Simon Buckingham
Region: Global
Simon is a mobile industry expert who has specialized in launching nonvoice mobile internet services for over 25 years. Simon started his career at Vodafone in 1991 before founding Mobile Streams, the leading mobile content provider, in 1999 and working there for 20 years until 2020. Simon has launched many mobile services including SMS services; Ringtones.com; mobile games channels and Appitalism – a leading mobile app store.
Verónica García Alchurrut
Specialism: Ecommerce and marketing
Verónica is an expert in online business administration on eCommerce platforms and has a talent for identifying niches and new business opportunities. With more than 9 years’ experience in the mobile industry Verónica is experienced in defining strategies together with mobile network operators, integrating apps onto different platforms as well as creating value and developing start-up campaigns.
Fred Thuard
Region: France & World
Specialism: Analytics, Gaming, AdTech & Retailtech
Fred is active in the mobile app space since the last century and is today focussed on Analytics, Gaming, AdTech & Retailtech.
Deploying, advising and scaling up multiple startups in the app & data space like App Annie, Kochava, Tapad, Whally, Youboox on both side of the Atlantic, Fred helps to build the right partnership at the right moment on the right market.
Khawar Naeem
Region: Pakistan
Specialism: Fintech, services and content
Khawar is a former Telecom engineer turned successful consumer tech and interactive entertainment business builder. He has multi-faceted experience spanning live video streaming, games, telecoms, and software tech across multiple markets and roles ranging from product management, to corporate strategy. Currently Khawar is working with Startups in the field of Gaming, Social and Data in Pakistan. Khawar competed and represented Pakistan in 5G App competition held last year in Amsterdam under VEON, presenting his Esports & Entertainment 5G platform
Thomas Vits
Region: Germany
Specialism: Mobile Edge Computing
Active in the mobile industry for over 15 years. He worked for device manufacturers, application developers operators and cloud providers on the technology strategy, development and launch of mobile phones and services including VR and AR devices.
Maria Pienaar
Region: United States
Specialism: Fintech
Maria co-founded Blue Label Ventures, a Corporate VC focussing on investments in Digital Health, IOT, Cyber Security, Fintech (incl. InsurTech). Prior she was CIO at Cell C, a challenger mobile carrier, and prior held various leadership roles in Business Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, Strategic Partner Management and Product Marketing for Lucent, Nokia, Vodafone, Globalstar and various startups. Maria holds a BSC in Engineering.
Ville Penttila
Region: North America, Europe, SEAP
Specialism: Consumer Apps, Games, Ad Tech partners, Connected Cars, AI
Ville has over 20 years of experience in business development, product management, product marketing, GTM and general operations for Mobile and TV OEM App Stores, applications and services. He has a strong contact network with top USA based brands and platform providers. Current Advisor for Neverthink and Noodelist startups and sales agent for Unikie and Glispa. Past companies: Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, HP, Microsoft, Wiral, Tekes, Satama Interactive, TeliaSonera, etc.
Zunaid Bulbulia
Region: Africa
Specialism: Telco
Zunaid has more than 27 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry and was one of the founding members of the MTN team, where he held the position of Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Africa and Group Chief Operations Executive of MTN Group.
During his 22 years with the MTN Group, Zunaid played a pivotal role in building MTN Group into the giant that it is today. What started in 1994 as South African company providing mobile telephony services to South Africa in a two-operator market, MTN eventually became the leading mobile telecommunications group in Africa and the Middle East across 22 countries.
Jesse Bijl
Region: Netherlands
Specialism: XR / AR
Experienced (>10 years) Product Innovation Professional and consultant in the areas of Telco, Cloud & Apps. He is perfectly able to bridge between business and technology, with a strong focus on customer centricity and Go-to-Market.
Brian Dooley
Region: New Zealand
Specialism: Telecommunications
Brian is an author, analyst, and journalist with more than 40 years' experience in analyzing and writing about trends in Telecommunications and IT. He has written a dozen user manuals, six books for the US mass market, hundreds of reports and thousands of magazine features on a widely diverse range of key ICT topics. He is currently residing in New Zealand.
