Hugh has 35 years experience in the telecoms sector. His early roles (with BT for example) focused on strategic planning and market analysis and this focus has remained central to much of the consulting work he has undertaken since. In addition to leading a number of major regulatory development projects in Europe and the Middle East, his recent work has covered 3G licensing, regulatory and commercial due diligence, interconnect pricing, the development of mobile cellular policy and universal funding. Prior to joining InterConnect in 2003, Hugh managed his own regulatory consulting business for 8 years and worked for Booz Allen prior to that where he was responsible for building up the communications industry practice team in the London office and in the Asia Pacific region.

Peter Walker worked with BT for 22 years, notably as Planning Director in BT International and Head of Planning for BT’s London Network before becoming Director (Technology) at Oftel in 1993 where he worked on the implementation of the EU regulatory frameworks of both 1998 and 2003 and personally contributed to the current UK Communications Act 2003. He set the frameworks for implementation of several regulatory change initiatives including Interconnect Standards, Calling Line ID, Number Portability, Carrier Preselection, Local Loop Unbundling and Wholesale Line Rental. He is now an independent consultant specialising in technology, regulation and related public policy issues.

David Souter is an independent consultant and also Visiting Professor in the Business School at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, where he co-directs the Masters Programme in Communications Management. He was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (1995-2003) and Head of Research for the UK National Communications Union (1989-1995). David has extensive experience of policy regulation, particularly in developing countries, including consultancy, research, analysis, policy advice and the design and implementation of training programmes for regulatory personnel.

Geoff Knight has over 20 years’ senior level experience in utility regulation and competition law gained in Government, public utilities and as a consultant. His specialist areas include telecommunications regulation (liberalisation and convergence strategy, privatisation, development of regulatory agencies, licensing, interconnection and dispute resolution) gained from his time at Oftel as the Director responsible for Public Operator regulation and competition. He is also a specialist in competition policy (policy development, investigation of abuse of dominance, anti-competitive practices and concentrations), working with the UK Competition Commission where he advised on utility regulation generally and its role as appeal body from regulators’ decisions. Since 2002, he has worked as an international consultant specialising in telecommunications and transport regulation.

Catherine Joyce is a Senior Consultant with InterConnect working on interconnection, cost modelling and tariff strategies. She has worked in Jordan, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Serbia, Gibraltar, Malta, Morocco, Oman and the Lebanon. Before joining InterConnect, Catherine was a Senior Consultant with Cable and Wireless, where she was responsible for interconnect cost analysis, traffic modelling and analysis.

John Pendle was Numbering Programme Manager for BT in the UK from 1996 to 2000. During this period, he led the BT team charged with implementing the UK National Code and Number Change in 2000. This included conceiving and leading the network industry team to manage the number change publicity and technical changes. Since leaving BT, John has worked as an independent consultant advising regulators and operators on numbering, number portability and carrier pre-selection issues. His work with InterConnect includes advising the governments or regulatory authorities in Poland, Lebanon, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Steve Morgan worked for BT for 32 years as a network field engineer and then in Access Network Planning, most recently as Tactical Planning Manager and Customer Network Design Manager. Steve has continued to advise clients on Network Planning and Local Access Networks since joining InterConnect and has carried out a wide variety of projects involving all aspects of the Local Loop including xDSL provision, network and customer infrastructure planning. At a regulatory level, he has also prepared Reference Unbundling Offers for a number of clients. Steve presents the Local Loop Unbundling session for the Regulatory Master Class, LLU and RIO sessions at the Interconnection Master Class and technical sessions on telecom networks and new NGNs at three of the Master Classes.