Thank you to our CWTEC 2026 Steering Committee.
The conference programme is shaped by this expert group, whose insights ensure CWTEC addresses the technology challenges that matter most to the UK's innovation community.
Rupert Baines
Rupert is a seasoned start-up technology entrepreneur and CEO. He has founded a number of technology companies and had three successful exits. He was CEO of UltraSoc (sold to Siemens July 2020); CMO of Codasip ("RISC-V processors with a twist”); and CEO of QPT, combining deep-tech with sustainability. He is Chair of RANsemi, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week and Co-Chair of the Semiconductor Expert Working Group industry body reporting into DSIT.
Michael Bishop
Mike Bishop is Communications Manager at the UK Semiconductor Centre and leads communications that support the UK semiconductor ecosystem’s growth, helping to position UK capability on the international stage and strengthen collaboration across industry, academia and government.
A seasoned marketing and communications leader with extensive experience across science, innovation, and deep tech, he specialises in translating complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that drive awareness, engagement and real-world impact.
Prior to joining the UK Semiconductor Centre, Mike held strategic roles in science and technology communications, including senior positions at Cardiff University and the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, where he led marketing and communications activity to elevate UK capability in advanced materials and semiconductor technologies. He has also held roles in research communications, shaping global visibility for academic institutions and scientific organisations.
Throughout his career, Mike has worked with world-leading scientists, technologists and engineers, helping to build stories that connect cutting-edge innovation with investors, policymakers and wider audiences. His work spans brand storytelling, media engagement, narrative strategy, digital content and ecosystem advocacy, grounded in an ability to make highly technical subjects accessible and relevant.
Raj Gawera
Raj has over 20 years of experience in short range and wireless communications technology R&D, business development and marketing. Raj was part of initial IEEE 802.11 team to define first WLAN standard in 1996 – a technology which has now shipped in 10s of billions of units. Raj also helped pioneer the first 3G data transmissions working with Motorola and others to demonstrate one of the first video calls at the 3GSM show in 1998 – many years before 3G licences were awarded. He has also been awarded a number of patents including short range wireless technologies. Raj was a founder member of startup UbiNetics (1999), which successfully exited in 2005 for over $120m USD. As part of that deal, Raj joined CSR and ultimately took the role of VP Marketing where he was part of the team that acquired SiRF Technologies for $136m (2009) to add GPS technology to CSR portfolio. More recently in 2012, he helped sell CSR’s handset business to Samsung in a deal worth $310m for 310 staff to form the SCSC division. As part of that deal, Raj took up the role of VP Marketing responsible for defining future wireless products. In 2014, Raj was promoted to head up the SCSC division leading the silicon and software development for Samsung’s connectivity solutions. Since 2021, Raj has been a Non-Executive Director of the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult and now heads up the Customers and Markets committee within the board.
Russell Haggar
Rachel Kerr
Rachel joined CW (Cambridge Wireless) in June 2017 as Senior Events & Conference Manager and is now Head of Events. Working alongside industry experts in the Special Interest Groups and the CW event team, Rachel overseas the strategy and delivery for the CW programme of events. She coordinated the inaugural Inclusive Innovation Conference in September 2017 which launched CW’s D&I initiative and manages the CW International Conference (CWIC), the CW Technology & Engineering Conference (CWTEC) and Cambridge Tech Week (CTW). Rachel has over 12 years’ experience running conferences and events, previous roles include event management for a not-for-profit organisation dealing with career and skills development, working for a press monitoring company and, ‘back in the day’ she worked at a very rock-n-roll recording & rehearsal studio.
Sylvia Lu, FRSA
Sylvia Lu is an award-winning Chartered Engineer and Non-Executive Director. Sylvia has over 16 years of experience in the Telecom industry for four mobile generations with semiconductor vendors. Sylvia provides guidance on the impact of emerging technologies on products and corporate strategy, influences global standards, accelerates the adoption of new technologies, and provides independent advice to industry and policy stakeholders.
Sylvia serves on several national and global industry Boards: she is an elected board director of CW (Cambridge Wireless), and serves on the Advisory Board of UKTIN, which provides independent advice on the telecoms sector, champions the opportunities in telecoms research, development, and innovation for the UK, and helps UKTIN provide impartial input to government. She also served on the Board of 5G-ACIA (5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation), joined forces with global industry stakeholders to influence 5G development and deployment in line with industrial imperatives to accelerate Industry 4.0.
She holds a first-class Electronic Engineering degree, a Master of Science degree in Communications and Signal Processing from the University of Bristol. She graduated with a Distinction from the University of Oxford in PGDip Strategy & Innovation, and an Executive MBA degree from the University of Cambridge. Sylvia is also an artist.
- X:
- SylviaLuUk
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialu
Caroline O’Brien
A semiconductor industry specialist, Caroline O’Brien is CEO at CSA Catapult and brings over 30 years of experience in the technology sector, where she has developed a broad knowledge of working with VC-backed businesses and blue-chip multinationals. She has held senior commercial and executive positions in several companies and start-ups, including NEC Electronics, HiWave Technologies, Pyreos and Oxford Semiconductor. Caroline has dedicated her career to developing ‘deep tech’ solutions with a focus on commercialising new technologies and products. She holds a B.Eng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Swansea University and an MBA from the University of Bath.
Steve Taylor
Dr Tudor Williams
Dr Tudor Williams is a strategist in the fields of space, communications, semiconductors, and defence. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Filtronic, leads on the company’s technical strategy and roadmaps. In this role, he also manages industry and academic partnerships and secures funding for strategic roadmap projects. Dr. Williams holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Swansea University and a PhD in RF/Microwave Engineering from Cardiff University. Prior to his tenure at Filtronic, he was the Technical Director at the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.