Skip to content

Cybersecurity · AI/ML · 5G Professional

Cybersecurity Architect, AI/ML Engineer, 5G Network Architect, Serial Entrepreneur, International Speaker

CISSP · CISM · CRISC · AAISM · AWS SA Pro · Azure SA Expert · Google ML Pro · TOGAF 10

Strategic technology leader with 20+ years of expertise spanning three high-demand disciplines: cybersecurity architecture, AI/ML engineering, and 5G network architecture. Founder & CEO of Xenova Systems, Co-Founder & Chief AI Officer of Softzig Solutions, and Founder of EPC Network Limited — delivering enterprise-scale solutions for Nokia, BT Group, and Three UK across global transformation programmes.

View Ventures View Experience
United KingdomBritish CitizenLinkedIn

About Me

A multi-disciplinary technology leader with 20+ years of hands-on experience across cybersecurity, AI/ML engineering and 5G network architecture — delivering enterprise-scale solutions for global transformation programmes at Nokia, BT Group and Three UK.

Expertise

Security · AI/ML · 5G

Zero Trust architecture, threat modelling and multi-cloud security across AWS, Azure and GCP, aligned to NIST CSF, NIST AI RMF, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS, SOC 2 and GSMA guidelines — alongside production ML, MLOps, Generative AI and 3GPP-compliant 5G Core, vRAN, O-RAN and edge computing.

Entrepreneurship

Three Technology Companies

Founder of three technology companies: Xenova Systems (AI smart infrastructure, with published research and a pending patent), Softzig Solutions (agentic AI platforms for enterprise) and EPC Network (cybersecurity and AI consultancy since 2012).

Recognition

Certified · Speaker · Network

Holder of 13+ advanced certifications across cybersecurity, AI/ML, cloud and enterprise architecture, an international speaker on 5G strategy, and followed by around 5,000 technology professionals on LinkedIn.

Delivered for & worked with

Global telecoms & technology leaders

  • Nokia
  • BT Group
  • Three UK
  • UK Broadband
  • EE
  • T-Mobile
  • O2
  • InterWave
  • Telco Arena

Entrepreneurship

// Overview

Founder and CEO of Xenova Systems Ltd — an AI and smart infrastructure company operating at the forefront of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Core product: a camera-free pothole detection solution powered by a proprietary ML model entirely designed, trained, and deployed by me over 18 months — evolving from MVP through to production-ready enterprise deployment. The solution leverages smartphone sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS) to detect, classify, and geo-tag road defects in near real-time, with a published research paper on Zenodo and an open-source GitHub repository.

// Key Focus Areas

  • End-to-End ML Delivery

    Designed, trained, and deployed the ML model from concept to production — integrating sensor data, cloud processing, and real-time alerting.

  • Smart Infrastructure

    Camera-free AI solution for road defect detection applicable to local councils, highway agencies, and smart city platforms at scale.

  • Published Research

    Research paper published on Zenodo and open-source repository on GitHub, demonstrating transparent, published innovation.

Technology Innovation

Production-Ready

// AI & ML Innovation

Camera-Free Pothole Detection Solution

A proprietary AI/ML solution that detects, classifies and geo-tags road defects using only smartphone sensors — no cameras required. The model was designed, trained and deployed by me, from MVP to production-ready in 18 months.

Sensors
Accelerometer · Gyroscope · GPS
Delivery
MVP → Production · 18 months

// Impact & Outcomes

  • Real-time driver alerts that reduce accident and vehicle damage risk
  • Authority dashboard to prioritise repairs by defect severity
  • Early, precise detection that cuts infrastructure costs
  • Scales across road networks for councils, highway agencies and smart cities
Research PaperGitHub RepoXenova Systems
Pending Patent

// Connected Vehicle Security

Owner-Controlled Security for Vehicle Software Updates

A novel invention for connected and autonomous vehicles: OTA updates now control braking, throttling and steering, yet owners have no technically-enforced consent. A dual-channel cryptographic system makes the owner authorise each critical update, preventing manufacturer bypass at the protocol level.

