Opening Keynotes

Our opening keynotes ignite bold, honest dialogue about the future of the telecom industry, setting the stage for Pathways to Growth. These sessions challenge us to confront real challenges and uncover real solutions in a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by AI, economic pressures, and shifting customer needs.

Designed to inspire action, these keynotes feature dynamic speakers and engaging discussions that delve into TM Forum's strategic missions and follow three pathways — the Composable IT Pathway; the Autonomous Networks Pathway and the AI & Data Pathway. Together, we’ll explore how to drive agility through standardization, efficiency through automation, and innovation with intelligence.

Sessions include:

KEYNOTE: Becoming AI and Data Natives

• Building an AI-focused team or organization: Silos or Matrixes? Dedicated or Shared? IT vs Data Office vs Innovation?
• Use Case Driven Approach vs Foundations: Do we build and rush out to serve dishes, or focus on the kitchen? How do we balance FOMO and building for the future?
• Value vs Impact: Ways to measure early success, is ROI and Value the best way to measure innovation? Building rails around playgrounds
• Internal Democratization: Harnessing the power of citizen developers to drive culture change but addressing security risks. Creating an environment where organizations are "safe to innovate"

Anton Reynaldo Bonifacio, EVP, CISO, Chief AI Officer, Globe Telecom

CTO PANEL: The CTO Dilemma: Innovating for the Future or Reinventing Complexity?

• Maximizing AI’s Impact – How can telcos leverage AI for true innovation? Are we making progress (fast enough)?
• The Data Challenge – Do we need a unified architecture that spans networks and customer functions?
• Build, Buy, Partner? – Striking the right balance to scale AI
• AI Talent & Efficiency – How do CTOs build AI expertise without bottlenecks?
• Future-Proofing – How can telcos transform their DNA and operating models using AI?
• Integrating Cloud, AI & Automation – Do telcos need to rethink network and IT boundaries to drive transformation?
• Accelerating Autonomous Networks: crafting a blueprint for autonomous network operations

Moderator: Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum
Howard Watson, Chief Security Networks Officer & Chief Digital Officer, BT Group
Haithem M. Alfaraj, Group Chief Technology Officer, stc
Scott Petty, CTO, Vodafone

KEYNOTE: Telstra’s Evolution: Disrupting with Autonomous Networks

• The shift from Automation to Autonomy – Exploring the paradigm shifts and frameworks needed to achieve autonomous network maturity
• Industry Collaborations and Leadership – Working with TM Forum and other global telco operators to collectively solve challenges and define and standardize autonomous network maturity
• Use Cases and lessons – Sharing Telstra’s journey simplifying the Network Layers, using the Telstra Reference Architecture, and operationalising AI

Shailin Seghal, Group Executive, Global Networks and Technology, Telstra

KEYNOTE: Unlocking Value: Building Innovative Products on Autonomous Networks

• Customer-centric innovations – Designing value-based products and services to meet evolving and complex customer needs
• Value differentiation through Autonomous Networks - Transforming the network into a dynamic, programmable asset and monetising network attributes and features
• Leadership in Product Experience – How it plays a key role in Telstra’s Reference Architecture
• The importance of ecosystem – Defining the different levers in the ecosystem value stack and understanding how they interact to generate value

Kim Krogh Andersen, Group Executive, Product & Technology, Telstra

CIO PANEL: AI’s Great Disruption - Transforming IT, Networks, and Business Strategy

• Debate: How radically is AI reshaping IT?
• The role of agentic AI in automating and optimizing IT operations
• Debate: How radically is AI changing network operations and management?
• The role of Machine Learning, GenAI, and agentic AI in driving efficiency and automation

Anthony Rodrigo, CEO, ADL; Group CIO, Axiata
Peter Leukert, CIO / Managing Director, Deutsche Telekom IT
Hesham Fahmy, CIO, TELUS
Willie Stegmann, CIO Corporate IT Services, Vodafone Group