Submarine Cable System Planning & Implementation

Kieran Clark, Business Intelligence Manager

Kieran Clark is the Business Intelligence Manager at WFN Strategies, promoted in 2024. With over 10 years of experience in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas fiber systems, Kieran excels in business and market analysis, GIS, and software development support. He manages the Submarine Cable Database and develops automation, AI, and analysis tools using Python and web technologies. A frequent speaker at international conferences, Kieran also oversees the design and implementation of corporate websites and the PM 2.0 submarine cable implementation portal. Kieran is based in Sterling, Virginia, USA.

Peg Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer

Peg Nielsen, as the CEO of WFN Strategies, holds a pivotal leadership role, being chiefly responsible for making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. As CEO, Peg oversees the development of strategic goals, ensures the alignment of the company with its vision, and steers the organization towards long-term success. Her role is fundamental in shaping the company’s culture, establishing its public image, and ensuring financial strength and operational efficiency.

Kacy Nielsen, Chief Financial Officer

Kacy Nielsen, serving as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at WFN Strategies, plays a critical role in managing the company’s financial actions. Her responsibilities include tracking cash flow, analyzing the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses, and proposing corrective actions. As the CFO, Kacy is key in financial planning, maintaining investor relations, and reporting on financial performance to the CEO and board members. Her role is essential in decision-making processes, particularly in areas involving budget management, cost-benefit analysis, forecasting needs, and the securing of new funding.

Anjali Sugadev, Regulatory & Permitting Manager

Anjali Sugadev is a distinguished Regulatory and Permitting Manager at WFN Strategies, where she brings her deep expertise in international law, focusing on submarine cables and environmental sustainability. With a career spanning over a decade, Anjali has made significant contributions to the field, from groundbreaking research at the Centre For International Law in Singapore to leading strategic policy development for the Government of British Columbia, Canada. Her work on the Angola Integrated Fiber Optic System and other major projects underscores her critical role in advancing the global submarine telecommunications infrastructure. Anjali holds an LLM in International and Comparative Law from the National University of Singapore and has been recognized for her scholarly contributions with several awards. At WFN Strategies, her dedication to enhancing digital connectivity while championing environmental sustainability sets new standards for excellence in the industry.

Syeda Humera, Data Analyst

Syeda Humera, a graduate from JNTUH and Central Michigan University, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Science and a Master’s degree in Computer Science. She has practical experience as a Software Developer at ALM Software Solutions, India, where she honed her skills in MLflow, JavaScript, GCP, Docker, DevOps, and more. Her expertise includes Data Visualization, Scikit-Learn, Databases, Ansible, Data Analytics, AI, and Programming. Having completed her Master’s degree, Humera is now poised to apply her comprehensive skills and knowledge in the field of computer science.

Hon Suen, Power Engineering Manager

Hon Suen is Power Engineering Manager of WFN Strategies and possesses over 40 years of experience with underground and submarine power cable projects, with focus on cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) and self-contained fluid filled (SCFF) cables. His recent experience includes developing performing a market feasibility assessment and developing the cable technical specifications for the EuroAsia 500kV 1000MW HVDC Submarine Cable Interconnector project; providing technical advisory services for 69kV 3-core 300 sqmm 14km New Brunswick Power Fundy Isles cable replacement project; and, developing conceptual HDD cable designs for an offshore wind farm in the USA.

Charles Chamberlain, Senior Marine Geophysicist

Charles Chamberlain, our Senior Marine Geophysicist at WFN Strategies, brings over four decades of unparalleled experience in submarine cable systems, with a broad geographical reach that includes the Arctic, Central and South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, among others. Holding a Master of Science in Marine Geology and a Bachelor of Science in Geology, his extensive career has been marked by significant achievements in marine geologic and geophysical data acquisition, interpretation, and project management. Since joining WFN Strategies in 2001, Charles has been instrumental in over 30 projects, leveraging his expertise to enhance the company’s survey management capabilities and successfully navigate complex submarine systems projects across the globe. His profound contributions reflect his commitment to excellence and his invaluable role in advancing the field of marine geophysics.

