2pm – 3pm, 30 April 2026 ‐ 1 hour
Room: Rosalind Franklin Pavillion
Breakout 2
Gone are the days of 'smart city' theory. It's time to talk about what actually works.
How do we use digital connectivity to deliver better public services and fuel real economic growth? This session brings the entire value chain to the stage: from telcos and regional authorities to the public sector leaders on the frontline.
Forget the jargon, this is about practical problem-solving. Hear real-world case studies on solving tough connectivity challenges and see how these solutions are transforming communities. We’ll also look ahead, exploring the powerful impact AI will have on our public spaces over the next decade.







Director, High Summits Consulting
Dejan is a senior consultant advising a range of clients across both public and private sectors. His particular focus is development of open and shared digital infrastructure to support product development and service transformation within complex innovation ecosystems. Until recently Dejan worked at the UK government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) where he led the technology advisory team within the Future Networks Programme. A firm believer in creating value through collaboration between public and private sectors and across technology layers, Dejan’s aspiration as a SIG Champion is to shine a spotlight on market innovation opportunities through CW’s uniquely rich network of experts and influencers.
Director/Advisor, Digital Places
Jessica is an accomplished Director and Advisor with extensive experience in driving digital transformation initiatives within connected places. She collaborates with Government, local authorities and enterprises to improve operational efficiency and public services through advanced digital infrastructure. With a strong focus on IoT deployment and connectivity solutions, Jessica is committed to fostering economic growth and improving community engagement through innovative technology.
Head of Digital Connectivity , Cambridgeshire County Council
As programme Director for Connecting Cambridgeshire, Sarah leads on the delivery of a future facing digital infrastructure for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region including broadband, mobile, innovation and digital inclusion. Sarah is passionate about using the power of technology and innovation with cross-sector collaboration to improve connectivity and local public service delivery. Before joining Connecting Cambridgeshire she was IT development lead for the County Council and delivered a number of successful IT transformation programmes including the countywide public sector fibre network.
Chief Technical Officer, SMCCL
Kieran Arnold started his career with the Royal Air force as an engineering officer working on mission critical and tactical communications systems.
Consultant
Seán has worked on wireless networks for over 25 years. He has delivered projects across four continents. Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Australasia. This involved building infrastructure for mobile operators, governments, investors, real estate companies, offshore wind developers and large industrials.
As CTO for the UK and Ireland, Seán led an innovative technology team creating industry-leading technology for our customers, underpinning Boldyn Networks’s growth ambitions. Before Boldyn Networks's acquisition in 2021, Seán was CEO of Vilicom. In this role, Seán executed a strategy to expand the company into new verticals, supporting digital transformation and launching Europe’s first cloud platform to deploy mobile and private networks faster and more efficiently.
Seán holds an electronics engineering degree from Dublin City University and an MBA from Smurfit Business School. He has completed a year-long leadership development programme with IMD Lausanne.

Head of Business Development for the Public Sector, Vodafone Business
Tracey Jenkins is the Head of Business Development for the Public Sector at Vodafone Business. With extensive experience across both public and private sectors, she leads a high performing team of sector specialists focused on developing strategic initiatives that address the evolving needs of government and public service organisations. Her leadership is underpinned by deep expertise in technology, telecommunications, commercial strategy, and complex transformation programmes, enabling her to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
At the heart of Tracey’s work is a commitment to closing the digital divide and championing inclusive, secure, and future ready technologies. She is passionate about expanding access to digital solutions and improving societal outcomes through innovation—supporting economic growth, advancing digital inclusion, and strengthening community resilience across the UK.
A long-standing advocate for women in STEM, Tracey actively mentors undergraduates and early career professionals, helping to inspire and develop the next generation of industry talent.