SecureWorld Boston 2026

Larry Wilson was formerly the Chief Information Security Officer for Sumitomo Pharma Americas, Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) President's Office. In the CISO role, Larry was responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance with the SMPA / WPI / UMass Information Security Policy and Written Information Security Plan (WISP). In addition to designing and deploying the respective cybersecurity programs, Larry has developed and delivered cybersecurity training at multiple industry events, workshops, training venues, etc. Courses include Designing and Building a Cybersecurity Program, Designing and Building a Ransomware Program, and Designing and Building a Third-Party Risk Program. Larry has also worked with multiple companies in multiple industries to help design, build, and maintain their Cybersecurity Programs, Ransomware Program, and Third-Party Risk Programs.

Kip Boyle is the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer of Cyber Risk Opportunities, whose mission is to help executives become more proficient cyber risk managers. He has over 24 years of cybersecurity experience serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and in other IT risk management roles for organizations in the financial services, technology, telecom, military, civil engineering, and logistics industries.

Senior Information Technology/Security Executive with over 25 years of experience at premier institutions successfully building services and client relationships, developing methodologies, and integrating cross-functional skills. Specializes in information security and risk management, compliance, knowledge management, strategy, business continuity, and operational efficiency. Reputation for leading new initiatives focused on transforming operations, establishing partner/industry relationships, increasing revenue, and reducing cost and risk exposure. Proactive leader with intense focus on customers and beneficial outcomes.

Professor Len Evenchik has more than 25 years of senior management and engineering experience in industry, government, and academia. He teaches courses on the strategic use of Information Technology (IT) and Data Analytics, and a course on Cybersecurity Strategy and Management. He has also served as the faculty supervisor for experiential learning courses for MBA students.

Before coming to Boston College, he was the Assistant Dean and founding director of the online education program at Harvard's Division of Continuing Education. Mr. Evenchik managed all aspects of the program from its inception in 1997, when one online course with four students was offered, to an enrollment of over 10,000. He has also taught graduate level computer science courses on Internet protocols and information security at the Harvard Extension School for over 25 years, including the first course at Harvard to use video streaming and multimedia to deliver classroom lectures to online students around the world.

Mr. Evenchik began his professional career at BBN in Cambridge, where he developed some of the first networking protocols used in the Internet, and then managed the implementation of large commercial networks. He was Director of Communications for the State of Massachusetts where he managed the organization responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and operation of statewide networks supporting over 15,000 users. His industry experience also includes senior management positions in sales, program management and engineering at both large firms and at a number of venture capital backed startups, one of which had a successful IPO.

Prof. Evenchik earned three degrees from MIT in the fields of both Engineering and Management. He received a B.S. and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and he was awarded a patent based on some of his work while a graduate student. He also earned a B.S from the Sloan School of Management where he worked with Prof. Fischer Black on the first online implementation of the Black-Scholes options model.

Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She is a recognized thought leader in security awareness and education with a track record of engaging and empowering people to protect themselves, their families, and their organizations. Lisa is a University of Michigan graduate (Go Blue!) and while she wasn’t born in Austin, Texas, she got there as fast as she could.

Experienced Information Security Officer with a demonstrated history of working in various industries (higher education, healthcare, large industries, etc.). Skilled in risk management, privacy regulations, identity and access management, and security operations. Strong interpersonal skills and will to find the most adequate compromise between the business and security needs.

Christopher Rich is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with deep expertise in cyber risk management, identity and access management (IAM), and security strategy. As the Business Information Security Officer (BISO) at MassMutual, he advises multiple business lines, driving security transformation and aligning cybersecurity initiatives with business objectives in a Fortune 100 environment.

With a proven track record in reducing enterprise risk, enhancing identity security, and championing agile methodologies, Christopher has led strategic initiatives that significantly improved security posture, including reducing software vulnerabilities by over 50% and spearheading customer IAM advancements for over 1.3 million users.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Christopher serves as the President of the ISC2 Eastern Massachusetts Chapter, fostering cybersecurity education and community engagement. He is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences, having presented at events such as the Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit and OKTANE, where he shares insights on IAM best practices, cybersecurity risk reduction, and the evolving security landscape.

Christopher holds a CISSP certification and a BS in Business Administration from Villanova University. His passion for cybersecurity as a business enabler and differentiator drives his mission to bridge the gap between security and innovation.

Ms. Praveen Sharma is an executive with more than two decades of leadership in cybersecurity, privacy, data and AI, and emerging technologies across regulated and mission-critical national security environments.

She has held senior leadership roles at Philips Healthcare, BD (Becton Dickinson), Xerox, Insulet, and Cubic Transportation Systems, where she built and scaled products as well as enterprise security, AI and data governance, and critical infrastructure protection programs.

Ms. Sharma’s leadership is grounded in deep technical expertise. Earlier in her career at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, MITRE, and Raytheon BBN, she designed software systems, large-scale data platforms, and advanced AI algorithms before AI became a widely-recognized strategic imperative; one of her AI innovations later transitioned into the startup ecosystem.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Ms. Sharma contributes to the broader technology community by volunteering within the MIT CIO symposium, and serving as a technology innovation advisor to nonprofit organizations.

