Networkshop 2024 keynote speakers
Networkshop welcomed a world-class community of IT experts and decision-makers exploring how network communication services are delivered across the education, research and commercial sectors.
Michael Webb
Director of technology and analytics, Jisc
Michael leads Jisc's work supporting the responsible and effective adoption of artificial intelligence across the education sector. In addition to artificial intelligence, he has worked on projects involving learning analytics, data analysis, the Internet of Things and virtual reality. Before joining Jisc, Michael worked in the higher education sector, leading IT and learning technology services and teams at the universities of Wales, Newport, and Plymouth.
Michael gave the opening keynote 'A whole institution approach to AI adoption' on day one of Networkshop.
Matthew Landry
Vice president of product management, Meraki Networking and Cisco Wireless portfolios
Matthew is leading teams behind some of Cisco’s most innovative enterprise networking platforms. He is responsible for the combined Cisco Wireless portfolio. Matthew has over 20 years of product management and design engineering experience across semiconductors, embedded systems, DNA sequencing, AI/ML, and enterprise networking. He holds over 20 patents for his work in Power over Ethernet and Bluetooth medical devices.
Matthew gave the keynote 'Complexity to convergence: unified management with Cisco Networking Cloud' on day one of Networkshop.
Gemma Honour
Director of coaching, Bryter Work
Gemma is an experienced leader and coach and brings expertise from leading enterprise agile transformations for a Fortune 500 Banking and a multinational telecommunications company. She works with organisations to help them uncover their superpowers and make working life better. Gemma’s approach is informed by a deep understanding of systems thinking, therapeutic coaching, and visual thinking to create inclusive spaces where leaders, teams and individuals can map, co-create, innovate and problem-solve.
Gemma gave the opening keynote 'Your leadership shadow - how your leadership stance has an impact on teams' on day two of Networkshop.
Simon Wilson
Field CTO, HPE Aruba Networking
Simon has over 35 years professional experience in the IT industry with him joining HPE in March 2014 and moving across to Aruba in November 2017 as the UK&I CTO. He has held several leadership roles spanning UK and Ireland regions. Simon sees it as a serious responsibility to help his customers to cut through the techno-babble so they are clear on what technology can really do for them.
Simon gave the keynote 'The realities of using data, machine learning and AI to optimise higher education and research networks' on day two of Networkshop.
Warren Mittoo
IT network team lead, University of Manchester
Warren has worked at the University of Manchester for over 42 years with a number of roles from lab technician to IT manager for medical research, IT relationship manager, service delivery manager responsible for medical research and network services to network manager. Over the years, he has been involved in transitioning the university from having no network to potentially having one of the largest networks in Europe.
Warren gave the closing keynote '2030 - a network odyssey' on day two of Networkshop.
Paul Westhead
Network architect, University of Manchester
Paul's career has covered teaching, service delivery, network design, leadership and architecture. He is an advocate of user and colleague focused technology development and delivery, ensuring that technology delivers on user needs rather than for the sake of it. He is known as a technology leader and is consulted for advice in various technology and delivery domains which has put him in good stead for the delivery of various change initiatives over his career in strategy, technology and operations.
Paul gave the closing keynote '2030 - a network odyssey' on day two of Networkshop.
Bob Friday
Chief AI officer, Juniper Networks Limited and CTO of Juniper’s enterprise business
Bob started his career in wireless at Metricom (Ricochet wireless network) developing and deploying wireless mesh networks across the country to connect the first generation of browsers. After Metricom, Bob co-founded Airespace, a start-up focused on helping enterprises manage the flood of employees bringing unlicensed wifi technology into their businesses. After Cisco’s acquisition of Airespace in 2005, Bob became the VP/CTO of Cisco enterprise mobility and drove mobility strategy and investments in the wireless business. He holds more than 15 patents.
Bob gave the opening keynote 'AI and digital twins – friend or foe for higher education' on day three of Networkshop.
Dr Isobel Yeo
Senior researcher, National Oceanography Centre
Isobel is a researcher in marine geohazards who has specific expertise in volcanic hazards. She has led research projects on various aspects of submarine volcanism and has contributed to a number of research projects that examined the impacts of natural hazards to subsea telecommunications cables and their shore-based landing stations. She also leads research that aims to better understand the impacts of human activities on the ocean.
Isobel gave the closing keynote 'What happens when volcanoes meet the internet?' on day three of Networkshop.
Dr Mike Clare
Principal researcher in ocean biogeoscience, National Oceanography Centre
Mike's research focuses on dynamic processes that operate in the deep sea, climate change and human activities on the seafloor, and risks to seafloor infrastructure, resulting in over 80 papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. Since 2019, he has served as marine environmental advisor to the International Cable Protection Committee, and as part of that role, provides evidence for policy to the United Nations and OSPAR Commission.
Mike gave the closing keynote 'What happens when volcanoes meet the internet?' on day three of Networkshop.