Iris Barcia - Pr. Mng. MPN Architecture, Vodafone

Iris Barcia is a multidisciplinary professional with entrepreneurial experience in the telecommunication industry. She is an innovator and forward-looking technologist that has worked directly with international executive teams and engineers at Tier 1 network operators, network infrastructure vendors, neutral-host vendors, government organizations, and services companies. She has been involved in the proposal and assessment of novel HetNet strategies for nation-wide 4G, 5G, IoT and public-safety networks, with a focus on future capacity provision and multi-technology evolution. More recently she’s focusing on Open RAN and MPNs. Prior to Vodafone, Iris has been the co-owner and COO of Keima, and has worked on RAN design, optimization and deployment projects at Telefonica and European rural broadband wireless initiatives. She has a BSc and MSc in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Vigo (Spain) and an MBA from Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK).

Alessandro Bovone - CTO North & West Europe, Nokia

Alessandro has been appointed Nokia Strategy & Technology CTO for North and West Europe in May 2021. Alessandro is a passionate telecommunications network chief architect and customer CTO with 25+ years of industry experience working in many different areas and domains. In actual role Alessandro is accountable for Nokia North & West Europe strategy and technology evolution, holding key Nokia interface with Customers, Governments and Technology bodies. Alessandro’s today focus is on 5GAdv, 6G, NaaC, disaggregation and evolution of fix/mobile communication to achieve COP26 pledges.

Previously Alessandro played a key role in game changing telecommunication industry JV, M&A and takeover like EE (merge Orange UK & T-Mobile UK), MBNL, BT/EE, Nokia/ALU and some of key programme in UK and Europe like Emergency Service Network and commercial/public safety Air to ground.

Alessandro was at forefront of 3G and 4G deployment and 5G introduction in Europe and drive expansion of fix, convergence and digital transformation in Telco and wider test and introduction of innovative solutions like private wireless network, XGS-PON and IoT.

Antia Fernandez - R&D CoDirector of Intelligent Systems Area, GRADIANT

Antía Fernandez is the CoDirector of Intelligent Systems area at Gradiant, where I lead the Industry 4.0 strategy based on collecting data and generating value for the companies using Big Data, 5G, Edge Computing, IoT and Data Analytics technologies. She has been applying ICT technologies to SME and large companies for more than a decade, being the main researcher and also project manager in 50+ national and regional projects. She has also given speeches and trainings in different business schools and universities. Finally, she collaborates with the European Commission as an external expert for H2020 projects. 

Donatello Gassi - Head of Solutions Architecture, Telecom (EMEA), Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Donatello A. Gassi is the Head of Solutions Architecture for the EMEA Telecom Vertical at AWS and is responsible for creating architectural best practices and working with Telco customers on how they use the cloud and innovation to transform their own businesses or reinvent their markets. Donatello is a business orientated technologist nearly 20 years of experience in the technology industry in a variety of roles.

Prior to joining AWS, Donatello was Senior Manager with a global consulting firm, where he contributed to the creation and growth of the consulting and technology practice serving Telecom providers across Europe. Donatello earned his master degree in Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering from Bari Polytechnic and his master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Donatello is passionate about his customers and about technology and how it is changing how we live and work.

Ian Goetz - Chief Architect - Mobile Solutions, Juniper Networks

Ian Goetz is the Chief Architect for Mobile Solutions and part of the Mobile Product Strategy Community within Juniper Networks. He has previously run his own contracting & consulting business and held roles at Motorola, where he was the chief core network architect for EMEA, as well as working for IBM Business Consulting Services, Tellabs, BT Cellnet and BT Laboratories, all in the mobile communications arena spanning a career of thirty years. More recently, Ian has been leading work on SDN/NFV, 5G Ready Access and MEC for the team as well as working with the Juniper EMEA and Engineering teams to create new, differentiating propositions. Ian has thirty years’ experience in the mobile communications industry and in past roles has been active in ETSI SMG2, SMG11, 3GPP SA4 and GSMA 3GIG. He is a Member of the IET (MIET) and a Chartered Engineer.

Sergio Gonzalez - Lead Cloud Architect, Microsoft

Sergio Gonzalez, Lead Cloud Architect at Microsoft, working with global network operators in their digital and network transformation strategy. Sergio has developed his career in the telecom core network space in different vendors and operators around the globe. At NetNumber, he helped defined future cloud and NFV initiatives, after which he joined Microsoft, always looking for the best way and use cases around hyperscale and telco convergence.