Mechanism
Dual-channel cryptographic authentication
Enforced at
Secure connection layer

// Key Capabilities

  • Technically-enforced owner consent for safety-critical OTA updates
  • Dual-channel PIN verification at the secure connection layer
  • Real owner control during geopolitical or advisory situations
  • Closes a gap existing accept/reject mechanisms cannot address
Patent Application PendingIntellectual property protection in progress

Career

  1. 5G & Security Solutions Architect (Contract)

    Nokia Global
    Sep 2020 – Present6 yrs 3 mosCurrent
    • 5G Core & RAN
    • Security Architecture
    • O-RAN · CNF
    • AI Risk · NIST AI RMF
    • AWS · Azure

    Key contributions

    • Owned end-to-end cybersecurity strategy and reference architecture across 5G Core, RAN, cloud and enterprise networks — aligned to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CIS Controls and GSMA.
    • Designed security controls for 5G systems, APIs and data flows — network slicing isolation, SBA security, NEF/NRF authentication and roaming.
    • Led architecture reviews and threat modelling; assessed AI and GenAI risks and delivered governance aligned to NIST AI RMF.
    • Defined 3GPP Release 15/16 architectures — virtualised RAN, 5G Core (AMF, SMF, UPF, NEF, NRF) and software-defined transport.
    • Designed cloud-native O-RAN, Kubernetes CNF and MEC platforms, and AWS/Azure cloud security covering IAM, Zero Trust and monitoring.
    • Built incident response and DR for critical 5G infrastructure; trusted adviser to Nokia leadership and enterprise clients.

  2. Principal Solutions Architect

    BT Group (British Telecom)
    Apr 2018 – Sep 20202 yrs 6 mos
    • Enterprise Security
    • Zero Trust
    • AI/ML Architecture
    • MLOps
    • TOGAF

    Key contributions

    • Designed and governed enterprise security architectures across cloud, hybrid and on-premise for national transformation programmes.
    • Led secure AWS and Azure adoption, embedding Zero Trust and security-by-design into enterprise patterns.
    • Designed end-to-end AI/ML frameworks and MLOps standards — CI/CD, model versioning, drift detection and lifecycle governance.
    • Architected 5G and LTE security frameworks across RAN, Core and transport, aligned to 3GPP and GSMA; supported TOGAF-aligned planning.
    • Selected as international speaker at KNect365 VoiceACS, Berlin, on 5G strategy and enterprise architecture.

  3. Senior Solutions Architect — E2E

    Three UK (Hutchison 3G UK)
    Apr 2016 – Apr 20182 yrs 1 mo
    • E2E Architecture
    • 3G/4G Security
    • Risk Assessment
    • HLD/LLD

    Key contributions

    • Led end-to-end network and security architecture across major transformation programmes and cross-functional teams.
    • Delivered 3G/4G security frameworks — access control, encryption, signalling security and threat mitigation.
    • Ran security design reviews and risk assessments, remediating critical vulnerabilities through structured governance.
    • Produced HLD/LLD documentation embedding security-by-design and regulatory alignment across the delivery lifecycle.

Earlier Career

2003 – 2016 · Telecoms engineering & architecture

Principal Architect

UK Broadband, UK

Jan 2014 – Mar 20162 yrs 3 mos

Network Solutions Consultant

EE (Everything Everywhere), UK

Nov 2011 – Dec 20132 yrs 2 mos

Solution Manager

Telco Arena, UK

Jan 2009 – Oct 20112 yrs 10 mos

Senior Design Engineer

T-Mobile, UK

Jan 2008 – Dec 20081 yr

Design & Planning Engineer

O2, UK

Nov 2006 – Dec 20071 yr 2 mos

Technical Support Engineer

InterWave Inc.

Jun 2003 – Jul 20063 yrs 2 mos

Thought Leadership

Presented

// International Speaker

KNect365 VoiceACS

Berlin, Germany

Presented on 5G strategy, monetisation and enterprise architecture to global telecom operators.

  • 5G Strategy
  • Monetisation
  • Enterprise Architecture
View Conference Reference
Invited

// Invited Speaker

SON Conference

Self-Organising Networks & Next-Gen Telecom

Invited to speak on Self-Organising Networks and next-generation telecom architecture.

  • Self-Organising Networks
  • Next-Gen Telecom
Active

// Professional Network

LinkedIn

~5,000 Followers

An engaged following of around 5,000 technology, cybersecurity and AI professionals.

