The 2026 programme is currently being developed. If you would be interested in getting involved as a Speaker, please let us know. We would also welcome your input on companies, topics or specific persons you would like to see included on the agenda this year. We welcome your input into shaping the agenda sara.hook@pulseconferences.com.
Gemma Ungoed-Thomas is a Senior Fellow at King’s College London, working on issues at the intersection of national security, cyber power, emerging technology and democratic resilience. She brings extensive experience from senior roles in the UK government, where she led national strategy on state threats, cyber security and technology policy. Until March 2026, Gemma served as Director for State Threats, Cyber and Technology in the UK Cabinet Office. In this role she led national strategy at the intersection of security, advanced technology and resilience. She helped shape the UK’s £2 billion National Cyber Strategy, developed the UK’s first Counter State Threats Strategy, and co-chaired the National Cyber Advisory Board, bringing together senior leaders across government, industry and civil society to strengthen systemic resilience. She also served as Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister–chaired Science and Technology Committee. During her time in government, Gemma coordinated aspects of the UK’s support to Ukraine following the Russian invasion and led work to manage the UK’s risk exposure to hostile state activity, including malicious cyber and physical attacks. Gemma has extensive experience in strategy, crisis management and national security decision-making. She previously served as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, leading cross-government responses to counter-terrorism incidents, national cyber attacks and major crises, including the Afghanistan evacuation. At the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Gemma established and led national incident response teams and helped build the UK’s cyber incident response capability, overseeing multidisciplinary operations responding to the most significant national cyberattacks. She coordinated real-time operational response and strategic decision-making for ministers, industry leaders and critical infrastructure. Earlier in her career she held senior roles at GCHQ, leading cross-government cyber defence initiatives and contributing to the development of the UK’s first National Offensive Cyber Strategy. Her work focuses on resilience as a strategic pillar of national power, integrating behavioural insight, adaptive governance and international cooperation. She has advanced resilience frameworks with Five Eyes partners, the EU and the United States, and contributes to debates on democratic resilience, responsible AI governance and the security implications of emerging technologies.
Jorge Fernandes is the CISO, DPO and Director of the Internal Control Office at CMVM, the Portuguese securities supervisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and several certifications in information security and data protection.
Jorge has more than 20 years of professional experience in Information Security in the financial services sector. His experience as CISO includes the European Securities and Markets Authority and the Council of Europe Development Bank. He is currently a member of several European regulatory groups regarding cybersecurity, operational resilience, and the digitalisation of the financial sector.
Seasoned FTSE 250 cyber and security professional with large brand and multi sector experience. Responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies to safeguard organizational sensitive data and technology assets. Recognises that great outcomes are delivered by brilliant teams! Munawars skills include: Proven ability as a team leader and motivator having developed and delivered global risk and governance frameworks whilst working with multi disciplined teams of permanent, contract and consultants. Specialties: Audit, Internal Controls, Risk Review and MIS, Business Development, Vendor Management, RFP, Due Dilliegence, Information Security Management, Staff Management, IT Risk Management, Internal Audit, Compliance, Relationship Management, Analysis, Budgeting, Training, Global Liaison, Recruitment, Client Relationship Management, Project team organisation.
I’m a Computer Engineer working in information security. Over the last 27 years, I’ve been involved in a range of security projects across different sectors, helping organizations think more clearly about risk, strengthen their security programs, and prepare for incidents when they happen. I hold CISSP, CISM, CISA, and CRISC certifications and try to stay current with the field as it evolves. I’m also part of the local digital community: BSidesLisbon organizer, founding member and former president of AP2SI, member of the local ISOC chapter and D3 – Defesa dos Direitos Digitais. I care about cybersecurity, privacy, and an open internet, and I try to contribute to a more informed and resilient digital society.
