Join us as we kick off the Information & Cyber Security Leaders Summit 2025 with a warm welcome from our conference host. In this opening session, we’ll set the stage for the day’s discussions on cyber security leadership and strategy, offering a brief overview of the agenda and key themes.

You’ll gain insight into how today’s speakers will explore pressing challenges such as cyber risk management, board-level communication, and leading resilient teams. This session will outline the objectives of the summit and prepare attendees for a day of meaningful conversations and insights.

In today’s evolving threat landscape, a robust security-first culture is no longer optional—it’s critical to an organisation’s success. This panel brings together experienced CISOs and cyber security leaders to discuss the strategies required to embed security into every layer of an organisation. The conversation will focus on how to move beyond policy and compliance-driven approaches, creating a culture where every employee, from the boardroom to the frontlines, understands their role in safeguarding the organisation.

The panellists will explore practical steps leaders can take to champion security initiatives, overcome cultural resistance, and promote organisation-wide accountability. They’ll also address the challenges of maintaining a security-first mindset in a hybrid workforce, the impact of leadership in driving this cultural shift, and how to keep security at the forefront in a fast-paced business environment.

Attendees will gain insights into how security leaders can foster collaboration across departments, ensure effective communication, and create long-term behavioural change that reduces risks and supports business growth.

Key Takeaways:
• Leadership’s Role: How CISOs and executives can lead by example to instill a security-first mindset across all teams.
• Organisation-Wide Accountability: Strategies to promote ownership of security responsibilities at every level of the organisation.
• Overcoming Resistance: Practical steps to tackle cultural resistance and embed security as a core organisational value.
• Hybrid Workforce Considerations: Addressing the challenges of building and maintaining a security-first culture in remote and hybrid environments.
• Sustaining Long-Term Change: How to ensure continuous improvement and engagement with security initiatives, even as business priorities shift.

Cybersecurity is not just a technical function; it must be deeply intertwined with the overall business strategy to ensure resilience and growth. This session will focus on how CISOs and senior security leaders can build and implement cybersecurity strategies that align seamlessly with their organisation's long-term business objectives. The discussion will explore the critical role that cyber security plays in supporting business transformation, managing risk, and enabling innovation in a secure environment.

The session will delve into the challenges of balancing security with the need for operational efficiency, innovation, and customer trust. Experts will provide real-world examples of how forward-thinking organisations have developed security programs that not only protect against threats but also drive business value. Attendees will learn how to communicate effectively with the board, gaining buy-in for long-term cybersecurity investments, and how to position cyber resilience as a key competitive advantage.

By the end of this session, attendees will leave with actionable strategies for aligning cybersecurity efforts with overall business priorities and ensuring that security becomes a strategic enabler rather than a cost center.

Key Takeaways:
• Aligning Security with Business Strategy: How to ensure that cybersecurity initiatives support broader business goals and enable growth.
• Securing Buy-in from Leadership: Strategies for communicating the value of cybersecurity to the board and gaining executive-level support.
• Balancing Innovation with Security: Approaches to fostering innovation while maintaining robust cybersecurity protections.
• Risk Management as a Business Enabler: Using cybersecurity risk management to drive business value and resilience.
• Long-Term Strategic Planning: Building a sustainable, future-proof cybersecurity strategy that evolves alongside business needs.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue—it’s a core component of business strategy. This session will focus on how cybersecurity leaders can elevate security discussions to the boardroom level, positioning security not merely as a cost but as a business driver that supports innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.

Senior executives will share their insights on engaging the C-suite and boards of directors in meaningful security conversations, helping them understand the long-term business value of cyber resilience. The session will explore how to present cyber risks and opportunities in a way that resonates with top leadership, including how to link security investments to business outcomes such as customer trust, brand reputation, and regulatory compliance.

Attendees will learn practical strategies for framing cybersecurity as a key enabler of business success, securing leadership buy-in for critical initiatives, and making security a priority at the highest levels of the organisation.

