Stephanie is responsible for the operational, financial, and strategic management of Bandwidth’s messaging products and leads a team of Product Managers focused on the optimization and operationalization of these products to serve Bandwidth’s customers. Stephanie is a strong relationship builder and in her current role, leads Carrier Relations and Provider Management for Domestic and Global Messaging.   Prior to joining Bandwidth, Stephanie managed messaging Products at Sprint.  Stephanie’s career at Sprint spanned over 15 years and included her collaboration cross-carrier and with  CTIA to create messaging industry policy and the carrier code of conduct.

As a proud MEF member, Stephanie has written sections of the MEF WhitePaper on 10DLC Messaging and has spoken at various MEF events.  Stephanie sees MEF as an important partner of the US Messaging ecosystem, a strategic driver of collaboration, excellence and ethics, working together to reshape customer journeys.  Stephanie has been a huge proponent of MEF among her domestic counterparts.

If elected as a MEF Board member, Stephanie will:

• Ensure domestic participation and drive initiatives in the US to address issues that negatively impact the messaging industry
• Lead cross-industry forums to address unwanted messages in the messaging ecosystem
• Strengthen MEF membership and quality of shared information

As we navigate the rapidly evolving telecom landscape in 2025, I am excited to share my motivation for MEF board membership.  

Our industry is undergoing profound transformation, with technology advancement and security issues at the forefront. Collaboration across the value chain has never been more critical, and MEF’s role as an impartial champion for ecosystem collaboration is crucial. 

My goals as a board member align with MEF’s core activities: 

1. Facilitate insightful discussions through events and working groups, exploring innovative go-to-market plans.
2. Introduce new technology and solution discussions, enabling members to create innovative business models.
3. Advocate for best practices and industry codes, enhancing trust and integrity.
4. Support initiatives in anti-fraud measures and personal data protection. BICS was honored to host industry experts and members together at the MEF Anti-Fraud 2024 event in Brussels, Belgium. 

By participating in MEF’s programs, I aim to help members benefit from and monetize mobile technologies effectively. Together, we can shape our industry’s future, creating robust ecosystems that benefit all. 

I seek your endorsement to continue driving our collective vision of innovation and collaboration in this dynamic mobile ecosystem, as we work towards MEF’s goal of accelerating sustainable growth in a connected world. 

I am Ramy Riad, Director of Innovation & Messaging strategy at Cisco

As a dedicated advocate for the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), I am committed to advancing the role of business messaging in our digital economy. With over a decade of experience in telecommunications, I have led the global innovation and messaging strategy at Cisco, working closely with operator groups, governing bodies, and messaging providers to shape the future of customer interactions. My passion lies in creating multi-channel experiences that foster richer, smarter engagements, and I have actively contributed to MEF’s mission by co-authoring the RCS Charging Principles white paper and speaking at numerous global events.

If elected to the MEF board, I will bring a North American perspective, emphasizing the expansion and alignment of RCS reach and pricing on a global scale. My goal is to elevate MEF’s profile among enterprises worldwide, ensuring that our collective efforts translate into tangible benefits for businesses and consumers alike. By leveraging my experience and network, I aim to drive forward initiatives that position MEF at the forefront of innovation in business messaging. Together, let’s build a future where enhanced communication fosters greater connectivity and opportunity for all.

I am honoured to be considered for a position on the Board of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF). With a comprehensive career spanning over 23 years in wholesale telecommunications, I believe I bring a wealth of experience and expertise that would benefit MEF.

Currently, I serve as Head of Business Management, Operations, and Insights within the International Carrier Services team at CKH IOD, the Group company for the 3 Mobile operator brand companies in Europe and Asia.

My expertise lies in the E2E International Roaming and Interconnect connectivity ecosystem, and it is in this areas I believe MEF could benefit.

I am passionate about the telecommunications industry and am deeply committed to driving its growth and innovation, having held leadership roles in both the GSMA and IO.

Whilst MEF has historically been primarily focused on messaging, joining the Board of MEF would provide a unique opportunity to contribute my knowledge and experience of other key aspects of wholesale telecommunications, to furthering the Forum’s mission and initiatives.  This supports the growth in focus on wholesale roaming as a platform for a multitude of key services, incl. M2M, IoT, Travel SIM etc..

