UK SPF Future Spectrum Policy Summit 2024

Dr Abhaya Sumanasena

Chair of the UK SPF Steering Board, UK SPF and Real Wireless

 

David Willis

Group Director for Spectrum, Ofcom

No bio provided

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Aleksander Sołtysik

Chairperson, RSPG

Aleksander Sołtysik is an attaché for the telecommunication sector in the Permanent Representation of Poland to the European Union and represents Ministry of Digital Affairs in the Council of the European Union. The main responsibilities are matters regarding radio spectrum, gigabit infrastructure, artificial intelligence and Digital Decade. Currently he is the Chair of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group – a high-level advisory group that assists the European Commission in the development of radio spectrum policy. He is also an outgoing co-rapporteur of the RSPG Working Group on Peer Review and Member State cooperation on authorizations and awards, which is responsible for annual reports on the implementation of the art. 35 of the European Electronic Communications Code. Aleksander was the Head of International Telecommunication Unit at the Ministry of Digital Affair, engaged in the International Telecommunication Union’s and CEPT matters, mainly focusing on the preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conferences. He was a Kosciuszko Foundation scholar at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and hold a PhD degree from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow.

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Holly Creek

Deputy Director, Wireless Infrastructure, Spectrum and Consumer Policy, DSIT

No bio provided

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Luigi Ardito

Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm

Luigi Ardito is currently working as a Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA at Qualcomm. He is leading Qualcomm spectrum and regulatory policy agenda in Europe dealing with various government entities and industry organizations. He is also the Chairman of Digital Europe Spectrum Group and member of the GSA Spectrum management team.

Prior to joining Qualcomm, Luigi worked at Sony Corporation both in Japan and in the UK for over a decade. He has additionally gained a professional experience at France Telecom and at the Italian Public Broadcaster RAI. Luigi has extensive experience in the Media and Telecom industry as well as the Semiconductor Industry gained through his assignments at Qualcomm, Sony, France Telecom and RAI.

He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree from the Politecnico di Torino in Italy, an MBA of Marketing and Finance from the Henley Management College in the UK and a Diploma in Communications and Media Regulations at the European University Institute – Robert Schuman Centre.

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Dr Mike Short CBE

Chief Architect, Satellite Applications Catapult

No bio provided

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Andy Gowans

Spectrum Regulatory Policy Lead, Cisco

Andy joined the Cisco Wireless CTO’s office as an Advisor on Wireless regulatory issues in August 2023 where he gives expert advice and represents Cisco on various standards bodies, Wireless regulatory and Industry forums including at the WRC-23. Andy has almost 30 years’ experience in Wireless industry and was previously with Ofcom representing the UK in various International Wireless regulatory and standardisation fora such as ITU-R, CEPT, EU, ETSI, IEEE 802 etc. Andy’s role in Ofcom included representing the UK as head of the UK delegation and sometimes in a neutral role as Chairman or Vice chair of various international project teams and/or working groups. Most recently he chaired the Short Range Device Maintenance Group in CEPT/ECC and in the past various groups looking at RLAN harmonisation and co-existence issues.”

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Sara Dalledonne

Research Fellow and Lead on Regulatory Affairs, European Space Policy Institute

Sara Dalledonne is a Research Fellow with Lead on Regulatory Affairs at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI). She is the Space Law expert at the University of Bologna in Italy, and a Member of the Support Committee for the Aviation & Space Journal (ASJ). Prior to joining ESPI, she worked as Research Assistant at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University. She holds an L.L.M. in Air and Space Law from the McGill University, an L.L.M. in International Trade Law from the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) and a 5-year Law degree from University of Bologna. She also successfully completed an ITU Training Course in Satellite Coordination Procedures and Filings.

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Stuart Cooke

Director of Spectrum and Industry Affairs, Samsung

Stuart is Chair of the GSA’s Global Spectrum Team and Director of Samsung’s Spectrum & Industry Affairs. 

Stuart has held a variety of roles, including in the UK government's 3G auction team, the Nokia standards & regulatory affairs, 4G pioneer start up Flarion Technologies, Qualcomm business development and wireless energy harvesting start-up Drayson Technologies.

