Speakers

Phil is a Strategic Security Advisor at Google, specializing in supporting Google Cloud, Cybersecurity and AI for companies and governments at all scales, globally. Prior to this Phil was the first Chief Information Security Officer of Google Cloud, from 2000 to 2025, where he built the risk, security, compliance, and privacy teams. Before joining Google, he was a Partner at Goldman Sachs where he held multiple roles over a long career, initially as their first Chief Information Security Officer, a role he held for 17 years.

In subsequent roles, Venables was Chief Operational Risk Officer, an operating partner in their private equity business and a Senior Advisor to the firm’s clients and executive leadership on cybersecurity, technology risk, digital business risk, and operational resilience. In addition to this, he was a Board Director of Goldman Sachs Bank. Before Goldman Sachs, Venables held multiple Chief Information Security Officer roles, and senior engineering roles across a range of finance, energy, and technology companies. He has been honored with many distinctions and awards most recently, in 2024, being inducted into the Chief Security Officer Hall of Fame.

Outside of Google, Venables serves on the boards of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the NYU Stern Business School Volatility and Risk Institute, the Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board of NIST, the Security and Technology Advisory Board of MITRE, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2021 to 2025 he served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology at The White House where he drove multiple initiatives from cyber-resilience, the future of AI, through to improvements in scientific communications.

Nasrin Rezai is senior vice president and Chief Information Security Officer for Verizon. She is responsible for setting information security strategy, policy, standards, architecture and processes. Rezai and her team work with and across Verizon’s business units to protect its customers and its leading networks.

Prior to joining Verizon, Nasrin held the position of Global Chief Information and Product Cyber Security Officer at GE. She was responsible for all aspects of cyber security strategy and operations for GE products and enterprise, including incident response, threat intelligence, security services, architecture, commercial OT security, and regulatory & compliance.

Her previous roles include Global CISO for GE Capital and head of Corporate Governance, Technology Risk and M&A security, for the industrial GE businesses. Prior to GE, she served as SVP, Chief Tech. Risk Officer in the Enterprise Risk Management Organization at State Street and as CTO of Security at Cisco Systems.

Throughout her career, Nasrin has promoted engineering and architecture in designing security solutions for large enterprises. She is passionate about helping others develop their potential, and mentors many young men and women. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in information systems. She also holds an Executive Certification from Harvard and Cambridge.

Nasrin lives with her family in New York City.

Garima Maheshwari is Vice President of Information Security and Risk Management (ISRM), Business Information Security Officer (BISO) for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. She leads a global organization responsible for information security and risk management activities for Innovative Medicine Commercial, R&D and Supply Chain areas with a focus on Digital Trust, ensuring that we protect our innovation, secure our products & drive resilience of our supply chain and enable availability, integrity, and confidentiality of company assets. Garima also has responsibility for Operational Technology (OT) Security for Johnson & Johnson. Garima is responsible for the Innovative Medicine business’s cybersecurity strategy and direction, working closely with senior leaders to identify and prioritize cybersecurity solutions and oversee the consistent implementation of business solutions in a secure manner. Garima started her career at Johnson & Johnson and has held roles of increasing responsibility in Business Technology, Risk Assurance, and Information Security across Consumer, MedTech, Shared Services and Innovative Medicine. Garima is passionate about talent development and is a mentor and sponsor of diverse talent through both formal and informal programs and channels. She is also an active contributor across industry cybersecurity working groups and forums. Garima holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in English and Economics.

Sherrod DeGrippo is Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Microsoft. She was selected as Cybersecurity woman of the year in 2022 and Cybersecurity PR Spokesperson of the year for 2021.

Previously, she was VP of Threat Research and Detection at Proofpoint, where she led a global team of threat researchers, malware reverse engineers, and threat intelligence analysts. Her career in cybersecurity spans 19 years with prior roles including leading Red Team Services at Nexum, senior solutions engineer for Symantec, senior security consultant for Secureworks, and senior network security analyst for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

She is a frequently cited threat intelligence expert in media including televised appearances on the BBC news, and commentary in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, New York Times, and more. Having presented at Black Hat, Tech Crunch Disrupt, B-Sides Atlanta, RSA conference, RMISC, BrunchCon, and others, Sherrod is a well known public speaker. Currently Sherrod hosts THE Microsoft Threat Intelligence podcast.

In her personal time, Sherrod spends time with her rescue dog Boris Karloff.

