Speakers
Top cybersecurity experts and thought leaders who are set to deliver invaluable insights and cutting-edge knowledge
Meet our executive speakers
As part of the CSO Conference, each speaker brings a wealth of experience, innovative ideas, and unique perspectives that will be instrumental in shaping the future of our industry. Click on a speaker to view their full bio.
Ralf Helkenberg
Research Manager, European Privacy & Data Security
IDC
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Ralf Helkenberg
Ralf Helkenberg is a research manager with the European security research team, responsible for leading IDC’s European Privacy and Data Security research practice. His core research coverage includes the impacts of data protection regulation, such as the GDPR on the technology sector, with key insight into market dynamics, vendor activities in privacy workflow management and data security (including data discovery, DLP, encryption), end-user trends and the future of digital trust.
Prior to IDC, he worked as a B2B marketer within a variety of industries, including IT Governance, Risk & Compliance where he built-up a product and marketing programme for GDPR compliance solutions.
Ralf holds a BA in European Business Administration from Middlesex University, London.
Yvonne Knosowski
Information Security Officer
REWE Group
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Yvonne Knosowski
Event Sessions
Tuesday, September 9 2025 3:00 pm | Location:
IT Security Regulatory Update and Challenges
Companies are increasingly confronted with threats from cyberspace. To increase the resilience of critical infrastructures and important economic sectors, legislation is developing requirements for information security for companies and their management bodies. In doing so, they are faced with a multitude of requirements from different legal instruments, which are difficult to keep track of and sometimes overlap, but also contain specific regulations.
This presentation provides an overview of the regulations arising, in particular, from the EU’s NIS2 Directive and its country-specific implementation laws. Against the backdrop of a large, heterogeneous corporation, the challenges within the group-wide information security management system are presented and recommendations for a pragmatic approach are offered.
Dr. A.S. Timo Wandhoefer
Group CISO
Klöckner & Co.
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Dr. A.S. Timo Wandhoefer
Event Sessions
Tuesday, September 9 2025 10:00 am | Location:
Cyber Resilience in Practice: Effectively Operationalizing Strategies
Recent years have made it clear that traditional IT security approaches alone are no longer sufficient to counter the complex threat landscape of our time. Companies have begun to develop resilience strategies – but the real challenge lies in their effective operationalization.
This presentation will explore how organizations can transform their security strategies into robust, resilient processes. The focus will be on current and future threats such as automation, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, which require a radical rethink: moving away from purely technical solutions toward a holistic understanding of resilience that encompasses all areas of the company.
It’s about more than just implementing a strategy – it requires a shared understanding, a coordinated program, and the commitment of all relevant stakeholders. This paradigm shift is evident, among other things, in the fact that people are no longer just talking about backup solutions, but rather about comprehensive disaster recovery concepts, incident handling, and integrated crisis management that goes beyond the IT area.
The presentation will demonstrate practical approaches to how this cultural change can be successful – and how resilience strategies can not only be planned but also sustainably anchored in everyday business operations.
David Kreft
CHIEF
WAGO
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David Kreft
Event Sessions
Tuesday, September 9 2025 11:00 am | Location:
Securing AI Framework Implementation
This Keynote will demonstrate:
- How Creating a Cross-Functional AI Network
- How Establishing an AI Demand Process
- How Developing an Awareness Concept
Michael Doerflinger
Director Cybersecurity
Exyte
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Michael Doerflinger
Michael Doerflinger is a seasoned professional with over a decade in information and cybersecurity, focusing on driving organizational excellence by protecting information assets and minimizing business risks in global organizations.
As the Director of Information and Cyber Security at Exyte Management GmbH, Michael spearheads the cybersecurity strategy and program, enabling Exyte’s “Pathway to Ten” initiative.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a Master of Science in Computer Forensics from George Mason University, and a CISO Executive Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, September 9 2025 9:40 am | Location:
Cybersecurity am Puls des Business
In a world of growing digital threats and limited resources, cybersecurity is becoming a critical factor for business success.
By specifically prioritizing key risks and making optimal use of tight budgets, it creates the basis for efficiency, innovation and sustainable growth.
Mark Child
Associate Research Director, Security
IDC Europe
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Mark Child
Joel Stradling
Research Director, Security
IDC Europe
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Joel Stradling
As research director for IDC’s European Security practice, Joel Stradling leads the content and analyst team for tracking the European security segment. His main focus area is the integration of network plus security and evolution of network architectures towards software-defined secure access.
Stradling has 20 years of experience as an analyst of international managed enterprise network and IT services. He is a regular speaker at major industry conferences talking about emerging technologies in B2B enterprise network and IT and wholesale carrier-to-carrier services. Joel is a well-known and highly regarded expert in the industry, offering insight and advice to C-level executives on technology competitive landscapes and emerging technologies, such as SD-WAN, 5G, SDN/NFV, and cyber-security.
Duncan Brown
Group Vice President, IDC Europe
IDC Europe
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