Wayne Nielsen, Managing Director

Wayne Nielsen is Managing Director of WFN Strategies and possesses more than 35 years’ experience in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems, and has developed and managed international telecoms projects in Antarctica, the Americas, Arctic, Europe, Far East/Pac Rim and Middle East. In 2001, he founded WFN Strategies, which provides design, development, and implementation support, as well as commercial and technical due diligence of submarine cable systems for commercial, governmental, and Oil & Gas clients. He is the founder and publisher of Submarine Telecoms Forum magazine, the industry’s considerable voice on the topic. He received a postgraduate master’s degree in International Relations, and bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Political Science, and is a former employee of British Telecom, Cable & Wireless and SAIC, and is an American citizen based in Sterling, Virginia USA.

Stewart Ash, Marine Design & Installation Manager

Our Marine Design & Installation Manager has more than 40 years’ experience and knowledge in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems. Based in London, UK, his extensive knowledge base includes 20 years’ field engineering and installation experience, 20 years’ shipboard engineering and installation experience, 15 years’ field project management experience, including shipboard operations and 12 years’ first line report corporate senior management experience.

Greg Reinecke, GIS Manager

Mr. Reinecke has focused on providing geospatial, data analytics and visualization project services across a range of disciplines. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and has been focused on geospatial subsea cable spatial analysis. He is a geospatial data technologist with 30+ years of experience using GIS to create dashboards, design application components, develop data analysis programs and spatial program business development in DoD, Federal, State, Local and commercial markets at global, regional and local scales.

Greg Otto, Technical Director

Greg’s experience includes subsea cable system implementations, program/project management, planning, engineering, product development and O&M. His work brings to WFN Strategies a holistic and integrated approach that integrates the multiple disciplines of project management, technical, operational, commercial and feasibility activities for both implementation and repair of such systems.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and has worked with multiple Oil & Gas companies during his career. In addition, Greg is the President/CEO of a nonprofit organization where he furthers the use his entrepreneurial skills and capabilities to help others.

Glenn Hovermale, Construction & Marine Coordinator

Glenn Hovermale is our Construction & Marine Coordinator with more than 20 years of consulting experience in undersea cables, including marine survey, Oil & Gas and offshore wind industries. He has held client representative, offshore project management, and survey positions, and he possesses experience working aboard SubCom, Alcatel, Korea Telecom, and Global Marine cable ships as well as Fugro and EGS survey vessels.

Chris van Zinnicq Bergmann, Investment Development Manager

Chris van Zinnicq Bergmann is the Investment Development Manager for WFN Strategies with extensive international experience and language capabilities, resulting in a strong skill set for high performance in multinational and multicultural environments. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry where he has spent the majority of his efforts focused as an investment manager responsible for over $100M wholesale business in Europe and North America. Chris lives in Naarden, Netherlands and speaks 5 languages (Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish).

Charles Foreman, Technical Director, Emeritus

Charles than 35 years’ experience in submarine cable network engineering, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems and is based in Austin, Texas USA. As Technical Director, he reviews the overall network architecture, technology plan, and service definitions as they relate to both the main submarine system and all ancillary network elements, as well as evaluates all aspects of network management, operational support systems and provisioning, and ensures the technical performance of the installed end-to-end system to be in accordance with supply contract requirements. He has supported WFN Strategies in the engineering, provision and installation of fiber optic, microwave and trunked mobile telecom systems in Australia, Arctic, Gulf of Mexico, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, as well as the development of microwave-based networks in USA, Antarctica and Brunei.

Bruce Waddell, Systems Engineering Manager

Bruce Waddell is a seasoned Systems Engineering Manager at WFN Strategies, boasting over two decades of comprehensive experience in submarine cable network engineering and senior IT leadership. His tenure includes significant contributions to offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems and leading global initiatives that resulted in multimillion-dollar outcomes across the utility, energy, carrier, and manufacturing sectors. Bruce’s strategic oversight extends to network architecture, technology planning, operational support, and ensuring technical performance aligns with contractual requirements. Notably involved in projects like the Leif Erikson and Nzadi Cable feasibility studies, Bruce’s expertise has been instrumental in enhancing WFN Strategies’ capabilities in the engineering, provision, and installation of fiber optic and telecom systems globally. His professional journey also includes pivotal roles at ABB Global, BP America, and British Telecom, underscoring his reputation as a driving force in the telecommunications engineering field.

