Speaker Bio
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 DIT on the technical aspects of international trade deals, supports inward investment and engineering collaboration, and works with the UK’s research, innovation 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, established an office in Brussels, and went on to lead international research, innovation and standards for Telefonica Europe.
Mike’s career includes the promotion of international technical standards in mobile and digital technology. He is a former Chairman of the Global GSM Association, the UK Mobile Data Association, and was President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2011/2012.
He is currently a Visiting Professor at the Universities of Surrey, Coventry, Leeds and Salford. He has led the development and 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.