Dr Nigel Jefferies

Prof Dimitra Simeonidou

Dr Alain Mourad

Prof Knud Erik Skouby

Dr Prashant Dhotre

Prof Tim Unwin

Prof Jinhong Yuan

• Prof Izzat Darwazeh
  
  Founding Director of UCL’s Institute of Communications and Connected Systems (ICCS) with over 130 members and is the Chair of Communication Systems at UCL and the University of London (from 2006.) Founded UCL’s Information and Communication Engineering (ICE) research group (with 12 academics and over 60 researchers) within the department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. He has been at UCL since 2001. At UMIST in Manchester (1994-2001) before UCL and at the university of Wales-Bangor (1990-93). Research in mobile and optical communication circuits, systems and applications. Published over 300 papers and four books, supervised 40 doctoral and 15 postdoctoral researchers and held chairmanship of major international conferences. Pioneered two new modulation schemes termed Fast OFDM and Spectrally Efficient FDM, which challenge the orthodoxy of having orthogonal signals to increase a channel’s information carrying capacity.
• Dr Costas Danas
  
  Chair of e-Health and Wearables, WWRF Working Group looking to investigate and introduce future mobile health applications. Previously served at the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Kingston University, London. With more than 30 years experience in academia and research interests in health informatics, Costas has published a number of journal papers, served as an editor and reviewer of IEEE journals. Current research interests include the development of future scenarios for mobile health applications. PhD in Health Informatics, CITY University, London.
• Dr Vincenzo Sciancalepore
  
  Principal Researcher and RAN specialist at NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH, Germany. MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and Telematics Engineering, 2011-2012. Double PhD from Politecnico di Milano and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 2015. Research Assistant at IMDEA Networks: focus on inter-cell coordinated scheduling for LTE Advanced networks and device-to-device communication 2011-2015. Currently focusing on network virtualization and network slicing challenges; extended vision on mobile edge computing research topic. Standard delegate of NEC actively contributing to standard ETSI MEC (Multi-Access Edge Computing) ISG and recently, ETSI RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) ISG. Chairing new ComSoc Emerging Technologies Initiative (ETI) on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) since 2020. Project Technical Manager of European H2020 Project, namely RISE-6G, on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and principal investigator of 3 ongoing MSCA-ETN projects: METAWIRELESS, 5G-SmartFact and INTEGRATE.
• Prof Tim O’Farrell
  
  Chair of Wireless Communications at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield. Specialises in the design of energy efficient wireless networks, direct digitisation in multiband software defined radios, and wave form design for wireless communication systems. Has published over 330 papers and led 25 research projects on these topics. Academic Coordinator of the mVCE Green Radio project (2009-12). Organisation in Communications, Mobile Computing and Networking (CommNet2, 2015-19). Director of the mVCE (mobilevce.com); member of the UK5G Climate and Environment Working Group (uk5g.org), and member of the DCMS College of Experts (gov.uk/dcms).
• Dr Tongyang Xu
  
  Currently Senior Research Fellow with the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at UCL. Has authored and coauthored 70 papers in the areas of wireless and optical communications. Contributed two books ‘Signal Processing for 5G: Algorithms and Implementations’ (Wiley, 2016), and ‘Key Enabling Technologies for 5G Mobile Communications’ (Springer, 2016). Research interests include signal waveform design, 5G/6G wireless and optical communications, machine learning, secure communications, sensing and communications, Internet of Things, MIMO beamforming and transmission, software-define radio, FPGA, and real-time testbed prototyping.
• Prof Maziar Nekovee
  
  Managing Director of 6G Lab and Dean of the AI Institute at the University of Sussex. Prior to current post, was from 2013-2017 a Chief Engineer Head of Samsung’s UK and European Research and Collaborations in 5G mobile communications. Prior to joining Samsung, from 2001-2013 with BT Research and Innovation as a team leader and senior scientist. Has a PhD in Physics from University of Nijmegen and a first degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Delft University of Technology, both in the Netherlands.
• Dr David Lopez-Perez
  