Daryl Young
Region: Global
Specialism: Mobile and online content
Daryl is the Co-Founder and President of Cuba Entertainment Services (CES)-a firm providing complete production services for U.S. companies in Cuba. A former Marine and serial entrepreneur, Daryl got his start in the entertainment business as Vice President of Death Row Records in 1991. He then co-founded The Nickels Group, a consortium of film, music, and event producers creating/acquiring traditional, mobile, and online content for digital and theatrical distribution. In addition to CES, Daryl is CEO of Digital Box USA/UK, third party billing companies for mobile operators world-wide.
Siriporn Nimtiparat
Region: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos
Specialism: Retail and Distribution
Experienced in Telecommunication, Mobile handset, Consumer Electronics, Fintech industries, specializing in Distribution and Retail for markets in Thailand and emerging markets (IndoChina), including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Started from Siemens Information and Communication, Orange/True network operator in Thailand, Nokia exclusive distributor and other Top handset brands for Cambodia and Loas markets, Ingram Micro Mobility and Life cycle services in Thailand before enhancing new experiences in Fintech retail and distribution on mobile money, bill payment and remittance in Myanmar.
Brian Patterson
Region: North America
Specialism: Mobile Media Product Marketing
After an early foundation in M&A investment banking, Brian has applied the same strategic approach to creating partnerships between media companies and wireless Telcos. With 10 years of media licensing, business development, and marketing experience at Mobile Streams and Drop In Media, Brian has launched numerous record-breaking campaigns in sports and entertainment with clients including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Telus, Rogers, and AT&T.
Gerry Christensen
Specialism: Network Signaling, SIP, VoIP, Network to Device Interactions, Edge Computing
Gerry has over 30 years of experience in planning, engineering, product management and business development for telecommunications networks, applications and services. He has a strong working knowledge in many ICT areas and is considered an expert and thought leader in emerging areas such as 5G, AI, and IoT.
Chris Dadd
Region: UK
Specialism: FinTech
Chris innovates for award winning FinTech and Telco products. For more than 20 years, he has launched firsts in mobile shopping, entertainment, banking and sports services for companies such as Visa, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, IMI Mobile, Paysafe, Vodafone and IBM. Chris is excited to be helping Nonvoice clients achieve new firsts with their 5G apps.
James Fryer
Region: UK
Specialism: Content services
James has specialised in the mobile technology for over 15 years. His experience includes building content services for mobile operators worldwide such as Ringtones.com whilst he was at Mobile Streams. Most recently, James been focusing on services and applications marketed direct to consumers.
Polly Tsang
Region: Hong Kong
Specialism: FinTech
Polly has been a banker for 30 years, with experience spreading over consumer, corporate and private banking. For the last 20 years as a private banker she has managed investment portfolios and provided wealth planning for high net worth individuals. Polly was the Hong Kong country head for DBS private bank and UBS Wealth Management. Five years ago, Polly left the banking industry to become an Independent Financial Advisor.
Jac Currie
Region: EMEA
Specialism: Distribution, devices and retail
Jac is a consultant in the telecommunications industry and previously SVP of Lifecycle Services for Ingram Micro. Before this he was President of European Mobility responsible for the operations of the USD 3 billion turnover division after Ingram’s 2012 acquisition of BrightPoint. At BrightPoint, Jac was CIO responsible for development and execution of global IT strategy from 2006 until 2012. Jac joined BrightPoint in 1998 as Regional MD of the Middle East. In 2002, he did a management buy-out of BrightPoint's operations across MEA, sold back to BrightPoint in 2006. Prior to BrightPoint, Jac worked for Deutsche Telecom in Philippines and Millicom International Cellular in Europe, Asia and Latam.
Cristiano Garibaldi
Region: APAC
Specialism: Mobile gaming
Cristiano has now been in the mobile gaming industry for over 15 years with roles at the likes of Tasman Studios, Aristocrat and Empress Games. Cristiano has built various mobile gaming platforms for telcos around the world including: Telstra, Vodafone, Optus and AT&T.
Paul Johnson
Region: Europe, Eurasia, South East Asia
Specialism: Digital Innovation, Design & Growth
Paul is an award winning pioneer and innovator in digital product and service. He has pursued his passion for disruptive tech, behaviours and future trends within TV, entertainment, publishing, sports, gaming, ecommerce, telecoms and high tech. Paul now has over 20 years experience in corporate, SME and start-ups across Europe, Eurasia and South East Asia. On a mission to keep the online world a useful, fun, mindful and positive place for all generations.
