Short has over 40 years’ experience in electronics and telecommunications and served as vice president of Telefonica, the parent company of the O2 mobile phone network, for 17 years to December 2016. In this post, Short managed the launch of 2G (GSM) and 3G mobile technologies in the UK, and led research and development for Telefonica Europe.
His career also includes the promotion of international technical standards in mobile technology, and he is also a former Chairman of the Global GSM Association, the UK Mobile Data Association, and president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
He is currently a visiting professor at the universities of Surrey, Coventry, Leeds and Lancaster, where in recent years he has led the development on collaborations in areas such as smart cities, digital healthcare, cybersecurity and driverless vehicles.