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 is a passionate telecommunications network chief architect with 20 years of industry experience. In actual role in Nokia he is accountable with his team to build, propose and technically close deal for EtoE solution for mobile and fix networks to Nokia customers, working across the Nokia wider portfolio and interacting with R&D and product owners. Working on 4G and 5G network solutions for eMBB, URLLC, IoT and its evolution to mMTC. Alessandro also cover IP, optics, cloud, Fibre, virtualization and digitalization.

Alessandro provides for customers the first point of discussion for the introduction of new technology based either on international standards or customer specific requirements.

Alessandro is a team player with strong team management background, bringing clarity, depth and breadth to a wide range of technology and business challenges faced in the mobile, fix and convergence network evolution. A Technology leader and strong communicator striving to provide direction and clarity in decision making in the technology governance arena.

Alessandro has been a key player and worked in game changing industry JV, merge and takeover like Siemens ICN & NEC (JV for intro 3G), EE (merge Orange UK & T-Mobile UK), MBNL (JV H3G & T-Mobile UK), BT (takeover EE), Nokia (takeover Alcatel-Lucent) and some of key programme in UK and worldwide like first intro of data in 2G, first launch of 4G in UK, Olympics 2012, neutral host for UK MNOs and Emergency Service Network to mention some of them.

Alessandro holds a Diploma in Mathematics, Electronics & Telecommunication, Master’s degree (Laurea) in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, Executive master’s in marketing & Sales. He is member of Italian Albo Ingegneri equivalent to a Chartered Engineer.

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, ADVA

Anthony 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, CW (Cambridge Wireless)

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 - Principal Network Architect, BT

Andy Sutton is a Principal Network Architect within BT Architecture and Strategy team. He is responsible for 5G end to end network architecture, RAN architecture evolution and mobile backhaul strategy and architecture. Andy holds an MSc in mobile communications from the University of Salford and has over 30 years of experience within the telecommunications industry. Andy’s research interests include; distributed and centralised RAN and core architectures and protocols, network dimensioning, QoS and mobile backhaul (optical transmission, microwave and millimetre wave radio systems, network architecture and protocols along with synchronisation and time distribution in telecommunications networks). He also works on low latency and ultra-reliable networks architecture and design. During his career Andy has worked for Mercury Communications Ltd, Orange, H3G, EE and BT. Andy holds the post of Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool and University of Salford. Andy is a chartered engineer and holds fellowships from the IET, BCS and ITP. Andy contributes to International telecommunications standardisation activities and several industry forums. Andy also has an interest in the history and heritage of telecommunications and is a CW Heritage SIG Champion.

Rahim Tafazolli - Director & Regius Professor, 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.