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MEF Leadership Forum – On Demand

 

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The MEF Leadership Forum Americas brings together experts in the field of text messaging and other technologies to discuss the latest trends. The thought-leadership conference focuses on the role of trust, identity, and interoperability in the future of messaging.

Welcome address – Dario Betti CEO MEF, Steve Legge, CEO – netnumber

Join Steve Legge, CEO of netnumber Global Data Services, in Miami as he dives into some of today’s hottest telecom topics. From phone number hacking to robocalling scams, Steve will talk about how cybercriminals are exploiting phone numbers for illegal activities and how phone number data intelligence can help.

KEYNOTE: Trust in the Network—The Regulator’s View

In this headline, Former FCC General Counsel Tom M. Johnson Jr discusses why every company needs a regulatory strategy and how the FCC looks at its role in the ecosystem.

  • Tom M. Johnson Jr. – Former FCC General Counsel and Partner, Wiley-Rein

Threats in Messaging – Protecting Consumers, Defending Networks

Is cybersecurity ready to save the industry? Can we secure networks against phishing and spamming attacks that can damage reputation and A2P revenues?

  • TJ Thinakaran, Content & Strategy Advisor – MEF
  • Stephanie Huf, CMO – ENEA AB
  • Simeon Coney, Head of Business Development – ENEA AdaptiveMobile Security

A2P Today: From Fighting Fraud to Building Trust and Identity

In this panel, attendees will gain a detailed view into the full scope of how 10DLC/A2P services can be security and reliably provisioned. Attendees will hear from a range of the industry’s leading service providers and A2P experts, which span from information vetting to message routing, about how business messages can remain fully empowered (and protected) with data-powered methods that underscore trust in the ecosystem above all. With this information on hand, attendees can leave the panel feeling better equipped to take advantage of robust omnichannel communications for the advancement of their business goals while fostering trust and allowing for more streamlined communications.

  • Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
  • Catalin Badea, Senior Director, Product Management, netnumber Global Data Services
  • John Bruner, CEO, Aegis Mobile
  • Chris Wright, VP – Syniverse
  • Stefan Heller, VP, The Campaign Registry

Lawyer Confidential

This panel will discuss everyting from TCPA, the FCC and 5G (and fields questions from the audience)

  • TJ Thinakaran, Content & Strategy Advisor – MEF
  • Glenn Richards, Partner – Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
  • Kevin Rupy, Partner – Wiley Rein
  • Mike Hazzard, Partner – DLA Piper

RCS: Really Coming Soon

In this session, the leaders at the forefront of RCS adoption go beyond product and feature discussions and share how RCS makes messaging safe and trusted. In that context, they discuss the current challenges around adoption and interoperability.

  • TJ Thinakaran, Content & Strategy Advisor – MEF
  • David Fernandez Vinuales, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Rich Business Messaging – Google
  • Stuart Mitchell, Global Product & Business Development, Rich Messaging – Sinch
  • Ramy Riad, Head of Future Messaging – Webex CPaaS, Cisco
  • Silvija Renusa, Senior Product Partnership Manager – Infobip

A Cinch On SINCH – An In-Depth View

A Direct Connect Aggregator view on 10DLC, CPaaS, Global Reach, and Meaningful Conversations.

  • Jonathan Vimont, Director, US Messaging Products – Sinch
  • Meredith Wiegman, Product Manager – Sinch
  • David Schwind, Product Manager – Sinch
  • Brien Jones-Lantzy, Compliance Manager – Sinch

Two Sides, One Voice: A Democrat and a Republican Explore Political Texting

In this right meets left fireside chat, two leaders in the political texting world discuss the changes in the GOTV landscape for 2026 elections.

  • Krishna Ghodiwala, Founder & CEO – Axsent.io
  • Thomas Peters, Founder & CEO – RumbleUp
  • David Diggs, CEO – Diggs & Associates

Building Trust in A2P Use Cases

How can the industry react to the attacks and build a stronger and suistainable platform for business messaging.

  • TJ Thinakaran, Content & Strategy Advisor – MEF
  • Bella Simon, Director, Sales – Growth Telesign
  • Nate Kliger, Senior Director, Messaging Strategy – Attentive Mobile
  • Anurag Dodeja, Senior Director, Product Management – Twilio
  • Munz Bharde, Senior Director – Neustar

Stop Text Messaging Fraud: Going Beyond the Message Content

Join this fireside chat to learn more about the hottest tools that the telecom industry is providing to mitigate such damaging and costly fraud. From phone number intelligence flagging invalid or downright fraudulent numbers to advanced techniques going beyond the message content to assess the fraud risk holistically, these critical tools hold the key to fraud prevention. Such vital innovations can thwart fraudulent messages even before they reach carrier networks.

  • Catalin Badea, Senior Director, Product Management – netnumber Global Data Services
  • Ian Matthews, President & CEO – WMC Global

Messaging ID Evolution: The Phone Number and the Blockchain + Knowing Your Businesses

Noah Rafalko holds several US and international patents using blockchain providing phone networks KYCCC for more secure and trusted communications. In this forward looking vision Rafalko speaks to a future where decentralized networks can build better trust incorporating Self-Sovereign Identity-SSI.

  • TJ Thinakaran, Content & Strategy Advisor – MEF
  • Noah Rafalko, CEO – TSG Global
  • Randy Warshaw, CEO, Provenant

The Canadian Perspective – Coming Soon to Toronto

A look at the Canadian Market: how is business messaging is evolving? A preview to the joint CWTA/MEF event to be held in Toronto on July 18.

  • Paul Wheeler, VP – Twilio
  • Caitlin O’Neill, Manager – CWTA

Closing Keynote: The Renaissance of Messaging

Co Founder and CEO Jack Philbin will share his thoughts on over 20 years in the industry and where he thinks the industry is headed next.

  • Jack Philbin, Co Founder and CEO – Vibes
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