Paul Garnett brings three decades of leadership experience in broadband policy, strategy, and program development across the public and private sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Vernonburg Group, he directs the firm’s mission to close the digital divide globally through scalable broadband infrastructure planning and digital opportunity initiatives. Prior to founding Vernonburg Group, Paul created and led Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, a multi-stakeholder program that expanded Internet access to underserved communities in over 30 countries, combining fixed wireless and fiber broadband deployment with enabling policy and investment partnerships. Paul’s expertise spans regulatory reform, rural connectivity models, spectrum policy, and broadband funding strategies. He has advised governments, multilateral development organizations, and telecommunications providers on designing inclusive broadband strategies that unlock public-private investment and deliver measurable digital inclusion outcomes.