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Greg Bensberg

Spectrum Policy Advisor , Everyone TV

No bio provided

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Chris Cheeseman

Principal Spectrum Policy, BT Group

Chris works in BT’s Networks division where he leads on spectrum policy and related regulatory issues for BT/EE. He has in-depth experience of wireless communications and the associated national and international spectrum issues. He has participated in international work on spectrum harmonisation in ITU, CEPT and other industry groups and leads with Ofcom and Government on a wide range of spectrum and regulatory issues for BT, including participation in Ofcom’s past spectrum auctions and regulatory consultations related to wireless and spectrum. Chris joined BT as a graduate in 1985. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the UK Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Charles Cooper

Director of NTIA’s Office of Spectrum Management, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Charles Cooper is Director of NTIA’s Office of Spectrum Management. He leads the agency’s work on national and international spectrum policy issues, and oversees spectrum management efforts for federal agencies. He is responsible for frequency assignment and certification, and other strategic planning functions.  Before joining NTIA in 2019, Cooper was the Enforcement Bureau Field Director at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where he managed the nationwide enforcement of spectrum interference affecting public safety communications, FCC licensees and Federal agencies. Prior to serving as Field Director, Cooper was District Director of the FCC’s Los Angeles Field Office.  

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Professor Rahim Tafazolli

Director of 5GIC, 6GIC and ICS, University of Surrey

Rahim Tafazolli is Regius Professor of Electronic Engineering, Professor of Mobile and Satellite Communications, Founder and Director of 5GIC, 6GIC and ICS (Institute for Communication System) 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.

: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/rahim-tafazolli-freng

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Professor Robert Stewart

Professor Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng., University of Strathclyde

Bob has led a number of DCMS 5G Testbed and Trials projects was part of the founding partners team working with Scottish Government to create the Scotland 5G Centre.  In recent years he has been working on solutions for the media and broadcast industry and private 5G SA networks working alongside a number of international broadcasters.  Over a 30 year Bob has published 4 books and more than 200 papers. Bob is also a director of the University startup company Neutral Wireless Ltd

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Professor Simon Saunders

Independent Telecoms Advisor,

No bio provided

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Dominic O'Brien

Professor of Engineering Science, University of Oxford

No bio provided

: https://eng.ox.ac.uk/people/dominic-obrien/

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Jane Nicholson

Director of Research Base, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Jane Nicholson is Director of Research Base at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)– a part of UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI).  Jane’s  responsibilities cover the core disciplines of Chemistry, Engineering, Information and Communications Technology , Mathematical Sciences and Physics. Jane also takes an over view for EPSRC  on our investments in PhD training and Fellowships  as well investments  in research infrastructure including both  experimental and digital facilities used by UK based researchers to carry out their work. 

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William Webb

Chief Technology Officer, Access Partnership

No bio provided

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Manuel Rascado-Marti

Spectrum Policy Consultant , LS telcom

As a Spectrum Policy Consultant at LS telcom, Manuel manages global consulting assignments with a focus on regulatory policy, strategic planning, and radio spectrum management. Having previously served as the secretariat for the UK Spectrum Policy Forum, he is well-versed in intersections of policy, strategy, and innovation, as well as domestic and international spectrum policy activities. With prior roles as an analyst and senior reporter, he possesses a comprehensive and independent perspective of the wireless sector.

Manuel holds a master's in International Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London.

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Kumar Singarajah

UK SPF Cluster 4: International Spectrum Issues and Euroma

 

: https://www.techuk.org/who-we-are/our-partners/uk-spectrum-policy-forum/leadership.html

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Professor Robert Stewart

Professor Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng., University of Strathclyde

Bob has led a number of DCMS 5G Testbed and Trials projects was part of the founding partners team working with Scottish Government to create the Scotland 5G Centre.  In recent years he has been working on solutions for the media and broadcast industry and private 5G SA networks working alongside a number of international broadcasters.  Over a 30 year Bob has published 4 books and more than 200 papers. Bob is also a director of the University startup company Neutral Wireless Ltd

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Luigi Ardito

Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm

Luigi Ardito is currently working as a Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA at Qualcomm. He is leading Qualcomm spectrum and regulatory policy agenda in Europe dealing with various government entities and industry organizations. He is also the Chairman of Digital Europe Spectrum Group and member of the GSA Spectrum management team.

Prior to joining Qualcomm, Luigi worked at Sony Corporation both in Japan and in the UK for over a decade. He has additionally gained a professional experience at France Telecom and at the Italian Public Broadcaster RAI. Luigi has extensive experience in the Media and Telecom industry as well as the Semiconductor Industry gained through his assignments at Qualcomm, Sony, France Telecom and RAI.

He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree from the Politecnico di Torino in Italy, an MBA of Marketing and Finance from the Henley Management College in the UK and a Diploma in Communications and Media Regulations at the European University Institute – Robert Schuman Centre.

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