Key Takeaways:
• Framing Security as a Business Enabler: How to position cybersecurity as a driver of business growth, innovation, and competitive advantage.
• Boardroom-Level Communication: Best practices for effectively engaging C-suite executives and boards on cybersecurity risks and strategies.
• Linking Cybersecurity to Business Outcomes: Demonstrating the business impact of security investments, from protecting brand reputation to ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Gaining Buy-In for Long-Term Initiatives: Strategies for securing executive support and long-term commitment to cybersecurity projects.
• Turning Cyber Risk into Opportunity: How to leverage cybersecurity to create opportunities for business growth and resilience in the digital economy.

The NIS2 Directive is set to transform cyber security regulations across Europe, requiring organisations to adopt a more proactive, risk-based approach to compliance. This panel will explore how businesses can align with NIS2 requirements while balancing operational resilience, regulatory obligations, and evolving threat landscapes. Experts will discuss key compliance challenges, practical implementation strategies, and the role of risk management frameworks in meeting NIS2 mandates. Attendees will gain actionable insights into ensuring long-term compliance while strengthening overall cyber resilience.

Discussion Points:
• Understanding the key changes and requirements introduced by NIS2.
• How to implement a risk-based approach to compliance under NIS2.
• The role of governance, leadership, and accountability in meeting NIS2 obligations.
• Managing supply chain security risks and third-party compliance under the directive.
• Best practices for integrating NIS2 compliance into broader cyber security and resilience strategies.

In an era where cyber threats are growing in complexity, building a high-performance security team requires diverse perspectives and skills. This session will explore how neurodiversity—the inclusion of individuals with cognitive differences such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia—can strengthen cybersecurity teams and enhance their performance. Neurodivergent individuals often bring unique problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and innovative thinking that are invaluable in identifying and mitigating complex threats.

The session will discuss the benefits of neurodiversity in security teams, focusing on how to create an inclusive environment that supports individuals with diverse cognitive abilities. Experts and security leaders will share practical strategies for recruiting, integrating, and retaining neurodivergent talent, ensuring that these individuals can thrive in their roles and contribute meaningfully to organisational goals.

Attendees will gain insights into how embracing neurodiversity not only builds stronger, more resilient teams but also drives innovation and creative problem-solving in cybersecurity.

As AI and digital transformation reshape the cyber security landscape, security leaders must adapt to new challenges while maintaining a strong human-centred approach. This session will explore how AI-driven automation, evolving cyber threats, and digital disruption impact security teams and leadership strategies. Attendees will gain insights into balancing human expertise with AI capabilities, fostering resilience, and maintaining a strong security culture in an era of rapid technological change. Join us to explore best practices for leading cyber security teams through disruption while ensuring human intelligence remains at the heart of defence strategies.

Discussion Points:
• The impact of AI and digital disruption on cyber security leadership and team dynamics.
• Balancing automation with human expertise—where do people add the most value?
• Overcoming resistance to AI-driven security tools and fostering a culture of adaptability.
• Addressing the ethical implications of AI in security decision-making.
• Strategies for upskilling security teams to thrive in an AI-augmented security environment.

The cyber security landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and organisations must cultivate a new generation of cyber talent to stay ahead of emerging threats. This panel will explore how businesses, governments, and academia can bridge the cyber skills gap, attract diverse talent, and equip professionals with the necessary technical and strategic capabilities. Our expert panellists will discuss innovative training programmes, industry-academia collaborations, and the role of AI and automation in shaping the future workforce. Join us to uncover practical strategies for developing the cyber leaders of tomorrow.

Discussion Points:
• What skills will define the next generation of cyber security professionals?
• How can organisations attract and retain diverse cyber talent?
• The role of AI, automation, and emerging technologies in reshaping cyber jobs.
• Effective collaborations between industry, government, and academia to bridge the skills gap.
• Strategies for upskilling and reskilling existing employees in an evolving cyber landscape.