Delivering The North’s Connected Future 2023 | Total Telecom | 16 April 2023 | Manchester Central Convention Complex, Windmill St, Manchester M2 3GX, UK

The push for better connectivity in the North as part of the government’s pledge to make gigabit capable networks available for 85% of the UK by the end of 2025 continues; and with it comes host of opportunities for the region. Improving the region’s digital infrastructure increases global competitiveness and encourage inward investment for the North.

The North of the UK is at a turning point post pandemic with the attention both locally and nationally to build back better by affording equal opportunity for previously underserved areas. Connected North 2023 will see 120 expert speakers and 1500 attendees from across the digital economy ecosystem for a dedicated regional forum on connectivity enabled social and economic growth.

2023 Speakers

Ian Adkins
Principal, Analysys Mason

Kira Allmann
Senior Digital Strategy Officer, Manchester City Council

Michael Armitage
Founding Director, Broadway Partners

Paul Armstrong
Head of Digital Innovation, North Tyneside Council

Dave Axam
Chief Executive Officer, Giggle

Matthew Bateman
Director, Infrastructure Development, Openreach

Amul Batra
Chief Operating Officer, Northcoders

Daren Baythorpe
Chief Executive Officer, ITS Technology Group Ltd

Adam Beaumont
Chair, NorthInvest

Iqbal Bedi
Director & Founder, Intelligens Consulting

Simon Benson
Director of Immersive Technology, HOST Salford

Ali Bissoondath
Policy Manager, Internet Matters

Alex Blowers
Director of Regulatory Affairs, CityFibre

Eamonn Boylan
Chief Executive Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Tom Boyle
Head of Telecoms & Co-Chair - Telecoms Best Values Group, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dean Bubley
Founder, Disruptive Analysis

Bill Buchan
Director, Marykirk.com

Jon Burt
Head of Enterprise Architecture, Manchester City Council

Alan Cameron
Managing Director, Gigaair Ltd

Chris Chambers
Deputy Director Geospatial Commission, Cabinet Office

Heather Clark
Head of Digital Projects, City of Wolverhampton Council

Marilyn Comrie OBE FRSA
Manchester Innovation Activities Hub

Elizabeth Connelly
Snr. Landscape Construction Manager, Peabody

Cllr Bev Craig
Leader of the Council, Manchester City Council

Sam Darwish
EMEA 5G Business Development Manager, VIAVI Solutions

Katie Day
Director of Strategy, Policy and Communications, Transport for the North

John Duncan
Digital Inclusion Programme Manager, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Alexandra Eavis
Chief Product Officer, EMIS Health

Karen Egan
Senior Telecoms Analyst, Enders Analysis

Gareth Elliott
Director of Policy and Communications, Mobile UK

Katherine Fairclough
Chief Executive, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Sherelle Fairweather
Digital Strategy Lead, Manchester City Council

Angus Flett
Chief Executive Officer, Data Communications Company, DCC

Chris Founds
Infrastructure Director, CJ Founds Associates

Robert Franks
Managing Director WM5G, UK Telecoms Innovation Network

James Fredrickson
Director of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Hyperoptic

Miran Gilmore
Senior Consultant, STL Partners

Chris Godsmark
Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey

Joshua Greedy
Head of Marketing & Business Development, ZYBRE

Peter Griffiths
Global Urban Futures Expert, Bable Smart Cities

Naleena Gururani
Chief People Officer, Hyperoptic

Rob Hamlin
Chief Strategy Officer, CityFibre

Jonathan Harris
Programme Director, Connecting Cumbria

William Harris
Senior Account Director, Neos Networks

James Heath
Chief Executive Officer, National Infrastructure Commission

Matthew Hemmings
Managing Director of Fibre and Network Delivery, Openreach

Conal Henry
Founder & Chair, Fibrus

Todd Holden
Energy Policy and Programme Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Pete Hollebon
Outdoor Small Cells & Microcell Delivery Lead, Virgin Media O2

Marcel Horst
Chief Executive Officer, Common Wholesale Platform

Chris Hudson
Connectivity Director for WM5G, UK Telecoms Innovation Network

Hayley Hughes
Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Manchester

Tony Hughes
Chief Executive Officer, 4th Utility

Joe Hurman
Senior Consultant, STL Partners

Naomi Hutchinson
Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, Sunderland City Council

Sophie James
Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK

Nick Johnson
Head of UKTIN, Digital Catapult

Aileen Jones
Interim Director for Strategic Delivery, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Nigel Langley
Head of Customer Delivery, CityFibre