  Expert and Technical Leader at Huawei Paris Research Centre, France – devoted most of career to the study of cellular and WiFi networks, with main research interests in network performance analysis, both theoretical- and stimulation-based, network planning and optimisation as well as technology and feature development. Main contributions around the understanding of small cells and ultra-dense networks. Pioneered work on energy efficiency, cellular and WiFi inter-working, investigated multi-antenna capabilities and ultra-reliable low latency features for future indoor networks. Recognised as Bell Labs Distinguished Member of Staff in 2019, authored books on small cells, ultra-dense networks and published over 150 research manuscripts on a variety of related topics. Filed 54 patents applications with over 25 granted as of today, and received a number of prestigious awards. Also been project lead at Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance and retired editor of IEEE TWC.
• Prof Jaafar Elmirghani
  
  Fellow of IEEE, IET and Institute of Physics and Director of Institute of Communication and Power Networks, Leeds. Leadership in large research projects, £30m in grants and PI of EPSRC Intelligent Energy Aware Networks Programme Grant 2010-16. PI of CHIST-ERA STAR project – focus on energy efficiency 2013-16. Co-chair of IEEE Sustainable ICT initiative 2012-present. Awarded IEEE Comsoc 2005 Hal Sobol award, 3 IEEE Comsoc outstanding technical achievement and service awards, 2015 GreenTouch 1000x award, IET Optoelectronics 2016 Premium Award and shared 2016 Edison Award in collective disruption category. 5 IEEE standards – currently heading work group responsible for IEEE P1925.1, IEEE P1926.1, IEEE P1927.1, IEEE P1928.1 and IEEE 1929.1 – significant impact through industrial and academic uptake. Area Editor of IEEE JSAC series on Machine Learning for Communications and PI of EPSRC £6.6m Terabit Bidirectional Multi-user Optical Wireless System (TOWS) for 6G LiFi, 2019-24. Published over 550 technical papers.
• Dr Yichao Jin
  
  Industrial wireless expert with over 14 years of industrial research and engineering experience. Leads the industrial wireless network team in Toshiba Bristol Research and Innovation laboratory, focusing on wireless and IoT technologies for smart city, factory automation and energy sectors. Fellow of IET and Chartered Engineer (CEng). Industrial PI of multiple multi-million £ UK/EU funded projects. Also the technology lead of the UMBRELA project.

• Freyja Lockwood
  
  Over 20 years’ experience in research & innovation, change management and strategy, and Digital Transformation Lead at the West of England Combined Authority. Currently developing the Combined Authority’s Digital Strategy in collaboration with the region’s Local Authorities and key partners, including the telecoms industry, across the West of England. Previously at Bristol City Council leading their smart city agenda and the city Innovation Team, after many years in the private sector providing advisory services to government, military and commercial clients on topics such as: organisational performance, cyber resilience, future training and tech-enabled learning, impact of emerging technologies, sector development, and digital transformation. Chartered Member of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factor, a Fellow of the RSA and a member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology Transport Panel.
• Prof Seshadri Mohan
  
  Professor in Systems Engineering Department at University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where served as Chair of the Department of Systems Engineering 2004-2013. CTO and Acting CEO of IP SerVoniX, Senior Research Scientist at Telcordia and Member of the Technical Staff of Bell Laboratories. Associate Professor at Clarkson and Wayne State Universities. Authored/coauthored over 159 publications with 5600 citations per Google Scholar. Coauthored the textbook Source and Channel Coding: An Algorithmic Approach, Springer. Holds fifteen US and international patents. Cofounded startup IntelliNexus, LLC in 2017 with objective to develop innovative adhoc vehicular networking. Chair of Connected Vehicles Working Group of WWRF since 2017. PhD in electrical and computer engineering from McMaster University, Canada. Masters in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, and Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from University of Madras, India.
• Arman Shojaeifard
  
  Extensive experience in project management, research, development, and standardisation of wireless transmission technologies, protocols, and architectures. Currently Senior Manager at InterDigital and responsible for Radio Interfact R&D at Future Wireless Europe Lab. Serves as the Chairman of the ETSI Industry Specification Group on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (ISG RIS) and the Technical Manager of the CELTIC-NEXT European collaborative R&D project on AIMM )AI-enabled Massive MIMO). Prior to InterDigital, a Wireless Research Manager and 3GPP RAN1 WG Delegate at British Telecommunications plc. Help post-doctoral research positions at University College London, University of Manchester, and King’s College London. Received the BEng degree in Information sYstems Engineering from Imperial College London in 2008, and MSc in Signal Processing (with Distinction) and the PhD degree in Wireless Communications from Kind’s College London in 2009 and 2013 respectively.
• Dr Mohsen Khalily
  