I am excited about the prospect of working alongside esteemed colleagues and industry leaders to shape the future of the mobile ecosystem.

As Chief Operating Officer at Digital Virgo, my candidacy as a board member continues our active engagement with MEF. Digital Virgo is a global leader in mobile payments, digital content, and audience monetization.

Since joining in 2009, I’ve contributed to our international growth, building long-term partnerships with telecom operators and establishing teams in over 15 countries. This experience has given me a global perspective and deep understanding of the diverse needs within the mobile ecosystem.

I see my role as a MEF board member focused on key areas such as the Direct Carrier Billing ecosystem, global innovations in mobile payments, and addressing emerging trends like mobile money, super apps, and evolving payment technologies. I am determined to expand MEF’s reach, bringing more telecom operators into the conversation and ensuring that MEF reflects the global diversity of the ecosystem.

My goal is to help strengthen collaboration across all mobile ecosystem players, fostering trust and innovation. I would be honored to contribute to MEF’s success by supporting initiatives that tackle industry challenges and ensuring MEF remains agile and responsive to market changes.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. To learn more about my vision, please watch the video.

As a committed Board member of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), I am honoured to stand for re-election during MEF’s milestone 25th year. Over these years, MEF has become a key player and leading voice in the mobile industry.

Being CEO Global Messaging of GTS, I have enjoyed watching both my company and our industry grow over the past decade. The MEF community is also thriving, attracting a diverse range of mobile industry stakeholders. MEF focuses on interaction, insight, and impact, and I actively participate in as many MEF events around the world as I can.

Looking ahead, I promise to keep advocating for policies that support open innovation, security, and inclusivity in our community. With your support, I aim to expand our organisation’s global reach, strengthen our industry partnerships, and lead initiatives that address current market needs while anticipating future trends.

Let’s celebrate this milestone by pushing the limits of what’s possible in mobile technology. Your vote will help keep MEF at the forefront, ensuring we continue to lead, learn, and grow together. Thank you for considering my candidacy for another term.

I’ve spent over 20 years in the telecom industry, working across roles from software engineering to solution architecture, and now focusing on business and product innovation. This experience gives me a unique perspective on blending technology, strategy, and collaboration to drive impact—one I’m eager to bring to the MEF Board.

As a Telecom Business Director at Infobip, I’ve been driving the adoption of transformative technologies like RCS, Mobile Identity, and Network APIs, helping telcos unlock new revenue streams and enhance customer experiences. A standout example is the launch of Brazil’s first Camara-compliant Network APIs, where I collaborated with Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo to deliver solutions like SIM Swap and Number Verify. This initiative showed how aligning stakeholders creates powerful results.

Collaboration is at the heart of what I do. Through MEF working groups like Basic RCS Adoption, ID & Data, and Messaging & Voice Channels, and partnerships with leaders like Nokia, I’ve seen how fostering collaboration leads to growth for telcos, innovation for developers, and better experiences for users.

If elected, I’d focus on enhancing members engagement, advancing industry standards, promoting inclusivity, and expanding MEF’s global reach. Together, we can unlock opportunities in CPaaS, RCS, and Network APIs to shape a sustainable, collaborative, and innovative future.

Thank you for your support!

Waheed Adam, once a young activist and today better described as a serial entrepreneur began his career at the young age of 22 after being rejected for his skills due to his race and young age in apartheid South Africa. He lives by the motto “through tragedy comes opportunity” and did exactly that when in 1988 he started his first company, currently the core focus being the various disciplines of the mobile tech sector, both in South Africa and abroad.

He currently serves as the Chairperson of iTouch, a South African based company mainly serving the African Continent as experts of the region.

Waheed has also served on the MEF EMEA board before the restructure and have been instrumental in driving MEF’s future as we see it unfold. No stranger to panel discussions including the role of MC of the MEFFYS AWARDS in previous years.

Waheed’s personal passion to making Africa a better place is highlighted by his commitment to working with various NGO’s that focus on youth.

Valeria Magoni is a visionary marketing leader with over a decade of experience in tech. She is the Director of Business Strategy at Kaleyra, a global leader in mobile communication solutions, part of Tata Communications.

As a dedicated MEF board member, Valeria has been instrumental in enhancing the organization’s growth strategy and member engagement. Key achievements during her tenure including reviewing membership structure to grow its value and enhancing MEF’s engagement with its members and the wider community.

