Ivana Bajović currently serves as Special Advisor to the CEO at Telekom Srbija Group, one of the largest and fastest-growing telecommunications and multimedia providers in Southeast Europe and a key driver of digital transformation across the Western Balkans and beyond. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles in Marketing, Public Relations, and Corporate Affairs, building a strong track record in strategic communications, executive advisory, and international positioning. In her current role, she leads Strategic Expansion Projects and oversees International Media Relations and Global Communications, supporting the Group’s growth in global markets while strengthening its reputation among international stakeholders and partners. She is also actively engaged in the global business community, contributing to cross-market partnerships, public diplomacy, and international representation.
As Special Advisor to the CEO, Ivana plays an active role in advancing the company’s transformation from a traditional telecommunications operator into a technology-driven “telco of the future.” This strategic evolution is centered on significant investments in 5G infrastructure, multimedia platforms, and next-generation digital services, including early-stage innovation and AI-focused initiatives. The Group’s forward-looking strategy prioritizes artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions, reinforcing its leadership position in Southeast Europe’s digital ecosystem.
With the launch of MTEL USA, Telekom Srbija Group continues its global expansion, now operating across 13 international markets in addition to its core presence in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Serving nearly 14 million subscribers and generating approximately €2.2 billion in annual revenue, the Group continues to strengthen its position as a major European telecommunications and technology player.
Ivana Bajović | LinkedIn
Communication Service Providers at the Crossroads: AI Infrastructure and Autonomous Networks Thursday @ 10:35 AM
Bridgette is CTO at UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), the UK’s flagship centre for telecoms security and cyber resilience, housed in a secure, purpose-built facility. Prior to this, Bridgette was CIO Director at BT Group where she was responsible for the delivery of digital human centric software solutions to grow market share and brand loyalty. Bridgette held various senior management roles during her two decades at BT across research, technical innovation, product development, large scale delivery & digital infrastructure security roles. She holds an MSc in Telecommunications from UCL, as well as an MSc in Optoelectronic, and a BEng in Electrical & Electronic.
Plenary / Panel: Securing our Future: Building the Talent Pipeline Thursday @ 4:15 PM
Connecting Places: Better Services, Stronger Economics Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Katy Davies is Managing Director of Cap Air Systems, a UK electronics manufacturer specialising in PCB assembly, cable assembly and box build. She is also National Chair of Citizen Hub, bridging industry, skills and community to create good work locally. With 20+ years’ experience in transformation and growth, Katy brings a practical, place-based lens to manufacturing, productivity and capability.
Advanced Manufacturing: Autonomous Production and the Rise of Dark Factories Thursday @ 12:00 PM
Gavin is a Senior Consultant at Cambridge Consultants, where he leads cross-disciplinary engineering teams to shape breakthrough innovation strategies across a wide range of industries. He advises clients on how emerging technologies can optimise operations, unlock new business models, and support long-term strategic goals, guided by the principles of technical feasibility, solution desirability, and commercial viability.
Gavin brings over 20 years’ experience in technology solution design and delivery across consulting, telecommunications, and the energy sector, and his current focus areas include non-terrestrial networks and agentic AI, with applications spanning defence, energy, and ICT.
Gavin is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) and holds a BEng (Hons) in Electronics and Communications Engineering. He is driven by a commitment to harness innovation for human progress and is confident that active engagement and dicourse with the technology community and wider society is essential to that mission.
Operational Advantage: AI, Autonomy and the Future Fight Thursday @ 12:00 PM
Connecting Places: Better Services, Stronger Economics Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Simon Fabri is Product and Engineering Director at HMGCC (His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre), a post he has held since 2023. His role is part of the core leadership team at HMGCC, where he oversees hundreds of engineers, technologists and scientists carrying out vital work for national security. Based at the historic Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, Simon’s time in leadership has positively transformed the way in which HMGCC delivers its engineering - creating vital tech to be used in national security work across the globe.
Simon has a strong background in academia and industry. After starting out as an engineering lecturer, his career took him across telecoms, energy and automotive industries and then to Amazon before joining HMGCC.
HMGCC creates tools and technologies for work within the national security community, creating, designing and testing them on site. This government organisation now increasingly works with outside innovators from academia and industry.
What Bold Ideas Will Shape the Next Decades of Technological Progress? Thursday @ 2:00 PM
What Bold Ideas Will Shape the Next Decades of Technological Progress? Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Communication Service Providers at the Crossroads: AI Infrastructure and Autonomous Networks Thursday @ 10:35 AM
Connecting Places: Better Services, Stronger Economics Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Enrique is a world leader in the field of multi-agent systems. He holds a MSc in distributed systems, a PhD in computer science with a specialty in machine learning and a post-doc on defense multi-agent robotic systems (as part of a BAE Systems, MBDA and Celex joint program). He has published over 80+ academic (peer-reviewed) papers in all the top AI journals, 2 books and 3 patents.
