Speakers

John Monto, is a Sr. Director of Aviation Voice Services at Collins Aerospace, IMS Division and also serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Tetra Forum (NATF).

At Collins, John is responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining radio communications solutions for the aviation industry. These solutions involve air-to-ground, ground-to-ground, and interoperability of multiple systems including VoIP and RoIP networks, LMR, and trunking. Today Collins owns and operates 4 TETRA systems which serve airline operations at LAX, SFO, JFK, and EWR.

With the goal of developing sustainable solutions for his customers, John continually evaluates new technologies for their applicability to the aviation industry. John and his team are focused on helping airlines and airports improve their operational efficiency by providing communications systems geared toward their specific operational needs.

With over 20 years in the telecommunications industry, John has worked in all facets of the radio business through his positions at Collins Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, ARINC, NOKIA, and Allgon. He holds a Master’s degree in IT from the University of Maryland.

Ken Rehbehn is a principal analyst at CritComm Insights. As a wireless technology analyst, Ken delivers industry analysis addressing the international landscape of systems, networks, professional services, devices, and applications that provide a thriving ecosystem for public safety/industrial communications innovation. He tracks changes in mobile broadband network evolution (LTE, 5G), critical communications group voice (3GPP Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk, DMR, TETRA, and Project25), location capabilities, NG9-1-1/112, Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) spectrum issues, and public safety/industrial Internet of Things (IoT).

Ken combines decades of experience in data communications technology with an extensive background as a former 9-1-1 dispatcher and paramedic. He is currently an active firefighter/EMT with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services in Bethesda, Maryland.

Keith Ammons holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from Memphis State University and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  He has spent over 35 years in the communications-electronics sector and his experience includes project management, communications systems operations and maintenance, communication security, and sales and marketing activities.  He is a former US Air Force communications and computer systems staff officer, and in 1993 he joined TELTRONIC, S.A.U. of Zaragoza, Spain, one of the world leading manufacturers of digital TETRA land mobile radio communications systems.  In 2010, he joined the team of PowerTrunk Inc., Teltronic’s US subsidiary company, and since August 2013 he is PowerTrunk’s Vice President of Market Development.

Brian Murgatroyd is an experienced Consultant Engineer who has specialised in TETRA technology over the last 22 years.

He has a first-class honours degree in telecommunications and electronics, is a UK Chartered Engineer and a corporate member of the Institution of Engineering Technology (MIET).

He has been chairman of ETSI TC TCCE (Technical Committee for TETRA and Critical Communications Evolution) since 2010 and previously chaired ETSI TETRA working group 6 (Security) for 4 years until retiring from this position at the end of 2006.  During the same period, he chaired the TCCA Security and Fraud Prevention Group (SFPG).

Until he completed his service with the UK Police IT organisation (PITO) he led the Airwave Communications Security team.  This team was responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of all security features on the UK national emergency service communications system (Airwave). 
 
He has been managing a consultancy specialising in TETRA security since retiring from PITO and has been heavily involved in the architectural design and development of various TETRA end to end encryption equipment, TETRA security training and as a technical specialist assisting in patent litigation.

Nick Smye is a Principal Consultant with Mason Advisory. Nick has more than 35 years’ experience in the communications industry. He previously worked in the electricity industry for nearly 10 years, where he gained valuable first-hand experience in the design, development and planning of mobile and fixed radio communications services.
 
Nick now focuses on public sector, delivering major projects for clients including major emergency service organisations, and government departments. He is currently Chair of TCCA’s SCADA, Telemetry and Smart Grid Working Group and has written a number of articles and whitepapers on IoT related subjects.

Steve is a recently retired professional firefighter with over 33 years operational experience and was responsible for delivery of the ‘Transformation2020 Digitisation (T20)’ programme within Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service.

He has headed up several departments within the service and also spent 2 ½ years seconded to the Welsh Government as Assistant Fire and Rescue Advisor for Wales where he developed the National Fire and Rescue Framework; The Guiding Principles for Dwelling Fire Response and the Operational Assurance of Service Delivery processes.

In 2016 Steve set up the services Air Support Unit and led the project to introduce Drones into the Service.

Steve’s new role is as an innovation consultant with tech start-up Unblur where he is supporting the development and integration of the IRIS Core Incident Management and Situational Awareness platform within UK fire and rescue services and wider first responder community.

Robin is an independent government advisor and technology advocate. He has advised government bodies, and many global public safety agencies, on the deployment of large scale, leading-edge technology projects and programmes. He has a detailed understanding of critical communications operational systems, LTE, TETRA, broadband and complex control room integration.

Ir. Terrance Lai, Senior Telecom Manager at CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power), oversees all telecommunications infrastructures and services, including fibre optic, microwave, data communications, telephony and radio networks, covering 100+ transmission substations and thousands of distribution substations.

Ir. Terrance Lai is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years of engineering experience from erection of communications infrastructure to operation of all telecommunications networks in CLP Power.

Matilde Brown Megård has worked with Nødnett at the Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) since 2012. During these years, she has led and participated in various big and small projects related to emergency communication and preparedness.