Kyle Bubp is currently serving as Chief Information Security Officer at Avid Technology and is also a member of IANS Faculty. He's a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of IT and security experience.
Kyle has worked for Fortune 200 enterprises, hosting providers, the FBI, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense to analyze and improve their security posture. His expertise spans security architecture, application security, vulnerability management, incident response, and developing comprehensive security programs.

He's also a published author, featured in the "Tribe of Hackers" book series, mentors students as part of MassCyberCenter’s Mentorship Program, serves on multiple cybersecurity startup advisory boards, and continues to research security issues and present on improving the security industry.

Josh Behnke is the Manager of Pre-Sales Engineering at Concentric AI. With a career spanning over three decades, Josh offers a rare perspective gained from sitting on both sides of the table—serving as a veteran security practitioner and a strategic leader at industry giants like CrowdStrike, Proofpoint, and GuidePoint Security.

Before moving into the vendor space, Josh spent more than 20 years working in various security roles, holding titles such as Director of IT and Information Security Officer, giving him a deep, first-hand understanding of the operational challenges CISOs face today. When he’s not securing the data landscape, you can find him in the great outdoors hunting or catching the latest superhero flick.

Sam Curry, VP & CISO in Residence, Sam Curry is a 30-year veteran of the cybersecurity industry. He began his career in signals and cryptanalysis and was the first employee at Signal 9 Solutions, a small start-up that invented the personal firewall, executed the first commercial implementation of Blowfish, and devised early stealthy (symmetric key) VPN technology that was ultimately sold to McAfee.
Sam would go on to serve as Chief Security Architect there and as head of Product for McAfee.com before holding several positions at RSA including head of RSA labs at MIT, head of product, and CTO, as well as Distinguished Engineer for EMC. After seven years with RSA, Curry acted as SVP and CISO at Microstrategy, CSO & CTO for Arbor Networks before it became Netscout, and as CSO for Cyberreason.

Sam is a Forbes contributor, holds 17 active patents in cybersecurity and a master’s degree in counterterrorism, and sits on two boards of directors. In addition, he teaches courses at Harvard (online), Wentworth Technology Institute, and Nichols College. He is also a Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University.

Bill Bowman built the information security programs as the initial cybersecurity leader at Bright Horizons, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Eze Software, ZoomInfo, and Emburse. With over two decades of experience creating cybersecurity programs that meet rigorous certifications such as PCI, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 1, and SOC 2, he has consistently satisfied both client demands and regulatory requirements.

Bowman is passionate about data privacy, having established the Office of the Data Protection Officer at two organizations. His leadership has also contributed to the success of four companies that have exited private equity. Over the past 14 years, he has cultivated a strong network of security leaders, following his role as the founding President of the ISC2 Eastern Massachusetts chapter.

Seasoned IT and Cybersecurity Executive with a track record of leading enterprise-wide technology, security, and support operations. Proven ability to align IT strategy with business goals, drive process improvements, and lead complex implementations. Deep expertise in cybersecurity, technology transformation, managed services, and team leadership. Known for strategic thinking, decisive execution, and a pragmatic approach to solving high-stakes problems.

Mohammad Eshan is a security researcher, offensive operator, and the CEO and Co-Founder of GhostEye (YC S25), building vulnerability management for human risk. GhostEye uses AI and OSINT to simulate realistic social engineering attacks across voice, email, and SMS, helping organizations find and fix the human vulnerabilities that scanners can't see. Before founding GhostEye, Eshan served on BlackRock's Red Team and conducted offensive operations at MITRE. He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's in Cybersecurity from RIT.

Jack Butler is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Sumo Logic, specializing in logging, SIEM, and application security. He helps organizations modernize security operations, streamline data integration, and strengthen resilience against evolving threats. Jack also serves as an OWASP Boston chapter leader, helping advance security education, promote secure-by-design principles, and drive collaboration within the local community.

Bart Lenaerts is a Senior Threat Intelligence Product Marketing Manager with Infoblox. Bart is a 20+ year veteran in Network Systems & Security with a focus in Digital Risk Management and Automated Investigations.

Chandra Pandey is the Founder and CEO of Seceon, bringing more than 30 years of experience in cybersecurity and networking. Fueled by a relentless drive to demystify high-stakes security, he has spearheaded the creation of a unified, AI/ML-powered platform that transforms SIEM, SOAR, XDR, UEBA, NDR, and beyond into intuitive, battle-ready defenses for more than 9,300 organizations worldwide. Chandra’s mission is simple, yet profound: cut the total cost of ownership and deliver genuine real time threat protection that organizations can count on.

Shashwat Sehgal is the Co-Founder and CEO of P0 Security. He’s spent most of his career building security and observability products for developers, DevOps, and security teams. Shashwat is passionate about solving the problem of cloud access security and helping security engineers control "who has access to what sensitive resources" in any environment. He enjoys playing tennis, spending time with his family, teaching his son how to play chess, and geeking out on all things security.

Nick Bruno is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and SVP of IT at SHL, a global HR SaaS provider specializing in talent acquisition and talent management solutions. He oversees information and cyber security, IT services and business systems, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps, along with business continuity management.

With more than 20 years of experience, Nick has led security and data protection programs for technology and healthcare cloud service providers. His previous leadership roles include positions at SAI360, Monster Worldwide, Philips (HealthSuite digital platform), and Continuum Managed Services.

