2026 Steering Committee
Dr Mike Short CBE FREng
Dr Mike Short CBE is Chairman UK Telecomms Labs, UK Telecomms Innovation Network and AWTG (a UK based Technology solutions provider). He is a member of the National Quantum Technology Programme (NQTP) and advisor to 2 Quantum hubs (PNT at Glasgow; Health at UCL). He had a 40 year career in Electronics and Telecommunications (BT / O2 / Telefonica) before appointment by DIT (now DBT) in 2017 as the Department’s first Chief Scientific Adviser. He is now pursuing a portfolio career around innovation and research largely in satellite and telecommunications, including as Chief Architect at the Satellite Applications Catapult and Distinguished Visitor at NPL.
He has chaired the Mobile Data Association, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the global GSM Association , and been a Board member of ETSI and Innovate UK. He is a Visiting Professor at UCL and Surrey Universities, and an advisor for the UK - India Future Networks initiative.
Rupert Baines
Rupert is a seasoned start-up technology entrepreneur and CEO. He has founded a number of technology companies and had three successful exits. He was CEO of UltraSoc (sold to Siemens July 2020); CMO of Codasip ("RISC-V processors with a twist”); and CEO of QPT, combining deep-tech with sustainability. He is Chair of RANsemi, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week and Co-Chair of the Semiconductor Expert Working Group industry body reporting into DSIT.
Kathryn Chapman
A molecular bioscientist, Kathryn has had a distinguished career in diverse leadership and strategic roles across the public and private sectors.
Following a successful research career at the University of Manchester, Harvard Medical School, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and GlaxoSmithKline, Kathryn has played a pivotal role in shaping inclusive innovation landscapes, building cross-disciplinary virtual and physical communities and creating novel models to remove barriers to success.
This includes a decade building and leading the innovation strategy for NC3Rs, a UKRI Research Council where Kathryn founded and directed a new challenge-led open innovation platform, CRACK IT which increases cross-discipline and cross-sector industry/academic partnerships in applied research. Kathryn also co-established the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge, providing a physical hub for translational science and collaboration between industry and academia. The Institute is a centre of excellence for target validation through artificial intelligence, machine-learning, functional genomics and tool compound analyses. Most recently, prior to joining Innovate Cambridge, Kathryn directed the innovation strategy at the Babraham Research Campus, launching LiveLabs incubator space and leading the Campus accelerator, entrepreneurship and innovation activities.
Throughout these roles. Chapman’s focus has been on spearheading initiatives that propel startups, entrepreneurs and businesses towards success and driving meaningful change at a national and international level.
Kathryn has 50+ research publications and has been on a wide-range of national and international review panels (Innovate UK, Innovative Medicines Initiative and BBSRC). She holds an honorary professorship at the University of Coventry where she sits on the Vice Chancellor’s advisory group.
Michaela Eschbach
Michaela has an impressive track record as a Founder and Director, both in the not-for-profit and for-profit space.
As co-founder of Form the Future CIC, Michaela drove strategic direction and operations for this multi-award-winning organisation which connects young people with career opportunities. As Managing Director of Founders4Schools, Michaela led the operational, financial and cultural transformation of this ed-tech charity.
Michaela is known for her passion and dedication in successfully driving companies through growth and challenges.
She was winner of the Cambridge News ‘Cambridge’s Most Influential Businesspeople Award’ in 2017 and was included in the EU-Startups’ Top 100: Europe’s Most Influential Women in the Startup and Venture Capital Space in 2023.
Michaela says, "As CEO of Cambridge Wireless, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this exceptional organisation through a period of dynamic change in the tech landscape. Together with our dedicated members, we will harness the power of innovation to not only adapt to the evolving industry but to also drive it forward, ensuring Cambridge Wireless remains the cornerstone of technological advancement and value creation."
Ben Hartley
Ben Hartley is Director of ideaSpace, the University of Cambridge’s startup community and incubator, supporting founders, entrepreneurs and innovators to develop ideas and build early-stage ventures. ideaSpace operates across three locations in Cambridge and plays a key role in convening and connecting the University’s entrepreneurial community, providing space, programmes and peer networks that enable founders to learn from one another and access support. Alongside venture support, Ben works with Cambridge Enterprise, ecosystem organisations and other higher education institutions to help shape strategies and programmes that strengthen startup ecosystems. Prior to joining the University, Ben advised on major UK and international film productions and founded and ran businesses across the creative industries and high-end consumer markets. A former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, Ben brings a strong interest in leadership, risk-taking and decision-making under pressure, and is a Fellow of the RSA.