As a trusted cybersecurity executive with global authority and insight gleaned from building critical cyber defense, threat mitigation, data protection, privacy, digital trust, and payments security programs to combat and manage sophisticated cyber risk while maintaining regulatory compliance, Sekhar Nagasundaram has earned commendations for his ability to envision and design future-focused, resilient cybersecurity capabilities aligned with C-Suite goals (and delivering lasting results) in Fortune-ranked and government organizations. A business partner and consensus-builder whose career has included landmark cybersecurity programs, security awareness, monitoring technology, counter-attack strategies, and other critical elements at Elevance Health, City and County of San Francisco Board of Advisors, Ellie Mae / ICE, and Visa, Inc., Sekhar has built a reputation for cost-effective, innovative global security frameworks of impact to millions of users.

In his current role as Staff Vice President, Technology – Cybersecurity at Elevance Health, Sekhar serves as the head of global cyber defense and threat management– where he established Cybersecurity as a Service, Zero Trust Cyber Defense, Cyber Fusion, Data Security Posture Management, and AI/ML Defense programs.

Sekhar previously served as Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Architecture & Engineering, Global Head of Data Protection, AI/ML Defense, & Cybersecurity Strategy at Visa, Inc., where his work was pivotal in shaping the North Star for Cybersecurity with Executive leadership, securing global data assets from 3.4B+ credit cards in all business lines, and reducing risk, embedding privacy, and reducing costs and redundancies. Here, he created a lasting impact on secure payment products and payment ecosystem security, enabling trillions in secure transaction processing used by 5,000+ institutions in more than 200 countries.

Abie has 25 years of experience in technology, risk, and cybersecurity for complex, multi-stakeholder environments in public and private enterprises. Abie has built cyber programs over several years as a CISO, consulted for many companies, and worked with nationally recognized leaders across the cyber security industry. His recent work has involved rapid cyber and technology transformation of innovative global companies and startups, guiding business resilience and post-breach crisis recovery.

Abie holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of North Texas and an MBA from Indiana University. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Eric is a highly innovative, versatile, and dynamic executive leader with over 20 years of experience in Cybersecurity, Technology Controls, and Third Party Risk Management in the Financial Services Industry, primarily at Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs).

In his current capacity, Eric is the US Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank (AMCB) and TD Securities (TDS), and is based in Wilmington, Delaware. Prior to joining TD, Eric was the Supplier Assurance Services Executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where his organization was responsible for the assessment, continuous monitoring, and third party risk management activities for a highly complex supply chain with teams positioned across the globe. Eric also served as the Head of Cybersecurity for Chase Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), the North America Consumer Bank Group Information Security Officer (GISO) at Citi, and held progressive cybersecurity leadership roles at Bank of America.

Eric is a champion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) both inside and outside of the organization, including previously serving as the Head of DE&I for Global Supplier Services at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and supporting innovative programs enabling minority suppliers to become cyber-ready to do business within the Financial Services Industry.

Eric is active in the community through board service, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board for the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC). He also serves as the Financial Services representative on the Delaware Cybersecurity Advisory Council, appointed by Governor John Carney in 2018.

Jeff Northrop was recently promoted from Chief Information Security Officer for Mars Petcare into his current role as Chief Information Officer for Mars Wrigley North America. Mr. Northrop joined Mars, Incorporated in May 2019 as Director, Security CoE where he established an OT security program, operationalized the data protection program, and managed Security Architecture before assuming the CISO role for Mars Petcare.

Prior experiences include positions as Security Officer for Liberty Mutual, CTO for the IAPP, and Head of Technology for Reed Elsevier. Mr. Northrop lives in Maine where, along with his wife, he has raised two boys. He now spends his free time hiking, tending to his gardens, and spoiling his cat and chickens.

Nate Vanderheyden is an Executive Director and Deputy CISO for the U.S. Banks at Morgan Stanley.

Mr. Vanderheyden is responsible for the evaluation and evolution of banking systems to enhance cyber resiliency and defensive measures. He started at the firm in 2018 on the Wealth Management Cybersecurity team in direct support of Global Banking Technology and the Private Bank.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Vanderheyden served for 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His last six years of duty were spent at the National Security Agency (NSA), where he conducted and led a team performing computer network operations, advised senior government officials, and authored multiple policy documents shaping cyberspace operations in support of the U.S. Intelligence Community and national security objectives.

Cynthia Kaiser most recently served as a Deputy Assistant Director with the FBI Cyber Division, where she led the Bureau’s cyber threat intelligence, cyber policy, and cyber partner engagement efforts.