Nick is recognized for establishing security and data protection programs that enable business growth across diverse industries and cloud service environments. He holds an M.S. in Network Security from Capitol College, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Salem State College. His certifications include C|CISO, CISSP-ISSAP, and CISM, and he actively serves on multiple advisory boards.

Lorna Koppel is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Tufts University, where she provides executive leadership for information security, privacy, and compliance across a highly diverse academic, research, clinical, administrative, and student environment. In this role, she is responsible for enterprise security strategy, risk management, policy and governance, regulatory alignment, and the university’s overall security posture, including detection and response. Prior to Tufts, Lorna held the senior security leadership roles at Iron Mountain, Kohler Co., and BT-Infonet Services Corp., and earlier in her career worked at CSC and Meso Inc. She also served in the United States Air Force Weather Service. Lorna holds degrees from Bowling Green State University, Penn State, and the University at Albany.

Astrid Lambert is a seasoned leader with expertise in information security, healthcare analytics, database administration, and website development. Known for her forward-thinking leadership and innovative approach, she currently serves as CISO/Senior Director in the IT department at Cambridge Health Alliance, where she oversees strategic initiatives critical to the organization's success.

Astrid's expertise has enabled Cambridge Health Alliance to make data-driven decisions, driving efficiency and improvements across multiple domains. A strong advocate for information security, she implements robust measures to protect sensitive healthcare data and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. She holds degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Industrial Engineering and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Astrid is committed to making a positive impact on the broader healthcare community. She volunteers her time and expertise with various organizations, sharing her knowledge and helping others develop creative solutions to complex challenges.

Esmond Kane brings more than two decades of expertise as a distinguished leader in information security, safeguarding vital sectors. With a rich leadership background at prestigious institutions like Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, and Steward Health Care, he also serves on the advisory boards of multiple companies, providing valuable insights on cyber matters. Kane excels as a trusted consultant to top executives and founders, ensuring secure IT operations, regulatory compliance, and resilient design. His stellar track record is a testament to his recognized authority in the field.

Scott Taylor is a senior technology leader with over 23 years of experience across end-user, partner, and manufacturer environments within the IT industry. He currently serves as Director, Cyber Resilience, Field Solutions Architect at Everpure, where he leads technical strategy and helps drive customer success through innovative security and resilience solutions. For more than a decade, Scott has focused on pre-sales technical leadership, building and guiding high-performing teams that consistently deliver measurable business outcomes.

He is passionate about delivering innovative and efficient solutions while fostering a growth-oriented culture grounded in strategic thinking and strong leadership. Throughout his career, Scott has successfully navigated complex technical landscapes, providing valuable insights to clients, executive leadership, and key stakeholders. Known for cultivating high-performing, collaborative teams across practices and business units, he promotes continuous learning, creativity, and a strong focus on helping clients achieve their business objectives.

Justin Armstrong is a security, privacy, and regulatory compliance leader with over 25 years of experience in the Healthcare Industry. He led Product Security at MEDITECH, a top three Electronic Health Record vendor, and has helped numerous organizations as a fractional CISO. He has engaged with Hospitals in nearly 100 ransomware incidents, and is dedicated to securing Healthcare and Critical Infrastructure. Justin is a contributor to the IEEE/UL 2933™ Standard for Clinical IoT Data and Device Interoperability with TIPPSS — Trust, Identity, Privacy, Protection, Safety, and Security, which defines secure and interoperable practices for connected healthcare systems.

He holds the CISSP, CCSP, and HCISPP certifications and obtained his Masters in Cybersecurity Leadership at Brandeis University.

Ben is a cybersecurity leader with over a decade of experience shaping and scaling security programs across diverse industries including healthcare, finance, and education. From building red teams and security operations centers to leading executive strategy and cultural transformation, his career spans nearly every dimension of the cyber landscape.

Throughout his career, Ben has been driven by a belief that successful cybersecurity is built not just on controls and compliance, but on culture, communication, and continuous improvement. He's known for turning complex challenges into collaborative solutions whether guiding incident response, launching DevSecQps initiatives, or mentoring the next generation of security professionals.

A Colorado native with a deep passion for building teams and growing successful programs, Ben sees his ideal role as that of a cyber culture architect, fostering environments where security becomes second nature, not an afterthought. His presentations blend real-world experience with practical takeaways and a human-centered approach that resonates across technical and executive audiences alike.

Jim Bearce is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience in IT security development, operations, and executive leadership. As Vice President of Professional Services at AccessIT Group, Jim oversees the delivery of cutting-edge security solutions, helping organizations strengthen their defenses against evolving cyberthreats.

Prior to joining AccessIT Group, Jim played a pivotal role in guiding enterprises through complex security challenges. He has led global security teams across North & South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, specializing in threat detection, incident response, and risk mitigation for large-scale organizations. He has also served as an interim CISO, advising executive teams and Boards of Directors on cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and compliance.

Jim holds a Master of Science in Information Security & Assurance from Norwich University, along with multiple industry-recognized security certifications, including CISSP and CISM.

Having achieved an M.Sci in Astrophysics from Glasgow University in Scotland, Lewis went on to spend three years working for UK Defence, developing radar systems for naval vessels and fighter jets. Looking to take advantage of his communication skills combined with his technical skills, he went on to work as a solutions engineer in FinTech SaaS, before finding a passion for cybersecurity (namely by watching too many documentaries about ransomware) and moving on to SecureFlag.

