Leadership

The leadership includes a Chairperson of the wider UK SPF, the Steering Board Chair, the Steering Board Vice Chair and the Cluster Chairs.

Chairman 

Dr. Abhaya Sumanasena

Dr. Abhaya Sumanasena

Head of Policy and Regulation, Real Wireless

Abhaya is a results-driven and influential leader with extensive experience developing and delivering forward-looking spectrum strategies and policies. Abhaya currently leads the Spectrum and Regulatory Practice at Real Wireless and is the Chairman of the UK Spectrum Policy Forum (UK SPF). He has over 20 years of hands-on experience successfully leading radio spectrum/regulatory work and techno-economic analysis within national regulatory authorities, MNOs and vendors.

Previously Abhaya led and delivered multimillion-pound strategic network capacity programmes at Three UK. He has also played an influential role in maintaining UK propositions and developing spectrum policies at Ofcom. As a consulting leader, Abhaya has hands-on experience delivering excellence by leading multi-disciplinary teams in various markets. Abhaya is a regular speaker at industry events and a University lecturer. As a volunteer, Abhaya chaired several IET local networks. Currently, he Chairs the Great Debate Committee and serves as a UK IET Communities Committee member overseeing 7 IET Local Networks in the Region.   

Abhaya holds a PhD in Mobile Communications from the University of Surrey and an MSc in Communications Engineering from King’s College London. He is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the IET and IEEE.

 

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Steering Board - Chair 

Luigi Ardito

Luigi Ardito

Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm

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

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Steering Board - Vice Chair 

Theodoros Spathopoulos

Theodoros Spathopoulos

Senior Specialist in Spectrum Standardisation, Nokia

Theo is currently a Senior Specialist in the Spectrum Standardisation team at Nokia, leading Nokia’s involvement in various regional and global spectrum regulatory discussions.

Prior to that he was a Frequency Coordination Engineer at Inmarsat and he has also been a Spectrum Technology Analyst at Ofcom, the UK’s telecom regulator. Theo has also authored and co-authored various conference publications around 5G.

Theo holds an Electrical and Computer Engineering degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, an MSc in Mobile and Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey, UK and an MSc in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.

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Cluster 1: Future Spectrum Demand 

Manuel Rascado-Marti

Manuel Rascado-Marti

Spectrum Policy Consultant, LS telcom UK

The Chair of Cluster 1 is Manuel Rascado-Marti, who is Spectrum Policy Consultant at LS telcom UK.

LS telcom is a leading global spectrum management company specialising in spectrum management and consultancy solutions for international regulatory bodies, mobile and broadcast operators and many of the vertical sectors.

As a Spectrum Policy Consultant at LS telcom, Manuel manages global consulting assignments with a focus on regulatory policy, strategic planning, and radio spectrum management. Having previously served as the secretariat for the UK Spectrum Policy Forum, he is well-versed in intersections of policy, strategy, and innovation, as well as domestic and international spectrum policy activities. With prior roles as an analyst and senior reporter, he possesses a comprehensive and independent perspective of the wireless sector.

Manuel holds a master's in International Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London.

Website: www.lstelcom.com

Website:
www.lstelcom.com/en/home

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Cluster 2: Long-term Spectrum Strategy 

Robert Stewart

Robert Stewart

Professor Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng, University of Strathclyde

Cluster 2 is chaired by Bob Stewart, Professor at the University of Strathclyde in the Dept of Electronic Eng. He leads the ‘StrathSDR’ team working on software defined radio (SDR) and next generation radio access networks using shared spectrum with dynamic spectrum access (DSA).  

Bob has led a number of DCMS 5G Testbed and Trials projects was part of the founding partners team working with Scottish Government to create the Scotland 5G Centre.  In recent years he has been working on solutions for the media and broadcast industry and private 5G SA networks working alongside a number of international broadcasters.  Over a 30 year Bob has published 4 books and more than 200 papers. Bob is also a director of the University startup company Neutral Wireless Ltd

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Cluster 3: Spectrum Value and Efficiency 

Tony Lavender

Tony Lavender

Partner, Plum Consulting

Cluster 3 Chair Tony Lavender is a Partner at Plum Consulting.

Tony has extensive experience across a wide range of telecommunication and technology industry issues gained through working as a consultant, for the UK telecommunications regulator Oftel and for a network operator over a period of more than 30 years. Tony is particularly interested in public policy, regulation and the relationship between technology, and the economy. In recent years Tony has focused on radio spectrum issues and much of his client work at Plum has focused on the benefits of innovation in the radio spectrum field.

Website: www.plumconsulting.co.uk

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Cluster 4: International Spectrum Issues

Kumar Singarajah

Kumar Singarajah

Director, Euroma

Cluster 4 Chair Kumar Singarajah is a Member of the IET & IEEE and a Fellow of the CMI. He is currently a Director of Euroma Ltd. 

Kumar has worked for over 25 years in international and national spectrum management on behalf of several European governments, European space/satellite operators (including SES, Inmarsat/ICO, Avanti and Viasat) and non-UK terrestrial wireless operators in a range of senior engineering roles, senior management positions and advisory roles on comms systems engineering, regulatory / spectrum and business development matters. He has extensive experience of UK, CEPT, ITU (including ITU-WRC) spectrum management activities. Kumar has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, a MSc in Mobile Communications and Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey and a MBA from the Open University.

 

 

 

 

 

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