Inform, Debate and Listen (and Engage!):

Inform, Debate and Listen (and Engage!): Conference on Big Data, Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure

We used to have great conferences that discussed key topics, but COVID came along, and everything went into lockdown. I remember sitting in a Blockchain event in March 2020, and there were some signs that are world was going to pause — and the week after, we went into a complete lockdown. And, so, it is taking us a while to get things back to normality, but yesterday, we ran our Big Data and Cybersecurity conference. Before lockdown, it was a highly successful event, so it was all about getting back to normality and providing opportunities to inform, debate and listen.

And, so, to beautiful Edinburgh skies, and a great lecture theatre, we were back:

and, there aren’t many nicer views from a lecture theatre than this (with Edinburgh Castle as a backdrop in the distance):

The host and organiser was Basil (Vassilios) Manoussos, and who had put together an event that allowed opportunities to inform, debate and listen:

First up was the Lord Provost who outlined the importance of areas of technology to build economic activity in the city:

And, then, it was onto our Vice-Principal for Research (Professor Nick Antonopoulos) to outline the importance of AI within our future world, and to look to a future of quantum computers. This world provides many opportunities, but also significant threats:

And, then, to a full house with standing room only, who best to open with a keynote talk, than the mighty Becky Pinkhard (MD, Global Cyber Operations at Barclays)?

And, then onto our great new professor (Professor Berk Canberk), and who defined how we can mirror our worlds using digital twins. If you have time, please have a look at his publications [here]:

And, there are few like the mighty Don Smith. I have known Don for many years, and have seen him lead the way in cybersecurity over the years. For us, he helped us so much when we are growing our spin-out companies, and helped us focus our work on real problems. If anyone has a pulse on cybersecurity, it is Don:

After a nice break, we were back with two people who have contributed so much to our previous events: Rory Alsop (Tesco Bank/CIISec) and Mark Cunningham-Dickie (Quorum Cyber):

Next the panel of Tim McNulty (Barclays), Becky Pinkard (Barclays). Don Smith (SecureWorks) and Harry McLaren (SenseOn):

Here were a few questions that the audience posed:

Then it was the turn of Prof Sokratis Katsikas, from Norwegian Center for Cybersecurity in Critical Sectors (NORCICS), and who outlined the significant success in attracting funding at NTNU, and which has built a foundation for further EU funding:

Prof Leandros Maglaras (ENU) outlined key research areas around Vannets, Drones, and route optimization. If you have time, please have a look at his publications [here]:

Elzbieta Momola (SGN) then highlighted the greatness of the GA programme, and how it can transform someone's career route:

Laura Irvine, Partner and Head of Regulatory Law at Davidson Chalmers Stewart LLP, then gave a great talk on the implementation of GDPR in the UK:

Next up it was Alexandr Chernykh, Barrister and Official Representative of the Ukrainian National Bar Association who outline how the Ukrainian citizen ID system has been integrated into their courts:

And, finally, I had the privilege to close, and play a bit of Rammstein:

Conclusions

It was great fun, and I learned quite a few things. Our next one up is a Blockchain and Cryptography conference, and a Tokenization one, so watch out for those.

And, so, Inform, Debate and Listen. Oh, and … Engage!