Peter Steyaert is a leading cybersecurity and IT architect who directs all detailed and extensive ASOC product discussions for private and public sector customers. His background and knowledge spans the fields of cyber defense, SOC management, VoIP, and network architecture. Peter has worked on significantly large projects in both the federal government space and private sector. He received his Master of Science degree in Cyber and Information Security from Capitol Technology University, an accredited institution recognized by both NSA and DHS as an Academic Center of Excellence.

Patricia Titus, a Field Chief Information Security Officer at Abnormal AI, has more than 25 years of CISO experience. Her extensive background includes CISO positions at prominent organizations such as Booking Holdings, Markel Corporation, Freddie Mac, Symantec, Unisys, and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Throughout her career, she has been responsible for developing and implementing security strategies that align with business objectives and ensure adherence to global regulations. Recognized for her expertise in areas like risk management, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity operations, and crisis management, Patricia has a proven track record of optimizing security frameworks, improving business resilience, and incorporating innovative solutions, including AI, into security practices. She currently contributes her expertise by serving on the boards of Black Kite, The Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Glasswing Ventures.

Ian Sun is a cybersecurity researcher and conference speaker focused on social engineering defense and human layer security. He previously presented original research at SecureWorld Financial Services in 2025, where he introduced the Dissonance Test, a behavioral method for surfacing deception in hiring and access control, including nation-state infiltration into IT roles. His work bridges threat intelligence with practical defenses for help desks, hiring, onboarding, and workforce identity. Ian brings hands-on experience from MSP and university IT roles and holds CompTIA Network+, Security+, and ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity credentials. He is currently pursuing the PNPT.

Jay Martin is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Vice President of Cybersecurity & Risk at Blue Mantis, where he leads the charge in securing enterprise ecosystems, building business resilience, and navigating the evolving digital threat landscape. With more than 25 years of experience across IT, cybersecurity, and risk management, Jay bridges technical complexity with business strategy—helping organizations not just survive but thrive securely.

At Blue Mantis, Jay architects the cybersecurity vision across internal operations and external service delivery, aligning technical defenses with real-world business imperatives. He oversees cybersecurity posture across seven practice areas while empowering clients to achieve measurable, resilient growth in an increasingly hostile digital world.

Jay’s leadership was recently showcased on the global stage when he helped lead security operations for a major city that hosted Super Bowl LIX, safeguarding one of the world’s most high-profile events against cyber threats. Before joining Blue Mantis, Jay co-founded Service Catalyst and held senior leadership roles at Dunkin’ Brands International, InteQ Corporation, and Hewlett-Packard. Throughout his career, he has built security programs from the ground up, led major business continuity initiatives, and guided enterprises through regulatory compliance with precision and foresight.

Jay has held the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential and is an active voice in cybersecurity leadership forums. His passion: translating risk into resilience, complexity into clarity, and cybersecurity into a business enabler — not a barrier. When Jay speaks, he brings a rare combination of technical insight, executive pragmatism, and forward-looking vision—making cybersecurity approachable, strategic, and mission-critical for today’s leaders.

Geoff has more than 35 years of experience working in all verticals and markets, from the SMB to the enterprise, focusing on the application of IT solutions that enable businesses to achieve their goals. As Senior Practice Director of Managed Services and Modern Workspace, Geoff is focused on the development of co-sourced and federated Infrastructure Operations, Help Desk, Cloud, Modern Workspace, and Security Service Frameworks designed to optimize IT operations and drive economic value to the business.

Geoff helps develop new services and marketing strategies for the company, as well as provides strategy and support to Blue Mantis’ key clients. Prior to Blue Mantis, Geoff was the Director of Client Services for Managed Technology Partners, where he was part of an overlay team that architected a new services methodology, marketing strategy, and client acquisition model. Geoff’s professional certifications include CCSP, MCNE, and VTSP. He earned a BS in Computer Science from Westfield State College.

As Technical Director of Security at EchoStor Technologies, Jonathan leads the organization’s comprehensive security practice. He focuses on building strong security programs that align with modern trends, ensuring customers meet both their security and business objectives.

With more than 15 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry, Jonathan has built and led security practices for multiple organizations. His approach emphasizes business impact, cross-architecture solutions, and strategic alignment rather than simply focusing on technology, earning him a reputation as a trusted advisor and thought leader among clients and peers.

Jagathi is a global executive, strategic operator and advisor with over two decades of experience across technology, governance and large scale transformation. She has held senior leadership roles at Thomson Reuters, PwC and venture backed firms, leading global teams and scaling operations in highly regulated environments. Today, she advises high-growth, resource-constrained organizations on using AI to compete, innovate, and grow with discipline and intent.

Faisal is a seasoned cybersecurity & compliance professional with more than a decade of consulting and industry experience. He is a GRC Solutions Specialist at Vanta, helping customers with guidance on their security & compliance programs. Vanta is a trust management platform and provides one place to centralize security program management, automate compliance workflows, and build and manage trust with customers and vendors alike, supporting more than 15,000 customers and counting.