Victoria Tayler
Region: Global
Specialism: Marketing and communications
Victoria is a marketing and communications professional with over 20 years experience across multiple industries including mobile communications. She was heavily involved in the success of Mobile Streams and the IPO of the Company on the London Stock Exchange in 2014 as well as with the launches of popular services such as: Ringtones.com and Appitalism. Victoria is looking forward to helping Nonvoice clients achieve success with their own apps.
John S. Krivulka
Region: U.S.A
Specialism: Enterprise and Security Applications
John has over 25 years of law enforcement and private sector security experience in the United States. John has implemented and managed specialized technologies, both for the public and private sector, focusing on the safety and security of large-scale events, conferences, and conventions. John blends the use of technology and physical security demands in the private sector through business development.
Jose Carlos Tenreiro
Region: Latin America
Specialism: New business development
Jose Carlos has over 20 years’ experience in the commercial/new business, Key Account Management digital, retail and general administration areas within the mobile and telecommunications sector. Jose Carlos has a specialist knowledge of the Mexican market and Latin America in general and is experienced in negotiating, managing, developing and positioning products and services, whilst always exceeding expected results.
Chris Hare
Region: USA
Specialism: Healthcare, mobile devices, IoT
Chris is an accomplished entrepreneur, strategic advisor and fundraiser. Following five years at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, he created a private consulting group supporting global companies (from large and mature to young and growing) with innovation strategy, IP development strategy, connected devices. licensing and market definition. Industries served include wireless, medical, cleantech, smartgrid, video architecture and energy.
Alex Chu
Region: China
Specialism: Mobile and online content
Alex has almost 10 years of experience in the mobile Internet advertising industry including managing multinational teams. He is based in China and specialises in influencer and social media marketing. Alex also established and implemented Nanigans’ expansion plan for the Greater China Region, progressively growing Nanigans’ SaaS business within China.
Ivan Donn
Region: UK
Specialism: Business Development
Ivan is a seasoned wireless executive having worked in marketing, business development and devices at Vodafone in the UK for 20 years. He then worked for BlackBerry and then 10 years at PayPoint in mobile commerce Sevices. Ivan is an accomplished entrepreneur having advised and started several businesses, including most recently has been involved in the Micromobility electric vehicle industry.
Chris Coyle
Region: US
Specialism: Licensing and BlueTech
Chris has extensive experience licensing IP and content across multiple media platforms supported by various business models around the world (Comcast NBC Universal Music Group, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Walt Disney, Viacom/CBS, CNN, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Virgin, Telefonica, Telcel, Telstra, Facebook, and Google. His reach spans search engines, television/cable operators, mobile carriers and social media platforms. He prides himself on trying to stay ahead of the curve and is constantly pushing himself to learn about emerging technologies and new user behavior.
Chantal Aytes
Region: USA
Specialism: Start up innovation
My team and I visit conventions to discover smaller business owners/ creators of different products or ideas. I am constantly on the hunt for new concepts, art, knowledge because I firmly believe in daily self improvement.
Peter Tomlinson
Region: Global
Specialism: Smart factories and Supply Chain
Peter has worked in manufacturing and supply chain for over 40 years, many of which are in Asia, the hub of global manufacturing. Having started his business journey in Scotland, Peter has lived in many countries of the world executing manufacturing and supply chain solutions for companies including IBM, Nokia, Motorola, Jabil Circuit and Jabra.
Having established his own company in 2006 Peter has enjoyed many Board positions, consultant roles and as an Angel investor.
Peter’s latest role on the Board of a Smart factory solutions provider uses his knowledge and experience to drive business forward through new mobile applications.
Edgardo Mendez-Soto
Region: The Americas
Specialism: Consumer trends
Eddie is an expert in Japanese anime and Korean Pop (K-Pop) and other emerging consumer trends. He has run a successful ecommerce and retail business for many years selling Japanese and Korean products in the U.S. market.
Max Hagemann
Region: Luxembourg
Specialism: Mobile telco management
Max is a global executive management professional with extensive knowledge of the telecommunications, wireless and distribution/supply-chain industries across NA, EMEA, APAC and Russia. His proficiency and experience covers marketing and sales activities which are supported by strategic planning. Max also has an impressive record in sales combined with sound financial and technical understanding as well as business development and leadership experience in both developed and emerging markets.
