Michael Short

40 years in Electronics and Telecommunications , latterly as VP Telefonica Europe. Involved with 1G to the latest 5G research to the end of 2017 . Undertook work on Mobile data from texting to mobile email and mobile internet. In the early noughties took on a lot of spectrum , regulatory and Sector work (eg Energy, Emergency services , Health) and develop some Research partnerships with key UK universities around 5G and IoT . I am also former elected PRESIDENT IET (2011/2012) , Chairman GSM Association (1995/6 and Board member until 2002 ) , Chairman Mobile Data Association (1998 - 2008). Current Board member EM3 LEP , Innovate UK and Healthcare UK. Academic links as Visiting Professor - Surrey, Coventry, Leeds , Lancaster, Salford and as external examiner UCL.

Co - Chair of the UK5G International Working Group

Dr Mike Short CBE, after 30 years in telecommunications with Telefonica, joined the Department for International Trade (DIT) as the department’s first chief scientific adviser in December 2017. Mike leads the science and engineering  profession  in  the  department  and  ensures  its  policy  is informed  by  the  best  science,  engineering  and  technical  advice.  He advises  on  the  technical aspects of future trade deals as DIT looks to create new arrangements following Brexit, and works with  the  UK’s  research,  development  and  academic  communities  to  boost  scientific  and engineering exports.

Mike has over 40 years’ experience in electronics and telecommunications and served as vice president of Telefonica, the  parent  company  of  the  O2  mobile  phone  network,  for  17  years  to December 2016. In this post, he managed the launch of 2G (GSM) and 3G mobile technologies in the UK, and  led  research  and  development  for  Telefonica  Europe. His  career  also  includes  the promotion  of  international  technical  standards  in  mobile  technology,  and  he  is  also  a  former Chairman of the Global GSM Association, the UK Mobile Data Association, and president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

He is currently  a visiting professor at  the  universities of  Surrey,  Coventry,  Leeds,  Lancaster and Salford,  where  in  recent  years  he  has  led  the  development  on  collaborations  in  areas  such  as smart cities, digital healthcare, cybersecurity and driverless vehicles. He was honoured with a CBE in 2012 for his services to the mobile industry.