Valeria’s leadership style combines empathy, organization, and a passion for empowering individuals and teams to thrive. She brings a strong commitment to advancing MEF’s mission and ensuring an inclusive and innovative environment for all members.

As a longstanding member of MEF through various roles, most recently with MCP Insight, I deeply value the opportunities MEF provides to collaborate, innovate, and drive sustainable growth in our industry. At MCP Insight, we have actively contributed to the MEF community, particularly through the DCB, Content, and Advertising Working Group. Our contributions to reports and sessions focus on helping members grow sustainable revenue, while our speaking engagements at MEF events have shared actionable insights on key topics like fraud prevention, compliance, and market trends.

Currently, as a Director at MCP Insight, I ensure the company has clarity, focus, and alignment with its goals while leading commercial activities to strengthen our relationships with Carriers, Aggregators, and Merchants. My broad experience across the value chain – spanning roles with Mobile Carriers, Payment Aggregators, and Content Service Providers – provides me with a deep understanding of the challenges, pain points, and opportunities facing MEF members.

I am committed to representing our diverse membership effectively, leveraging my experience to align MEF’s initiatives with the needs of the wider market. If elected, I will work actively to ensure MEF remains a vital platform for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth for all members.

Greeting to the esteemed members of MEF!

I am honored to introduce myself as a candidate for the MEF Board. With over 17 years of enriching experience in Telecom Solutions, and the Voice and SMS industry, I have dedicated my career to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the dynamic space.

As the group CEO of Sama Telecom, I have led our teams to achieve remarkable results with right solutions for our partner MNOs and carriers. Our commitment to excellence, customer centricity, and our passion for driving industry forward have positioned us a key player in the market.

My vision for the MEF is rooted in the simple belief that together as an industry we can achieve more by better understanding and solving our problems. Our industry is currently going through challenging times hence it is crucial to nurture innovation with practical solutions and create an environment of collaboration. I am committed to representing the diverse needs of our community and ensuring that our region, which is one of the major contributors, is better heard and could apply the best practices across the board.

I am confident that my experience coupled with my tech and management skills, dedication, passion and growth for our industry makes me a better candidate for a MEF board member position. I look forward to support from everyone, so together, we can shape the future of our ecosystem.

Thank you for your consideration.

I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for a seat on the Global Board of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum.

My experience in the mobile and digital industry spans 25 years, marked by a commitment to innovation. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of digital micropayments through mobile technologies, devices, and networks.

At TPAY, our full-service mobile payment solutions connect thousands of merchants to over 800 million consumers through hundreds of telecom operators across 31 countries in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

I am proud to lead our company, which processes more microtransactions than HSBC in the region, has more mobile subscribers than Vodafone, and reaches a larger population than any bank in the region.

If elected, my priority would be building productive bridges between Forum members and our region.

I also wish to extend the Forum’s coverage by acquiring new members from the mobile finance ecosystem that drives inclusion for everyone.

Our expertise at TPAY in creating reports, white papers, and educational materials would also help to fulfil the Forum’s mission of influencing the industry agenda. Your vote ensures our collective success.

Thank you for your kind support.

Tim Ward is a Fellow of XConnect, a Somos company that provides data to the telecom ecosystem to support validation, fraud prevention, and routing optimisation. XConnect’s mission is to deliver trusted information that enables global connections. With a telecom infrastructure background, Tim has led sales, marketing, and strategy, participating in industry workgroups like GSMA, ITU, i3F, and MEF, where global number registry and data sharing projects have been top of the agenda.

Tim is a strong proponent of the MEF’s Codes of Conduct and is an early signatory of the “Trust in Enterprise Messaging Business SMS Code of Practice.” He advocates for self-regulation based on shared values as the path to safe, trusted ecosystem. Tim is also an active speaker on topics such as voice, messaging, and CPaaS applications, where trusted identity is key.

As an MEF board member for the last 2 years, including service as vice chair, Tim has contributed to the registry subcommittee and chairs the finance committee. He is committed to advancing the MEF’s mission by focusing on three key themes: developing trust through legitimacy, promoting clarity through education, and maintaining simplicity. Tim looks forward to your support in driving the MEF’s work forward.