As an experienced information security strategist and collaborative executive leader, Gene Kingsley builds and leads scalable, highly-effective cybersecurity programs that enable organizations to protect their intellectual property and maintain critical operations while maximizing profitability. Gene is passionate about designing secure, compliant infrastructures that proactively mitigate potential risk, preparing organizations across diverse industries for incident response, disaster recovery, and sustained business continuity.

Gene’s robust industry experience gives him a comprehensive view of the broader security landscape, informing his innovative and collaborative approach. He began his career in IT help desk and operations roles and continuously progressed into information security leadership positions across the higher education, healthcare, and financial services industries.

One of Gene’s greatest accomplishments was developing and launching a security-as-a-service program for the University of Massachusetts in 2015, known as the Massachusetts Advanced Secure Technologies (MAST) program. He was recognized by the governor of Massachusetts in 2017 for this effort. To this day, MAST provides crucial security support to 501(c)3 nonprofits and institutions of higher education as well as local municipalities and government organizations at the request of the Massachusetts governor.

During his tenure with Reliant Medical Group, Gene managed the cybersecurity and data protection practice across 23 urgent care clinics and hospital facilities, ensuring the uninterrupted functionality of the critical operational infrastructure and healthcare platforms required for ongoing patient care. In this role, Gene managed the oversight and mitigation of potential HIPAA concerns and ensured continuous alignment with the requirements of a highly regulated environment.

In his most recent role with Farm Credit Financial Partners, Gene supported six separate farm credit associations and agricultural banks across the US. He designed and proposed a consolidated information security strategy that was accepted and even championed by the leaders of all six partners on the first draft, demonstrating his ability to navigate the competing priorities of multiple stakeholders while influencing the adoption of new processes that optimize the organizational security posture.

A common thread throughout each of Gene’s experiences has been his willingness to educate and drive awareness around information security and cloud computing practices. He has created and led tabletop incident response exercises, and since 2010 he has been an advisor, keynote speaker, panelist, and workshop facilitator for The Seguro Group. He develops and presents his own content and facilitates certificate-based workshops that are sought after by information security practitioners of all levels at Seguro’s SecureWorld and Secure Plus conferences.

Gene holds a Master of Science in Communications and Information Management from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management in Amherst. He has two Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC)—Certified Information Security Professional and Certified Forensic Examiner—as well as an ITIL 4th Edition Foundation Certificate in IT Management. Gene is also certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) and is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He currently resides in the Springfield, Massachusetts area.

Troy Batterberry is the founder and CEO of EchoMark, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company pioneering a new standard in information protection. The company was founded on that trust is central to empowering everyone to do their best work. Troy brings years of product and technology experience, including 25 years at Microsoft, where he most recently served as a Corporate Vice President as the product leader of Microsoft Teams Meetings, Calling, and Events. During his tenure, Troy also played an integral role in the growth and success of marquee Microsoft products, such as Windows, Explorer/Edge, Bing, Xbox, and MSN. Before joining Microsoft, Troy held engineering positions at Sony and within the U.S. Department of Defense. Troy is driven by a long-standing passion for creating new experiences and products.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Troy is a parent volunteer at his kids’ schools, spends time volunteering for Boy Scouts, and also enjoys time outdoors boating, hiking, and running. He holds an M.S. in Information Systems from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from North Dakota State University.

Larry Wilson was formerly the Chief Information Security Officer for Sumitomo Pharma Americas, Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) President's Office. In the CISO role, Larry was responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance with the SMPA / WPI / UMass Information Security Policy and Written Information Security Plan (WISP). In addition to designing and deploying the respective cybersecurity programs, Larry has developed and delivered cybersecurity training at multiple industry events, workshops, training venues, etc. Courses include Designing and Building a Cybersecurity Program, Designing and Building a Ransomware Program, and Designing and Building a Third-Party Risk Program. Larry has also worked with multiple companies in multiple industries to help design, build, and maintain their Cybersecurity Programs, Ransomware Program, and Third-Party Risk Programs.

Kip Boyle is the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer of Cyber Risk Opportunities, whose mission is to help executives become more proficient cyber risk managers. He has over 24 years of cybersecurity experience serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and in other IT risk management roles for organizations in the financial services, technology, telecom, military, civil engineering, and logistics industries.

Larry Wilson was formerly the Chief Information Security Officer for Sumitomo Pharma Americas, Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) President's Office. In the CISO role, Larry was responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance with the SMPA / WPI / UMass Information Security Policy and Written Information Security Plan (WISP). In addition to designing and deploying the respective cybersecurity programs, Larry has developed and delivered cybersecurity training at multiple industry events, workshops, training venues, etc. Courses include Designing and Building a Cybersecurity Program, Designing and Building a Ransomware Program, and Designing and Building a Third-Party Risk Program. Larry has also worked with multiple companies in multiple industries to help design, build, and maintain their Cybersecurity Programs, Ransomware Program, and Third-Party Risk Programs.

Kip Boyle is the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer of Cyber Risk Opportunities, whose mission is to help executives become more proficient cyber risk managers. He has over 24 years of cybersecurity experience serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and in other IT risk management roles for organizations in the financial services, technology, telecom, military, civil engineering, and logistics industries.

Silas Adams is a 22-year information security veteran and currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Pep Boys. A former Marine, he sharpened his craft supporting missions at U.S. Cyber Command, the NSA, DIA, and (what is now) the CIA’s Directorate of Digital Innovation, and later served as a DARPA Innovation Fellow within the Information Innovation Office (I2O).

