Simon Burley
- Principal, Ofcom
With a career spanning more than 20 years working for telecom infrastructure providers and a mobile operator, Simon’s expertise covers the architectural vision, design, and deployment of all leading radio access technologies. He now leads the Connectivity Programme within Ofcom’s Emerging Technology team which includes the SONIC Labs - a joint programme of work with Digital Catapult.
James Grayling
- Head of Business Development and Solution Innovation, Vodafone
James has over 20 years' experience working cross-functionally throughout business. He has extensive experience in the development of new product implementation and product on-boarding. James led on innovative in building solution evolution, 2012 Olympic deployment and 4G launch for VF UK. Now heads up Product integration for ORAN within Vodafone.
Jaydee Griffith is an Electronics Engineer for the NTIA Office of International Affairs, where he focuses on 5G technology and policy issues, especially relating to Open RAN, and international telecom technical standards. Prior to joining OIA, Jaydee was with the NTIA Institute for Telecommunication Sciences where his work focused primarily on 5G system architecture standards and testing, He also co-leads the buildout of the ITS Communications Research and Innovation Network (CRAIN), NTIA’s laboratory for testing communications networks for 5G and beyond. He has worked previously on issues related to the Internet of Things, especially with Smart Rural/Agricultural use cases, and V2X, representing NTIA and USDOT at various international connected vehicle events. Jaydee has received both a DOC Silver Medal (2015) and a Bronze Medal (2020). He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
David is a technology expert with over 25 years of experience in telecommunications with extensive knowledge of existing and future mobile network technologies. Recent technical focus includes topics such as OpenRAN, 5G, Network Function Virtualisation, Operator Cloud and Edge Computing.
As the Chief Engineer at Telecom Infra Project, David is responsible for the Technical Committee and Project Groups as well as providing the technical strategy for the organisation. David also leads the TIP’s engagement on industry relations and partnerships.
Prior to joining TIP, David held senior roles at GSMA, Vodafone, Nortel Networks, and Symbian on areas of technical strategy, product planning and standardisation of mobile technologies related to 2G/3G/4G Network Design, Fixed Mobile Convergence and Next Generation Networks including the industry adoption of VoLTE.
Evie has a keen interest - and an academic background - in how telecoms policy and regulation can be designed in a way that supports both industry and consumers. After doing her MSc dissertation on the UK’s 5G Strategy, Evie joined DCMS as a telecoms policy professional. She has had the opportunity to deliver the Shared Rural Network, a joint programme between the Government, Ofcom, and the four mobile operators for extending 4G coverage, and she has done parliamentary handling for the Telecommunications (Security) Bill. Since July 2020, Evie has been leading the Interoperability and R&D team within the Telecoms Diversification Unit - first publishing the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy (Nov 2020), and then designing a programme of work to accelerate the development and deployment of open-interface technologies, like Open RAN.
With 30 years’ experience as a technologist and researcher in communication networks, distributed system design and interoperability, Dritan is Director of 5G Technology at Digital Catapult and Co-Director of SONIC Labs. Dritan has established and leads the Future Networks 5G and Digital Infrastructure programs in Digital Catapult, delivering technology development and innovation in advanced ICT systems and their adoption in enterprise networks in the UK. He was a founder of the SONIC Labs and of UK Telecommunication Network (UKTIN). An acknowledged thought leader in his field, Dritan has published over 75 papers, holds three patents and has edited two international standards on interoperability, and is often invited to speak on advanced digital infrastructure and communication systems. He has represented the UK in international standardisation bodies and served on/chaired international conferences and technical committees, and provided technical advice to industry and the UK government. His focus is on national coordination and how to best support advanced digital infrastructure and connectivity technology uptake, growing UK capabilities in telecommunications R&D, as well as developing in Digital Catapult technical advances on new 5G/6G network architectures, network and service orchestration, edge computing and IoT support. Prior to Digital Catapult he was at University of Bristol, where he led a 15-strong research team, strategically combining network and distributed systems research with industrial collaboration, making a wide range of contributions and practical implementations in networking, interoperability, smart energy, cities and digital health.
Jaisha Wray is the Associate Administrator for International Affairs at the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In this role, she formulates telecommunications and information policies and promotes these policies in international fora.
Previously, she was the Director for International Cyber Policy in the Cybersecurity Directorate of the National Security Council where she was responsible for drafting and implementing the U.S. strategy on 5G technology as well as enhancing international cybersecurity cooperation with a wide range of partners and allies. She was also the Acting Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Emerging Security Challenges where she contributed to the formulation of outer space and cyber stability policies and diplomatic strategies. At the State Department, she served as a Political Officer at U.S. Embassy London and as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of Missile Defense and Space Policy. She began her government career as a Presidential Management Fellow where she completed rotations in the Space and Cyber Policy Directorate of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and in the National Reconnaissance Office.
Ms. Wray holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles as well as a M.A. in International Relations and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. She has completed the International Space University Space Studies Program and the Harvard Kennedy School's Executive Education course on cybersecurity.