Welcome to our Sub-Committee Topic Chairs and Poster Session organisers from across the industry
We are pleased to welcome a number of experts to our 2027 Committee, each focused on a particular topic area. We also welcome our Poster Session organisers for 2027. Find out more below.
Telecommunications - Mingming Tan, Lecturer in Optical Communications at Aston University and Royal Society Short Industry Fellow
Dr Mingming Tan is a Lecturer in Optical Communications at Aston University and Royal Society Short Industry Fellow. His research focuses on optical communications and optical amplification. He has published over 140 papers, delivered over 20 invited talks, and secured £3.7M+ research funding. He is an Associate Editor of IEEE Access and a TPC member for ECOC 2026.
Photonic Components - Ian Phillips, Aston University
Ian Phillips is head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Aston University, and a member of Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies. His research focuses on optical communication systems, including Raman amplification, all-optical regeneration, nonlinear impairment compensation, and ultra-wideband systems. He has worked for British Telecom, Corning, Marconi and Ericsson both in research and product development. He has published over 150 papers and has participated in EPSCR and EU-funded projects.
Data Centres - Stylianos Sygletos
Dr. Stylianos Sygletos is an Associate Professor at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, Aston University, UK. His research focuses on digital signal processing and machine learning for high-capacity optical communication systems, including nonlinear impairment compensation, spatial division multiplexing, and advanced transceiver design for data center interconnects. He has authored over 180 publications, holds multiple patents, and has coordinated international MSc programmes. Dr. Sygletos has led and contributed to several EPSRC and EU-funded projects, driving innovations in all-optical networking and signal processing for next-generation communication infrastructure.
Quantum Communications - Qiushuo Sun, BT
Dr Qiushuo Sun is a Research Manager in Quantum Optics in BT Research. She received her Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering in 2019 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She then worked as a research fellow at the National quantum hub for sensors and timing in the University of Birmingham for 3 years before she joined BT. She is specialised in optics, quantum and telecommunication technologies.
Intelligent Optical Networks - Shuangyi Yan, University of Bristol
Dr Shuangyi Yan is an Associate Professor in the Smart Internet Lab, School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol. His research focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for dynamic optical networks, radio access networks for beyond-5G, enhanced network sensing and applications, and data centre networks.
Free Space Optics - Donald Govan, Mbryonics
Donald Govan is Photonics Coherent Architect at Mbryonics working on coherent transceivers for free space optical links. He received a B.Sc.(Hons.) degree in laser physics and optoelectronics from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., in 1995, and a Ph.D. from the Photonics Research Group at Aston University, Birmingham, U.K., in 1999. Following his PhD he has worked across industry and academia including spells with Marconi, University of Nottingham, University of Swansea, Oclaro and Lumentum.
Poster Sessions - Mariia Bastamova, Aston University
Mariia Bastamova is a Research Fellow at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, UK, specialising in optical parametric amplification for optical communications. She holds a PhD in optical communications, and a BSc and MSc in Photonics and Laser Technologies. With over seven years of experimental research experience, her work focuses on the optimisation of novel fibre optical parametric amplifiers for high gain, wide band, and low noise optical communication systems. Mariia has presented her work at major international conferences including OFC and ECOC. She is a recipient of the 2024 Corning Women in Optical Communications Scholarship.
Poster Sessions - Zoe Davidson, BT
Dr Zoe Davidson is a Technical Research Manager in the Optics and Quantum Centre of Excellence at BT. Her research focus at BT is on Photonic Integrated Circuits for use in both classical and quantum networks. Zoe received her Bachelor of Technology 1st(Hons) in Optoelectronics from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and her PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK. Her background is on semiconductor compounds for energy efficient emission in the O- and C-bands, and telecommunications fibre optic network design and deployment.