Speakers
Shilpi Handa
Associate Research Director (META)
IDC
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Shilpi Handa
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 8:50 pm | Location:
Workshop: Back to the Future – Time Travelling CISO
Step into the shoes of a time-traveling CISO as we simulate the challenge of managing cybersecurity budgets in 2010 vs. 2025. This interactive session explores how evolving threat landscapes, regulatory pressures, and business priorities have reshaped security decision-making. Participants will experience the stark contrast between the reactive, perimeter-focused spending of 2010 and today’s complex mix of cloud security, AI-driven threats, zero trust, and compliance mandates.
Through real-world scenarios, the session highlights how modern CISOs must juggle risk, regulation, and resilience—balancing innovation with fiscal discipline in an era where every dollar must defend digital trust.
Wednesday, November 12 2025 4:35 pm | Location:
Empowering CISOs: Trends in Saudi Arabia’s Cybersecurity Sector
Wednesday, November 12 2025 4:30 pm | Location:
Welcome Address
James Neilson
Senior Vice President, International
OPSWAT
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James Neilson
James Neilson serves as senior vice president for international at OPSWAT, where he leads global go-to-market and field operations for one of the fastest-growing companies in critical infrastructure protection. He is a global technology leader with over two decades of experience driving growth and innovation across the cybersecurity and enterprise software landscape. With a career spanning leadership roles at some of the industry’s most recognized firms, James has built and led high-performing teams across Europe, the Middle East, and APAC, consistently delivering results in complex, high-stakes environments. Prior to joining OPSWAT, he held executive roles at leading cybersecurity and SaaS companies, where he specialized in scaling international business units, developing partner ecosystems, and helping public and private sector organizations strengthen their cyber-resilience. His deep understanding of both mature and emerging markets makes him a trusted advisor to CISOs, regulators, and technology partners navigating the evolving threat landscape.
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 4:50 pm | Location:
Securing Edge Devices in a Hybrid Work Environment
Focus on the security challenges posed by the proliferation of edge devices in hybrid work settings and explore strategies for securing these critical points in an organization’s infrastructure.
Michael Byrnes
Director, Solutions Engineering
BeyondTrust
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Michael Byrnes
Michael Byrnes serves as BeyondTrust’s director of solutions engineering for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa. He has acquired a wealth of cybersecurity experience in a number of engagements over the last 12 years with a diverse set of IT companies across the Middle East, Africa, India, and Türkiye. Thanks to his various roles as a security consultant, a systems engineer, and within pre-sales, he has gained extensive expertise in network and information security, architecture design, and virtualization. In his current position at BeyondTrust, Michael manages the solution engineers’ team across the META region. With his group, he engages and advises partners, customers, and prospects on their privileged access management strategies to secure and manage their privileged identities and access.
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 5:05 pm | Location:
Harnessing AI to Strengthen Cybersecurity Defenses
Mohammad Flaifel
Regional Sales Director
Group IB
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Mohammad Flaifel
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 5:20 pm | Location:
Disruptive Technologies- Transforming CyberSecurity Landscape
Explore how emerging technologies are revolutionizing cybersecurity — challenging traditional approaches, empowering defenders with smarter tools, and creating both new opportunities and threats in the digital battlefield.
Niraj Mathur
Managing Director
Protiviti Middle East Member Firm
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Niraj Mathur
Niraj Mathur, an accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience in data security and privacy consulting, leads cybersecurity services at Protiviti Middle East in his role as managing director. He has effectively managed several large and intricate regional projects with his expertise in security strategy, security operations, and security architecture. Niraj has a proven track record of assisting prominent clients with compliance, risk management, security operations, and overall security road maps, both locally and globally.
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 6:50 pm | Location:
Panel Discussion: Leveraging AI and Automation to Support Secure Business Growth
Security vendors will examine how AI and automation are transforming cybersecurity solutions and enabling organizations to scale securely. The panel will cover the latest advancements in AI-driven threat detection, automated incident response, and intelligent risk analytics. Vendors will share case studies on how their technologies help clients accelerate digital transformation while maintaining robust security postures.
Dr. Badr Alshehry
Chief Information Security Officer
Insurance Sector
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Dr. Badr Alshehry
Dr. Badr Alshehry is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience across the government and financial sectors. During his experience, he has led cybersecurity strategy, governance, and compliance initiatives with deep expertise in cyber defense and risk governance. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and an MSc in Information and Network Security.
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 8:20 pm | Location:
CISO Panel Discussion: Navigating Regulatory Compliance with Confidence
This discussion will focus on how CISOs can effectively manage the complexities of regulatory compliance in a rapidly changing environment. Panelists will share insights on interpreting new regulations, implementing compliance controls, and fostering a culture of accountability. The session will also address the role of automation and continuous monitoring in maintaining compliance, and how to prepare for audits and regulatory reviews with confidence.