• Content Type

UK Digital Standards Summit

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Date:

17 March 2026

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Location:

Glasgow and online

About the event

 

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will host the first UK Digital Standards Summit on 17 March 2026. The UK Digital Standards Summit will follow the AI Standards Hub Global Summit, and will be held as a hybrid event online and at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow.

The UK has a long, proud history of being at the forefront of standards-setting, science and research. We have played a pivotal role in the innovation, development and commercialisation of digital and emerging technologies. The UK Digital Standards Summit will explore the critical role that digital standards play in our everyday life, from enabling use of our mobile phones and favourite streaming platforms to supporting our most advanced AI systems and quantum computers.

Hosted by DSIT, the UK Digital Standards Summit will bring together domestic and international stakeholders from governments, regulators, industry, civil society, academia, research organisations, standards development organisations, quality infrastructure and intergovernmental organisation to explore the role of standards in technology innovation, governance and trade.

In-person attendance of the UK Digital Standards Summit will be by invitation only. The event will be livestreamed online, openly accessible to all interested stakeholders. Instructions for how to join the livestream will be posted on this page closer to the date.

 

 

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Speakers

Matt Gantley

Matt Gantley

Chief Executive Officer, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
Matt Gantley is the CEO of UKAS, a leading global Accreditation Body and major contributor to the UK and global quality infrastructure. With over 25 years of experience in conformity assessment, Matt has a distinguished career in the TIC Sector.
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Sahar Danesh

Sahar Danesh

Senior Government Engagement Manager and Digital Policy Lead, British Standards Institution (BSI)
Sahar Danesh is Senior Government Engagement Manager and Digital Policy Lead at BSI. Sahar is a founding partner of the AI Standards Hub and supports government engagement across international standards development organisations (SDOs), including ETSI and ITU.
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Bojana Bellamy

Bojana Bellamy

President, Centre for Information Policy Leadership
Bojana Bellamy is the President of Huntonā€™s Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), a preeminent global privacy and data policy think tank in London, Washington, DC, and Brussels.
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Howard Benn FIET, FITP

Professor Howard Benn FIET, FITP

Independent Consultant, Benn Consulting Ltd
Howard Benn is an independent consultant working in the field of technology standards. He started his career back in 1982, did his degree and PhD at Bradford University, moving into radio based communications in 1989.
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Fernando Castro

Dr Fernando Castro

Department Head of Science, National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Drā€ÆFernando Castro is an internationally recognised scientific leader in materials and semiconductor metrology, known for his strategic influence on global standardisation.
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Sue Daley OBE

Sue Daley OBE

Director Tech and Innovation, techUK
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
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Jan Ellsberger

Jan Ellsberger

Director-General, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
Jan Ellsberger is the Directorā€‘General of ETSI (European Telecommunications/Technology Standards Institute), leading the organisationā€™s strategic evolution and its mission to deliver global, market-driven ICT standards grounded in European priorities and values.
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Paul Gaskell

Paul Gaskell

Deputy Director, International - Trade, Internet Governance and Digital Standards, DSIT
Paul Gaskell works for the UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, he is leading work on global internet governance, digital technical standards and science and tech trade.
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Tomas Lamanauskas

Tomas Lamanauskas

Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union
Tomas Lamanauskas is Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, elected at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference of 2022, and in office since January 2023.
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Jonathan Legh-Smith

Jonathan Legh-Smith

Executive Director, UKQuantum
Jonathan Legh-Smith is Executive Director for UKQuantum, the association for the UKā€™s quantum industry. Jonathan represents the interests of UKQuantum members nationally and internationally.
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Roxana Radu

Roxana Radu

Associate Professor of Digital Technologies and Public Policy , University of Oxford
Roxana Radu is an Associate Professor of Digital Technologies and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford and a Hugh Price Fellow at Jesus College.
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Ollie Whitehouse

Ollie Whitehouse

Chief Technical Officer, National Cyber Security Centre
Ollie Whithouse is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering whose career in cyber security spans over 30 years. Today he serves as the Chief Technical Officer for the National Cyber Security Centre, a role he assumed in late 2023.
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Agenda

We look forward to welcoming a senior keynote speaker who will set out the UKā€™s approach to digital standards followed by panel discussions exploring specific technologies and themes, as well as networking opportunities.

Day One Schedule

11:45 am - 12:00 am

Summary

Please bring a valid photo identification for registration.

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12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Lunch

1:15 pm - 1:25 pm

Welcome and Introduction

1:25 pm - 1:45 pm

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1:45 pm - 2:20 pm

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2:20 pm - 3:20 pm

Summary

This panel will explore the critical role of digital standards in driving economic growth, delivering on our national security objectives, and governing critical and emerging technologies. The panel will also delve into the complex intersection of digital standards and geopolitics, and what they mean for privacy and data.

We will also hear the latest from the UK Governmentā€™s Regulatory Innovation Office and explore the interplay between digital standards and regulation.

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3:20 pm - 3:40 pm

Break

3:40 pm - 4:45 am

Summary

From the function of our mobile phones to the development of quantum computers, digital standards play a pivotal role in modern life. This expert panel will explore the role of standards across a range of critical and emerging technologies, discussing the benefits, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

The panel comprises technology experts across semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced communication technologies and the internet.

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4:45 pm - 5:00 pm

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5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Drinks reception