Roberto Kompany - Principal Analyst, Omdia

Roberto is a member of Analysys Mason’s Telecoms Software and Networks research team and is the lead analyst for the Next-Generation Wireless Networks programme focusing on strategy and market research. He is also a Cambridge Wireless Special Interest Group (SIG) mobile broadband champion. Prior to joining Analysys Mason, Roberto worked for Dixons Carphone, where he analysed the effect on the business of shifts in the telecoms market – for example, in terms of mergers, operator KPIs and technology – in Europe and the UK. Previous positions included consultancy, where he helped a variety of clients worldwide with mobile-related projects, such as a capex reduction and developing a 5-year strategy for an incumbent’s wireless infrastructure. He started his career at a leading network equipment vendor, where he served in several different capacities, such as R&D, and deployment and optimisation of mobile infrastructures across multiple continents. Roberto holds an MSc in Mobile & Satellite Communications from University of Surrey and an MBA from IE Business School.

Anthony Magee - Senior Director, Global Business Development, Adtran

Anthony Magee is responsible for driving ADVA’s mobile solutions strategy globally. He is an experienced technologist and business development professional, with 20 years in the telecommunications industry. Anthony has been involved in research and collaboration projects with academic, technology partners and customers relating to mobile architectures including 4G, Small Cells, LTE-A and 5G.

Prior to joining ADVA, Anthony worked as a technologist with UK Government. His activities within ADVA have included Hardware and Systems Engineering before reaching Principal Engineer in our Advanced Technology team. He has a first-class honours degree in electronic and electrical systems engineering from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Simon Mead - CEO, N/A

An experienced Commercial Director/CEO with a strong sales and marketing background. Successfully developing and executing sales strategies encompassing all media, partnerships, relationship sales and in field team management in the B2B market place. I have worked in hi-tech, on-line, media sales, broadcast and financial service industries. I have experience of working with Local Government, the Health Services, Public Services and in the Non for Profit sector.

Paul Scanlan - CTO Carrier Network Business Unit, Huawei

Arnd Sibila - Technology Marketing Manager, Rohde and Schwarz

Arnd Sibila joined Rohde & Schwarz in 2012 as Technology Marketing Manager for Wireless Technologies and led the Infrastructure Global Key Account Manager group. Since 2016, he has focused on Technology Marketing for the Mobile Network Testing market segment.

Previously, Arnd gained 21 years of experience at Siemens Communications and Nokia Siemens Networks where he held various technical and management positions in the field of Wireless Communication Systems and Mobile Networks Product Lifecycle (Product Management, Product Line Management, System Architecture, CTO, Business Development, Portfolio Management and Product Qualification) covering nearly all wireless technologies (LTE-Advanced, LTE, WCDMA/HSPA, WiMAX, WiFi, etc.).

Andy Sutton - BT Fellow & Principal Network Architect, BT

Andy Sutton is a BT Fellow and Principal Network Architect for Wireless Access. The wireless access domain includes 4G/5G RAN architecture and mobile backhaul/xhaul, along with microwave and millimetre wave radio systems, and satellite communications. Andy holds an MSc in Mobile Communications from the University of Salford and has over 35 years of experience within the telecommunications industry. Andy’s current research interests include advanced RAN coordination techniques, including C-RAN and OpenRAN, optical fibre and radio based backhaul/xhaul, along with LEO satellite communications and High-altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), all in the context of building resilient heterogeneous networks. Andy holds the post of Visiting Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Liverpool and the University of Salford, he is a Chartered Engineer and holds Fellowships from the IET, ITP and BCS. Andy sits on the editorial board of the ITP Journal and is a CW SIG Champion for eMBB and Wireless Heritage.

Rahim Tafazolli - Research Fellow, University of Surrey (ICS)

Rahim Tafazolli, Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, IET, WWRF and Regius Professor of Electronic Engineering, Professor of Mobile and Satellite Communications, Founder and Director of 5GIC, 6GIC and ICS (Institute for Communication Systems) at the University of Surrey. He has over 30 years of experience in digital communications, research and teaching. He has authored and co-authored more than 1000 research publications and is regularly invited to deliver keynote talks and distinguished lectures to international conferences and workshops. He was advisor to the Mayor of London (Boris Johnson) on London 2050 Infrastructure.