Dr. Mike Short CBE was appointed Chairman of AWTG in 2025, bringing with him over 40 years of leadership in telecommunications, satellite communications, and digital innovation.

He previously served as the UK Department for International Trade’s first Chief Scientific Adviser (2017–2023), and earlier spent three decades at Telefónica Europe and its predecessors, including 17 years as Vice President overseeing the launch of 2G and 3G mobile networks and leading international research, standards, and innovation initiatives.

Dr. Short has also held senior advisory and academic roles, including Chief Architect at the Satellite Applications Catapult, Distinguished Visitor at the National Physical Laboratory, and Visiting Professor at both UCL and the University of Surrey. He chairs the Advisory Boards of the UK Telecoms Labs and the UK Telecoms Innovation Network.

A recognised leader in setting global telecom standards, he is a former Chairman of the GSMA, former President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and was awarded a CBE in 2012 for his services to the telecommunications industry.