Tech Policy Expertise: Telecoms

Eleanor Sarpong

Eleanor Sarpong is Founder and Managing Partner of Impact Afrique Global Partners, a London based but Africa focussed boutique consulting firm, where she advises governments, businesses and development partners on digital transformation, telecommunications policy, infrastructure investment and regulatory strategy across emerging markets. She brings more than two decades of global experience working in the private sector, international development and public policy, with a current focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eleanor has held senior leadership roles as Director for Policy and Advocacy, Digital Inclusion at the GSMA, Director of Public Policy at the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership and Deputy Executive Director at the Alliance for Affordable Internet, where she spearheaded public policy and advocacy efforts with more than 21 governments and multilateral agencies. She has partnered with organisations including the European Union, Smart Africa, World Bank, USAID, ITU, UNESCO, UNESCAP and the OECD. Earlier in her career, she built MTN Ghana’s Government and Regulatory Function, leading efforts to secure 3G and 4G licences and regulatory engagements on mobile money, SIM registration and data-centre rollouts.

She has also consulted for Stantec, developing a model on Open Internet skills, and advised the European Investment Bank on ICT lending policies for developing countries. She has also consulted for the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation. Eleanor holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, where she was a Chevening Scholar, and certificates in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics and Implementing Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education.
Sarah Murray

Sarah is a senior public policy leader with more than 20 years’ experience shaping technology, telecoms, and digital regulation across the UK and Europe. At Ofcom she leads the organisation’s engagement with Government and Parliament on issues spanning spectrum, cybersecurity and resilience, telecoms, digital infrastructure, post and regulatory reform.

Sarah has held strategic roles across Ofcom and Whitehall, including leading UK engagement with the European Commission and Parliament on spectrum and digital policy, and directing cross‑government strategy preparing for the UK’s post-Brexit negotiations with EEA EFTA countries. She has advised CEOs, Chairs and Ministers through high‑stakes legislative processes and major technological transitions.

Known for building strong coalitions, translating complex technical issues for diverse audiences and operating at the intersection of technology, regulation and politics with experience advising Ministers, Parliamentarians, Boards and Executive Committees on complex, high‑stakes issues.
Sahar Danesh

Sahar Danesh is the Senior Government Engagement Manager at BSI, the UK’s National Standards Body. As a key member of BSI’s Standards Policy team, she leads engagement with government on digital and technology policy, identifying opportunities where standardization can deliver tangible benefits for UK businesses and society.

Sahar plays a central role in defining the governance frameworks of the future, ensuring that technology—especially AI —is developed, implemented, and adopted in ways that is safe, transparent, and inclusive. Her work focuses on embedding transparency and public trust at the heart of technological progress, so that innovation benefits everyone and no community is left behind.

A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET, Sahar’s career spans private consultancy, central government policy, and leadership roles in professional institutions such as The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Her fellowship reflects her outstanding contributions to engineering, tech policy, and governance.
Amy Jordan

Amy is Director of Strategy and Delivery in the Infrastructure and Connectivity Group at Ofcom. She previously set up Ofcom’s first tech policy team and spent a number of years leading the development of Ofcom’s approach to Online Safety policy and supervision. Prior to Ofcom she spent over a decade in the UK Goverment leading a range of national security, cyber and technology issues , and two years at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity.
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.
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.
Verity Freeman

Verity Freeman is an Associate in Global Counsel’s tech, media and telecoms (TMT) team. She works with clients to help shape their policy and engagement strategy across a range of issues including AI, digital competition, digital economy, online safety and public sector digitisation.

She previously worked for political intelligence company DeHavilland where she focused on culture, media and sport policy.
Umera Asmat Rana

Involved in process of policy driven decisions and forming regulations at government level that shape telecom/Internet landscape in my country. I am also active on regional forums of Internet Governance including APrIGf, APSIG, ISOC islamabad Chapter and pkSIG.

Involved in educating people on policies and reforms done to make Internet available for everyone as well as safe and protected use of Internet.