Bob Briscoe, Chief Researcher, Networks Research Centre, BT Group plc

Bob Briscoe is Chief Researcher in BT's Networks Research Centre and leads BT's Future Communications Architecture programme, using expertise in engineering, economic and social control of computing networks. In the late-1980s, he managed the transition to IP of many of BT's R&D networks and systems. In 2000, he set-up and led the Market Managed Multi-service Internet (M3I) consortium. He also helped incubate Qariba, an on-demand bandwidth start-up that BT re-absorbed to create its Internet QoS products. In 2003, he initiated the Communications Research Network (CRN) to remove blockages to the future health of the industry. He is heavily involved in re-defining the Internet architecture, particularly through IETF standardisation.