In the private sector, Silas has led security and risk programs at PwC, Cognizant, Wells Fargo, Chesapeake Utilities, RubiconMD, Oak Street Health, Lincoln Investment, and others, building expertise across highly regulated industries. He is known for pairing deep technical rigor with pragmatic leadership, he drives security transformations that enable business outcomes while delivering and transforming technology ecosystems that are secure, compliant, scalable, and built for speed. His risk-oriented approach to building, transforming and leading secure digital ecosystems enables organizations to seize opportunities throughout their business lifecycle, intelligently embrace risk to yield returns and cause disruptive innovation.

Silas Adams is a 22-year information security veteran and currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Pep Boys. A former Marine, he sharpened his craft supporting missions at U.S. Cyber Command, the NSA, DIA, and (what is now) the CIA’s Directorate of Digital Innovation, and later served as a DARPA Innovation Fellow within the Information Innovation Office (I2O).

In the private sector, Silas has led security and risk programs at PwC, Cognizant, Wells Fargo, Chesapeake Utilities, RubiconMD, Oak Street Health, Lincoln Investment, and others, building expertise across highly regulated industries. He is known for pairing deep technical rigor with pragmatic leadership, he drives security transformations that enable business outcomes while delivering and transforming technology ecosystems that are secure, compliant, scalable, and built for speed. His risk-oriented approach to building, transforming and leading secure digital ecosystems enables organizations to seize opportunities throughout their business lifecycle, intelligently embrace risk to yield returns and cause disruptive innovation.

Matt is a security architecture manager with more than 20 years of experience helping critical industries, including experience driving growth through business alignment and operational excellence.

Anatoly oversees global technology, cloud, security, and product operations, and he is dedicated to delivering and managing EDETEK’s innovative suite of clinical platforms. As a technology leader, Anatoly brings more than 25 years of experience which spans multiple industries and business verticals. Prior to joining EDETEK, Anatoly worked in both small startups and large established companies, including leadership positions at SmashFly, where he was responsible for navigating company’s technology team through rapid growth cycle; and global brokerage firm ITG (now Virtu Financial), where he was architecting, building, and operating best of breed SaaS platforms for financial services industry. Anatoly has a Master’s Degree in Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

Michael joined Island in October 2024 as Field CTO, bringing over 30 years of data networking, operations, and cybersecurity domain expertise.

He formerly served as Head of Technical Marketing and Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist at SentinelOne where he was responsible for messaging and strategic development of their XDR product roadmap as well as the identity security portfolio. Prior to SentinelOne he held the title of Chief Technical Strategist for McAfee.

Michael was the co-founder and CTO of NitroSecurity–later acquired by McAfee–where he was responsible for developing and implementing their overall SIEM technology vision and roadmap and has held senior technical management positions at Cabletron and Avaya.

Michael studied Computer and Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and received an honorary MBA from Bentley University where he helped create the Information Age MBA curriculum. He is also an adjunct professor teaching cybersecurity courses at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and Norwich University in Vermont.

With more than 17 years’ experience in the cybersecurity field, Robyn has led five organizations in their transformation from no security program or a minimal security program to a mature security organization. Starting with an organization that needed to achieve NIST compliance to survive, moving to a large financial firm, and then into the retail industry, Robyn has been instrumental in achieving continuous risk reduction for all these organizations. These risk reductions allowed her to move to her next challenge while leaving a team that was set up to succeed and continue their maturity journey. This includes not only cybersecurity but also the IT risk, IT compliance, and when it came, privacy disciplines.

Currently responsible for security, IT risk, IT compliance, and privacy at the Knitwell Group, Robyn has been asked to lead the IT Operations team, as well. This adds the Service Desk, Identity and Access, Major Incident Response, Production Control, and Operations to her responsibilities, which is a little bit of back to the future for her, as she started her journey on the Help Desk and in Professional Services, prior to making the move into the security field.

Christopher Fielder has worked within the cybersecurity world for more than 26 years and holds 18 industry certifications along with a Master's Degree in Information Security. His experience ranges from military, government, and corporate environments with security roles that cover offensive, defensive, and analytical positions. Christopher has also helped train some of the next generation of security professionals as a university instructor and former member of the SANS Institute. Today, his role as the Field CTO and Editor-in-Chief allows him to focus on trending security concerns, modern defense techniques, and the power and intelligence of Arctic Wolf.

Javed Ikbal is the CISO at Bright Horizons. Prior to that, he held CISO positions at Upromise Rewards, GTECH, and Omgeo, and brings 20 years of information security experience in financial services, gaming, and scientific research sectors. He specializes in building or re-engineering information security programs, regulatory compliance, application security, and aligning IT and information security programs to business goals. He is the co-author of "The Laidoff Ninja" and is currently working on his next book, "Clicking Up: Building a Great Information Security Program."

Chad Barr is a seasoned leader in the field of information security, currently serving as the Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) within the Risk Advisory Service practice at AccessIT Group (AITG). With a proven track record of success, Chad brings a wealth of experience to AccessIT Group.

As a visionary leader in the realm of cybersecurity, Chad has honed his skills across multiple disciplines, including security engineering, project management, risk management, and compliance. His extensive background underscores his ability to guide organizations toward robust and resilient security postures.

