New for 2022
Fibre Roadshow
The UK's
number one fibre
infrastructure event
SPEAKERS
Gavin Rodgers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Gavin Rodgers is CEO of Lothian Broadband, a business that builds ultrafast fibre networks throughout Scotland specifically targeting areas of Scotland that wouldn’t otherwise have access to Gigabit capable broadband.
Prior to Lothian Broadband, Gavin spent 4 years at Virgin Media where, among other things, he headed the Build Evolution division which was tasked with looking at the most efficient way to deploy ultrafast networks across the UK. Before joining Virgin Media. Gavin spent nearly 10 years working overseas in China, Bahrain and Myanmar; in Myanmar he was a member of the leadership team that brought the first freely accessible mobile network to the country.
Paul Wakefield
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Paul Wakefield is Area Manager for CityFibre, with commercial, geographically strategic and stakeholder relationship responsibility in Edinburgh and Newcastle. CityFibre is building the UK's finest, full fibre broadband network in 285 UK towns and cities – built from scratch and for the data age – reaching 8m homes and 800k businesses by 2025.
Originally from Surrey, Paul worked in London for 9 years before heading to Scotland over 20 years ago to further his career in Marketing, Communications and Business Development. Paul has worked across a number of sectors including property, land management, destination management, digital marketing, security, events and telecoms.
Paddy Paddison
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Paddy Paddison is the Chief Technology Officer at Wildenet Ltd, a Cornish-based company providing lightning-fast wireless internet access to rural and hard-to-reach areas. Paddy started out as a Radio Technician in the Royal Corps of Signals and has gone on to hold a variety of industry technology roles. He has an outstanding knowledge of planning and business development, is proficient in change management and highly effective at maintaining tight schedules. Adept at creating and leading teams and devising strategic plans for diverse customer requirements, Paddy is well-versed in all aspect of project management. He excels in recruitment and talent acquisition, as well as process engineering and improvement.
Michael Armitage
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Michael Armitage is the Founding Director of Broadway Partners. He has spent his entire professional career in telecoms, for the first 25 years advising investors and raising capital for the industry and for the last ten years as founder of Broadway, focusing on fixing the rural digital divide.
Joe Scott
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Joe Scott is Head of Sales at Borderlink Broadband, a Scottish independent broadband builder and provider founded in Duns in the Scottish Borders in 2017 with the trading name of GoFibre. GoFibre is on a mission to connect hundreds and thousands of homes and businesses across Scotland and Northern England with the very best full fibre broadband network. Joe looks after GoFibre’s consumer sales, including responsibility for a dedicated door knocking team who go into areas to find out what the appetite for full fibre is, ahead of any planning and sales and marketing efforts.
Graham Sargood
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Graham Sargood is co-founder and CEO of Box Broadband having led the company through three rounds of funding including principal funding in 2021. Graham has led the company through significant growth over the last 3.5 years since inception.
An Entrepreneur and Executive with 25 years experience of working in the Telecommunications and Media industry, in 2004 Graham founded iios Communications, a successful Telecommunications Operator focussed on providing services to the emerging markets. He then led the successful sale of the company in 2008. Prior to iios, Graham held the positions of Executive Director for Bulldog Communications, a leading UK Telecomms. Operator, and was also formerly part of the Senior Management team at Telewest Communications and AT&T UK.
Graham has been a sought after consultant and advisor and has worked with companies including: NTL, Telewest, Wanadoo, Monaco Telecom (C&W International), Fidessa, MSP, Deloitte and VirginMedia. He has extensive experience in raising money for start-ups and also sits on the Board of Directors of several media businesses internationally.
Jerry Mills
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jerry Mills is the owner and Chairman of Mills Limited which provides the full range of fibre infrastructure products, tools and equipment needed to build end-to-end Gigabit-capable networks. Operating as both distributor and, in many cases, manufacturer, Mills makes the supply chain simple and efficient, supplying the Communication Provider (CP) with everything needed to build robust and resilient Gigabit-capable digital connectivity throughout the UK, in order to GET GIGABIT BRITAIN LIVE by 2025!
