the UK, helping them to understand and exploit the potential of space to create innovative solutions to problems. She has a history of developing the space sector to generate sustainable economic growth for the UK, including building and operating a commercial satellite operations centre in Cornwall, and is a strong advocate for the national space clusters across the UK. Lucy serves as Chair of the board of directors for space/AI start-up, Atheras Analytics and is Vice Chair of Royal Mencap Society.
Seamless connectivity across the UK Thursday @ 11:45 AM
Matthew Evans leads techUK’s Market Programme teams and is a member of the senior leadership team.
The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Financial Services and Cyber.
Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group. During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.
Matt sits on the Steering Board of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, Digital Framework Task Group, andthe advisory board for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution industrial challenge fund.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.
Welcome & Intro Thursday @ 9:45 AM
Seamless connectivity across the UK Thursday @ 11:45 AM
Matthew is a well-regarded expert on regulatory and policy issues across communications markets and the wider digital economy. With nearly 20 years experience, he has an established presence in the industry and is a regular contributor to the international press and broadcast media on a range of telecoms and technology issues given his ability to distil complex topics in a clear and concise way. He has spoken at a number of high profile events in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America on issues such as the European regulatory framework, net neutrality and broadband policy.
Prior to founding Assembly in 2017, Matthew was at Ovum for over a decade where he led its regulation and policy practice. He has an MA (Hons) in Economics from The University of Edinburgh.
Qualcomm presents: Sustainable investment in 5G and innovation in Telecoms Thursday @ 10:40 AM
Seamless connectivity across the UK Thursday @ 11:45 AM
Megan is the Senior Digital Strategy Officer for Manchester City Council. She has a keen interest in the impact of technology on society, climate and culture. Megan is interested in how Manchester can enable a just transition to digital, that improves the quality of people's lives.
Before joining the Council, Megan worked in policy and communications positions at The University of Manchester and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Policy in action – simplifying the political and regulatory landscape Thursday @ 2:05 PM
Seamless connectivity across the UK Thursday @ 11:45 AM
Alan has almost four decades of experience in UK Telecoms, having worked in various roles at BT, as CTO at Newport Networks and as a Telecoms Consultant. Through his career, he has built great experience in developing business strategy and creating road maps for technology solutions to meet the most complex business challenges.
Alan’s current role at CGI is to ensure that our capabilities are matched to the needs of our Communications clients, and to build new solutions to support our clients’ changing requirements. Alan has co-authored “UK Telecoms For Dummies”, an essential guide to the complicated UK Telecoms sector, as part of CGI For Dummies Series.
He is a member of the techUK Communications Infrastructure and Services Council, where he contributed to the white paper ‘Private Networks: a new user guide by techUK’ in his role as Chair of the Advanced Communications Working Group.
Telecoms the enabler – cross-sector collaboration and private networks Thursday @ 3:30 PM
Chi Onwurah MP is a British politician representing Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West in the House of Commons. She was first elected in 2010 to represent Newcastle Central. She serves as the Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
Chi is a Charted Electrical Engineer and before entering Parliament spent over twenty years working on engineering projects around the world. She has previously served as Head of Technology at Ofcom.
Born in Wallsend, Chi attended Kenton Comprehensive School in Newcastle, where she was elected the school’s ‘MP’ in mock elections aged 17.
Oversight and ambition – Parliament's leadership in digital connectivity Thursday @ 10:10 AM
Maarit Palovirta is the Deputy Director General of Connect Europe, the voice of the leading providers of connectivity networks and services in Europe. She leads the association’s policy and organisational strategy, overseeing its work on a variety of policy and regulatory topics as well as its international outreach. She is also a Board member of CTAM Europe.
Before joining the Association as a Director of Regulatory Affairs in 2019, Maarit was a Senior Manager of European Affairs at the Internet Society where she acquired strong experience in internet development as well as extensive links with global internet and tech stakeholders. Prior to that, she engaged with governments across EMEA as a public sector business development manager at Cisco Systems for six years. Maarit has also developed a strong service-oriented, hands-on profile acquired in leading public affairs consultancies in Brussels.
Qualcomm presents: Sustainable investment in 5G and innovation in Telecoms Thursday @ 10:40 AM
Lucie Smith is Director of Programmes DMSL, the sole joint venture of all four UK mobile operators. Lucie is responsible for engagement and communications for the Shared Rural Network, a £1bn programme to improve 4G mobile coverage in rural areas across the UK, and delivery of Restore TV, a programme providing support to viewers who experience TV interference as a result of new mobile services being launched. Lucie has over 15 years’ experience within the tech and telco industries, and has held UK, regional and global roles.
Policy in action – simplifying the political and regulatory landscape Thursday @ 2:05 PM
