The countdown has begun for TNC2025

It's the first time the UK has taken on this role in more than a decade, and it puts us right at the heart of a global community that supports the digital foundations of research, education and innovation.

TNC brings together the people who build and run national research and education networks (NRENs), and the people who rely on them. From connectivity and cybersecurity to identity management and open science, it's a packed week of sharing, learning and problem-solving.

Why it matters to Jisc and our members

We don’t just attend TNC. We’re a core part of it.

Jisc operates and manages the UK’s NREN, the Janet Network, and so is tightly connected to GÉANT, the pan-European backbone that links more than 10,000 institutions and 50 million users worldwide.

Neil Shewry, director of networks at Jisc, says:

"Our interconnectivity with GÉANT is one of the most important factors in helping UK institutions to conduct research and education across the globe.

"Collaborating with GÉANT and the other NRENs, both in Europe and beyond, helps ensure our members benefit from the global network of research and education."

Neil is closely involved in shaping this year’s TNC. He’s on the programme committee, chairing the global networking session, and speaking in the A Day in the Life of an NREN session about the culture of working at Jisc. Crucially, he’s also behind the scenes.

Neil says:

“I’ve been responsible for delivering high-capacity, resilient Janet Network connectivity to the venue itself, the Brighton Dome, helping enable the event to take place, so I’ll be spending the week keeping everything crossed that it remains live and stable throughout the event.”

Learning from others and sharing our own work

TNC is also about finding new ideas and building new connections.

Tim Chown, network development manager, says:

"It’s always been a fantastic way to meet, discuss ideas and start collaborations on networking technology."

This year, Tim is busy across the agenda – hosting a community hub on network performance, helping run an IPv6 birds-of-a-feather session, and even organising a 5km community run from Brighton Pier.

"I’m working on perfSONAR, the network monitoring tool used by up to 170 CERN experiment sites worldwide. I expect to come away from TNC with valuable input from participants, new collaboration ideas – and of course, that warm fuzzy feeling from being part of this community."

New voices, fresh perspectives

For others at Jisc, TNC 2025 will be a first.

John Shaile, director of procurement and supplier management, says:

“It’s a chance to step away from the usual routine and engage with the wider community.

"I’m looking forward to the procurement SIG session – a great forum for sharing challenges and best practices. It’s also a brilliant opportunity to meet colleagues face-to-face, many for the first time."

John sees GÉANT and Janet as powerful platforms for shared progress. He says:

"Being part of the GÉANT community connects us to expertise and infrastructure that strengthens everything we do at Jisc. It’s a reminder we’re not alone in our mission to support research and education."

Open standards, privacy and progress

Mark Williams, identity verification service manager, highlights the quieter side of TNC – the informal and side meetings where a lot of important work happens. He says:

"Refeds on Friday morning is where Jisc, through the UK federation, works with international partners on shared access and identity issues. Then there’s eduGAIN – if GÉANT is like a European EdTech community, eduGAIN is its ‘Eurovision’ element. It literally expands our reach tenfold."

He’ll be connecting with peers from Australia and Europe, sharing knowledge on student verification services and Shibboleth open-source tools.

"It helps emphasise Jisc’s long-standing commitment to open, non-proprietary software – which is so important to protect NRENs from being locked in by commercial providers."

Mark is also keen to revisit a topic he raised back in 2019. He says:

"I’ll be revisiting the issues around unconscious bias and seeing whether GÉANT has made progress on diversity and inclusion. TNC should reflect the community it serves – not just senior, middle-aged, public school-educated white men. I tick a few of those boxes myself, but we need more balance."

Looking ahead

TNC2025 is a chance to bring the global research and education networking community to the UK. It’s a platform to show what we do, and to learn from others doing great work around the world.

Hosting this event is a big moment and a huge honour for Jisc and our members. It’s about collaboration, visibility, and celebrating what’s possible when we work together. Stay tuned for our updates live from Brighton in June.