The UKtech50: The top 20

Phil Smith goes into 2012 as the new chairman of the Technology Strategy Board, the government-backed innovation agency charged with dispersing millions of pounds of public sector funds to boost science and technology. As Cisco’s UK chief, he also has a big role to play in 2012, with the networking firm’s $500m investment supporting London’s Tech City and other tech start-ups. Cisco is also a key London 2012 supplier, and as part of its contribution to the Olympics legacy the firm is setting up 30 Cisco Network Academies in East London schools.

He sits on the board of the Thames Valley Economic Partnership, holds a board seat at the Young Enterprise and also a board member on the IT & Telecoms Industry Board of e-Skills UK and the Employers Forum for Disability.