There are many factors which influence the direction of mobile communcation research. Amongst these are the demands of industry and the interests of academia. As Chair of the Wireless World Research Forum, and Head of Academic Relationships within Vodafone Group Research & Development, Dr Nigel Jefferies is well placed to give an insight into the factors which affect the direction of research. In addition, Dr Jefferies will introduce the WWRF, and the panel on 'Shaping the Wireless Future through User Oriented Services' taking place on Tuesday.

Nigel Jefferies is Head of Academic Relationships within Vodafone Group Research & Development and Chairman of the Wireless World Research Forum. In the past he led the European-funded IST project SHAMAN, which is studying the security of future mobile systems, and runs the Secure Applications Steering Group for Mobile VCE. Other collaborative research projects led include 3GS3 in the LINK programme, and ASPeCT and USECA in the European ACTS programme. His research interests include cryptography, security of systems and applications of mathematics to telecommunications. He received a PhD in functional analysis from Goldsmith's College, London, and an MA in mathematics from the Queen's College, Oxford.

Another major influence in the direction of research are regulatory regimes.One essential resource required to use vehicular technologies and communication services is radio frequency spectrum. Dr Veena Rawat, President of the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) will cover process to access spectrum ,development of regulations and some key regulatory issues facing industry. She will also introduce the regulatory panel which will be held on Tuesday.

Dr. Veena Rawat is the President of the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC). An Agency of Industry Canada, CRC is responsible for conducting applied research and development in communications and related technologies. CRC's R&D program for terrestrial wireless services includes cognitive and software defiend radio (SDR), MIMO implementation, EMC issues for UWB and other new wireless services. During her 28 years of experience with Industry Canada in managing programs related to spectrum engineering, Dr. Rawat was involved in policy and standards development for cellular, public safety and other key wireless, broadcasting and satellite services. She led Canadian delegations and negotiations at the International Telecommunications Union, the Organization of American States and with the United States Government and co-chaired Canada/US Committee to negotiate spectrum use along the border.
Dr. Rawat has chaired many technical committees of Canadian and international organizations that deal with radio, spectrum and telecommunications issues and standards. In 2003, she became the first woman to chair the World Radiocommunication (WRC) Conference of the United Nations' telecommunication organization for which she was awarded a gold medal by the Secretary General of the ITU.
Her work has garnered her much recognition, including the Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Woman of the Year Award in 2004, International Leadership in Government Award from the Wireless Communications Association International in the U.S.and many others. Dr Rawat was the first female Ph.D in electrical engineering to graduate in 1973 from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada