Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, Director of the Smart Internet Lab and founding Co-Director of the University’s Bristol Digital Future Institute (BDFI), has been recognised for services to communications technologies research and scientific policy. Her pioneering research has included work around high-performance networks, programmable networks, wireless-optical convergence, 5G/6G, and smart city infrastructures.

In the past few years, she is increasingly working on cross-disciplinary topics such as climate change and digital transformation for society and businesses. Professor Simeonidou has been the Technical Architect, and the CTO of the smart city project Bristol Is Open. She is currently leading regional and national 5G/6G pilots.

In addition, she has been a member of the UK Government Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council, a founding member of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network and member of the OFCOM Spectrum Advisory Board. She has led major research projects funded by UK Government and the EC. She is currently coordinating the DSIT REASON project developing blueprint architectures and technologies for 6G and the EPSRC JOINER project, aiming to establish a UK-wide experimentation platform for future networks research and innovation.

Professor Simeonidou is the author and co-author of over 700 publications, numerous patents and several contributions to standards. She has been co-founder of three spin-out companies developing solutions for connected smart infrastructures. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), a Fellow of the IEEE (FIEEE), Fellow of WWRF and member of UKCRC.

Professor Simeonidou said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This recognition celebrates years of collaborative work advancing telecommunications technology and championing evidence-based science policy. I accept it on behalf of my remarkable colleagues and remain committed to develop technologies for connecting people, ideas and opportunity.”