Mary-Ann Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

Mary-Ann is the Lead data scientist at Mandrel Systems. Started her career with research into sonar (think Hunt for Red October without Sean Connery). Now embracing application and technical domains including education (all the analysis, modelling and visualisation for BestCourse4Me), smart city, retail, voice and speech recognition, and financial and logistical optimisation.

Phil Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

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.

Leo Poll - President Akendi UK/Europe, Akendi UK

Technically everything is possible, making it work for people is where the real challenges are. Addressing these challenges from an end-user perspective in a way that makes business sense is what drives Leo. With more than 20 years of experience in Innovation driven Experience Research and Design he is able to bring an ability of strong lateral thinking combined with broad domain knowledge of applications/markets and technical enablers. Previous to his role at Akendi, Leo worked for the mobile phone division of Philips in Le Mans, France, managed numerous international projects whilst employed by Philips Electronics UK, was a member of the global 'Connectivity Programme' board of Philips Research, (Co-)founded Ryppel Ltd, Eversfield Innovation Ltd, Galileo Software Adviesbureau v.o.f.

Laurent Brisedoux - Senior Manager, Amazon Cambridge Development Center

Laurent has been heading the Amazon R&D team in Cambridge, part of the Lab126 organization, since its creation in 2014. His group is responsible for developing software for Amazon’s consumer electronic devices such as Cloud Cam, Echo Look, Echo Show and many more innovative products to come. Prior to that, Laurent was in charge of the development and productisation of imaging technologies at Broadcom. He joined the Broadcom Mobile Multimedia group in 2004 with the acquisition of Alphamosaic, one of the Silicon Fen ’success stories’. Laurent is also a junior angel investor and working with several technology startups in the Cambridge area.

James Chapman - VP Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies International

James is Qualcomm's VP responsible for its roadmap of Voice & Music products. Before joining Qualcomm as part of the acquisition of CSR, he was responsible for CSR's connectivity product line. Prior to CSR James has held senior software management roles at Broadcom; he was also the Head of Research for TTP Communications. James' 20 years in the high-tech industry started with a degree and PhD in theoretical Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Oxford.

Phil Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

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.

Gunter Haberkorn - Senior Manager Product & Technology, Magna International

Peter Whale - Founder, Vision Formers

Peter is founder of Vision Formers, a specialist consultancy that helps visionary technology businesses get product to market and turn their ideas into reality. 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 is a board member of CW (Cambridge Wireless), and co-leads its Artificial Intelligence special interest group. www.visionformers.com