Keynote speaker Shara Evans is internationally acknowledged as a cutting edge technology futurist, commentator, strategy advisor and thought leader, as well as the Founder and CEO of Market Clarity, an award-winning technology analyst firm that provides specialised insight, intelligence and advice on all aspects of the telecom and emerging technologies markets. She's also the Founder of Telsyte (successfully sold to publicly listed company UXC), and has been pioneering innovative research and strategic consulting on telecoms and technology for the past 18 years, as well as being one of the industry’s leading commentators on telco and technology issues. In addition to extensive corporate, government, vendor, and carrier client work, she has published over 100 articles and research papers. Shara’s latest research is the Future Tech 2025 series — based on ongoing interviews with thought leaders in research labs, vendor labs, telcos, start-ups, futurists and others, covering a wide range of emerging technologies such as: new devices, robotics, 3D printing, augmented reality, home automation, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, privacy, and the next wave of innovation. Shara helps her clients understand new product and service opportunities in consumer and enterprise markets that are being underpinned by these emerging technologies. Frequently working with executive, strategy and product teams, Shara helps organisations think outside the box of what’s available today to imagine the world in 5 or 10 years, and commercialise these concepts into innovative new products and services. Her technical and business career has included a variety of executive positions with companies such as Alcatel, Sprint, Telenet, GTE and SmithKline. Specialties: Visionary technologist, futurist, keynote speaker and consultant, with a deep understanding of the telecommunications infrastructure, market and technology innovation.

Founder and CEO @ Shara Evans is the Founder and CEO of Market Clarity, a professional services organisation specialising in strategy, competitive intelligence and advice on all aspects of the telecom and emerging technologies markets. As the company founder, Shara is responsible for all aspects of Market Clarity's business. Market Clarity’s emerging technologies research is based on Shara’s ongoing interviews with luminaries in research labs, vendor labs, telcos, start-ups, futurists and others, and features cutting edge research insights into a wide range of gadgets, technologies, and trends, including: wearable devices, implantables, sensors, wireless technologies, holograms, augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D printing, home automation, the Internet of Things, robotics, drones, cars of the future, artificial intelligence, security and privacy, cloud services, and the next wave of innovation. Shara helps Market Clarity’s clients understand how emerging technologies can benefit their business — making money, saving money, or solving problems. Her favourite client assignments include the evaluation of technologies, products and partners, the design of pilot projects + ecosystems, and the development of business cases for innovative technologies. Shara’s background in advanced telecommunications network design and services includes insight, market intelligence and advice on the ongoing rollout and implications of the National Broadband Network (NBN). Under Shara’s leadership, Market Clarity made a substantial investment in geospatial technologies, assembling a comprehensive database of telecom infrastructure, as well as analytical techniques for examining and correlating the relationship between telecommunications and other civil infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, road and rail), commercial points of interest, social data (including population and business data). Recent research involves mobile broadband network performance measurement and analytics. From January 2006 to Present (10 years) Founder and Managing Director @ In 1997, Shara founded Telsyte and initiated Telsyte’s primary market research program on the Australian data services market. During this period Shara was the Founding President of the Advanced Networking Forum Australia. She also served as President of the Pacific Frame Relay Forum, and was a Board member of the Australia ATM Interest Group. In December 2002, Shara sold Telsyte to GQ-AAS, a division of UXC Limited. Since merging Telsyte’s operations with GQ-AAS, Shara focused her attention on expanding Telsyte’s research and consulting capabilities with a steady expansion of Telsyte’s direct staff. Under Shara’s leadership, Telsyte launched Instant Benchmark, the world’s first independent online price benchmarking service for telecommunications services. In 2005, Shara expanded Telsyte’s e-commerce capabilities through the addition of a research store. And, in November 2005, Telsyte was short-listed for the prestigious SPAN Excellence in Professional Service award. Shara’s involvement in the telecoms industry began in the early ‘80s when she was a software engineer responsible for designing telecommunications protocols and networks. Her technical and business career has included a variety of executive positions with companies such as Alcatel, Sprint, Telenet, GTE and SmithKline prior to founding her first telecommunications analyst firm, Telsyte, in 1997. From July 1997 to December 2005 (8 years 6 months) Marketing Manager, Data Networking Systems and Services @ Marketing Manager, Data Networking Systems and Services Established Alcatel Australia as a recognised player in the data networking market: • Establishing the business unit • Selecting products (mainly working with Frame Relay, ATM, LAN switching and Dial IP platforms) • Attracting advisory positions with state and federal governments, obtaining a listing for Alcatel as a provider of Frame Relay hardware for Telstra’s Frame Relay service, and introducing a full range of LAN/WAN networking devices into the Australian marketplace. • Responsible for Sales and Marketing of Alcatel’s Dial IP platform for Telstra’s Dial Connect service, developing a pipeline of services and equipment to carriers and service providers From April 1995 to July 1997 (2 years 4 months) Alcatel & Affiliated Companies: Alcatel Data Networks @ Established Alcatel’s presence in the South Asia/Pacific Data Network Market: • Managing South Asia/Pacific business development and sales strategy • Assessing distributor capabilities • Establishing distribution channels • Establishing relationships with targeted agents • Managing relationships with agents and distributors • Identifying target customers • Submitting tenders • Conducting market research • Developing regional business plans • Participating in regional conferences Until 1993, Alcatel Data Networks was known as Sprint International. In previous roles with the company, Shara progressed from International Program Manager to Senior Manager, Northern Asia Program Management/Sales Engineering From January 1988 to April 1995 (7 years 4 months)

Shara Evans is skilled in: Telecommunications, Strategy, Mobile Devices, Broadband, Thought Leadership, Engaging Speaker, Go-to-market Strategy, Start-ups, Business Strategy, Market Research, Management, Consulting, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Analysis