Peter is a distinguished technology visionary with decades of experience at the forefront of emerging technologies and leadership. As former CTO and Head of Research at BT Labs, he led over 1,000 research staff and pioneered breakthrough technologies in AI, fiber optics, and cybersecurity, with BT Labs receiving the Queen’s Award for Technical Innovation under his leadership. His credentials include a BSc Hons (1st), MSc, PhD, and DSc from Essex, six honorary doctorates, Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and an OBE for contributions to international communications.
Following his retirement from BT in 2000, Peter became a serial entrepreneur, and establishing Cochrane Associates Ltd, while participating in ventures including eBookers and Shazam Entertainment. He has held visiting positions at over 30 institutions worldwide including MIT, Cambridge, and Oxford, currently serving as Visiting Professor at the Universities of Suffolk and Hertfordshire. As a prolific communicator with over 1,000 published papers and 400+ media appearances, Peter’s unique combination of technical expertise, entrepreneurial success, and academic insights positions him as one of the most respected voices in technology futures and digital transformation.