Sylvia Carr, silicon.com analysis & reports editor and panel chairman
This year is Sylvia's first as the Agenda Setters host and her second editing the annual project. One of the editorial team for silicon.com, she oversees all non-news content including columnists, special reports and analysis. Sylvia has over eight years experience in business and technology journalism, six of which have been spent at CNET Networks publications.

Russell Altendorff, IT director
Russell is the director of IS at London Business School and a board member for LMN Ltd, the metropolitan area network provider for HE in London. His career includes twelve years at the Travelex Group and twelve years running a successful trading systems software house. Russell started his career in consultancy with Deloitte Haskins, where he qualified as a chartered accountant. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Neil Barrett, academic
Neil is visiting professor in the Centre for Forensic Computing at the Royal Military College of Science and a frequent expert witness in trials involving digital evidence. An information security and computer crime expert, Neil is the author of several books about the internet and a regular columnist on silicon.com. This is Neil's first appearance on the Agenda Setters panel.

Martin Brampton, consultant
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 third time.

Simon Briskman, lawyer
An information technology and outsourcing partner at law firm Olswang, Simon's field spans IT projects, outsourcing, IT and telecoms procurement, ecommerce and data protection. He also handles IT aspects of IPOs, M&A matters and government and private sector infrastructure projects. He spent three years working in the IT industry with Fujitsu and regularly contributes to journals on current technology issues. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Kate Bulkley, journalist
Kate is an award-winning business journalist specializing in the media and telecommunications sectors and with experience on TV, radio and in print. She regularly contributes to national UK newspapers as well as specialist titles. Kate has served as international editor for Cable World magazine and was a correspondent on CNBC Europe from 1998 to 2001. She is the chairman of the Broadcasting Press Guild. This is her second time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Robert Chapman, educator
Robert is co-founder of Europe's only Accelerated Learning provider, The Training Camp, a Microsoft Gold Partner and the UK's fastest growing IT training company. He has held various roles in technology, sales and marketing spanning almost 20 years and working for IBM, Sequent Computer Systems and Onyx Software. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Greg Garrison, analyst and consultant
Greg is a technology futurist and director at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Menlo Park Europe technology think tank. He covers emerging technologies, product innovation and business strategy, and is an expert in usability and design ethnography. He has 25 years experience in the new media, financial services and IT industries working at AOL Europe, Reuters Global and American Express Company. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Nick Kingsbury, venture capitalist
Nick is a partner in the 3i venture team, where he oversees the firm's strategy and investments for software businesses globally. Prior to joining 3i in 1999, he founded and ran a systems integration company and software house for over 10 years. Nick has chaired an international standard body, the Workflow Management Coalition, and remains a lifetime fellow of this organisation. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Peter Rowell, investment banker
Founder and CEO of Regent Associates, Peter has built the firm to become Europe's leading specialist provider of acquisition services to the technology industries. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of IDC and served on the board of IDC's parent company, International Data Group. Peter is regarded as an authority on the changing structure of the technology industry. This is his first time on the Agenda Setters panel.

Richard Sykes, consultant
The chairman of several start-ups and also a not-for-profit 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 Group 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.

Process
The panel convened at silicon.com's London offices on 1 September 2005. Post-discussion, all 11 individuals listed above chose 20 Agenda Setters in order. Results were aggregated to come up with the final top 50.