  Senior Lecturer in antennas and propagation and head of Surface Electromagnetics Lab (SEMLAB) at the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), University of Surrey, UK. Research interests include surface electromagnetics, electromagnetic engineered Metasurfaces, phased arrays. THz Metadevices, and mmWave and THz propagation. Published 4 book chapters and almost 160 academic articles in international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and has been the principal investigator on research grants totaling in excess of £1million in the field of surface electromagnetics. An IEEE Senior member, member of the ETSI Industrial Specification Group (ISG) on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, the IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation with the focus on Metasurface engineering.
• Fraser Burton
  
  Received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Oxford University and a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Kings College London. Leads the Network Physics research team within British Telecommunications PLC exploring longer-term telecom opportunities emerging from fundamental global research .
• Prof Marco Di Renzo
  
  CNRS Research Director at Laboratory of Signals and Systems (L2S) of Paris-Saclay University – CNRS and CentraleSupelec, Paris, France. Coordinator of Communications and Networks Research Area of Laboratory of Excellence DigiCosme, Member of Admission and Evaluation Committee of PhD School of Information and Communication Technologies, and Head of Intelligent Physical Communications group with Laboratory of Signals and Systems at CentraleSupelec. Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Communications Letters, founding member and Vice Chair of Industry Specification Group (ISG) on RIS in European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Repporteur of work item on communication models, channel ,odels, and evaluation of methodology. Fellow of IEEE, IE, and AAIA; Ordinary Member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Academia Europaea; Highly Cite Researcher. Fulbright Fellow and Nokia Foundation Visiting Professor. Recent awards include 2021 EURASIP Best Paper Award and 2022 IEEE COMSOC Outstanding Paper Award.
• Dr Dinh-Thuy PHAN HUY
  
  Research project manager in Orange Innovation/Networks entity. Received degree in Engineering from Supelec, in 2001, and PhD in Electronics and Telecommunications from the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Rennes, France, in 2015. In 2001, joined France Telecom R&D (now Orange Innovation), Chatillon, France. Contributed to and led several collaborative research projects on 5G. Coinventor of more than 40 patents. Recipient of the “Prix Irene Joliot Curie 2018 – categorie Femme-Reserche-Entreprise” from the French Ministry of Education and Research. A Senior Orange Expert and an IEEE senior member. Research interests include wireless communications and 6G. Currently involved in Hexa-x EU project on 6G, in RISE-6G EU project on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (as a work package leader on sustainability and security) and in the ETSI ISG RIS.
• Prof Marco Ruffini
  
  Currently associate professor at TCD. Prinicipal Investigator (PI) of the CONNECT Telecommunications Research Centre at TCD, and the IPIC photonics integration centre headquartered at the national Tyndall Institute. Currently involved in several Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and H2020 projects, leads the Optical Network and Radio Architecture group at Trinity College Dublin. Main research in the area of 5G optical networks, carrying out pioneering work on the convergence of fixed-mobile and access-metro networks, and on virtualisation of next generation networks. Been invited to share vision through several keynote and talk at major international conferences across the world and the OpenIreland beyond 5G testbed research infrastructure. Authored over 160 international publications, over 10 patents and contributed novel virtual Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (vDBA) concept to the BroadBand Forum standardisation body.
• Dr Idongesit Williams
  
  Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, Copenhagen. Part of the Digital Transformation Group in the Department of Electronic Systems. Area of research within domain of digital transformation includes Green IT, Public-Private partnerships, community informatics, e-government, and ICT for development. Involved in acquiring, coordinating, and implementing EU-funded projects. Holds a PhD from Aalborg University (obtained in 2015) and has worked for four years as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Aalborg University before current employment as an Assistant Professor. Lectures on Green ICT as well as Internet Governance and Economics at Aalborg University.
• Prof Merouane Debbah
  
  Researcher, educator and technology entrepeneur. A full professor at CentralSupelec and Adjunct Professor at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. Founded several public and industrial research centres, start-ups and is now Chief Researcher at the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi. Frequent keynote speaker at international events in telecommunication and AI. Research has been lying at the interface of fundamental mathematics, algorithms, statistics, information and communication sciences, with a special focus on the applications of random matrix theory and learning algorithms to communication sciences field. At the heart of the development of small cells (4G), MassiveMIMO (5G) and Large Intelligent Surface (6G) technologies in the wireless communication field, which received multiple distinctions.