Welcome to UWIC 2024! 

Speakers: 

• Kathryn Wang, CEO, Ctrl+Alt+Defeat.io/UWIC Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild Foundation
• Kristie Grinnell, Senior VP and CIO, DXC Technology/Board Member, 2023 Honoree, and UWIC Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild Foundation 

Cybersecurity threats know no borders, and as such, a comprehensive understanding of regional challenges is paramount in fortifying global defenses.

Esteemed cybersecurity leaders from around the globe will convene to share invaluable insights gleaned from their respective regions, shedding light on the diverse challenges faced in the realm of cybersecurity.

From Asia-Pacific to Europe, India to the Americas, our esteemed panelists will provide unique perspectives on the evolving threat landscape, regulatory landscapes, and innovative approaches to cybersecurity.

Topics include:

• Cyber on the frontline of national security
• Regulation and approaches to managing and militating risk
• Workforce – What problems are we trying to solve and progress being made?

Panelists:

• Dr. Diane M. Janosek, CEO, Janos LLC/Former Deputy Director Compliance, NSA (Moderator)
• Dr. Mary Aiken, Professor & Cyberpsychology Department Chair, Capital Technology University 
• Sarbari Gupta, Founder and CEO, Electrosoft
• Dr. Magda Chelly, Managing Director & CISO, Responsible Cyber/Co-Founder, RiskImmune
• Sumona Banerji, Founder, MindShield
• Annita Sciacovelli, Professor, University of Bari Aldo Moro/Member, Advisory Board of the EU Agency for Cybersecurity 

Brings to life the popular Cyber Guild See It To be It Spotlights.

Rising stars and rock stars from all aspects of cybersecurity share their personal stories of their journeys to cyber. 

Highly interactive session facilitated by Lightcast, the company behind Cyberseek.org.

Building better workforce solutions requires silos to be broken down between key stakeholders such as employers, talent, and training providers. Be one of the first to get hands-on access to the new Cyberseek.org employer “skills based hiring toolkit”.

We are all leaders in our own way, for our own career, for a work team, or informally through influence in organization or social networks. This is an opportunity to play a leader role to contribute feedback from the perspective of a key stakeholder in cyber hiring practices.

Speaker:

• Will Markow, Vice President of Applied Research – Talent, Lightcast

Suzanne Spaulding, one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity champions, will ignite the spirit of UWIC – how, together, we can create a future where security is the foundation upon which progress is built and where every citizen can confidently participate in the digital age.   

Suzanne will share her vision for Cybersecurity as the backbone of our democracy, ensuring that our institutions remain resilient and our voices are heard. She will discuss cybersecurity as the ‘means to an end’, not the ‘end goal,’ and how the profession is crucial to fortifying the trust that binds our communities, enabling safe interactions, protecting our most vulnerable, and fostering innovation.

In our global digital world, robust cybersecurity empowers us to embrace technology’s full potential, unlocking opportunities, driving economic growth, and enhancing our daily lives.

Speaker:

• Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Advisor, Department of Homeland Security/Director – Defending Democratic Institutions Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

As the digital landscape continues to expand, so too do the threats against our most vulnerable population: children. Online child exploitation is a pervasive and heartbreaking issue that demands immediate attention and coordinated action.

In this intimate fireside chat, experts will delve into the multifaceted challenge posed by online predators and discuss proactive measures to safeguard our children in the digital age.

Panelists:

• Heather C. Fischer, Senior Advisor, TRSS (Moderator)
• Wendy Cassidy, Senior Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service/Ambassador, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Jessica L. Diggons, Unit Chief – Crimes Against Children & Human Trafficking Unit Criminal Investigative Division, FBI

Regulatory compliance is a critical component of modern industry operations, but navigating the regulatory landscape can be fraught with challenges. An expert panel representing varied professions and sectors will discuss whether current and emerging regulations act as a “carrot” by incentivizing compliance or as a “stick” by imposing punitive measures. The session will also cover increased incident reporting requirements and the lessons learned from the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) applicable to both federal and commercial organizations.

Topics Include:

• Challenges posed by existing and trending regulations.
• The impact of regulation on industry compliance and supply chain security.
• The role of increased incident reporting in regulatory frameworks.

Panelists: 

• Andy Sauer, CEO, Sentinel Blue (Moderator)
• Jennifer Morris, Partner, Ward & Berry, PLLC/Board of Directors Member, The Cyber Guild Foundation
• LaLisha Hurt, Federal Industry Advisor, Splunk/Board of Directors Member, The Cyber Guild Foundation  
• Dr. Nikki Robinson, Senior Technical Staff Member and Lead Security Architect, IBM 
• Sabeen Malik, Vice President – Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Rapid7
• Aoibh Wood, Security Architect, Zscaler

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, quantum computing, and satellite technology heralds a new frontier of possibilities and challenges.

Be more informed and expand your horizons in this discussion amongst true cyber experts from across industry, academia and policy. Our distinguished panelists will share insights, experiences, and predictions on how these domains intertwine to shape the landscape of the 21st century.

Topics include:

• Symbiotic relationship between Ai and cybersecurity
• Harnessing the power of quantum computing for data security and analysis
• The role of satellites in an era of interconnected devices and smart cities
• Ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks in the age of emerging technologies

Panelists:

• Angelique Napoleon, Cybersecurity Director & Division Deputy CISO – Intelligence & Homeland Security Division, GDIT (Moderator)
• Jen Sovada, CEO, Boadicea Solutions/2023 Honoree, The Cyber Guild Foundation
• Dr. Diana B. Allen, Senior Technical Program Manager, Google
• Geoffrey Schafer, Head of AI, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Lexy Guenther, CIO, Leidos/Board of Directors Member, The Cyber Guild Foundation

A powerhouse of women leaders join in frank conversation and share insights and strategies for breaking barriers and driving meaningful change in boardroom diversity.

While progress has been made in recent years, women’s representation in corporate boardrooms and at leadership levels remains a pressing issue.

Topics included:

• Importance of diversity in corporate governance and decision making
• What is the criteria for a successful board leader
• Overcoming systemic barriers and biases in boardroom recruitment
• Strategies to build experiences, network and capabilities for aspiring women leaders

Panelists:

• Teresa Shea, President, Oplnet LLC/Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild Foundation (Moderator)
• Susan Gordon, President, Gordon Ventures, LLC/Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence 
• Linnie Haynesworth, Independent Corporate Board Member/Former A&D Executive
• Summer Anderson, Managing Director, ZRG Partners, LLC
• Amy De Salvatore, Partner, NightDragon/Board Member, vArmour

Safeguarding Elections in the Age of Misinformation

2024 is election year, globally! Estimated 64% of the global population will be represented in an election this year in over 64 countries. In an era where misinformation runs rampant, safeguarding the integrity of our elections has never been more crucial.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to be in the audience for this podcast interview. Nationally recognized podcasters lead a discussion to  explore the complexities of combating misinformation and ensuring fair and transparent elections.

Discussion will cover:

• How to identify and debunk false information
• The role of technology and social media platforms in spreading and combating misinformation
• The importance of digital literacy and critical thinking to navigate proliferation of misinformation

Speakers: 

• Debora Plunkett, Principal, Plunkett Associates, LLC/Professor of Cybersecurity, University of Maryland (Host)
• Andrew McCabe, Law Enforcement and National Security Leader and Speaker

A new addition to UWIC. This is a crossover event with the Cyber Guild Recognition Awards reception drinks.

This crossover UWIC Afterparty provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to mix and mingle in with UWIC speakers and alumni, Cyber Guild Luminaires, Partners, and Recognition Awardees past and present.