Confederation of Fibre Optics and Network Infrastructure Installers
Built by industry. Focused on competence.
—— LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Industry-led leadership with competence at its centre
The COFNII committee guides the confederation’s strategy, standards work and industry engagement—bringing practical experience together with employers, education, manufacturers and end clients.
Governance informed by real industry experience.
—— OUR COMMITTEE
The committee is responsible for strategic direction, professional integrity and ensuring COFNII remains focused on competent installers and the organisations that rely on them.
Its role is to connect installation practice, recognised standards, vocational education and employer requirements while safeguarding COFNII’s independence and credibility.
—— MEMBERS
Meet the people helping to raise industry standards.
Select a member to read about their experience, expertise and contribution to COFNII.
CHAIRMAN
Paul Forster
COFNII · Industry and standards leadership
Standards
Qualifications
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Paul brings practical experience across fibre-optic installation and testing, structured cabling, telecommunications infrastructure, vocational education and employer-led skills development.
Installer competence, recognised standards, vocational qualifications, fibre optics and structured cabling.
As Chairman, Paul leads COFNII’s work to improve installer recognition, support relevant qualifications and strengthen the relationship between standards, training and installation.
VICE CHAIRMAN
Rod Arnold
Data Secure Technologies · 30 years’ industry experience
Data centres
Power & Cooling
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Rod has spent 30 years in sales and technical solution development across the data-centre and telecommunications industries.
Power, cooling, cabinets and infrastructure within data-centre white space, together with end-user advisory, troubleshooting and solution development.
Rod brings practical knowledge of data-centre infrastructure and telecoms connectivity, helping COFNII connect installation competence with client and operational requirements.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Andrew Wall
Softel · 25 years’ industry experience
PIA
Openreach
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Andrew has worked nationwide for alternative networks and Openreach. He began in VSAT installations for BT before moving into cabling, jointing, supervision and management.
Openreach infrastructure, physical infrastructure access (PIA), cabling, jointing and field operations.
Andrew wants to improve accreditation and address the risks created when people undertake specialist work without the right training.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Steven Byrne
Grassroots Recruitment · 27 years’ industry experience
Resources
Recruitment
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Steven is an experienced recruitment and resource director and business leader with 27 years in IT and telecommunications.
Recruitment, workforce resourcing and long-term partnerships with telecoms network infrastructure organisations.
Steven brings direct insight into skills shortages, recruitment standards and the capabilities employers need from the future workforce.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Bob Dowell
Nokia Ltd. · 35 years’ industry experience
Telecom Strategy
DWDM
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Bob is a senior sales consultant with board-level experience, a strong technical background and extensive sales and business-development leadership.
Wireless and wireline networks, backhaul, IP/MPLS, DWDM, hosted and custom data centres, software and managed services.
Bob contributes experience spanning deployment, programme management, vendors, integrators and the needs of end clients.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Christine Johnson
CDJ Planning · 10 years’ industry experience
Network Planning
FTTP & GPON
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Christine is a technical site-exit planner whose career has progressed through scheduling, planning and specialist network-planning roles.
Transmission, HCS, FTTP, GPON, H3G and wider telecommunications planning.
Christine brings the perspective of a smaller independent planning business and a focus on honest, practical industry improvement.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Scott Bampton
Zzoomm · 8 years’ industry experience
Fibre Delivery
Testing
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
A former British Army telecommunications engineer, Scott progressed from lead fibre engineer at TNS to fibre team leader and fibre manager at Zzoomm.
Fibre splicing, Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing, PON testing, cabling, blown fibre, surveying, planning, data cabling, civils and copper jointing.
Scott is focused on better training, credible career routes and giving employers confidence in demonstrable installer competence.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jennie Bayliss
J Bayliss Consulting Ltd · 8 years’ industry experience
Programme delivery
Stakeholders
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Jennie is a founder and project leader who has delivered multi-million-pound programmes and serves as a non-executive director, board adviser, chair of trustees and mentor.
Fibre broadband programme delivery involving landlords, internet service providers and contractors, from concept through to ready-for-service.
Jennie brings broad stakeholder insight and governance experience to help improve the way infrastructure programmes are shaped and delivered.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Lauren Fleming
VIAVI Solutions · 5 years’ industry experience
Optical inspection
Fibre testing
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Lauren has a PhD background in physics and experimental physics, previous standards work with BSI and EASA, and experience within BT Applied Research and the Openreach Chief Engineer organisation. She joined VIAVI Solutions as a Solutions Engineer in 2024.
Fibre, passive and active component approval, tester approval, PON research, optical test and inspection, training materials and build-and-test processes.
Lauren supports COFNII’s testing standards and processes with experience from both network operations and a global test-equipment manufacturer.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Manoj Tailor
Aqua Comms · 25 years’ industry experience
DWDM, SDH & IP
Network design
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Manoj is a customer-focused solutions engineer with more than 25 years across DWDM, SDH and IP networks, working with carriers and manufacturers.
Network operations and maintenance, NOC environments, network build and design, pre-sales, post-sales and test engineering.
Manoj brings cross-industry technical and commercial knowledge across the complete network lifecycle.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Geoff Crossley
CrossConnect Training · 31 years’ industry experience
Fibre training
Splicing
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Geoff began in cable television installation before becoming a fibre splicer, test engineer and field trainer. After a long career with OTT, he founded CrossConnect Training and remains close to practical field work.
Fibre splicing, optical testing, fault finding and hands-on technical training.
Geoff applies more than three decades of practical and training experience to help raise installer capability across the industry.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
David Moore
Airband Community Internet · 28 years’ industry experience
Network architecture
Fault finding
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
After seven years in the Royal Signals, David became a fibre splicer in 1996 and later moved into management, business ownership, dark fibre and alternative networks. He joined Airband in 2021 and became Technical Authority.
Splicing, testing, fault finding, underground cabling, installations, network design, project management and people management.
David supports tangible standards that improve installer competence, fibre-network architecture, process compliance and build quality.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jilan Shah
Sumitomo Electric Europe · 10 years’ industry experience
Splicing equipment
Data centres
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Jilan works with fibre-splicing equipment and installation requirements for data-centre and hyperscale environments.
Fibre splicing equipment, manufacturer guidance and data-centre installation practice.
Jilan supports correct installer training and best-practice installation of manufacturer products, particularly within data centres.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Yaman Parasher
EXFO Europe Ltd. · 4 years’ industry experience
Optical inspection
Fibre Equipment
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
COMMITTEE CONSTRIBUTION
Yaman is an Optical Applications Engineer supporting network testing and optimisation throughout deployment, service activation and maintenance for internet service providers, telecoms providers and hyperscalers across EMEA.
Optical, Ethernet and transport testing, proof-of-concept work, field and laboratory validation, technical training, test methods and application guidance.
Yaman supports COFNII’s mission with practical fibre-testing, troubleshooting, deployment and automation knowledge, together with experience engaging stakeholders across EMEA.
—— COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION
The perspectives COFNII brings together.
Appointments should create balanced representation across the organisations responsible for infrastructure quality.
01
Installer competence
Representing trained installers working across fibre optics, structured cabling and network infrastructure.
04
Employers & industry
Giving responsible employers a voice in workforce competence and professional development.
02
Standards & technical
Connecting recognised British, European and international standards with practical installation.
05
Manufacturers & innovation
Creating constructive dialogue about products, systems, installation practice and future skills.
03
Qualifications & education
Supporting credible assessment and vocational pathways shaped by real employer requirements.
06
Clients & network owners
Keeping quality, accountability and client confidence central to COFNII’s direction.