To exemplify, she has been actively involved in the ISI-project from the start in 2012. Now, she is responsible for the ISI-services in DSB and for the daily cooperation with DSBs Swedish and Finnish counterparts.  Matilde is also a key account manager for a variation of Nødnett's user groups, such as the fire brigades, the police, health users and the Norwegian customs etc. She is these days involved in the Nødnett Connect project that aims to launch an interconnect push to talk service to Nødnett. Matilde is responsible for the user pilots in the project.

Before joining DSB, Matilde worked in telecoms and with technology and sales in the media industry. Matilde holds a Master's degree in economics and management from the Norwegian Business School.

Frédéric Jans-Cooremans is a Project Manager at the STIB, Public Transport Company of Brussels. After a long experience in radio matters, he joined the organisation 11 years ago.

Working in a group of signaling experts, his radio knowledge was used to write the tender of a driverless metro system based on radio interchange. As a result, he took part in the launch of the Spectrum Users Group of the UITP and took a role in the working group at ETSI to share a frequency band with the ITS.

He was recently involved in the ECC mandate from the Working Group Frequency Management to provide a secure frequency band for CBTC, processing the highest priority of use as a result of ITS and Wifi band extension demands.

He has moved from day-to-day involvement in the operational communications between the STIB vehicles and dispatching to the new Tetra project. Aiming to optimise and improve the radio network of the company, he is building the biggest private Tetra network in Belgium.

He is also responsible for the coherent use of radio waves by the organisation and acts as an interface for radio matters.

Thomas leads the physical security and critical communications research team, making the group a recognized leader in physical security research and market intelligence. He and his team examine the markets on video surveillance and access control equipment, safe cities, public safety, future communications technologies including LTE, command and control, and fire and intruder detection. 

Thomas is a renowned international expert in the fintech, blockchain, critical communications, and security industries. He is regularly invited to speak at global conferences and client events to provide industry-leading insights accumulated from more than 20 years of experience and study on the evolving industries above. Thomas received his MBA in international business, with distinction, from the University of Leicester in England. He is also a Chartered Marketer and Chartered Manager, both titles awarded in recognition of professional competency at its highest level, and has over 20 years of operational, military, engineering communications, and security experience.

Al joined Highways England in 2005 as an assistant regional service manager, managing regional supplier technology maintenance services at outstations.

The last decade has seen him fulfil roles in project, contract and operational management, overseeing the service delivery of mission critical technology tools on behalf of the Highways England Traffic Officer Service; predominantly The Tetra radio service (Airwave) and hardware and a business command & control system.

Previously he was a member of the Home Office non-blue light Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) stakeholders working group.

Mr Schwartz is the Director of Radio, Electronic Security, and UAS Systems at NJ TRANSIT, the United States’ third largest transit agency. 

Joining in 2004, he has responsibility for the engineering, operations, and maintenance of NJ TRANSIT's statewide TETRA radio network.

Installed in 2013 and utilized by light rail, bus, and several other organizations - both inside and external, it is the first commercial TETRA system in the U.S. In addition to the statewide TETRA network, Mr. Schwartz has responsibility for Electronic Security Systems which includes, but is not limited to, closed circuit television and access control systems design, implementation, and support. 

Finally, Mr Schwartz is the architect of NJ TRANSIT’s fledgling unmanned aerial systems (UAS) organization that provides a multitude of UAS services to NJ TRANSIT’s various business units such as mapping and infrastructure inspection.

Mr. Schwartz has over 35 years of technical experience in commercial and professional wireless communications.

Peter is Chief Technology Officer at Sepura. He is responsible for product strategy, R&D, technical roadmaps, strategic partnerships and standards bodies including ETSI and 3GPP for Sepura. He has been extensively involved in TETRA, DMR, LTE and Enterprise Applications for Sepura.

Previously Peter has worked in mainstream telecommunications for public operators, SMEs and start-up companies, involving network management, broadband wireless and private mobile radio for over 25 years. His involvement in TETRA has been on-going since 1994, leading the system design team at Phillips and Simoco, working on the design and development of TETRA infrastructure and latterly product strategy with Sepura.

Anne Sofie Solberg has worked with Nødnett at the Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) since 2012. During these years, she has led and participated in various big and small projects related to emergency communication and preparedness. To exemplify, she has been actively involved in the digitalization of DSBs customer communication. As part of DSB's Fire Operations and Maintenance Organisation, Anne Sofie has been responsible for handling a continuously growing Nødnett customer base, which under her watch has grown from five to now 600 customers. 

These days, she is involved in the Nødnett Connect project. Nødnett Connect aims to launch a push to talk service that interconnects with Nødnett. In this project, she is responsible for transferring the users to the operation organisation. 

Before joining DSB, Anne Sofie worked in both telecom and public organisations. She has transitioned from being a technology programmer to system developer, process developer and now project manager. 

Anne Sofie holds a Master's degree from 1997. In 2020, she completed the master level course "Digitalization, innovation and leadership".