Ninad Narvekar
Region: India
Specialism: Mobile Gaming and Communications
Ninad has now been in the Mobile Gaming Industry for Over 10 Years. Ninad has worked for various gaming companies including India Games/ Disney and Hungama.
Tommy Ljunggren
Region: Sweden
Specialism: Telcos
Tommy has over 30 years experience in the telecom industry, mainly at operators Telia Company and Veon (formerly known as VimpelCom). He was co-founder and senior manager of international strategy consulting firm Northstream (now part of Accenture) with offices in Europe and Asia. The company spun off into two companies, in the software product and venture capital business respectively.
Tommy is a certified director at the Swedish Academy of Board directors and served as director of the board in NGMN Ltd as well as in shared mobile network JVs in Sweden and Denmark. He is experienced in the development and implementation of network strategies and target architectures for fixed, mobile and carrier networks, including Network Virtualization and fixed mobile convergence (FMC) as well as integration of enterprise applications. Tommy is working as Senior Advisor and consultant at Ljunggren Consulting Team AB in Sweden with operator, vendor, investor, and start-up clients.
Gavin Thomas
Region: Europe
Specialism: Devices, Mobile Edge Computing, RCS Business Messaging
Active in the mobile industry for 20 years, Gavin led Vodafone Group’s device requirements and roadmap team into the smartphone era, collaborated on several global initiatives to create mobile platforms and launched advanced communication services onto millions of phones across Europe. He designed and managed the world’s first international RCS campaign to engage Mobile World Congress attendees and provided thought leadership as a member of the GSM Association Strategy Team. Gavin has worked with many of the leading operators worldwide on Edge Computing and RCS Business Messaging, both of which are significant 5G services, delivering step changes in user experience.
Daniel Dasic
Region: Denmark
Specialism: Fintech
During the last 26 years I have made 14 startups; 6 on my own and 8 with international investors including private business angels, venture funds and public fundings. All of them with focus on tech, fintech, Financial Payment & Remittance , Online Gaming , online social value adding services and/or mobile business.
Specialties: Networking, Business Development, Sales & Marketing, entrepeneurial execution, entertainment, Mobile software usage, Payment services, Escrow services
Simon Earle
Region: Global
Specialism: Business Planning
Simon Earle (CEO)- Simon has worked extensively across the cellular telecommunications industry over the last 35 years. His career has covered both distribution and networks including holding senior positions as President of Cellstar UK, where he consolidated the company’s position as Europe's leading distributor and the world's largest Motorola distributor, and Vice President Brightpoint EMEA responsible for business development and M&A. Simon's extensive contacts and industry knowledge has been developed through close working at all levels with carriers, vendors and supply chain companies.
Fábio Moraes
Region: Brazil
Specialism: Business Development
Fábio Moraes has over 20 years of experience in business development, product strategy and executive management. He has worked closely with operators, vendors and service providers in market development in virtually every area of Telco. Skilled in Strategic engagement, Fabio has a keen eye for identifying gaps and bridging partners to bring forth innovative solutions. Past companies include Nokia, G&D and the GSMA.
Cici Feng
Region: Global
Specialism: Consumer Apps
A world citizen, Cici Feng was born in Beijing China, lived for many years in Tokyo Japan and has lived in the U.S. for many years, after studying at Fordham University in New York. Fluent in many languages, Cici is most interested in bringing the very best consumer 5G applications from Asia to the Western world.
Marlin Nelson
Region: Global
Specialism: Business Development
Marlin Nelson is the CEO and President of International Business Expansion, LLC. His company provides consultancy for companies globally that are looking to expand their markets for their products and services.
He is a senior global sales executive, business expansion consultant and business development leader with more than 25 years of experience in building, coaching, and driving high performance sales organizations; delivering key relationships; and opening new markets for a range of companies.
He excels at rapidly building, coaching and leading highly successful sales teams and channel sales organizations to quickly penetrate new markets that drive results. He has a "hands on" approach to sales and business development leadership and a vast network of global contacts, a key behind his ability to build innovative sales strategies that consistently exceed business goals.
David Pearce
Region: UK/EMEA
Specialism: Enterprise/IoT applications
David is a veteran of the mobile industry having joined what was the Racal Vodafone in the late 1980s, being involved in the development, sales and marketing of analogue cellular data transmission products and services before taking on the responsibility for the development and marketing of SMS. David then spent some time in Europe, involved in the creation, launch, marketing and commercial performance of value added services across Vodafone's expanding international network operators. Soon after returning to the UK, David joined what was then Cellnet, with responsibility for the marketing and commercial performance of all non-voice products and services. After a few years, being involved in turning Cellnet into what's now known as 02, David joined a small, US-based location-based services company, helping the company to establish a presence with network operators and partners across EMEA.
