This year marks Tony's third time as host of the Agenda Setters panel and follows four consecutive years editing this annual project. One of the editorial team behind the launch of silicon.com in 1998, Tony is now responsible for all silicon.com content. He previously did time at Sequent Computers and in market research.

Richard has been the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam since 1997 and is the Liberal Democrat spokesman on IT. He holds an MSc in IT and is active in several All Party Groups. Currently a member of the Information Select Committee and the Liaison Committee of the House of Commons, his specialities include e-government and e-democracy. He has served on the Agenda Setters panel three years in a row.

Ian is professor at London School of Economics in the Information Systems Department and IS Integrity Group. His research is centred on the systemic risks inherent in socio-technical systems and on the security threats posed to organisations by the rapidly diffusing international information infrastructure. This is his first year on the Agenda Setters panel.

A networker par excellence, James is MD of the European Technology Forum (ETF), one of the world's premier events businesses. Owned by CNET Networks UK, silicon.com's publisher, ETF has unrivalled relationships with the industry's top vendors and deal-makers. This is his second year on the panel.

Founder and director of Black Sheep Research, Martin is a long-time silicon.com contributor with his Devil's Advocate column. A keen commentator on open source and how tech affects the wider world, he works with a range of organisations. Previously at Bloor Research, Martin joins the Agenda Setters panel for the second time.

As head of research for IT analyst house Quocirca, Clive specialises in providing advice on technology strategies for maximising current IT investments. Coming from an end-user perspective, Clive uses his extensive IT knowledge to help cut through current "flavours of the month" and concentrate on the technology required to support business needs. He previously worked at Meta Group and Strategy Partners. This is his second time on the panel.

An experienced journalist and new Agenda Setters panellist, Graham five years ago founded Lovelacemedia, a provider of news and information services. Previously he was founding editorial director at Teletext Limited (part of Daily Mail Group) and of Associated New Media. He also worked as a senior editor and journalist at the BBC, Visnews (now Reuters TV), BSB (now BSkyB), ITN, Channel Four, the Press Association and Pearson regional Press.

Bundeep is founder and COO of Ariadne Capital, a global investment and advisory firm, where he has helped secure over $30 million in capital for European, Israeli and US companies in the software, communications, telecoms and nanotechnology sectors. He has also held positions at Quartz Capital, Saffron Hill Ventures and Razorfish and served as interim CEO for MeMedia, one of his portfolio companies. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

The chairman of several start-ups and also an arts venture, Richard chairs the outsourcing group at Intellect, the UK IT, telecoms & electronics industry trade association. He is a champion of services over technologies. A 27-year veteran at ICI, where he finished his career as VP IT, and for five years chair of the sourcing consultancy Morgan Chambers plc, Richard worked with Ralph Nader in the US in the early 1970's, and is unique in that he has served on every Agenda Setter panel.

Kim, partner at law firm Olswang, specialises in commercial work involving intellectual property, principally as it affects the technology, media and telecommunications industries. He also advises a number of online and ecommerce businesses on content, branding and liability issues. Kim joined Olswang in October 2000 from a City firm where he had been a partner for 12 years. This is his Agenda Setters panel debut.

The panel convened at silicon.com's London offices on 2 September 2004. Post-discussion, all 10 individuals listed above chose 20 Agenda Setters in order. Results were aggregated to come up with the final top 50.