Enrique is co-founder and CTO of Mutable Tactics, a Cambridge based startup building the orchestration layer for autonomous robotics: turning solo robots into cohesive teams that are smarter, faster, and cheaper to operate. Mutable Tactic's tech builds on Enrique's contribution to ALADDIN, a £10m+ project on robot-human teamwork led by BAE Systems and MBDA. This experience shaped Enrique’s opinion on how to think about complex systems in the real world, leading to being a top-voice in the sub-domain of adversarial machine learning
What Bold Ideas Will Shape the Next Decades of Technological Progress? Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Ruth Redding is a coach and leadership development expert, working as an Associate at Cambridge Management Consulting. She has 25 years of experience in the global communications and optical networking sector. She previously spent several years at Infinera, where she served as VP of Sales for North and Central Europe, driving significant regional growth and navigating the complex commercial landscapes of the EMEA infrastructure market, as well as sales leadership role at Gartner, Ciena and Alcatel.
Currently, Ruth serves as a Board Advisor for the University of California, Berkeley Certificate in Global Digital Infrastructure, helping to bridge the gap between academic theory and the commercial realities of the subsea and data centre sectors. A dedicated architect of talent, she leads the Talent Track at Capacity Europe, which 150+ students to see the compelling reasons to join the industry. Ruth combines her deep commercial background with professional coaching to ensure the UK’s digital economy is supported by a diverse, resilient, and high-performing workforce."
Plenary / Panel: Securing our Future: Building the Talent Pipeline Thursday @ 4:15 PM
Dr Mike Short leads a portfolio career in research & innovation including Chief Architect at the Satellite Applications Catapult. He examines new coverage approaches with converged Mobile/Satellite services and supports the adoption of new technologies including AI and Quantum. He chairs advisory boards for both the UK Telecomms Labs (NPL) and the UK Telecomms Innovation Network, and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey and UCL. Mike was appointed Chief Scientific Adviser for DIT (now DBT) in 2017, where he led technical aspects of the department and worked on UK engineering exports and inward investment. He represented DIT on HMG committees for Telecomms, Space, Health and Quantum, and led overseas delegations to international trade events such as MWC Barcelona and CES Las Vegas. He was an active member of GoScience as a CSA, and Board member at Innovate UK (part of UKRI). His 30-year tenure at Cellnet/O2 UK/Telefonica Group included launching 2G (GSM) and 3G mobile technologies, winning mobile licenses overseas, and later led international research and standards (including 4G / 5G) for Telefonica. He also ran trials for Mobile TV, Smart metering, Driverless cars, Digital Health, and IoT, and managed the company EU office in Brussels. Mike is a former Chairman of the international GSM Association, the UK Mobile Data Association, EM3 LEP , and was President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2011/ 2012. Board roles have also included ETSI, Innovate UK, UK 5G, Phonepayplus, and Trustee of the Archives of IT.
Communication Service Providers at the Crossroads: AI Infrastructure and Autonomous Networks Thursday @ 10:35 AM
Shona Taylor brings extensive experience across the education and skills sector, spanning further education teaching and management, careers education development, and strategic roles within education and charitable organisations. She specialises in strengthening collaboration between employers, educators, and key stakeholders, drawing on deep sector knowledge and practical insight. Shona regularly shares UCAS insights at national conferences to inform the future of apprenticeships, skills, and early careers. Passionate about equity and inclusive workforce pathways, she is committed to empowering young people and supporting organisations to engage effectively with the next generation.
Plenary / Panel: Securing our Future: Building the Talent Pipeline Thursday @ 4:15 PM
Lory is an executive technology leader and board advisor with 20+ years of global experience driving digital transformation, technology innovation, ecosystem partnerships and go to market across telecommunications and regulated industries. She has a background in engineering and cybersecurity, with in-depth expertise in connectivity technologies, IoT and data analytics applied across industry sectors. She is a Strategy Advisor within the IBM Quantum Safe team, a Senior Quantum Ambassador and Chair of the GSMA Post Quantum Telco Network Task Force, the first sector specific forum focused on preparation and implementation of post quantum cryptography for the telecommunication sector.
Lory is passionate about driving the use of technology for positive societal impact and is an advocate for increasing women’s representation in STEM.
Andrea is an esteemed and motivational senior leader with over two decades of experience in further education and local government, concentrating on skills, employment, and inclusive economic growth. Her career began in Human Resources before she transitioned to an Employment Consultant role, aiding long-term unemployed individuals and vulnerable groups in the Eastern region. Subsequently, Andrea entered the realm of further education as a qualified Teacher and Advanced Practitioner, leading various programs such as 14-16 education, post-16 study programmes, Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, and community learning. Her path led to her appointment as Head of Skills for Suffolk County Council and Principal of New Directions College in Reading. Andrea possesses extensive expertise in formulating and executing policies within the skills and employment sector. She has been instrumental in shaping policies related to work and health, post-16, SEND, youth unemployment, and adult skills. Presently, Andrea serves as Assistant Director for Skills and Employment at the CPCA, where she champions economic growth by enhancing human capital through skills development and addressing disparities across regional communities.
Plenary / Panel: Securing our Future: Building the Talent Pipeline Thursday @ 4:15 PM