Over nearly 20 years with the FBI, Cynthia covered cyber, technology, and counterintelligence issues, served as a PDB Briefer across two presidential administrations, and led FBI cyber threat analysis and election security efforts since 2017. In these roles, she helped reshape the FBI’s information sharing and collaboration with the private sector and with federal, state, and local government officials to be more robust, proactive, and focused on imposing risk and consequences on malicious cyber actors.

Cynthia is also passionate about increasing diversity in cyber and tech professions. She was named a Women Tech Leader Ambassador by GovCIO in 2022, a Top Government Tech Leader to Watch by WashingtonExec in 2023, and received The Cyber Guild’s “Warrior Award” in 2023. She holds a Master’s degree in security policy focused on science and technology and an Executive Master’s degree in leadership.

Delfim Martins is a distinguished cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in protecting critical systems and infrastructure. Currently, he serves as the VP of Cyber Defense at GSK, where he leads a global team to provide continuous cybersecurity operations. Delfim has successfully designed and implemented Security Operations Centers (SOC) for major institutions, and has extensive knowledge in Security Operations, Vulnerability Management, Incident Response and Threat Intelligence.

Linda Marcone is a Cybersecurity leader with 20+ years’ experience.  As a trailblazer in cybersecurity, she specializes in building and maturing Cybersecurity & IT Compliance Programs from the ground up.  Her expertise spans across multiple sectors including Telecom, Retail and Manufacturing.  Since 2022, Marcone has been serving as the VP & CISO, at Crate & Barrel Holdings Inc..  Her responsibilities include three iconic brands: Crate & Barrel, CB2 and Hudson Grace. Linda is passionate about cybersecurity, enjoys speaking at conferences, is currently a member of the Gartner CISO Community Governing Body, served on the Infragard Atlanta Board and recently was recognized as a “2024 Top 100 CISO” in North America by the CISOs Connect Board.

Josh is a Principal in Crowe’s Consulting practice and serves as Crowe’s Cyber Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) leader for consumer markets and life sciences industries. He has over 20 years of experience helping companies align cybersecurity programs including IT risk management, third party risk, business resiliency, threat analysis, and IT compliance.  His responsibilities include overseeing the strategic direction of Crowe’s Cyber GRC offerings focusing on risk metrics, cyber risk quantification, and board reporting.

Eric Pickersgill is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience leading cybersecurity, cloud computing, risk management, and technology governance at large enterprises across various industries.  Eric currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Vice President of Technology at FINRA where he oversees the enterprise cybersecurity and technology risk management program.  As CISO, he leads a diverse team of experts who protect FINRA from threats and enable FINRA to protect investors and ensure the integrity of capital markets.  Prior to FINRA, Eric led cybersecurity and technology programs at Wells Fargo, Capital One, SMX, and Verizon.  Eric built industry-leading cybersecurity capabilities and enabled enterprise-wide technology transformations at these organizations to foster mission delivery and increase profitability. His past work experience also includes tenures at large consultancies such as KPMG and Booz Allen Hamilton.  Eric holds a MS in Information Technology from Marymount University, a Graduate Certification in Cybersecurity from Carnegie Mellon University, a BS in Accounting and Information Systems from Virginia Tech, and a second BS in Management from Virginia Tech.

Catrena Slaughter is a passionate leader serving as the Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Mars Wrigley. She focuses on scaling security with growth, ensuring secure, and compliant digital experiences. Previously, she led Enterprise Security Architecture and Global Factory Cyber Security Transformation at Mars Inc. Before joining Mars, Catrena made significant contributions at Whirlpool Corporation, where she led IT strategy development and delivery for global functions, overseeing transformative projects in manufacturing, supply chain operations, eCommerce and digital experiences. Catrena is receiving recognition in the cybersecurity field, recently being named one of the top 50 CISOs to watch in 2024. Her passion for cybersecurity is rooted in her commitment to “Tech for Good,” and she is an advocate for the exposure and advancement of underrepresented women in tech.

Michael Rogers is a seasoned Information Security leader with over 25 years in IT, 15 of which are dedicated to security. He has excelled in various leadership roles spanning IT engineering, architecture, secure development, compliance, access management, and cyber defense, culminating in his recent tenure as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

Michael holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management, underscoring his strong business acumen. He is fervently passionate about business and IT risk management, aligning incentives, and mentoring others to reach their full potential. Residing in St. Paul, MN, he enjoys life with his wife and their two beloved, spoiled dogs.

