Geography: Global

  • Ceri Howes

    Ceri is VP of Government and External Affairs at Opensignal, where she works with policymakers, regulators, and industry to advance inclusive, high-quality connectivity. She has over 15 years of global policy experience at the GSMA, Ofcom, and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Her work has spanned spectrum strategy, broadband regulation, and initiatives to close the connectivity gender gap. Passionate about bridging the digital divide, she enjoys bringing together technology and evidence-based policy to create real impact for people and communities.

  • Grace Nelson

    Grace is an Analyst in the team at Assembly. Her portfolio includes emerging issues in digital policymaking, such as online safety, digital competition and AI, as well as work across a range of consumer protection issues in telecoms markets.

    Prior to joining Assembly, Grace served as an aide in the United States Senate, leading outreach and engagement on issues including federal infrastructure investments and rural broadband. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics.

  • Catherine Colloms

    Catherine has over 25 years’ experience across the public and private sector, specialising in infrastructure, tech and telecoms. She has advised corporates on working in partnership with government to deliver major infrastructure and environmental, social and governance projects and brings stakeholders together to solve economic and social challenges and devise commercial and policy solutions to help address them.

    She spent 8 years on the executive of Openreach (BT) when it hyper scaled its full-fibre network, where she also headed their Gender network and led initiatives on diversity and culture as part of the company’s transformation. She is on the advisory board of Labour Digital and is a NED at Gigaclear, a rural altnet Telco and on DBT’s Industrial Development Advisory Council.

  • Sofia Klymchuk

    Sofia Klymchuk is a Ukrainian AI policymaker, former civil servant and lawyer. She has been driving digital reforms in the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for 5 years and currently she leads AI Diplomacy (OECD, CoE, EC, UNESCO) and builds AI tool for EU integration in the Ukrainian Government. She is leading bilateral negotiations with the EU on the AI Act, drafting Ukraine’s AI Strategy 2030, and advancing the sovereign LLM development, as well as AI GovTech solutions. In the Ministry she also previously led international cooperation and European integration of Ukraine into the EU Digital Single Market, roam-like-at-home regime and electronic communication sector reform. Some of Sofia’s large-scale projects include negotiating and drafting international digital treaties (with Latvia, Turkey, Canada, UK, UAE), cooperation on cross-border EU digital projects, funding and democratic resilience of Ukraine especially during wartime.
    As a female leader, she has empowered and collaborated with youth networks worldwide, raising issues on digital policies (she was a Head of the Chevening Society, and member of IRI GenDem, EDYN, AIESEC, ELSA, RUSI).
    She recently pursued her second master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at LSE as a distinguished Chevening Scholar. This year she was nominated to become a GLOBSEC Young leader and Alpbach scholar.
    In her research she is focusing on the geopolitics of tech, intersection of digital policies, democracy, diplomacy and law.

  • Helen Milner

    Helen has 40 years’ experience creating and leading internet-based organisations; driving innovation, delivery and systems change at scale. Working closely with people deep in communities, as well at the highest levels of government and industry. Helen is number 9 in Computer Weekly’s 2025 UKTech50 list, and their number 1 Female Founder. Outside of her work for Good Things Foundation, she is the Chair of environmental charity Subak, and a Non-Executive Director on the Board for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

  • Sophie Greaves

    Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, where she leads work across telecoms infrastructure, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres. In this role, she brings together these areas into a single Digital Infrastructure unit, reflecting the priorities of Government, Ofcom, and industry members.

    Sophie also oversees the Spectrum Policy Forum, the UK’s cross-industry platform shaping spectrum policy and maximising its economic and social value. An experienced speaker, panellist, and moderator, she regularly facilitates discussions on the future of digital infrastructure, advanced connectivity, and telecoms security.

    Recognised on the 2023 Women in Trade Association Powerlist and Computer Weekly’s UKtech50 Longlist (2023 & 2025), Sophie is passionate about building a secure, innovative, and future-ready digital ecosystem.

  • Flora Coleman

    Flora Coleman is a seasoned global leader in public affairs, policy, and communications, with over a decade of experience shaping regulatory and reputational outcomes for some of the world’s most prominent fintech and technology firms. Most recently Director of Global Policy and Government Relations at Klarna, she led cross-functional teams on both sides of the Atlantic, driving strategy on AI, financial services, credit, and competition policy. Her earlier tenure at Wise saw her deliver a landmark win on cross-border payments regulation in the EU and spearhead the firm’s ESG and CSR agendas.
    Flora is widely recognised for her deep network and policy campaigns. She was recently named one of Europe’s top tech lobbyists by Sifted and has written on regulatory innovation in American Banker, arguing for proportionate frameworks for BNPL. She also addressed global consumer advocates on digital wallet safety at the 2023 Consumers International Summit in Nairobi.
    In addition to her executive roles, Flora serves as an Ambassador for InnovateHer, a Steering Board Member of the Startup Coalition, and an Industry Panel Member for Consumers International. Her portfolio reflects a consistent commitment to responsible innovation and stakeholder collaboration.
    With a track record across the UK, US, EU, and Australia, and a style that blends strategic clarity with delivery excellence, Flora brings valuable experience and perspective at the intersection of regulation, communications, and technology.

  • Louisa Bartolo

  • Ashlie Tarpley

    Ashlie Tarpley is an experienced consumer financial services attorney with over a decade of practice advising financial institutions and government agencies on complex compliance and contracting challenges. Her career spans litigation, regulatory counseling, and policy development, giving her a unique perspective on how laws and regulations impact day-to-day business operations.

    Ashlie’s experience includes:

    – Leading federal regulatory compliance examinations;

    – Counseling clients on privacy, data security, and financial services compliance strategies;

    – Advising on the rollout of innovative products and services;

    – Designing organizational policies and procedures;

    – Overseeing contracting programs and negotiating commercial agreements;

    – Developing and delivering compliance training; and

    – Shaping financial services and housing policy in government.

    In 2025, Ashlie founded Tarpley Templates and Legal Research (TTLR) to make high-quality legal support accessible to organizations navigating growth, innovation, and regulatory risk. TTLR provides attorney-drafted contract templates, practical legal research, and fractional counsel support tailored to tech-driven businesses.

    With her combined litigation, regulatory, and policy experience, Ashlie helps clients anticipate risks, structure stronger contracts, and build compliance frameworks that support sustainable growth. Through TTLR, she is committed to empowering organizations to negotiate smarter, comply with confidence, and achieve lasting success in an evolving financial and regulatory landscape.

  • Rumbidzayi Pfende

    Rumbi Pfende is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader with over 23 years’ experience scaling startups and driving growth across tech and media. She is the Co-founder and COO of MAMA.codes, the UK’s leading coding school for children, where she has helped over 5,000 young people—many from underrepresented groups—gain vital digital skills. A passionate advocate for inclusion, Rumbi has advised organisations including Lucasfilm on diversity and culture, and champions initiatives that widen access to education and technology. She is a thought leader, regularly sharing her journey as a Black female founder committed to building opportunities that empower the next generation.