Steve Leighton
Chief Executive Officer, Voneus Limited

Sam Li
Senior Innovation Officer, Transport for Greater Manchester TfGM

Robert Ling
Assistant Director for Technology and Change, North Yorkshire County Council

Nigel Linge
Professor of Telecommunications, University of Salford

Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Mr Philip Maguire
CEO, Inakalum

Neil McArthur
Chief Executive Officer, Freedom Fibre

Patrick Melia
Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council

Andrew Miles
Chief Architect, Telet Research

Elliot Mills
Business Development Director, Mills Ltd

Mr Jacob Mills
Chief Operating Officer, Connect Fibre

Tony Morgan
Head of Regional Delivery North, BDUK

Clayton Nash
Strategy Director, CityFibre

Ian Newbury
Business Development Director MNO, BT Wholesale

Dave Newton
Board Member, The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Alan Nichols
Chief Executive Officer, Tekton Limited

Duncan Nisbet
Stakeholder Director, Scottish Government

Shawn Nolan
CTO, Freedom Fibre

Dave Pankhurst
Director of Drones, BT

Willy Pelhate
UK Marketing Manager, ACOME

Brian Potterill
Director of Mobile Network Strategy, Ofcom

Sara Prowse
Chief Executive Officer, UA92

Beena Puri
GM Digital Innovation and Partnerships Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Lucy Roberts
Head of Digital Skills & Business Change Lead, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Zoe Robinson
Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, Keele University

James Robinson
Senior Analyst, Assembly Research

Gavin Rodgers
Chief Executive Officer, Lothian Broadband

Lorna Rogers
Assistant Director, Mayoral Programme Delivery, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Ian Ross
Head of Commercialisation - Project Reach, Neos Networks

Ankush Saikia
Senior Manager - Technology Strategy and Architecture (OSS), Three UK

Sukhi Sandhu
Head of Rail Telecoms Policy, Department for Transport

Meredith Sharples
Senior Partner, Cambridge MC

Mark Shurmer
Managing Director, Regulatory Affairs, Openreach

Kieran Smith
Digital Transformation Programme Manager, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Tony Smith
Director of Network Delivery, Gigaclear

Lucie Smith
Corporate Affairs & Marketing Director, Digital Mobile Spectrum

Gita Sorensen
Managing Director, GOS Consulting

Joe Spencer
Professor At University Of Liverpool & Academic Lead, Sensor City

Lee Spicer
UK Key Account Manager, ACOME

Kate Squire
Senior Head of Production for North West England and North East and North East England, BBC

Liz St Louis
Director of Smart Cities, Sunderland City Council

Stefan Stanislawski
Chief Executive Officer, Connect Fibre

Mark Stansfeld
Operating Partner, Northleaf Capital

John Steward
Digital Infrastructure Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Emma Stone
Director of Evidence and Engagement, Good Things Foundation

Dave Swanston
CEO, Runfibre Ltd

Richard Swinford
Head of Digital Infrastructure Investment, DCMS, UK Government

Richard Tang
Founder and Chairman, Zen Internet

Alastair Taylor
Chief Executive, NYnet Ltd

Martyn Taylor
Chief Commercial Officer, BDUK

Mark Toman
Client Director MNO, BT Wholesale

Lynne Toogood
Chief Operating Officer, Connected Kerb

Matt Tully
Director of Fibre Upgrade, Virgin Media O2

Jason Tutin
Digital Inclusion Manager, Leeds City Council

Judy Vickers
Founder of the Manchester Digital Collective & Operations Manager, Lifeshare

Robert Walker
Programme Manager for Health & Social Care and Justice & Emergency Services, techUK

Craig Walton
Chief Digital Officer, Tees Valley Combined Authority

Catherine Warren
Transformation and Innovation Director, Gigaclear

Hannah Whelan
Advocacy Manager, Good Things Foundation

Caroline White
Producer, Project Manager, Creative Consultant, XPLOR - Production Park

Nick Wiggin
Head of Partnerships, Freshwave Group

Sarah Wray
Journalist, Cities Today

2023 Sponsors

TITLE SPONSOR:
• its

PLATINUM SPONSORS:
• CityFibre
• Freedom Fibre

GOLD SPONSORS:
• Acome Group
• Calix
• Mills
• Neos Networks
• Open Reach
• Viavi

SILVER SPONSORS:
• Wholesale
• FreshWave

BRONZE SPONSORS:
• Inakalum
• VX Fiber

VIP LUNCH SPONSOR:
• Salesforce

NETWORKING DRINKS SPONSORS:
• Nokia
• Xantaro