Archives: Speakers

Despina Spanou is the Head of the Cabinet of the Vice-President of the European Commission overseeing the European Union’s policies on security, migration and asylum,health, skills, education, culture and sports.Previously, she was Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity at the Directorate-General for Communications Network, Content and Technology(DG CONNECT) of the European Commission.In this capacity, Mrs. Spanou was responsible for the European Union’s cybersecurity policy and law, digital privacy, connected cities andmobility, digital health, eGovernment andelectronic identification. As Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity, she was also responsible for the implementation of the EU legislationon security of network and information systems (NIS Directive)and for the negotiations of the EU Cybersecurity Act,which recently entered into forceacross the European Union.Mrs. Spanou hasserved asa member of the management board of ENISA, the EU agency for cybersecurity, andof the Steering Board of the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, bodies and agencies (CERT-EU). She is a founding memberof the Women4Cyber initiative and advocate for the need for more cybersecurity experts in Europe.Despina Spanouhas also beenDirector for Consumer Affairs at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (2013-2017) in charge of consumer policy, consumer and marketing law, redress and enforcement, and product safety. Prior to this position, she was Principal Adviser in the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers responsible for communication andstrategies on managing chronic diseases including the EU’scontribution to the UN General Assembly on Health. She was the Deputy Head of Cabinet for the European Commissioner for Health and Consumers Mr. Kyprianou (2004-2008) and for the Commissioner for Health Mrs. Vassiliou (2008-2010). Despina Spanou started her career at the European Commission at the Directorate General for Competition (in 2003). She had previously practiced European law with the Brussels branch of a US law firm. Despina Spanouis a member of the Athens Bar Association and holds a Ph.D. in European law from the University of Cambridge.She is Greek/Cypriot

Fredrik is a Cyber Resilience Advisor to governments and multinationals in Europe and the Middle-East. He works at the intersection of people and technology in the context of Cyber Security, and brings extensive domain experience built up in the Government, Finance, Energy and Internet sectors over the last 18 years.

Fredrik believes that every organisation has the right to Cyber Defence and that the greater good is a facilitator of individual success. C in Cyber is for Collaboration. These values are carried in a strong focus on a People strategy through group dynamics, transformational leadership and organisational design.

Fredrik is an active advocate for change in the industry through a Cyber Resilience newsletter, journal articles and speaking at conferences around the world. He is a recognised contributor as scenario author for award winning UK Financial Services Cyber attack stress testing exercises through Waking Shark and the Market Wide 2011.

Current areas of focus include business agility, competitive intelligence and systemic risk.

A man with Information Security in mind. With broad experience in all aspects of risk assessments, auditing and vulnerability management. Direct experience with different scanning tools, security consulting and vulnerability management. Interested in anything related to new technologies in the field.
Currently working on policy implementation on cybersecurity in different areas, including Finance and Automotive sector.

Specialties: Finance: NIS Directive, PSD 2, MIFID; Automotive: Automated and Autonomous Connected Vehicles, CyberSecurity and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates

Matthew is Head of Financial Crime at Tide Banking, with over seven years’ experience in Compliance Management, Process Improvement, and People Development.

Prior to management, he studied Business Management and completed the Barclays Degree Program within the Retail Banking Sector, focusing on the security of customer information in relation to digital products.

Matthew holds the ICA Certificate, Advanced and Diploma, and the Lean Six Sigma yellow belt. He has managed teams across multiple countries including India, Ireland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Germany, providing Financial Crime and Compliance Management for varying team sizes.

Peter Theunis is SVP, MD Europe at BPC as well as carrying the role of Co-founder and co-CEO at Radar Payments. Peter Theunis is an inspiring leader and strategist with over 20 years of experience in payment and digital banking. Peter is the co-founder of Radar Payments by BPC. Peter leads sales and delivery teams. He is currently driving the expansion of BPC’s payment processing business in response to market demand. Before joining Radar Payments and BPC, Peter held senior leadership roles in internationally recognised fintech organisations such as Integri, Clear2pay, and TAS Group.

I am a global CEO, with a career built on change management, marketing, fundraising and organisational development. I refresh organisations with vision and action that I deliver by engaging staff and boards. I also have extensive NED experience. I have extensive experience with international and UK based organisations.

Previously I was Chief Executive Officer for WAGGGS, the global movement for girls, where my key priority was increasing the reach and relevance of the life changing experience that Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting provides by building stronger connections amongst the 146 country members, delivering innovative services, and having a stronger voice and influence on issues affecting girls and young women.

I have extensive experience working with membership organisations, having been Executive Director of Abbeyfield International, Director General of the International Psychoanalytical Association, Marketing Director at Amnesty International, Head of Development at the World Development Movement, Director of the Soil Association and Head of Marketing at Age Concern.
Previously, he was Executive Director of ORBIS, the blindness prevention organization, where he led the organizational transition from ‘Flying Eye Hospital’ to land-based blindness prevention programmes.
He has also worked extensively as a Consultant and latterly executive coach working with many charities and for profit organisations on major change programmes.

Mark has a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. Prior to joining Nicobrand in 2001, he gained valuable experience in pharmaceuticals and nutritionals with Abbott Laboratories. At Nicobrand Mark has been instrumental in the scale-up and development of their nicotine active ingredients products, initially for the nicotine replacement sector and more recently for the Next Generation product category. Within the past 12 months Nicobrand has become part of Contraf-Nicotex-Tobacco (CNT), its long time peers in the nicotine business, leading to the creation of a combined entity with an unrivalled wealth of experience and knowledge in nicotine and product development.

James Elgenes is the Leading Advisor for Digitalisation within Equinor Exploration. He is a Geophysicist by background and has worked within exploration, field development and production. James has responsibility for Digital strategy and accelerating Digitalisation, encompassing integrating and utilizing data, digital technological solutions and new ways of working.