Cassie Crossley, Vice President, Supply Chain Security in the global Cybersecurity & Product Security Office at Schneider Electric, is an experienced cybersecurity technology executive in Information Technology and Product Development and author of “Software Supply Chain Security: Securing the End-to-End Supply Chain for Software, Firmware, and Hardware.” She has many years of business and technical leadership experience in supply chain security, cybersecurity, product/application security, software/firmware development, program management, and data privacy.

Cassie has designed frameworks and operating models for end-to-end security in software development lifecycles, third party risk management, cybersecurity governance, and cybersecurity initiatives. She is a member of the CISA SBOM working groups and presents frequently on the topic of SBOMs and Supply Chain Security.

Cassie has held previous positions at Ceridian, Hewlett-Packard, McAfee, Lotus, and IBM. She has an M.B.A. from California State University, Fresno, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Technical and Professional Communication with a specialization in Computer Science.

Westminster Christian School Chief Information / Technology Officer with over 34 years of experience working in the education industry. Skilled in Data Centers, Infrastructure, Windows, Servers, Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, Cisco, VMware / Hyper V, OS X, Fiber Optic Cable, Databases, Domain Name System (DNS), Project Management, Cyber Security Architect, Ethical Hacking, and Data Wiring. Proficient in Microsoft products such as Surface, Windows, Azure, 365, PowerShell, and Intune. Strong information technology professional with a BS-NSE / Specialist in IT- Network / Software Systems Engineer – from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Focused on Network Systems Engineering and Security. Credits include Microsoft MVP • MIE Expert • Microsoft Showcase School Mentor • Speaker (Tech Mentor, Live 360, E2 Education Exchange, Microsoft Showcase School Summit, ISTE, Misbo, Lenovo, FCIS, NAISS, etc). • Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) Speaker • Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) review committee member. • Florida Council of Independent Schools Technology Coordinator Committee and Speaker • VEX Robotics Judge / Head Referee • Esports Director • Executive Board Member for Miami Dade County Public Schools Technology Advisory Committee • Executive Member for the Global Advisory Board for the Showcase Schools Program • Lenovo Customer Advisory Council Member. Recognized 3 years in a row by Mayor Karyn Cunningham City of Palmetto Bay, Fl.  as one of the City’s Top CIO / CTO and most inspiring Leaders • Featured on the cover of the EdTech Magazine (Cyber Bouncers).

Dr. Neil Daswani is Co-Director of the Stanford Advanced Cybersecurity Program, and is President of Daswani Enterprises, his security consulting and training firm. He has served in a variety of research, development, teaching, and executive management roles at QuantumScape, Symantec, LifeLock, Twitter/X, Dasient, Google, Stanford University, NTT DoCoMo USA Labs, Yodlee, and Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore). At Symantec, he was Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Consumer Business Unit, and at LifeLock and QuantumScape he was the company-wide CISO. Neil has served as an Executive-In-Residence at Trinity Ventures (funders of Auth0, New Relic, Aruba, Starbucks, and Bulletproof). He is an investor in and advisor to several cybersecurity startup companies and venture capital funds, including Benhamou Global Ventures, Firebolt, Gravity Ranch Ventures, Security Leadership Capital, and Swift VC. Neil is also co-author of Big Breaches: Cybersecurity Lessons For Everyone (Apress ISBN 978-1484266540) and Foundations of Security: What Every Programmer Needs to Know (Apress ISBN 978-1590597842).

Neil’s DNA is deeply rooted in security research and development, he has dozens of technical articles published in top academic and industry conferences (ACM, IEEE, USENIX, RSA, BlackHat, and OWASP), and he has been granted over a dozen US patents. He frequently gives talks at industry and academic conferences, and has been quoted by publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, and CSO Magazine. He earned PhD and MS degrees in computer science at Stanford University, and he holds a BS in computer science with honors with distinction from Columbia University.

Shreya Radovich is a strategic information security leader with deep expertise in enterprise security, risk management, and cloud security transformation. She currently leads global security operations at Crocs Inc., driving initiatives in SOC modernization, application security, threat simulation, and identity management.

Known for building scalable security programs aligned with business goals, Shreya has successfully led M&A integrations, board-level reporting, and Zero Trust alignment across high-growth environments. She is a strong advocate for risk-based decision-making, security automation, and cross-functional collaboration to elevate organizational resilience.

Felicia Hedgebeth is a highly accomplished Chief Information Officer for the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) with a strong background in cybersecurity and over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology and Security industry. Felicia has a deep understanding of both the technical and strategic aspects of information technology and security, which she leverages to elevate and protect organizational assets and enhance overall IT infrastructure.

