Peter Brightwell - Lead Engineer, BBC Research & Development

Peter Brightwell is a Lead Engineer at BBC's R&D, where he is leading work to guide the BBC's transition to IP. Working mostly at R&D but also in other parts of the BBC, Peter has an extensive background in broadcast and technology, in particular video compression, file-based acquisition, networked delivery, and virtual graphics. He has been a frequent collaborator on international projects on metadata, media services and networked media. He has been a significant contributor to the industry’s Joint Taskforce for Networked media and is currently chair of the Networked Media Incubator of the Advanced Media Workflow Association, a collaborative project that is developing the NMOS family of open specifications for networked media.

Grant Hammond - Principal Consultant, dB Broadcast

Grant Hammond is a seasoned media industry consultant who has worked with many major media organisations to define and deliver complex technology transformation programmes. He holds a degree in Microelectronics and Computing (specialising in Digital Signal Processing and Artificial Neural Networks), an MBA and is a Chartered Engineer. Grant started his career as a support engineer, commissioning playout automation systems around the world for Drake Automation Limited. After forming close ties with the development team, he was soon promoted into a product management role. In 2001, Grant accepted a consulting role with Broadcast Projects International. This would lead to Grant working on a variety of ambitious programmes, including in 2002 a pan-European VOD platform rollout and around 2006 a globally distributed MAM SaaS platform. In 2008 Grant started working on Sky Studios, where he would ultimately run the Technical Design Authority and gain overall design responsibility for Broadcast Centre and Post Production. It was at Sky Studios that Grant met the dB Broadcast team. During dB Broadcast’s work at Bloomberg, Grant held various roles. Initially responsible for defining the technology strategy and architecture for the live production side of the media business. He then led the architecture and delivery of one of the first major IP based broadcast facilities in the world. Grant continues to work with dB and is now focussing on leading the transition of broadcast production and presentation systems into the datacentre. Grant lives in Hertfordshire with his wife, two children and two cats. When not immersed in technology and complex programmes of work, he enjoys playing his guitars and banjo.

Pierre Maillat - Technical Studies and Architecture, Canal+

Pierre is currently responsible for technical studies and architecture for the Edition part of CANAL+. He collaborated to the design and the construction of several broadcast centers and have the chance to work for the transmission of some large sport events like Olympic games or World Cups. Today focuses ere to enhance the viewer experience, to envision new ways to produce and distribute the content migrating the broadcast process to IP and IT with special attention to the training of the teams.

Mark Patrick - Lead Architect, BBC

Mark Patrick joined the BBC in 2000 and specialises in broadcast infrastructure including routing, central apparatus rooms and MCRs. He has worked on multiple major BBC projects including the World Service NOC, London W1, Salford, DAB multiplex replacement and now Cardiff Central Square, where his focus is on the adoption of IP for live broadcast routing.

Peter Storey - EMEA Media Engineering Manager, Bloomberg

Peter Storey is Broadcast Manager at Bloomberg LP covering EMEA and Asia. He completed an HND in Marine Tele-communications at Tyneside Marine and Technical College in 1985.Peter's first job was with Raytheon Electronics for 10 years traveling the globe commissioning civil and military radar systems, then joining Bloomberg in 1995. Whilst at Bloomberg he has worked for 10 years in Network Operations and 13 years in TV Media, covering all things technical. Peter's biggest achievement was managing the media project for the new Bloomberg European HQ at Queen Victoria Street, which went live early December 2017, a 3-year project coming in 4 days early.  Peter lives in Hertfordshire with his wife, 3 children and dog.

Nadia Aziz - Innovation Consultant, Unbounded Future Ltd

Nadia is an Evangelist of emerging technologies with an expertise in AR & VR and IoT technologies. She has advised C-level executives in Telecom and Media organisations for digital transformation and M&A projects over more than a decade. While being a SIG Champion of Future Devices and Technologies at Cambridge Wireless, she has recently co-founded Unbounded Future, a Deeptech consulting firm based in London. Previously Nadia led Emerging Technologies at NTT Data UK where she supervised R&D and innovation in Augmented (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR), AI, and IoT. Nadia is a supporter of Women in STEM initiatives and is a mentor at the University College London (UCL) IXN programme. She is an industry advisor to IoTerra, a USA-based B2B marketplace for IoT products and was a co-producer for the GIANT Health Event.

David Crawford - Emeritus Professor, Computer Science & Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Professor, Digital Media Research, Ravensbourne University

David Crawford is Visiting Professor at University of Essex Colchester, and Emeritus Professor at Ravensbourne University London. David has worked for over 50 years across the telecoms/broadcast industries and UK academic institutions. His research interests are in new imaging techniques, applications for mixed reality technologies, and networks for multidimensional media. David facilitates and lectures in the UK on Degree Apprenticeship courses, promoting work-based learning curricula and collaborative industry-academia training.

David has worked in senior positions at BT, RE, Crown Castle and Harris Broadcast, and as a Director of a start-up company, TeamCast, in France. He has run his own technical consultancy company, and chairs and presents regularly at international events. David is a Member of the Royal Television Society, Fellow of SMPTE, Special-Interest-Group Champion for Cambridge Wireless on Content Production & Delivery, and Honorary Chairman of the Creative Science Foundation. He has previously served as a Council/Board Member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET), the Conference Chair at IBC, and Executive Chair at the ‘mixed reality’ Community Interest Company, PlayLa.bZ.

Tony Lavender - Managing Partner, Plum Consulting

Tony Lavender is a managing partner at Plum Consulting. He has more than 35 years experience in technology, communications regulation, policy and spectrum management. His clients include governments, equipment vendors, network operators and regulators. Tony was a specialist adviser to the UK Parliament 2016 Culture, Media and Sport Committee Inquiry into “Establishing world class connectivity throughout the UK”, he chairs the Steering Board of the UK Spectrum Policy Forum and he was a member of the UK Government’s Expert Panel, established as part of the UK Spectrum Strategy, on “Incorporating Social Value into Spectrum Allocation Decisions”. He has worked on a wide range of studies including on the 5G mmWave ecosystem, spectrum sharing, spectrum valuation and more broadly on electronic communications infrastructure strategy. Tony is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Chris Nokes - Senior Technical Advisor, Ofcom

Chris is a Senior Technical Advisor with Ofcom, investigating broadcasting and media technologies. He was previously the Head of Distribution Core Technologies Section at BBC Research & Development. With over thirty years' experience in Broadcasting R&D, Chris has been involved in the development of digital television since 1994, including as a key contributor to the DVB-T2 technical study group, and editor of the DVB-T2 specification and Chair of the RF Group of the UK Digital Television Group (DTG).