Upendra Rathnayake, Ph.D., is an accomplished Application Portfolio Manager and Product Owner at Telstra since 2017, specializing in the strategy and technology roadmaps for core network components. Prior experience includes roles as a Network & Security professional and Infrastructure Manager at Accenture, where responsibilities encompassed end-to-end security solution implementation and network design leadership. At Optus, Upendra excelled as a Telecom Network Solution Design and Architecture Consultant, managing product requirements and designing network solutions for major clients such as Westpac and ANZ Bank. Earlier career roles included Solution Architect at NICTA & UNSW, and VAS Architect/Specialist at Dialog Telekom PLC, focusing on telecom services and mobile network architectures. Upendra holds a PhD from UNSW, emphasizing machine learning applications in mobile networks, along with a BSc in Electronics & Telecommunications from the University of Moratuwa.