Read this quarter’s Intermedia here
As we come out of the immediate public health crisis caused by COVID-19, the key priority for policy makers will be economic growth. And there will be a particular focus on growth which supports environmental policies such as ‘net zero’. Our sector can make a variety of contributions to this, both direct and indirect. There’s a great deal of work underway to reduce the direct impact on the environment of communications networks by reducing their energy consumption – and this has the additional benefit of reducing operational costs. There are also many ways in which communications networks enable wider environmental benefits, from IoT based smart grids and smart cities, to the web-based collaborative platforms with which we are all now very familiar. This webinar reviewed the current state of play, asked what more might be done, and what changes in regulation might be necessary to enable this.
This on-line seminar, provided the opportunity for an interactive discussion between panellists followed by Q&A from the audience. The full session can be seen here.
DownloadSummary report of the IIC UK Chapter Webinar: Green growth – TMT’s contribution to net zero webinar
DownloadA lawyer by training, Daniel Mes started his career at the European Commission in its competition department. There he worked on transport and digital technology files. During the last Commission term, he managed relations with the European Parliament and the Council, including on digital policy files, and was a speechwriter to Margrethe Vestager. Since 1 December 2019, Mr Mes has worked in the Cabinet of Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans on digital aspects of the European Green Deal.
David Scuderi serves as Senior Manager Public Policy at Amazon. He leads advocacy work on topics impacting Amazon’s consumer business.
Based in Brussels, his work focuses on technology policies, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, robotics and automation, and the cross-border provision of online services.
Prior to his current role, Mr Scuderi was the head of environment policy and compliance for Samsung Electronics in the UK and South Korea. In this role Mr Scuderi was responsible for managing Samsung’s engagement with policy makers, civil society and NGOs, supporting Samsung’s public sector businesses in major European markets, and advising management on key operational decisions in the European region. During his tenure, Mr Scuderi has chaired several working groups at Digitaleurope, the advocacy group acting on behalf of the information technology, consumer electronics and telecommunications sectors.
Mr Scuderi holds a Bachelor and Masters in Law from the University of Trento (Italy) and in European Studies from the University of Hamburg (Germany).
Dorothée leads sustainable business at Vodafone Group. The sustainable business team drives the delivery of Vodafone’s Purpose agenda and contribution to the SDGs, as well as ensuring sound responsible business practices and transparent reporting. She took up the role in August 2019 after 10 years at McKinsey & Company where she most recently was Director of sustainability and social impact, with responsibility for the firm’s responsible business practices and its contribution to society. Dorothée joined McKinsey in 2009 as head of external relations for the Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice to help the practice shape and communicate its thought leadership agenda on the challenges and opportunities of sustainability and resource productivity.
Before McKinsey, she worked in politics, public affairs and communications: for the Belgian deputy prime minister, in the European Commission’s spokesperson service and at public affairs agency GPlus Europe (Omnicom Group). She studied literature and linguistics in Ghent, Madrid and Nijmegen and European Studies at the College of Europe. She speaks English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian and basic German, and loves spending time with her daughter, exploring new places, teaching and dancing.
Mats Pellbäck Scharp is Head of Sustainability at Ericsson with responsibility for climate action, circular economy, energy performance and triple bottom line impact of products, services and company operations. Taking this role after restructuring the Health & Safety organisation in the company. During Mr Pellbäck Scharp’s leadership the company has set targets that are accepted to be on a 1.5°C by the Science Based Target initiative.
Mr Pellbäck Scharp has initiated and participated in various research projects e.g. as a member of the steering group for the Exponential Climate Action Roadmap report as well as the ICT & SDGs Report with Columbia University on how information technology has the potential to accelerate halving of global carbon emissions as well as reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
Before rejoining Ericsson, he has held several other leading roles including Head of Sustainability at Sony Ericsson launching the Green Heart brand for mobile phones and accessories.
Nina Beebe lead Access Partnership’s UK and Europe practice, a team of public policy experts focused on tech client engagement with European political institutions and policymakers across the region. Earlier in her time at the company, Ms Beebe directed advocacy and market access campaigns globally, with a focus on emerging markets. She has also represented clients at multilateral UN bodies including the International Telecommunication Union and at regional meetings in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Her clients have included global network operators and integrators, service providers, online platforms, manufacturers and governments.
Ms Beebe joined Access Partnership after serving on a bilateral Joint Economic Commission of the United States Treasury. There, she was responsible for bilateral project negotiations, management planning, and program strategy in support of US and non-US government agencies. She previously worked in development assistance, in financial publishing, and in mission reporting at the International Monetary Fund.
Dr Stephen Unger was until recently a Board member of Ofcom, the UK regulator responsible for digital communications. He had various responsibilities, including setting regulatory strategy for the UK, representing the UK internationally, and leading Ofcom’s technology programme. For a period he was Acting Chief Executive.
Before becoming a regulator Dr Unger spent several years in the private sector. He worked for a variety of high-tech start-ups who were developing and exploiting new wireless technologies.
Dr Unger’s current focus, working as a non-executive board member, consultant, and academic, is on the practical implications of disruptive technology change. He is a member of the IIC Board.
For more background see www.linkedin.com/in/ungersteve. Dr Unger can be contacted at swunger@swunger.com
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