Brian Carmen is a security leader with more than 15 years of experience helping C-level executives and technologists solve complex security and risk management challenges while keeping initiatives on time and on budget. Guided by a “people first, technology second” philosophy, he focuses on strengthening organizational security through education, enablement, and practical strategy that aligns policy, process, and technology.

He has presented on cyber and operational security at major industry conferences and serves as a trusted advisor to government agencies and global enterprises, including the FAA, Department of Energy, U.S. Senate, Honeywell, John Deere, Volvo, and Booz Allen.

Lucas Fryer is a Senior Security Solutions Architect at Splunk, where he works with organizations to strengthen their security and data strategies using modern analytics and cloud technologies. With a background in technology and data systems and a degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Lucas specializes in helping teams transform complex machine data into actionable insights that improve security, resilience, and operational performance. He regularly collaborates with security and engineering leaders to design scalable solutions and is passionate about making advanced data and security capabilities accessible to organizations at every stage of their digital journey.

Michael serves as a Senior Principal Sales Engineer at Ping Identity, bringing more than 14 years of deep-domain expertise to the identity landscape. His career is defined by a unique evolution—beginning in the rigorous world of Lithium-Ion battery research before pivoting to optimize digital ecosystems through web application testing and performance engineering. At Ping, Michael acts as a strategic advisor across the entire identity lifecycle. He specializes in bridging the gap between complex technical protocols and seamless user experiences. His current focus lies at the intersection of Access, Authorization, and the transformative power of AI, helping organizations navigate the next frontier of secure, intelligent identity.

Leveraging her extensive and vast experience as a former Navy JAG and national security prosecutor, B. Stephanie Siegmann specializes in handling high-stakes criminal and civil litigation matters, sensitive internal investigations, government enforcement proceedings and cyber-related incidents of all kinds. She is a litigation partner at Hinckley, Allen, & Snyder LLP and serves as the Chair of its Cybersecurity, Privacy, International Trade, and National Security Practice Groups and Co-Chair of its Artificial Intelligence Practice Group. Stephanie has been a trial lawyer for more than 25 years, has overseen hundreds of complex investigations, and tried dozens of federal trials. She uses her experience as a former prosecutor to defend companies and individuals in complex government investigations and advises clients on a full range of issues involving national security, export controls, sanctions, cybersecurity, cyber incident response, data privacy, the use of AI tools and systems, anti-money laundering, grant compliance, theft of trade secrets and intellectual property, and healthcare and financial crimes. Stephanie conducts internal investigations, provides guidance on developing robust regulatory compliance programs, interfaces with law enforcement agencies, responds to government inquiries and subpoenas, seeks to favorably resolve government enforcement matters, and provides aggressive representation in civil and criminal matters.

Prior to joining Hinckley Allen in March 2022, Stephanie handled and supervised some of the highest profile national security matters in the country during her 18-year tenure as a former prosecutor and National Security Chief in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. In her capacity as National Security Chief, she was responsible for supervising all national security investigations/prosecutions in Massachusetts, including cyber intrusions, international and domestic terrorism, terrorist financing, violations of U.S. export control laws and sanctions regulations, espionage, trade secret theft, foreign influence operations, money laundering, and fraud.

Stephanie has earned numerous honors and awards during her career, most notably, she is ranked as a top lawyer in White-Collar Crime & Government Investigation by Chambers and Partners (2025) and was the recipient of the 2025 UMass Boston Distinguished Alumni award. Stephanie graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History and Psychology and graduated magna cum laude from Suffolk University Law School with a Juris Doctor. She also now teaches as adjunct faculty member at Boston College Law School’s Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk and Governance.

Senior Information Technology/Security Executive with over 25 years of experience at premier institutions successfully building services and client relationships, developing methodologies, and integrating cross-functional skills. Specializes in information security and risk management, compliance, knowledge management, strategy, business continuity, and operational efficiency. Reputation for leading new initiatives focused on transforming operations, establishing partner/industry relationships, increasing revenue, and reducing cost and risk exposure. Proactive leader with intense focus on customers and beneficial outcomes.

Mark Annati is an experienced IT and cybersecurity leader, currently CISO for the Executive Office of Economic Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A board member of InfraGard Boston, he previously served as CISO for advansappz.com and Extreme Reach. With over 20 years in IT security and two successful startups, Mark has led security operations, risk management, enterprise IT, and cloud initiatives. A former U.S. Navy submariner, he values teamwork, strategic planning, and continuous learning. Holding CISSP and SSCP certifications, he is passionate about aligning security with business goals and advancing security awareness.

Nick Butts is the Outreach Program Manager at the MassCyberCenter at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech). In his role, Nick focuses on amplifying the Center’s programs and initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity resilience across the Commonwealth. He leads outreach efforts to engage businesses, municipalities, and key stakeholders, ensuring they have access to practical tools and resources for improving their cybersecurity posture. Nick also manages major events for the MassCyberCenter, creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among industry leaders, government partners, and the broader cybersecurity community.

Prior to joining the MassCyberCenter, Nick served in a variety of positions within Massachusetts state government. His experience includes working in the Office of Governor Charles D. Baker as Deputy Director of Boards and Commissions and subsequently as Director of Constituent Services..