Following a successful sale of the company, David worked with various VCs and PE organisation's across Europe, producing commercial success in their investments, as well as providing interim & consulting commercial, marketing and transformation services to organisation's including Vodafone Group, Yell, EE, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia and Lloyds Banking Group.
Shaheen Adam
Region: Africa
Specialism: Fintech
Shaheen Adam is the Managing Director of Whiz Biz. Whiz Biz is an advisory business focusing on the Telecommunications and Financial Services sectors. Whiz Biz supports a number of clients in developing their strategies or in commercialising their offerings, As the MD, he is responsible for business development activities, growing networks and providing advisory and marketing services to clients.
Shaheen was previously the Acting Managing Director for the largest State-Owned bank in South Africa. Under his leadership, the bank obtained an interim banking license and acquired the contract to distribute social grants to over 12 million beneficiaries.
Andrew Mendoza
Region: UK
Specialism: Media, Tech, Telecoms and Digital
Andrew is a Seasoned Strategy and Business Development Executive with experience across MNC Corporates and early stage with particular emphasis on growth and technology led innovation and a focus on Media, Tech, Telecoms and Digital since the late 90s. Over twenty years of blue-chip consulting experience with 10 years as a partner preceded a more recent entrepreneurial emphasis - including co-founding and working with a number of early stage technology/content/digital businesses combined with some early stage investing and board positions.
Raimondo Anello
Region: Italy
Specialism: 5G for industries and Digital transformation
Raimondo currently is member of “Italian Angels for Growth”, the largest Italian angel’s network and is co- founder of 2 start up in the energy and aerospace industries. He collaborates also with some consultant firms as Senior Advisor in 5G, Digital Transformation and Business Innovation.
After 20 years, he recently left Ericsson as Head of Innovation and responsible for the “5G for Industries” program. In 2016 he launched the “5G for Italy”, a very successful program to prepare the better condition from business and technological aspects to launch the 5G leveraging on the local and global ecosystem. Before Ericsson, he worked for national and multinational consultant firm as strategy and business creation consultant.
Rosana Llinas
Region: Colombia
Specialism: Network and Telecommunications
Electronic Engineer, specialized as Network and Telecommunications Administrator, ITIL Certified. With more than 15 years of experience in IT area in the Telecommunications and Technology Industries, worked with companies like Siemens, Microsoft, BenQ-Siemens, Brightpoint. Strong Customer and service attitude.
Nicolas Bussard
Region: Canada
Specialism: Serial Tech Entrepreneur
Dr Nicolas Bussard is a serial tech entrepreneur, speaker and inventor. He started his career as a university e-commerce and mathematics lecturer at Coventry University, England, in 1998 at the age of 21. Parallel to teaching, Nicolas obtained his Ph.D. in IT and Mathematics applied to the aircraft industry at the age of 24. Since 2003, Nicolas has been the founder and CEO/CTO of many tech business ventures. Among others, he founded Feedzilla in 2004. This project was a personal news aggregator that Nicolas transformed into the world’s leading news aggregator and news widget platform. Since 2010, Nicolas has focused his entrepreneurial efforts on the African continent. In this pursuit, he has set up some of the first and most successful digital marketing, professional social network and mobile app development companies.
Martin Gaiss
Region: United States
Specialism: Content and Global Marketing
Martin Gaiss, the founder of MG Labs, is at the forefront of innovative storytelling and has made a career of looking at things differently. He founded an industry-first division at the Twentieth Century Fox Film Studios that revolutionized marketing, garnering numerous Awards along the way for his work on over 600 films, including "Avatar," “Life of Pi,” “X-Men,” “Deadpool,” and “Kingsmen.” He has a long list of “firsts” for the industry to his name: from producing bespoke filmic mobile content a year before the iphone came out, to pioneering the principles of social media marketing the year Facebook started, these are just two. He has also produced, written and directed commercial and feature film content, such as the Coke Zero TV Commercial for “Avatar” and “Jarred,” a short film that was the Venice Film Festival Short film competition closing film.