Paula Rogers-Brown
Paula is the Founder of PRB Consulting, a boutique advisory firm supporting business transformation and growth across scale-ups, corporates, research institutes, and innovation agencies. She brings strategic clarity and a highly collaborative leadership style to complex innovation environments, delivering sustainable impact across technology-led programmes, entrepreneurial ventures, and multi-stakeholder ecosystems.
An experienced board member and advisor, Paula serves as a Non-Executive Director of Cambridge Wireless and is a member of the Cambridge Tech Week Steering Group. She mentors founders through Homerton College’s Changemakers Programme and contributes to national research and innovation strategy as a panel member for a UKRI Cross-Research Council Interdisciplinary Funding Scheme, assessing high-value, high-impact proposals.
A recent commission for Cambridge Enterprise saw her develop a strategic roadmap to accelerate research innovation and entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups at the University of Cambridge. Paula also led the launch of a new entrepreneurship initiative for women students, including the design and delivery of an intensive venture creation programme. Paula established, Connect: Health Tech, global interdisciplinary community of more than 3,000 professionals at the University of Cambridge, strengthening collaboration across life sciences, medicine, and adaptive technologies.
Her earlier executive leadership roles include positions at Innovate UK Business Connect and the Institution of Engineering & Technology, where she directed national innovation programmes, built strategic partnerships, and shaped sector-wide engagement initiatives.
Paula is a sought-after speaker on innovation, life sciences, entrepreneurship, and leadership, regularly sharing perspectives on building high-performing ecosystems and developing the next generation of founders and executives.
2025 Steering Committee
Rupert Baines
Rupert is a seasoned start-up technology entrepreneur and CEO. He has founded a number of technology companies and had three successful exits. He was CEO of UltraSoc (sold to Siemens July 2020); CMO of Codasip ("RISC-V processors with a twist”); and CEO of QPT, combining deep-tech with sustainability. He is Chair of RANsemi, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week and Co-Chair of the Semiconductor Expert Working Group industry body reporting into DSIT.
Michaela Eschbach
Michaela has an impressive track record as a Founder and Director, both in the not-for-profit and for-profit space.
As co-founder of Form the Future CIC, Michaela drove strategic direction and operations for this multi-award-winning organisation which connects young people with career opportunities. As Managing Director of Founders4Schools, Michaela led the operational, financial and cultural transformation of this ed-tech charity.
Michaela is known for her passion and dedication in successfully driving companies through growth and challenges.
She was winner of the Cambridge News ‘Cambridge’s Most Influential Businesspeople Award’ in 2017 and was included in the EU-Startups’ Top 100: Europe’s Most Influential Women in the Startup and Venture Capital Space in 2023.
Michaela says, "As CEO of Cambridge Wireless, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this exceptional organisation through a period of dynamic change in the tech landscape. Together with our dedicated members, we will harness the power of innovation to not only adapt to the evolving industry but to also drive it forward, ensuring Cambridge Wireless remains the cornerstone of technological advancement and value creation."
Tim Ensor
Tim Ensor is EVP and General Manager for Cambridge Consultant’s Intelligent Services Business Unit. He is responsible globally for CC’s business and client relationships in AI and Digital Services
Tim works with senior clients across many sectors to help them achieve business growth by identifying, developing and deploying world-changing innovation based on deep tech. Prior to CC, Tim has had a string of commercial leadership roles in high-growth technology and consulting businesses working in fields including AI, robotics, telecoms, energy, consumer goods and logistics.
He’s a frequent public speaker and event chair focusing on the latest developments at the intersection of technology and business. He has a Master of Engineering from University of Bath and MBA from University of Cambridge.
Paula Rogers-Brown
Paula is the Founder of PRB Consulting, a boutique advisory firm supporting business transformation and growth across scale-ups, corporates, research institutes, and innovation agencies. She brings strategic clarity and a highly collaborative leadership style to complex innovation environments, delivering sustainable impact across technology-led programmes, entrepreneurial ventures, and multi-stakeholder ecosystems.
An experienced board member and advisor, Paula serves as a Non-Executive Director of Cambridge Wireless and is a member of the Cambridge Tech Week Steering Group. She mentors founders through Homerton College’s Changemakers Programme and contributes to national research and innovation strategy as a panel member for a UKRI Cross-Research Council Interdisciplinary Funding Scheme, assessing high-value, high-impact proposals.
A recent commission for Cambridge Enterprise saw her develop a strategic roadmap to accelerate research innovation and entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups at the University of Cambridge. Paula also led the launch of a new entrepreneurship initiative for women students, including the design and delivery of an intensive venture creation programme. Paula established, Connect: Health Tech, global interdisciplinary community of more than 3,000 professionals at the University of Cambridge, strengthening collaboration across life sciences, medicine, and adaptive technologies.
