Leading experts from Decathlon, Fresenius Kabi, Qualcomm, Times-7, and Zebra Technologies join expanded Board

RAIN Alliance has announced the five accomplished leaders that have been elected to serve two-year terms on its Board of Directors until March 2028. The Board members are Gwen Volpe (Fresenius Kabi), Joseph “Jos” Kunnen (Times-7 Research Limited), Le Liu (Qualcomm), Michael Fein (Zebra Technologies), and Tristan Finet (Decathlon).

RAIN Alliance is a non-profit industry organization supporting the development and adoption of standards-based RAIN Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), otherwise known as Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID.

Commenting on the results of the election, RAIN Alliance President and CEO Aileen Ryan said: “The strength of the RAIN Alliance comes from the deep collaboration among our membership, with world-leading companies across countless industries sharing the mission to create a smarter, more sustainable world using RAIN Technology. I’m thrilled to welcome each new representative to our Board of Directors, bringing their unique combination of technical expertise, deployment experience, and strategic vision that has been shaped by their extensive knowledge of and role within the RAIN ecosystem.”

“This elected RAIN Alliance Board brings together some of the world’s preeminent solution providers, system integrators, chip manufacturers and end users. In doing so, this ensures our leadership has a comprehensive perspective that represents the entire RAIN RFID ecosystem, underpinned by best-in-class technical expertise. This will allow us to deepen our understanding and better serve the diverse needs of our 200-strong membership, the wider RAIN community and the various industries which depend on the technology.”

Introducing the five elected Board Members:

  • Gwen Volpe, Senior Director of Medication Technology Programs & Strategic Partnerships, Fresenius Kabi – Gwen orchestrates strategic medication technology programs and alliances by aligning the voice of the customer with advanced RFID innovation, shaping future‑ready pharmaceutical ecosystems that elevate clinician efficiency, strengthen patient safety, and drive seamless industry-wide interoperability.
  • Jos Kunnen, Director, Times-7 Research Limited– Joseph is a seasoned technology executive and global board chair with over 45 years of experience in IT, RFID, and digital transformation. He is known for his strategic leadership, governance expertise, and a passion for mentoring and community engagement.
  • Le Liu, Director, Technical Standards, Qualcomm– Le Liu leads IoT ecosystem and standardization activities within Qualcomm’s Standards and Industry Organizations group, helping shape Qualcomm’s role in advancing RAIN RFID through smartphone integration initiatives.
  • Michael Fein, Director of Product Management, RAIN RFID, Zebra Technologies– A recognized leader in the field, Michael oversees Zebra’s comprehensive portfolio of products and platform software. He began his career developing some of the first high-speed printed RFID antennas and holds ten patents in RFID and printed technology.
  • Tristan Finet, Program Support & Communication Leader, Decathlon – With over 10 years’ experience working as part of Decathlon’s RFID project, Tristan oversees one of the most advanced traceability systems in retail, which shares data on raw materials, components, and finished products throughout the supply chain.

The elected representatives join the four incumbent Board members elected in last year’s staggered election cycle. Abby Wu (Xindeco IoT), James Goodland (NXP Semiconductors), Juho Partanen (Impinj Inc.) and Pierre Muller (EM Microelectronic) will continue their service through March 2027.

RAIN Alliance President and CEO Aileen Ryan continued, “RAIN RFID has now become critical infrastructure for a number of industries, as use cases proliferate and adoption accelerates. RAIN-enabled smartphones are entering the market, Digital Product Passport requirements are advancing globally, and enterprise deployments continue to grow in size and scope.”

The RAIN Alliance Board – including both the newly elected individuals and the continuing Board members – will help to ensure the RAIN Alliance is well-positioned to work towards our vision of a world seamlessly connected through RAIN technology – enhancing lives, empowering industries, and driving a more sustainable, intelligent future for our planet.”

Read more about the RAIN Alliance Board of Directors here.