Nick holds a B.A. in Politics and History from Curry College.

Max Fathy is the Senior Program Manager, Cybersecurity Innovation, at the MassCyberCenter at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech). He is responsible for supporting the MassCyberCenter’s workforce development efforts, including the Cybersecurity Training and Education Working Group and the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, and building stronger relationships with the private sector cybersecurity community.

Prior to joining the MassCyberCenter, Max worked as a Manager of Government Relations and Public Policy for ML Strategies, where he advised private sector companies across a range of industries on state and local public policy in Massachusetts. He also served as a Project Analyst at Mintz Levin, where he supported legal, government relations, and community service initiatives.

Max holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy with a focus on International Security and Technology Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. During his studies at Fletcher, he served as a Rosenthal Fellow in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the United States Department of Defense. He also received his B.A. in International Relations from Tufts.

James brings more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology including seven years in cybersecurity within the manufacturing vertical. He has a passion for team development and attributes his program’s success to relationship and team building skills developed earlier in his career. He started his career in higher education and has since shifted to private sector organizations and holds several industry certifications including CISSP, CISA, PMP and PCIP.

A motivated builder and problem solver who loves working with others to create the solutions that drive innovation, optimization, and change.

Joshua Bregler is a cybersecurity executive with deep expertise in application security, cloud architecture, and mission-critical systems. He currently serves as the Application Security Leader at McKinsey & Company, where he builds and scales firmwide application security capabilities, enabling secure product development and enterprise resilience.

Before joining McKinsey, Joshua was a Principal Security Architect at Amazon Web Services, where he supported the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. In that role, he led secure cloud transformation initiatives, architected high-assurance systems, and partnered with national security stakeholders to advance zero-trust security models across classified and critical workloads.

Joshua holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, bringing a mission-first mindset and disciplined leadership style to every engagement. His career reflects more than two decades of advancing cybersecurity strategy, designing secure digital ecosystems, and guiding organizations through complex technical and regulatory environments.

Kishore has 20-plus years' experience in software architecture and application security and is currently a Principal Engineer, Application Security, at CarGurus  He has presented at Identiverse.

Walter Abeson is currently a Solutions Engineer at Reach Security where he helps enterprises prevent breaches by ensuring that their security tools are optimized to defend against attacks. Walter has a deep background in security operations and threat hunting, with over 10 years of experience. Prior to joining Reach, Walter worked at Dazz, SentinelOne, Endgame, RSA NetWitness, and was the Technology Manager for Black Hat. He continues to serve as staff for the Black Hat NOC and as a goon for DEF CON. When not behind a computer, Walter enjoys photography, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Harish Akali is Chief Technology Officer at ColorTokens, leading innovation in cybersecurity platforms that secure modern enterprise infrastructure. With over 30 years of experience building and scaling enterprise infrastructure and security products, he has founded and exited a cybersecurity startup, built platforms trusted by the Fortune 100, and led global engineering teams delivering enterprise-grade innovation at scale.

Maxime Gréau is a Principal Software Engineer at Chainguard, where he builds DriftlessAF, an open source agentic reconciliation framework that powers Chainguard Factory 2.0. Previously at Elastic for 7+ years, he led cross-engineering supply chain security efforts that reduced CVEs across Elastic's container images, pioneered Sigstore container signing, and contributed to the design of GitOps-based serverless CD workflows. He's a published author ("Apache Maven") and conference speaker (DevoxxFr, DevNation).

Ryan Roobian has over 25 years of experience in various specialties in IT including Cybersecurity. As a Global Solutions Architect at Google Cloud Security, Ryan serves as a subject matter expert for all security products and services within the Google Cloud portfolio. In his current role, Ryan works with strategic customers around the world in developing complex solutions with security inherent in their design, while also helping with internal product and go-to-market strategies.

Helen Negre is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and digital transformation leader with extensive experience in building security strategies for global enterprises. As a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) for LRS and former Chief Cybersecurity Officer at Siemens, Helen has led large-scale security programs, developed compliance frameworks for standards such as PCI DSS, ISO 27001, NIST, and CMMC, and driven organizational shifts from traditional manufacturing to technology focused operations. She specializes in risk management, regulatory compliance, and executive advisory services. Helen’s career spans leadership roles in IT, OT, product security, and incident response, with a proven track record of collaborating with intelligence agencies, regulators, and industry boards to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats.

Larry Wilson was formerly the Chief Information Security Officer for Sumitomo Pharma Americas, Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) President's Office. In the CISO role, Larry was responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance with the SMPA / WPI / UMass Information Security Policy and Written Information Security Plan (WISP). In addition to designing and deploying the respective cybersecurity programs, Larry has developed and delivered cybersecurity training at multiple industry events, workshops, training venues, etc. Courses include Designing and Building a Cybersecurity Program, Designing and Building a Ransomware Program, and Designing and Building a Third-Party Risk Program. Larry has also worked with multiple companies in multiple industries to help design, build, and maintain their Cybersecurity Programs, Ransomware Program, and Third-Party Risk Programs.

Kip Boyle is the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer of Cyber Risk Opportunities, whose mission is to help executives become more proficient cyber risk managers. He has over 24 years of cybersecurity experience serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and in other IT risk management roles for organizations in the financial services, technology, telecom, military, civil engineering, and logistics industries.