Her earlier executive leadership roles include positions at Innovate UK Business Connect and the Institution of Engineering & Technology, where she directed national innovation programmes, built strategic partnerships, and shaped sector-wide engagement initiatives.
Paula is a sought-after speaker on innovation, life sciences, entrepreneurship, and leadership, regularly sharing perspectives on building high-performing ecosystems and developing the next generation of founders and executives.
Kathryn Chapman
A molecular bioscientist, Kathryn has had a distinguished career in diverse leadership and strategic roles across the public and private sectors.
Following a successful research career at the University of Manchester, Harvard Medical School, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and GlaxoSmithKline, Kathryn has played a pivotal role in shaping inclusive innovation landscapes, building cross-disciplinary virtual and physical communities and creating novel models to remove barriers to success.
This includes a decade building and leading the innovation strategy for NC3Rs, a UKRI Research Council where Kathryn founded and directed a new challenge-led open innovation platform, CRACK IT which increases cross-discipline and cross-sector industry/academic partnerships in applied research. Kathryn also co-established the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge, providing a physical hub for translational science and collaboration between industry and academia. The Institute is a centre of excellence for target validation through artificial intelligence, machine-learning, functional genomics and tool compound analyses. Most recently, prior to joining Innovate Cambridge, Kathryn directed the innovation strategy at the Babraham Research Campus, launching LiveLabs incubator space and leading the Campus accelerator, entrepreneurship and innovation activities.
Throughout these roles. Chapman’s focus has been on spearheading initiatives that propel startups, entrepreneurs and businesses towards success and driving meaningful change at a national and international level.
Kathryn has 50+ research publications and has been on a wide-range of national and international review panels (Innovate UK, Innovative Medicines Initiative and BBSRC). She holds an honorary professorship at the University of Coventry where she sits on the Vice Chancellor’s advisory group.
Ann Fisher
The inaugural Cambridge Tech Week (CTW) was the brainchild of Ann Fisher, co-founder of Bailey Fisher Executive Search who has worked with technology companies for over 20 years. During the first lockdown in 2020 Ann had time to reflect and formed the idea of holding a week-long celebration of Cambridge’s brilliant tech businesses and wider ecosystem, as a heartfelt, personal ‘thank you’ to a city and region that has supported her and her husband whilst running their previous business. She is passionate about the technology market, especially when it is used for good and wanted to see Cambridge unite to celebrate its global success and help future generations achieve their dreams. Sadly, Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022 and after major surgery has had to take a step back from work and the day to day running of CTW. She has handed the CTW reins to CW who she has been involved with for many years as a Board member and SIG champion.
Anne Bailey
Anne Bailey is CEO and Co-founder of Form the Future CIC, a not-for-profit careers and employment company. Anne entered the careers and skills sector after working in the private and public sectors and running her own PR agency. She ran BT’s CSR education programme which served as inspiration for Form the Future, a social enterprise that helps young people find their route through education intro employment, and provides employers with access to their future talent. She was awarded the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize in 2022 for her work establishing Form the Future and the impact they’ve had on the lives of young people in the Eastern region.
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneubailey/
Caroline Hyde
Caroline is Head of Partnerships & Outreach for Cambridge Enterprise, supporting the University of Cambridge to create impact from its research through academic consultancy, IP management and technology licensing, and new venture creation and investment. Cambridge Enterprise currently has 125 companies in the portfolio and recent spin-outs include some of the most exciting new Cambridge companies such as Riverlane, Xampla and Cambridge GaN Devices.
Leveraging a career spent working with the dynamic ecosystem in and around Cambridge, Caroline is also connected to national and international entrepreneurship, innovation and tech transfer networks. As Managing Director and then CEO for Allia Future Business Centres, Caroline established an innovation and incubation centre for early-stage tech for good ventures in Cambridge, and built this out into a network of four centres operating across Cambridge, East London and Peterborough. Through a number of accelerator and incubator programmes the Centres supported over 1300 ventures over 6 years.
Passionate about building a world where profit and purpose are aligned in order to address the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges in a truly sustainable way.
2024 Steering Committee
Chris Bruce
An international business executive with over 30 years experience of leading growth businesses in wireless, internet and cloud sectors. Chris has spent 15 years in the Wi-Fi Service Provider business: CEO BT Openzone Wi-Fi; Chair of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (Board Director for 10 years); MD and Board Director, GlobalReach Technology (Wi-Fi roaming and authentication specialists).
Chris is now a strategic consultant to wireless vendors and operators offering advice and delivering projects to enhance Go To Market results. Chris is NED Chairman of Handshakr SAAS platform company, bringing together large corporates and smaller innovators to collaborate.