Felicia also served as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for DBF, where she was responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive security programs to align with business goals and initiatives. These include establishing robust cybersecurity frameworks, leading incident response teams, and implementing cutting-edge technologies to safeguard sensitive data and the organization.

As CIO, Felicia oversees all IT/Security operations and strategic planning at DBF. She is known for her ability to integrate security best practices into the company’s IT strategy, ensuring that technological advancements are made with security as a top priority. Under her leadership, she is assisting the organization to integrate robotics and artificial intelligence to assist the citizens for Georgia.

She holds a master’s degree in network and Telecommunications Management and a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems.  She is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), and Certified Information Security Manager, (CISM).

In addition to her professional achievements, Felicia is an advocate for women in technology and actively participates in mentorship programs aimed at fostering the next generation of female IT leaders. She occasionally speaks at industry conferences on topics such as emerging technologies and IT governance.

Matt Fryer is an accomplished cybersecurity professional and leader with extensive experience across various organizations within the Financial, O&G, Hospitality and Healthcare sectors, currently serving as a CISO Architect and Field CTO at Fortinet. Matt has spent most of his career in cybersecurity, starting as a PM and Security Analyst through to serving as Executive and CISO for several organizations.

With over 19 years of experience in IT, Mark Alvarado is a digital risk expert. As the Director of Cyber Security & IT Compliance at Academy Sports + Outdoors, he assists corporate organizations in identifying areas where digital hazards are present and making recommendations for controls or solutions to close any gaps. Additionally, he has had formal training in IT security and is knowledgeable in endpoint security, vulnerability management, identity management, DLP, threat remediation, and best practices for protecting IT infrastructure.

Mark spent 11 years in high-speed production prior to his stint in IT, working for organizations including Pepsi, Cold Water Seafood, and Caltex Citrus Juice.

His three children range in age from 26 to 16 years old. He holds three degrees: a bachelor’s degree in information technology, an MBA in information technology management, and a master’s degree in cybersecurity and information assurance.

Mr. Britt has over 20 years of IT, cybersecurity, and technology training experience across government, academia, and private sector organizations. He currently leads the Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance team at Fairfax County Public Schools (VA), the 9th largest K-12 public school system in the United States.   Prior to joining the K-12 education space, he served as a Cybersecurity Compliance Officer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and began his professional career in 2001 with the Central Intelligence Agency supporting several high-profile projects as an IT specialist, information systems security officer, and project manager. A highly sought after speaker and mentor, Mr. Britt is a longtime advocate for increasing diversity in the tech industry.

Param is a global leader with over 25+ years of experience in cybersecurity, IT and Finance, across multiple industries as Health, Energy, Water, Food, Industrial. She has a proven track record in delivering high value outcomes that are aligned with business strategy. She has led several business transformations, including building new cybersecurity functions across diverse industries. Over her career Param has nurtured and grown multiple global teams. She is a lifelong learner in influencing organizational change, shaping culture, and promoting cross business network. Param was recognized as top 50 CISO to watch in 2024.

Dave Adams is an IT executive with 38 years of experience in the industry. Dave has served in his current role as the Chief Information Officer at the American Enterprise Institute for over 15 years and previously held multiple executive and senior leadership positions at Fishbowl Marketing, Hewlett Packard, AT&T and other companies. His extensive expertise in hardware, software and operations management has been instrumental in driving organizational success and innovation. Dave’s leadership is characterized by a strong focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence. He holds a BBA in MIS from James Madison University and an MS in Information and Telecommunications Systems from Johns Hopkins University

Christopher Simm is a dynamic executive leader and Chief Technology Officer at Bulletproof, driving innovation and delivering unparalleled strategic vision. With vast expertise in data center and cloud architecture, Chris has a proven track record of crafting cutting-edge solutions that elevate businesses to new heights. A forward-thinker passionate about progress, he is now spearheading the charge to amplify AI awareness and accelerate digital transformation across the Bulletproof portfolio, empowering clients to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Stacey Myers has spent over two decades architecting cybersecurity solutions that protect what matters most—critical infrastructure, national systems, and the human operators behind them. Her work spans DHS, DoD, and the Intelligence Community, where she led security strategy at scale and built frameworks now shaping national doctrine. Stacey bridges the gap between technical defense and operational resilience, ensuring that systems don’t just withstand attacks—they adapt, recover, and evolve. Her upcoming book, Next-Gen SOC, presents a bold vision for autonomous security operations across both industry and federal spaces—integrating Zero Trust, AI automation, and resilience-by-design to redefine how we defend, respond, and adapt in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.