Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council,听has听joined a听national network of experts听on听the UK5G Advisory Board.听

Melia is among 10 new additions to the board which strives to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of global 5G development.听

The national innovation network听is听dedicated to the promotion of research, collaboration and the industrial application of 5G in the UK.听

UK5G is supported by a senior national advisory board who provide expertise and feedback from their vast industry knowledge and experience, which supports the identification of priorities and future areas of focus, including the UK Government鈥檚 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme.听

鈥淲orking closely with partners across public and private sectors brings huge opportunities to towns and cities,鈥� said Melia.听听

鈥淚 am passionate about using technology and infrastructure to benefit the lives of all in society, and I hope to bring the experience I鈥檝e gained in my home city of Sunderland to the UK5G Advisory Board, to extend the opportunities that technology can bring to benefit people and places across the UK.听

鈥淚n Sunderland, we鈥檙e making a real difference to our residents, businesses and communities through our focus on 5G and I hope my role with the 5G Advisory Board will allow us to support other places with challenges both similar and different to ours, to ensure that no one and nowhere is left behind.鈥�听

Bob Driver, Head of UK5G, said: 鈥淲e were specifically looking for members to join the board in the final year of DCMS鈥� 5G Testbed & Trials programme who could provide guidance and advice from the demand side of the 5G ecosystem.听

鈥淚n particular we听were keen to welcome individuals who not only represented key vertical sectors, but also places.鈥�听

The other nine appointments are:听

  • Ann Williams, Liverpool City Council听
  • Catherine Gull听
  • Colin Evison, BAM Nuttall Limited听听
  • Janette Hughes听
  • Julian Randall, Unity Technologies听听
  • Martin Kelman, ATS Global Applied Tech Syst听
  • Matt Stagg, BT Sport听
  • Muhammad Imran, University of Glasgow听
  • Paul Wilson, Connected Places Catapult听

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