Speakers
Andrea Wood MBE
Bridgette Bigmore
Ruth Redding
Shona Taylor
Speaker session
The technology landscape is evolving faster than the talent pipeline that supports it, and nowhere is this more visible than in connectivity and advanced communications technologies. As AI, agentic systems, and emerging fields such as quantum capture the imagination of the next generation, the disciplines of core network, infrastructure, and connectivity risk losing young talent to more visible career options grabbing the headlines.
This session explores how the CW ecosystem can compete for and inspire our next generation of young talent. It examines what really drives talent choices today, from pay and flexibility to purpose, diversity, and societal impact, and how careers in connectivity, networks and digital infrastructure can offer compelling answers. The discussion will consider how shifting skillsets, new productivity models, and changing ways of working are reshaping the future workforce across the UK’s digital economy. The panel will look at how to build clearer pathways into ACT careers, unlock regional growth, and ensure inclusion and equal access to opportunity.
Andrea is an esteemed and motivational senior leader with over two decades of experience in further education and local government, concentrating on skills, employment, and inclusive economic growth. Her career began in Human Resources before she transitioned to an Employment Consultant role, aiding long-term unemployed individuals and vulnerable groups in the Eastern region. Subsequently, Andrea entered the realm of further education as a qualified Teacher and Advanced Practitioner, leading various programs such as 14-16 education, post-16 study programmes, Apprenticeships, Adult Skills, and community learning. Her path led to her appointment as Head of Skills for Suffolk County Council and Principal of New Directions College in Reading. Andrea possesses extensive expertise in formulating and executing policies within the skills and employment sector. She has been instrumental in shaping policies related to work and health, post-16, SEND, youth unemployment, and adult skills. Presently, Andrea serves as Assistant Director for Skills and Employment at the CPCA, where she champions economic growth by enhancing human capital through skills development and addressing disparities across regional communities.
Bridgette is CTO at UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), the UK’s flagship centre for telecoms security and cyber resilience, housed in a secure, purpose-built facility. Prior to this, Bridgette was CIO Director at BT Group where she was responsible for the delivery of digital human centric software solutions to grow market share and brand loyalty. Bridgette held various senior management roles during her two decades at BT across research, technical innovation, product development, large scale delivery & digital infrastructure security roles. She holds an MSc in Telecommunications from UCL, as well as an MSc in Optoelectronic, and a BEng in Electrical & Electronic.
Ruth Redding is a coach and leadership development expert, working as an Associate at Cambridge Management Consulting. She has 25 years of experience in the global communications and optical networking sector. She previously spent several years at Infinera, where she served as VP of Sales for North and Central Europe, driving significant regional growth and navigating the complex commercial landscapes of the EMEA infrastructure market, as well as sales leadership role at Gartner, Ciena and Alcatel.
Currently, Ruth serves as a Board Advisor for the University of California, Berkeley Certificate in Global Digital Infrastructure, helping to bridge the gap between academic theory and the commercial realities of the subsea and data centre sectors. A dedicated architect of talent, she leads the Talent Track at Capacity Europe, which 150+ students to see the compelling reasons to join the industry. Ruth combines her deep commercial background with professional coaching to ensure the UK’s digital economy is supported by a diverse, resilient, and high-performing workforce."
Shona Taylor brings extensive experience across the education and skills sector, spanning further education teaching and management, careers education development, and strategic roles within education and charitable organisations. She specialises in strengthening collaboration between employers, educators, and key stakeholders, drawing on deep sector knowledge and practical insight. Shona regularly shares UCAS insights at national conferences to inform the future of apprenticeships, skills, and early careers. Passionate about equity and inclusive workforce pathways, she is committed to empowering young people and supporting organisations to engage effectively with the next generation.
Lesley Holt is Adoption Director at WM5G, where she leads major programmes that enable public and private sector organisations to adopt and scale advanced connectivity and digital technologies. A core focus of her work is developing the skills, talent pipelines and organisational capability required to move beyond pilots and embed technology successfully in real world operations.
With over twenty years’ cross sector experience, Lesley brings deep expertise in transformation, service improvement, and operational delivery. Her background spans public sector reform, business transformation, and the management of complex outsourced services, giving her a strong understanding of the workforce, cultural and leadership challenges that shape successful technology adoption.
At WM5G, Lesley has led the design and delivery of testbeds, accelerators and adoption programmes that combine technical innovation with skills development, capability building, and culture change. Lesley played a senior role in WM5G’s delivery of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), leading national skills and talent activity on behalf of the sector. Through UKTIN, she has shaped and delivered skills plans, market mapping, and ecosystem wide engagement to address critical workforce shortages, future proof telecoms and digital skills, and improve diversity, attraction and retention across the talent pipeline. This includes convening industry, government, academia, and training providers through the UKTIN Talent Advisory Group to align skills supply with emerging technology demand.
Lesley has played a central role in Technology Enabled Care programmes delivered through the 5G Innovation Region (5GiR), supporting councils and care providers to upskill workforces, redesign services and adopt digitally enabled models of care. These programmes have delivered measurable outcomes, including improved workforce productivity, enhanced citizen independence, and reduced pressure on frontline services.
Her work blends strategic leadership with hands on delivery, ensuring that organisations invest not only in technology, but in the people, skills and confidence needed to sustain long term digital transformation across health, care, local government, and industry.