  • Cybersecurity
  • AI/ML
  • 5G
View LinkedIn Profile

Credentials

  • Cybersecurity

    CISSP

    Certified Information Systems Security Professional

    (ISC)²

    Verify Credential

  • Cybersecurity

    CISM

    Certified Information Security Manager

    ISACA

    Verify Credential

  • Cybersecurity

    CRISC

    Certification in Risk & Information Systems Control

    ISACA

    Verify Credential

  • Cybersecurity

    AAISM

    Advanced in AI Security Management

    ISACA

    Verify Credential

  • Cybersecurity

    CompTIA Security+

    CompTIA

    Verify Credential

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer

    Google Cloud

    Google

    Verify Credential

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    AWS Certified Generative AI Developer — Professional

    Amazon Web Services

    Verify Credential

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional

    Microsoft

    Verify Credential

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader

    Microsoft

    Verify Credential

  • Cloud Architecture

    AWS Solutions Architect — Professional

    Amazon Web Services

    Verify Credential

  • Cloud Architecture

    Azure Solutions Architect Expert

    Microsoft Certified

    Microsoft

    Verify Credential

  • Enterprise Architecture

    TOGAF 10 Certified

    Enterprise Architecture

    The Open Group

    Verify Credential

Expertise

Strategy & Governance

Security

  • Cyber Security Strategy
  • Security Governance
  • Risk Management
  • Security Roadmaps
  • Executive Engagement
  • Technical Bid & RFP

5G & Telecom Architecture

5G & Telecom

  • 5G Core (3GPP)
  • Virtualised RAN
  • O-RAN
  • Network Slicing
  • Cloud-Native CNF
  • Mobile Edge Computing
  • GSMA Guidelines

Cloud Security

Cloud

  • AWS Security
  • Azure Security
  • GCP
  • Multi-Cloud Architecture
  • Cloud IAM
  • Zero Trust

AI/ML Engineering

AI / ML

  • ML Model Design & Training
  • Production ML Serving
  • Generative AI
  • AI Strategy & Roadmap
  • Responsible AI
  • AI Governance

MLOps & Data

AI / ML

  • MLOps & CI/CD
  • Model Versioning
  • Data Drift Detection
  • Model Lifecycle Governance
  • Infrastructure-as-Code
  • Kubernetes

Compliance Frameworks

Security

  • NIST CSF
  • NIST AI RMF
  • ISO 27001
  • CIS Controls
  • GDPR
  • PCI-DSS
  • SOC 2

Identity & Access

Security

  • Zero Trust Architecture
  • IAM
  • Privileged Access
  • Network Segmentation
  • Identity Security
  • SIEM/SOC

Security Assurance

Security

  • Threat Modelling
  • Security Architecture Reviews
  • Incident Response
  • Vulnerability Remediation
  • Third-Party Risk
  • OWASP

Education

// About the programme

Sri Lanka's premier engineering institution and one of Asia's most prestigious technical universities. The programme combined electronics and communications engineering with core computer science — the foundation for later specialisation in cybersecurity, AI and machine learning.

// Curriculum

  • Electronics
  • Signal Processing
  • Communications Systems
  • Programming
  • Algorithms
  • Data Structures
  • Software Engineering

Foundation for

  • Cybersecurity
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Machine Learning

Social Impact

Empowered-Edu Foundation C.I.C.

Co-FounderJan 2024 – PresentActive

A registered Community Interest Company offering free career guidance and professional mentoring to people at critical life and career crossroads — opening pathways to opportunity for underserved communities.

// Focus

  • Career Guidance
  • Mentoring
  • Social Inclusion
100% free · Non-commercialempowered-edu.org

Neighbourhood Watch

Cybersecurity AmbassadorOngoingActive

Bringing 20+ years of cybersecurity expertise to protect residents from online crime and fraud, through free, accessible guidance on safe online practices.

// Focus

  • Cyber Awareness
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Online Safety
Free community guidanceNeighbourhood Watch

Get In Touch

// Let's connect

Start a conversation

Whether it's advisory, collaboration or a speaking invitation, I'd be glad to hear from you.

I can help with

  • Cybersecurity Advisory
  • AI / ML Collaboration
  • Speaking / Conference Invitation
  • Business Partnership / Investment
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/sanjeewafeEmailsanjeewafe@yahoo.co.uk
Based InUnited Kingdom

Send a message

Fields marked * are required.

Your details are only used to reply to your enquiry.