2024 Speakers

Mark is a BBC ETD trained Radio broadcast engineer with nearly 4 decades of experience covering studio builds, project management, transmission, satellite links and latterly DVB and IP delivery.

Hend ElGhazaly is a PhD student in the Speech and Hearing group at the University of Sheffield’s School of Computer Science, under the supervision of Professor Heidi Christensen and Dr. Nafise Sadat Moosavi.

Her research centres on fairness in speech technologies, where she examines biases in speech systems and explores strategies to mitigate them.

She is also interested in low-resource domains, including healthcare applications and the Arabic language.

She aims to contribute to developing more fair and inclusive speech systems.

Simon Elliott is a senior Distribution Manager in Distribution and Business Development.

He has been involved in digital TV switchover and radio network planning, now with an interest in how well mobile networks might work for delivering live radio outside the home and on the move.

Mark Farrington is a Broadcast Systems Manager at Bauer Media, responsible for Audio-over-IP and Studio Technology for the last 8 years.

He’s most recently been looking after the Broadcast Technology requirement of delivering Bauer’s move into their new HQ in London.

Before Bauer, Mark worked as a Broadcast Engineer at Global and Celador radio.

Outside of radio, Mark spends most of his time entertaining a 21 month old who is currently obsessed with tractors and diggers.

A radio reporter and programme maker who switched into strategy, management and making deals.

Someone who enjoyed working for the BBC, commercial radio and Arqiva.

Over 20 years, one of the people who helped make DAB digital radio the number one platform for UK radio listening.

Since the start of March 2024, the Transmission Adjudicator.

What’s that? After my TechCon session, you’ll understand why the role is relevant to you.

Yasemin Kahveci is a sound engineer and music producer with a passion for experimental audio that redefines the possibilities of technology.

Over the past year, they have expanded their knowledge in media operations and technical production as an Open Music trainee at the BBC.

Yasemin’s project, Digital Sound Bath, commissioned for the 2024 BBC Proms, is an immersive surround sound experience. This innovative project blends elements of nature and technology, utilising experimental and unconventional production techniques to create a meditative and mindful audio environment.

Andy Land is Global Head of Sustainability for the Focusrite Group and is a life-long advocate for protecting our planet’s climate, and our ability to create music on it.

With over a decade of experience with Focusrite, he has been leading the Group’s Sustainability efforts for three years now, helping the group develop and embed sustainable practices throughout the full product lifecycle.

This work now extends beyond just Focusrite, founding the industry working group ‘Greening Music Tech’ and recently taking on a director role at the Music Industries Association to advocate for wider Environmental action within the Music Industry.

Jamie has worked at Chrysalis Radio, Global Radio, RCS, and since 2014, has been based at BBC Technology in London.

His role as Solution Lead for Audio Production at the BBC involves leading all of the BBC’s audio technology projects to follow a common set of tools and standards, and pushing for templated media networks across the BBC.

Dr Astrid Leuba is a sustainability and purpose expert. She applies her training in mathematics and engineering to understand the dynamics of global and social factors such as modern slavery and climate change.

She is passionate about finding creative solutions to reach different audiences. 

Anne Locker is the Library and Archives Manager at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). She has worked with engineering archives for over 20 years, and has written on the history of engineering and technology and the history of women in STEM.

Spencer is an R&D engineer working with the Blue Room, the BBC’s consumer technology facility.

A subject matter expert in immersive and interactive technology, he also helps the team research and deliver insight in areas such as AI, VR, TV operating systems and more.

Multiskilled Technical Operator at BBC Media Operations by day.

Technical Artist specialising in Blender, Unreal Engine & Virtual Production by night.

Dan McQuillin is the Founder of Broadcast Bionics, which has become a trusted software solutions partner for radio brands around the globe.

Under Dan’s leadership, the company has helped transform the way broadcasters engage and interact with audiences.

Dan speaks at industry events around the world, sharing insights on the future of audio and broadcast technology.

Andrew Murphy is a Lead Research Engineer at BBC Research & Development.

He has led the development of both hardware and software to support research in a number of fields and has worked within standardisation groups such as Digital Video Broadcasting and 3GPP.

Andrew is currently leading BBC R&D’s research into the delivery of the BBC’s content and services to people on the move.

Vanessa has just shy of 10 years experience working within radio broadcasting.

With a passion for broadcast and technology, she outputs a high drive to deliver seamless infrastructure upgrades, spaces for people with a radio voice to work in and is happy to get muddy or sun burnt working on outside broadcasts. 

Dave started working in Hospital Radio back in 1988, then Student Radio soon after, he then spent almost twenty years looking after the technology for half of commercial radio and the last twelve years leading the way the BBC makes and produces audio for Radio and Sounds.

Dave is 52, a Fellow of the Radio Academy and spends more time than he would like on trains. He has size ten shoes.

Jamie has been building radio stations since she was 10. When she’s not busy leading development on the Broadcast Radio Cloud, she’s helping student radio stations rebuild their studios on-the-cheap.