Rebecca Spence, Project Engineer

Project Engineer for WFN Strategies, possessing more than 10 years’ experience as an analyst and database manager, including for the small business division of a prominent government contractor, General Dynamics. Since joining the WFN Strategies team, Rebecca has handled project and research support for various submarine cable projects, as well as our corporate website and social media presence. She is a fluent Spanish speaker, is based out of Hillsborough, North Carolina USA, and is also a contributor to Submarine Telecom Forum Magazine

Hector Hernandez, Projects Director

Hector Hernandez is Projects Director of WFN Strategies and a Project Management Professional (PMP™) specialist and possesses more than 20 years’ experience and knowledge in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems. He possesses extensive experience in ICT (Information & Communications Technology), including data networking/hosting (Data Centers), information technologies, fiber optic and wireless networks/services. As Projects Director, he is responsible for on-going project supervision of applicable WFN Strategies staff and is the primary point of contact with customers.

Business disciplines include program/project management, planning, engineering, product development and operational experience. Strengths include developing, managing and leading multi-functional teams (strong soft skills); problem solving under pressure, quality assurance, risk management and effective communications across all business units, including executive management and clients. He is founded on Total Quality Management and continuous improvement, utilizing Waterfall, Agile, PMI and mixed project management methodologies to align company resources and achieve strategic goals. He is the former Program Manager for the Quintillion Subsea Cable implementation, and is an American citizen based in San Antonio, Texas USA.

Kelsey Hoffman, Environmental Manager

Kelsey Hoffman is Environmental Manager of WFN Strategies and possesses more than 5 years’ experience and knowledge in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems. As Environmental Manager she is responsible for reviewing environmental requirements as set forth by the applicable agencies. She possesses Client Representation experience in submarine cable environmental and permitting support, extensive background in marine mammal biology, animal behavior, environmental psychology, learning and cognition, biological sciences, marine ecology and marine geology, and extensive experience with monitoring water quality using Mardel Test strips, API water test kits, monitoring temperature and salinity, dissolved oxygen using a YSI, refractometer, Seine nets, and performing transect surveys both on and in the water. She possesses a master’s degree in Coastal Management.

Kristian Nielsen, Chief Revenue Officer

Kristian Nielsen is based in the main office in Sterling, Virginia USA. He has more than 15 years’ experience and knowledge in submarine cable systems, including Arctic and offshore Oil & Gas submarine fiber systems. As Chief Revenue Officer, he supports the Projects and Technical Directors, and reviews subcontracts and monitors the prime contractor, suppliers, and is astute with Change Order process and management. He is responsible for contract administration, as well as supports financial monitoring. He possesses Client Representative experience in submarine cable load-out, installation and landing stations, extensive project logistics and engineering support, extensive background in administrative and commercial support and is an expert in due diligence.

Company Profile

Our Vision

Our Mission

Expert Team Dedicated to Client Success

Anjali Sugadev

Regulatory & Permitting Manager

Bruce Waddell

Systems Engineering Manager

Charles Chamberlain

Senior Marine Geophysicist

Charles Foreman

Technical Director, Emeritus

Chris van Zinnicq Bergmann​

Investment Dev. Manager

Hon Suen​

Power Engineering Manager

Glenn Hovermale​

Marine Coordinator

Greg Otto​

Technical Director

Greg Reinecke​

GIS Manager

Hector Hernandez​

Projects Director

Kacy Nielsen

Chief Financial Officer

Kelsey Hoffman​

Environmental Manager

Kieran Clark

Business Intelligence Manager

Kristian Nielsen​

Chief Revenue Officer

Peg Nielsen

Chief Executive Officer

Stewart Ash​

Marine Installation Manager

Syeda Humera

Data Analyst

Wayne Nielsen​

Managing Director

Chris van Zinnicq Bergmann

Hon Suen

Glenn Hovermale

Greg Otto

Greg Reinecke

Hector Hernandez

Kelsey Hoffman

Kristian Nielsen

Stewart Ash

Wayne Nielsen