Originally established as an engineering distributor in 1918, Mills is still a family business, supplying a range of over 7000 products nationally for next day delivery from its headquarters in Uxbridge, West London.
During his time at the helm, Jerry has built an enviable management team to support the company’s rapid growth and to help manage the company’s resources in terms of Finances, Sales, IT, Business Operations and New Product Development. A true testament to good management and business direction was the company’s recognition in 2021 as a ‘Gold’ Investor In People, an award only achieved by less than 3% of companies in the UK.
TIGER FIBRE
Paul Eggleton
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Paul Eggleton is the CEO of Tiger Fibre, a new wholesale fibre provider and build partner currently going through their start up phase. Paul joined Tiger Fibre in late 2020 and has over 20 years experience across Utilities and Telecoms, including working as the Commercial Director for Mitie’s Energy Services business and leading Telefonica O2’s £1.5bn winning bid to be the Communications Service Provider for the UK Smart Metering Programme. Paul is also a founding Director of the Energy Managers Association with Lord Redesdale.
Rob Leenderts
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rob Leenderts is Founder and CEO of The AssetHUB, founder of The Hubbub Group and a Director of The BroadbandHUB, as well as being a founder and board member of INCA.
With more than 30 years’ experience in IT and Telecoms across a wide variety of roles, including Technical Design, Marketing, Commercial, Product and Business Development, Rob is considered a subject matter expert in Wholesale Broadband, Open Access, Backhaul Solutions and end-to-end service provision. Rob also has significant experience in Public Sector, specifically around the effective re-use of assets for Local Authorities and Network Rail Telecom and has a wealth of experience in OSS/BSS solutions.
Michael Maltby
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Michael Maltby is the CEO and Founder of Jurassic Fibre Ltd which raised £250 million in 2019 from Fern Trading to build an FTTx network across much of the South-West of the UK. As of February 2022, the network passed 80,000 premises and was live in 14 towns in Devon, Somerset, and Dorset. Prior to founding Jurassic Fibre, Michael worked in telecoms, rolling out similar networks in countries as diverse as Russia and Jamaica. He lives in Sidmouth, Devon, UK.
Malcolm Corbett
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Malcolm Corbett is the CEO and Founder of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association, set up in 2010, to bring together organisations in the public, private and community sectors working to develop next generation superfast broadband services. Prior to setting up INCA, Malcolm founded and ran the Community Broadband Network from 2003 to 2010.
James Saunby
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
James Saunby is Consulting Director of GreySky Consulting and an INCA board member. He launched GreySky in 2005 following a research and corporate career in the UK IT sector. Since splicing his first fibre in 1987, James has gone on to develop and promote the availability of broadband, superfast broadband and ultrafast broadband throughout the UK.
Wesley Davies
Wesley Davies now heading up the Fremco division at Mills Ltd is a Fibre Blowing Specialist from South Africa with over 12 years of fibre experience on Fremco blowing machines. Wesley will be focusing on blowing principals and methods that can ensure success on every fibre blowing job.
Paris Johnston
Paris Johnston has over 35 years’ experience marketing specialist equipment and processes to the civil engineering industry. He has spent significant time working in the highways, petrochemical and water industries, and has been with Radiodetection for 4 years.
Simon Wade
Simon Wade is Sales Manager at Emtelle, responsible for FTTH Projects in the UK. Simon has been involved in optical fibre evolution since 1989 and joined the Emtelle team in 2011.
Emtelle is a leading UK manufacturer of FTTx Products which include Fibre Cables, Blown Fibre Tubing and Ducting. Emtelle has delivered FTTH projects throughout the world and is establishing a market presence for all aspects of FTTx in the UK for both urban and rural environments. Emtelle is a member of the FTTH Council.
Nathan Paddick
Nathan started with Prysmian Group 11 years ago as an apprentice Optical Cable Design Engineer. He progressed into Connectivity 5 years later and is now responsible for the design of new and Innovative Connectivity products. He has a passion for good design and exploring new materials and manufacturing methods. Nathan is on the Prysmian UK Sustainability committee and believes sustainability should have a strong influence on all new Connectivity products. Outside work, Nathan enjoys most sports, notably Formula 1, NFL and Football.
