Phil Claridge is a ‘virtual CTO’ for hire within Mandrel Systems covering end-to-end systems. Currently having fun and helping others with large-scale AI systems integration, country-wide large scale big-data processing, hands-on IoT technology (from sensor hardware design, through LoRa integration to back end systems), and advanced city information modelling. Supporting companies with M&A ‘exit readiness’, due-diligence and on advisory boards. Past roles include: CTO, Chief Architect, Labs Director, and Technical Evangelist for Geneva/Convergys (telco), Arieso/Viavi (geolocation), and Madge (networking). Phil’s early career was in electronics, and still finds it irresistible to swap from Powerpoint to a soldering iron and a compiler to produce proof-of-concepts when required.
Parminder is a patent attorney based in Appleyard Lees’ Cambridge office, and helps companies to protect their technological innovations. She has built a substantial reputation working with high-growth start-ups, spin-outs and SMEs in Cambridge, and has in-house experience. She specialises in writing and prosecuting patent applications for computer-implemented inventions. Her work includes patenting AI-based technologies, including new machine learning frameworks and applications of machine learning in image classification, human-computer interactions and text-to-speech. Parminder also writes her own AI blog on LinkedIn, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys’ Computer Technology Committee.
Anton Lokhmotov
- Founder, Krai Ltd
Dr Anton Lokhmotov is a passionate computer engineer and serial entrepreneur, with 20+ years of advanced R&D experience in optimizing accelerated computer systems. Dr Lokhmotov founded KRAI to revolutionize developing and deploying ultra-efficient and cost-effective computer systems for AI/ML. Since 2018, Dr Lokhmotov has been a key contributor to the MLPerf benchmarking competition, often referred to as "The Olympics of AI/ML benchmarking". Acting as "Olympic coach" to Qualcomm, Google, HPE, Dell, Lenovo and other partners, the KRAI team has prepared some of the fastest and most energy efficient submissions in the history of MLPerf. As the GPGPU compiler team lead at Arm in 2010-2015, Dr Lokhmotov spearheaded the implementation of key software standards (Khronos OpenCL, Android RenderScript - equivalents of NVIDIA CUDA) for the Arm Mali, the world’s #1 shipping GPU (~10B+ devices so far). Dr Lokhmotov holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge.
Bob Oates is a specialist in the interaction between safety and security for operational technology, critical infrastructure, and IoT devices. He works within the Engineering Assurance Team at Cambridge Consultants, ensuring that intelligent, AI-enabled systems are safe and secure. In addition to his academic background, Bob has over a decade of industrial experience working in the critical national infrastructure, defence, aerospace, nuclear, and maritime domains, including acting as the head of security for the development of the world’s first commercial remotely operated ship. He holds an Honorary Professorship in Safety and Security at De Montfort University.
David Pollington
- Head of Research, Bloc Ventures
David is an experienced technologist with 26+ years pioneering in the mobile industry starting at Vodafone R&D where he led teams across four geographies and then at GSMA where as a Senior Technical Director he led strategic programmes with mobile operators and industry partners on a worldwide basis.
During this time David established a strong reputation across the mobile industry for thought leadership, strategic analysis, technical knowledge across a broad set of disciplines, clear communication and effective development of new business opportunities with partners using existing and emerging technologies.
David is now the Head of Research for Bloc Ventures, using his extensive cross-sector knowledge and expertise to identify key technological trends and uncover prospects for Bloc's Dealflow as well as helping Bloc's portfolio companies to optimally position themselves for success.
David is a Chartered engineer (IET) with a Masters degree (MEng) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Imperial College, London and has 7 patents.
Simon Thompson
- Head of AI, ML & Data Science, GFT Financial Ltd
Simon leads a team that develops AI and ML solutions for large financial institutions. Before joining GFT he was the Principal Investigator for BT’s AI program. Before that he was the Head of Practice for Big Data and Customer Experience at BT and BT’s lead for collaborations with MIT, and the first industry fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Simon is interested in practical application of AI technology and the practice and process of AI and ML projects. His book “Managing Machine Learning Projects” was published by Manning Books in 2023.
Yue Wang
- Head of Advanced Network Research, Samsung Research UK, Chair of UKTIN AI EWG’, UKTIN
Yue Wang is the Head of 6G Research at Samsung Research UK. She leads a team of talented researchers working on cutting edge 5G and 6G network technologies such as system architecture, AI-native networks and O-RAN.
Yue is widely recognised for her extensive technical expertise, strategic and thought leadership in 5G, 6G, and AI within the telecommunication industry. She is the Chair of the UKTIN AI Expert Working Group, where she has the honour to lead a group of highly respected experts analysing telco AI’s forward-looking opportunities and challenges across technology, business, economy, and society. She has also led large scale (19 partners, 8M EURO) H2020 project, is an inventor of numerous patents, has been Secretary and Rappetour of ETSI ENI, delegate of O-RAN WG3, and a frequent speaker in conferences, having recently presented in events such as MWC and TMF DTW.
Prior to joining Samsung, Yue held various roles in the US and the UK, all on Communications Research and Standards. Yue received her PhD from University of Victoria, Canada. She is the recipient of ETSI ENI Award for her ‘extraordinary contributions’ in 2019, and CW 'Outstanding Woman Engineer of the Year Award' in 2020. She sits in the Advisory Board of a few Universities, and CHEDDAR – the EPSRC funded hub for the cloud computing of tomorrow.
Dr Ian Wassell joined the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory as a Senior Lecturer in January 2006. Prior to this, he was with the Department of Engineering for six years. He received the PhD degree from the University of Southampton in 1990 and the BSc., BEng. (Honours) Degrees (First Class) from the University of Loughborough in 1983. He has in excess of 25 years experience in radio communication systems gained via positions in industry and academia and has published more than 200 papers. His research interests include broadband wireless networks, wireless sensor networks, radio propagation, coding, communication signal processing, compressive sampling, and image processing and classification.
Peter is Founder & CEO of Vision Formers, the specialist consultancy that supports and mentors leaders of visionary technology businesses get product to market and turn ideas into reality.
Vision Formers works with start-ups and scale-ups, providing significant expertise in accelerating business growth through a focus on developing a robust product strategy, growing and coaching product and development teams, and providing operational excellence. Peter has a long track record of conceiving, developing and marketing successful technology-based solutions, deployed at scale, globally. Innovative products Peter has brought to market in digital, cloud, AI, consumer electronics and telecommunications have been used by countless millions of people on a daily basis globally, badged by the world’s leading digital and technology brands.
Peter also works with Digital Catapult as Programme Manager for UKTIN, working with partners and stakeholders to deliver UKTIN’s mission to transform the UK telecoms innovation ecosystem, capitalising on the country’s strengths in technology, academia, and entrepreneurialism, while positioning it for growth as new opportunities emerge in the industry.
Peter is a board member of CW (Cambridge Wireless), a Fellow of the IET, a Chartered Engineer, and a member of the Association of Business Mentors.