Alyssa Miller is the Chief Information Security Officer for Epiq Global, responsible for evolving the global cybersecurity program. A childhood hacker turned cybersecurity executive, Alyssa combines a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership pedigree to drive innovation in securing people, processes, and technology. Alyssa’s career spans two and a half decades with some of the most recognizable names in financial services and consulting including FIS, Ernst & Young, and S&P Global. She has a track record of building and growing comprehensive security programs that address the ever-evolving threat landscape in today’s interconnected digital world. Alyssa is also internationally recognized within the cybersecurity community. She presents regularly at some of the top cybersecurity and industry events around the globe. Additionally, she’s a published author and a respected advocate within the cybersecurity community. Alyssa drives focus on reshaping the interconnection of cybersecurity practices with the enablement of business innovation and acceleration.
Adam has 25 years international experience in managing IT and Information Security mainly in Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Goods, Telecommunication and Financial Services industries. Founding member of ClubCISO, Consumer Goods Security Forum in the UK and Information Security Forum in Malaysia – peer groups of CISOs and Heads of Information Security formed to exchange good practices and experience within specific focus groups. Adam has significant experience consulting and advising boards of directors of FTSE100/Fortune500 companies on Information Security, Privacy, Risk Management and Resilience. The current role is Chief Information Security Officer at SKF.
Brian is a dedicated Information Security leader with extensive experience in developing and managing comprehensive security, risk, and compliance programs within the media industry. Renowned for exceptional leadership and strategic influence in high-stakes environments. Proficient in enhancing security postures through the adept application of ISO 27001 and NIST frameworks.
Notable Achievements Include:
-Built and led the Information Security team at Channel 4, expanding it to over 20 professionals, and successfully managed multiple security attacks, including those from nation-state actors, with minimal downtime.
-Developed comprehensive security strategies and incident management processes at Channel 4, including the introduction of system hardening, regular security testing, and incident rehearsals, resulting in enhanced operational resilience.
-Acted as the primary cybersecurity liaison to the UK government during high-profile events like the 2012 London Olympics and chaired the Media Security group, coordinating with GCHQ and national cybersecurity organisations.
-Successfully negotiated sustained budget increases and resource expansion for cybersecurity initiatives, including dedicated training and awareness programs, demonstrating effective influence and advocacy at the executive level.
With over a decade of experience in Information Security and Risk Management, Dennis Pokupec has established himself as a leader in cybersecurity, blending technical expertise with strategic vision.
Education and Early Career: After earning a degree in Security and Safety Engineering, Dennis began his career as a Consultant at Sopra Steria Consulting (2015–2019). His dedication and skills quickly paved the way to leadership roles.
Professional Achievements: From 2019 to 2022, Dennis served as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Viridium Group, where he developed and implemented robust cybersecurity frameworks. In 2022, he advanced to Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Creditplus Bank AG, a position he continues to hold, overseeing enterprise-wide security initiatives. In 2024, Dennis expanded his professional scope by offering freelance consulting in cybersecurity and risk management and CISO COaching, in addition to his role at Creditplus Bank AG. That same year, he also became a public speaker, sharing his insights and experiences on national and international stages. His contributions to the field were recognized with the prestigious CIO200 Next-Gen Award (2024).
Gary Hayslip is an experienced Global Security Executive with a proven track record of delivering innovative security programs that protect billion-dollar enterprises at every touchpoint. He is intensely focused on driving continuous improvement to maximize the efficiency of security programs while minimizing costs. As an insightful thought leader, he possesses strong business acumen and a commitment to organizational mission, values, and goals. He has demonstrated the ability to collaborate with all levels of an organization to champion new ideas, gain buy-in, and build consensus. Hayslip brings extensive experience in information technology, security leadership, physical security, and risk management to his role as the Senior Security Advisor | Field CISO for Halcyon.ai. His previous executive positions include multiple roles as Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Information Officer, Deputy Director of IT, and Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. Navy (Active Duty), the U.S. Navy (Federal Government employee), the City of San Diego, California, Webroot Software, and SoftBank Investments (Vision Fund & Vision Fund II).
