Dimitra Simeonidou is a Full Professor at the University of Bristol, the Co-Director of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and the Director of Smart Internet Lab. Her research is focusing on the fields of high-performance networks, programmable networks, wireless-optical convergence, 5G/6G and smart city infrastructures. She is increasingly working with Social Sciences on topics of digital transformation for society and businesses. Dimitra has been the Technical Architect and the CTO of the smart city project Bristol Is Open. She is currently leading the Bristol City/Region 5G and Open RAN pilots. She is the author and co-author of over 600 publications, numerous patents and several major contributions to standards. She has been co-founder of two spin-out companies, the latest being the University of Bristol VC funded spin-out Zeetta Networks, http://www.zeetta.com, delivering SDN solutions for enterprise and emergency networks. Dimitra is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), a Fellow of the IEEE (FIEEE) and a Royal Society Wolfson Scholar

Colin is currently the chairman of the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) governing board (formally known as 5G Infrastructure Association). He is also the chairman of the Smart Networks and Services Joint undertaking (SNS-JU) governing board. He has detailed knowledge and experience of the telecommunications industry having worked directly or indirectly with many of the major players over a 28-year period. The roles have included software developer, technical consultant, technical marketing, standardization and management. In addition to line manager roles, he has participated extensively in standardization activities at ETSI, ITU-T and 3GPP, including instrumental work in creating and developing the TTCN-3 testing language. Colin has also been very active in the European research ecosystem, including leading a number of award winning European projects such as TT-Medal, D-MINT and SEMAFOUR. Colin is currently head of Research Alliances at Nokia.

A Telecommunications and electrical engineering engineer from the Technical University of Madrid, he has a long professional track record in entrepreneurship, R&D and business development in industries such as mobile communications, semiconductors and cloud platforms. His work at the head of SIDSA (1987-2012), a Semiconductor Fabless company that he co-founded and where he was Deputy Chairman of Engineering, stands out particularly. As Director of Business Development at UAV Navigation (2011-2012), Ruiz led the application of avionics in the civil and consumer electronics market. He has also combined teaching and consulting with his mission as CEO of Arthika Trading Solutions, a Fintech startup where he gained exposure to Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. On a parallel basis Ruiz has also worked as an independent expert for the European Commission since the initial Framework Programmes in 1987 to H2020. He has likewise collaborated on the Eureka Celtic Programmes and with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Maria Guta is Senior 5G SatCom Solutions Architect at the Strategic Programme Line for 5G, Directorate of Telecommunications & Integrated Applications in the European Space Agency (ESA). She co-ordinates, shapes and supports 5G and beyond developments in satellite networks and 5G native services involving combined use of space-based telecommunications, earth observation and navigation systems. She also interfaces with external stakeholders i.e. space and non-space organisations, national space agencies and EC, e.g. DG Connect to develop common understanding for the requirements for satellite systems and services. She has more than 20 years of experience in SatCom field. In her previous positions, she was with Eutelsat in the Systems Studies Division and the Space Engineering SpA in the Telecom Programmes Division.

Head of Unit, Deputy Director – Future Networks DG CONNECT, European Commission Interim Director – Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking Peter is currently managing the Commission's policy on 5G communication systems and the related research and innovation programme. Last December he has been appointed Interim Director of the newly established Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, responsible to manage its office and implement its work programme until its autonomy. Before his appointment to Head of Unit he has been coordinating the Digital Single Market Strategy, was Head of Sector "Spectrum Policy", coordinating the 2012 Roaming Regulation, and the EU R&D programme leading to the 4G mobile communications standards. Before joining the European Commission in 2004 he has occupied several engineering and management positions in industry, academia and start-ups. He holds engineering and doctoral degrees from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.