2026 Edition
Navigating the new frontier of trust, compliance and innovation
The IDC European IT Security Summit is the definitive event for business, security, and tech leaders to explore how to embed trust, governance, and resilience at the core of digital transformation.
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.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:55 pm
Closing Panel: Sovereign Security vs. Global Innovation: The UK’s Dilemma
The tension between data sovereignty mandates and the operational realities of UK enterprises competing in global digital markets, where regulatory and data sovereignty support (32%) is now the top vendor selection criterion.
Andrew Barber
Ellie Kearney
Jessica Figueras
Glen Hymers
Glen Hymers Dip CSMP®, Cert HE, CIS LI, M_o_R, GDPR-P, MInstLM
Glen has spent his working life involved in Policing and Security, he fell into Policing of a fashion joining the RAF Police in 1998 when he discovered University was expensive and as such he was running out of funds.
During his time in the RAFP Glen was employed all aspects of policing finally settling into the role of Counter Intelligence, responsible for carrying out Counter Espionage and Counter Terrorism duties for the RAF at home and abroad in some notable locations some you’d want to go on holiday to but most you wouldn’t. Glen parted ways with the RAF as a regular in 2012 as part of the Strategic Defence Review of that year and began his journey into the private sector with stops at Fujitsu Defence and National Security as their Head of Operational Security & Risk Management, before moving to Sopra Steria as Head of Operational Security for Government accounts.
In 2016 he moved to the Prince’s Trust taking up the role of Chief Security and Risk Officer as well as being appointed as the DPO in 2017. After a successful tenure at The Prince’s Trust during which he introduced both GDPR and Cyber Essentials Plus at the organisation he moved to Save The Children International where he is currently employed as the Global Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Data Protection. In his spare time Glen is still an active member of the RAF Reserve having completed two operational tours abroad one in 2014 to Afghanistan as part of Op HERRICK and again in 2018 to Cyprus as part of Op SHADER and most lately within the UK where he was employed on Op RESCRIPT the UK Government response to COVID-19 during which he was a Mobile Testing Unit Commander running testing sites in the East of England.
When he is not doing this he is an advocate for all things Cyber Security and especially getting the basics right, as from the basics comes good security so to that end he has now joined the South East Cyber Resilience Centre as one of its founding board members in September 2020.
Gary Osborn
Gary Osborn is the Head of Information Security at the world’s largest Human Rights organisation (150 countries and territories, movement of 10 million people), where he spends his time solving the kinds of security challenges that don’t fit neatly into textbooks. His role blends strategy, risk, resilience and recovery across a very unusual operating landscape — one where protecting people is even more important than protecting systems.
Gary has become a trusted voice within leadership circles, helping executives navigate technology risk, geopolitical uncertainty, and the realities of operating across different jurisdictions. He is known for bringing clarity to complex security challenges and for championing proportionate and pragmatic, human‑centred approaches to risk. His work spans risk modelling, third‑party assurance, incident preparedness, secure device management, digital sovereignty, and the integration of velocity and proximity into modern risk reporting. His focus is consistently on safeguarding staff, activists, and vulnerable communities working in high‑risk contexts.
He also mentors emerging leaders in the security community, championing proportionate, people‑centred approaches and encouraging a culture where security is understood as an enabler rather than an obstacle.
Esther Hitch
Esther Hitch was recently a Director at a cyber security consultancy and previously at Deloitte, bringing a rich background spanning law, military service, and senior cyber leadership. After qualifying in law, she served 14 years as a British Army officer in the Royal Signals, leading complex technical and operational teams. Esther advises boards and executives across public and private sectors on cyber risk, governance, and resilience. Alongside this, Esther is currently pursuing multiple passion projects full time, including her own early stages tech startup-up, Esther is known for translating complex cyber issues into clear strategic insight, and is a trusted voice on leadership, decision-making, and the human and organisational factors that shape effective cyber security.
Tom O’Driscoll
Naomi Garratt
Faith Ruto MBA
Mit Saru
Theo Botha
Trudy Chisamba-Laity
Trudy is a Senior Cyber Security Project Manager with a proven track record of delivering complex programmes within highly regulated environments. Currently completing a Cyber Security MBA, she combines technical acumen with a strong human-centred perspective on security, organisational culture, and resilience.
Known for her ability to bring clarity to ambiguity and unite diverse stakeholders, Trudy bridges the gap between technology and behaviour to drive meaningful, sustainable change. She is also a passionate mentor and advocate for women in technology, championing inclusive leadership and fostering environments where individuals and teams can thrive.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:55 pm
Closing Panel: Sovereign Security vs. Global Innovation: The UK’s Dilemma
The tension between data sovereignty mandates and the operational realities of UK enterprises competing in global digital markets, where regulatory and data sovereignty support (32%) is now the top vendor selection criterion.
Photogallery