Chris’s career includes: Sales and Marketing Director Business mobile, Telfort (Dutch Mobile Operator); CEO BT Openzone Wi-Fi; VP Advise for Communications providing advisory and wholesale services to Telcos in Middle East, Africa, Asia, LatAm; VP Europe Channels BT Internet Hosting and NED at Inet Spa, Italian Internet Hosting market leader. Chris held leadership roles in BT Global, launching services to Enterprise and Wholesale customers. Previously, Chris had Marketing and Product management positions at Ericsson, Ascom and CASE Communications.
Chris has a passion for innovation and growth and has supported start-ups and scale-ups as a mentor in accelerator programmes focused on Smart Cities, Blockchain and Authentication. Chris has a deep interest in Industrial IoT and Smart Cities.
Public sector experience includes a 12 month secondment to the Department of Trade & Industry, managing the UK Broadband Britain delivery programme and representing on BT’s East of England Regional Board.
Michaela Eschbach
Michaela has an impressive track record as a Founder and Director, both in the not-for-profit and for-profit space.
As co-founder of Form the Future CIC, Michaela drove strategic direction and operations for this multi-award-winning organisation which connects young people with career opportunities. As Managing Director of Founders4Schools, Michaela led the operational, financial and cultural transformation of this ed-tech charity.
Michaela is known for her passion and dedication in successfully driving companies through growth and challenges.
She was winner of the Cambridge News ‘Cambridge’s Most Influential Businesspeople Award’ in 2017 and was included in the EU-Startups’ Top 100: Europe’s Most Influential Women in the Startup and Venture Capital Space in 2023.
Michaela says, "As CEO of Cambridge Wireless, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this exceptional organisation through a period of dynamic change in the tech landscape. Together with our dedicated members, we will harness the power of innovation to not only adapt to the evolving industry but to also drive it forward, ensuring Cambridge Wireless remains the cornerstone of technological advancement and value creation."
Anne Bailey
Anne Bailey is CEO and Co-founder of Form the Future CIC, a not-for-profit careers and employment company. Anne entered the careers and skills sector after working in the private and public sectors and running her own PR agency. She ran BT’s CSR education programme which served as inspiration for Form the Future, a social enterprise that helps young people find their route through education intro employment, and provides employers with access to their future talent. She was awarded the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize in 2022 for her work establishing Form the Future and the impact they’ve had on the lives of young people in the Eastern region.
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneubailey/
Paul Crane
Paul is a telecoms technologist. He is a member of the Cambridge Wireless Board and became CEO in November 2022. He was Director of Network Research at BT, a member of the Telco Infra Project board and Wireless Broadband Alliance board. His career includes work in Europe and the USA, building and launching telecommunication joint-ventures.
Paul is a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, Institute for Communications Systems. He is passionate about the benefits of telecommunications, a common theme in his current work is to help drive telecommunications skills and capabilities in the UK.
Tim Ensor
Tim Ensor is EVP and General Manager for Cambridge Consultant’s Intelligent Services Business Unit. He is responsible globally for CC’s business and client relationships in AI and Digital Services
Tim works with senior clients across many sectors to help them achieve business growth by identifying, developing and deploying world-changing innovation based on deep tech. Prior to CC, Tim has had a string of commercial leadership roles in high-growth technology and consulting businesses working in fields including AI, robotics, telecoms, energy, consumer goods and logistics.
He’s a frequent public speaker and event chair focusing on the latest developments at the intersection of technology and business. He has a Master of Engineering from University of Bath and MBA from University of Cambridge.
Ann Fisher
The inaugural Cambridge Tech Week (CTW) was the brainchild of Ann Fisher, co-founder of Bailey Fisher Executive Search who has worked with technology companies for over 20 years. During the first lockdown in 2020 Ann had time to reflect and formed the idea of holding a week-long celebration of Cambridge’s brilliant tech businesses and wider ecosystem, as a heartfelt, personal ‘thank you’ to a city and region that has supported her and her husband whilst running their previous business. She is passionate about the technology market, especially when it is used for good and wanted to see Cambridge unite to celebrate its global success and help future generations achieve their dreams. Sadly, Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022 and after major surgery has had to take a step back from work and the day to day running of CTW. She has handed the CTW reins to CW who she has been involved with for many years as a Board member and SIG champion.
Dr Julian Huppert
Dr Julian Huppert is the Director of the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College, Cambridge, He is both an academic and a former Member of Parliament for Cambridge. He was Chair of the Independent Panel of Reviewers for DeepMind Health, and was ISPA’s ‘Internet Hero of the Year 2012’. He continues to work and advise on tech policy, particularly healthtech and edtech.