Hayslip is a proven cybersecurity expert with excellent communication and public speaking skills. He is skilled at explaining complex security and risk concepts to audiences with different levels of knowledge. Hayslip has earned a reputation as a highly effective communicator, author, and keynote speaker. He co-authored the “CISO Desk Reference Guide: A Practical Guide for CISOs – Volumes 1 & 2,” “The Executive Primer: An Executive’s Guide to Security Programs,” “Developing Your Cybersecurity Career Path,” and the “The Essential Guide to Cybersecurity for SMBs.” He recently coauthored and published “Mastering Third Party Risk,” a guide aimed specifically for security practitioners to help them manage the risk exposure to organizations from vendors and supply chains. These books are among the top resources for helping CISOs improve their leadership and business skills. Hayslip currently serves as an independent director on several boards and advises various other security and technology firms. He is an active member of the cybersecurity community and belongs to professional organizations such as ISC2, NACD, ISACA, and Infragard. Hayslip holds several professional certifications, including CISSP, CISA, and CRISC, and has earned a BS in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and an MBA from San Diego State University.
Jake Bernardes is a seasoned CISO with extensive experience spanning technical consultancy, advisory roles, and executive leadership. Throughout his career, Jake has worked and lived across the globe, amassing deep insights into building and scaling security programs for growth-stage and enterprise organizations alike. A proven expert in developing robust security and IT functions, Jake equally specializes in driving go-to-market strategies for security-focused products, particularly for international companies expanding into the U.S. market. His holistic approach to cybersecurity enables businesses to align their security posture with operational and strategic goals, ensuring resilience in today’s evolving threat landscape. Jake’s dedication to innovation and his practical understanding of security challenges make him a trusted partner to companies navigating complex regulatory environments and seeking scalable security solutions. He was an early adopter of many GRC solutions and have served in multiple customer advisory boards prior to joining Anecdotes, where he continues to lead with a vision of empowering organizations through smarter, data-driven compliance
Lady Olga Maitland, Founder, Defense and Security Forum and Chairman, Copenhagen Compliance – has wide experience in all major Governance, risk Management and Compliance issues in general and global Fraud and Corruption problems in particular. She is a special adviser to a number of dignitaries and a widely sought after speaker at all Major Conferences on several Corporate Governance issues. Lady Olga is a former British MP for the Conservative party. Prior to her political career she was a reporter for the Fleet Street News Agency, a columnist in the London.
Paul Colnan is the CISO at NewDay, financial services. Paul has 15 years of cyber security experience, including advising some of the world’s largest brands and he works with the board to enable secure and trusted commerce. He has an ‘ethical hacker’ background, which helps him tackle complex security issues, but he also cares about driving effective change through clear leadership and communication. Paul has been a CISO in various sectors, including fintech, logistics, and manufacturing, and before joining NewDay he was CISO at ION, he was an Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase, where he held security roles in retail banking, M&A and cloud platform security teams. He was CISO of Revolut and Group CISO of Unipart Group. Paul likes aviation and is pursuing his private pilot’s licence in his spare time.
Owanate is the founder of Bestman Solutions, a firm dedicated to helping leaders hire cyber security professionals. He advises CISOs and Executives on market factors that impact their growth plans and designs bespoke solutions to address this. Firmly embedded in the cyber security space, he possesses a global core network of well-respected and proven security specialists. Owanate has spent almost a decade recruiting in the Cyber Security field. Before this, he recruited Technology and Operational Risk specialists and successfully staffed a number of high profile banking regulatory programmes. He is also a keen industry speaker and writer for security associations and international publications. Outside of Security and staffing, Owanate is interested in all things Martial Arts.
Quentyn Taylor is Director of Information Security at Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa. Using the power of stories and his own experience of testing products to destruction; Quentyn has embraced building business relationships across the world whilst driving Canon’s strategy and educating business customers to minimise their security risk. Before joining Canon, Quentyn has worked in a variety of industries such as Internet service providers as well as startup businesses.