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(PQMS Nuneaton in April only)
Connor McLeod
Connor McLeod is Sunbelt Rentals Test & Monitoring Sales Executive. Connor started his career providing technical and product support for client hire requirements in the test equipment sector before he moved into Sales for Sunbelt Rentals’ new Test & Monitoring division in 2020. During his time with Test & Monitoring, he has supported the introduction of the new Fibre/Telecoms installation, Testing & Splicing range of products. Sunbelt is the UK’s largest rental equipment provider so whatever your sector, we have the solution, whatever your project, we have the expertise and whatever your challenge, we have the team to support you.
Kris Roberts
Kris Roberts, R&D Manager – Connectivity for Prysmian Group, has been working in the telecom industry with Prysmian for 20 years. His focus for the majority of this time has been on engineering and product innovation. He and his team are constantly working hard to ensure Prysmian’s products are ready for the networks of today as well as the future. To him, the key aspects in the design of Connectivity products are ease and speed of installation, sustainability and high quality. He has a passion for working with customers to ensure Prysmian’s products match their needs and enjoys receiving their feedback for further development. Outside of work his passions are football, walking and “generally having fun!”
Richard Hickman
Richard Hickman is the Business Development Manager of Eurocraft Technologies and has been working within the telecommunications sector offering passive and active products for over 15 years. He has undertaken various roles in the supply chain as a consultancy led salesperson, as well as integral involvement in the evolution of FTTx from its infancy, assisting with fibre builds in the UK and Europe. Richard joined the Eurocraft Team in 2017.
Most recently, he has been responsible for supporting the development and introduction of evolutionary FTTx telecoms cabinets into the UK market. He has helped develop Eurcocraft's next generation products to support Point-to-point/PON architectures and latterly the technological move in Active street cabinets to support the move from G-PON to X G-PON.
Products primarily include steel cabinets/enclosures (internal/external) that house active/passive components or electrical equipment for diverse applications. Eurocraft's offering is a vertically integrated supply-chain solution encompassing consultancy, design, engineering, deployment, and commissioning.
Charlie Ruddy
Charlie Ruddy is the CEO of Digital Infrastructure and Be Fibre, a UK Telecommunication Infrastructure owner and provider, supporting businesses and homes across the UK and internationally by keeping their networks connected to the world through FTTP services.
Charlie is a strategic leader with 30+ years’ experience across the telecommunications, Electric, Water, Gas and Highways industries and a proven track record leading business growth, major change, business restructuring and cost transformation agendas.
Elliot Mills
Elliot Mills joined Mills Ltd in 2015 and, as the great grandson of the founder, is proud to continue in the family firm which has become the largest independent distributor of fibre telecom infrastructure product.
With a degree in engineering and having completed his MBA in 2019, Elliot is now the company’s Business Development Director, heading up the Mills Sales Team and responsible for planning, developing and growing the company’s business, not only in the Telecoms marketplace but also in the new Smart Energy sector. Elliot has extensive knowledge within the general tooling and telecoms infrastructure marketplace and is always eager to support and provide effective and efficient engineering solutions to his customers. In his spare time he can be found in the gym or on the golf course!
Russell Woolsey
Russell Woolsey is Sumitomo’s EMEA Sales Manager for the Lightwave Network Products Division. Russell’s background is in RF test and measurement engineering. 15 years ago, he moved across to the light side, joining with Sumitomo to work with their fusion splicer and optical passive products.
Founded 1897, Sumitomo Electric Group is a Fortune Global 500 company with over 280,000 employees operating in five areas: Communications, Automotive, Electronics, Energy and Environment, Industrial Materials.
Sumitomo is a global leader in optical fibre and optical fibre components and has over 40 years of experience in design and production of optical fibre fusion splicers. All our fusion splicer manufacturing is in Japan. Our European head office and splicer service centre is in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The Sumitomo splicer product range covers a variety of products to give you confidence when building your optical fibre network, whether the requirement is single fibre splicing, ribbon fibre splicing, in the core network or in the access network.