Recognised cyber security MD with over thirty years of industry experience implementing successful programmes in demanding global environments including investment banking, retail, media and FMCG. Simon provides strategic vision, leadership and technology expertise with a proven track record for effective risk management, change delivery and exceptional impact. He has a strong track record of creating and leading sector wide initiatives. Simon was recently interim CISO at John Lewis, McKesson UK and Avon. Prior to these roles, he was regional CISO at Bank of America Merrill Lynch for 9 years, where he had responsibility for all aspects of cyber security in the EMEA region working closely with business and technical leaders. A member of the bank’s information security senior leadership team that directs the enterprise wide prevention and response activities, Simon had an active role in defining the global strategic operating model and setting strategic long-term goals. Previous sector positions have included Bank of England’s industry chair of the Cyber Coordination Group and Chair of CPNI’s Financial Services Information Exchange (FSIE) and Global Head of IT Security at Thomson Reuters.
Salpi Stojan is a Cybersecurity Project Manager in the Security Operations Center, leading projects from SIEM deployments and MDR/XDR integration to threat monitoring, incident response, and security governance. She’s known for turning security goals into practical outcomes and for scheduling 15-minute meetings at quirky times like 14:55 to keep things efficient and engaging.
Originally from Istanbul and now based in the Czech Republic, Salpi has lived across Europe, travelled to 20+ countries, and speaks five languages fluently. With a Master’s degree in Business Management and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, she blends analytical thinking with cross-cultural insight. A part-time cybersecurity professional and full-time mom, she mentors through Women4Cyber and never stops learning. Outside of work, she enjoys nature walks, languages, and scammer-baiting videos to explore the psychology behind social engineering.
Sybil V. R. Kleinmichel is an international cybersecurity and operational resilience leader with more than two decades of experience advising global enterprises, regulators, and critical infrastructure organizations. She has served multiple times as Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Information Security, leading large-scale cybersecurity, risk, and resilience programs across highly regulated environments. Throughout her career, Sybil has worked at the intersection of cybersecurity, operational resilience, and governance, helping organizations strengthen their preparedness for complex disruptions through structured testing, incident response planning, and cross-organizational collaboration.
In recent years, Sybil has focused on advancing multi-stakeholder resilience planning and testing, bringing together public and private sector leaders to better prepare communities and institutions for systemic risks. Drawing on her experience as both a CISO and trusted advisor to senior security leaders, she advocates for resilience strategies that extend beyond individual organizations to the broader ecosystems on which societies depend.
Dr Leivesley, sally@newrisk.com works on generic solutions to catastrophic risks to critical infrastructure across all disciplines and contributes practical applications to government policy and business. She has been a Panel adviser to for the British IET and CPNI supported publication for Cyber Security in the Built Environment.
As an Advisor to companies and governments on protection of people and infrastructure and strategies for security and business Dr Leivesley has worked across industry sectors gas and petrochemicals; power distribution; hazardous goods transportation by rail; underground and aboveground rail; underground mines; bulk shipping and banks.
As an international media commentator she has commentated for BBC World Service and other news outlets on extreme threats – Chinese spy balloon over USA nuclear missile site, uranium package at London Heathrow airport, cyber; terrorism; aviation losses; nuclear reactor explosions; Kabul 2021 evacuation; South China Sea; Polonium-210 and Novichok poisonings, Beslan siege; Iran; DPRK; USA Presidential security abroad; Covid-19, unexplained incidents such as MH370 and chemical incidents.
Dr Leivesley has held international scientific meetings on issues of catastrophic risk including risks of emerging nuclear weapons, infrastructure resilience including cyber, Covid-19 solutions and hazardous near-earth objects.
She was director of two disaster recovery units in Australia (weather and chemical incidents) and trained by British Home Office as Scientific Advisor holding a Cold War appointment as on all aspects of nuclear war.
PhD London University; Member of the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists RSES; International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigator; Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, and the British Information Assurance Advisory Council Community.
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