Judges

Our judges are industry-renowned experts in their field. Each brings their expertise to bear to judge the teissAwards2027.

Judges

Thom Langford

Founder, (TL)2 Security

Thom is an industry engaged and sought after information security subject matter expert and speaker. Currently the EMEA CTO for Rapid7, Thom collaborates with customers, businesses and the media as a whole, further exploring his passion of communicating and educating on information security topics to audiences through storytelling, humour and plain language.

He founded (TL)2 Security to offer strategic information security consultancy that focuses on Virtual CISO, strategic business alignment and public speaking/advocacy for hire. Thom has also been Chief Information Security Officer at Velonetic (insurance) and Publicis Groupe (communications and marketing), building global teams and security capabilities from the ground up.

An international public speaker and award-winning security blogger and podcaster, Thom is also the sole founder of Host Unknown, a loose collective of three infosec luminaries combined to make security education and infotainment films. Google is your friend if you want to find out more about Thom.

Lisa Ventura

Editor & Founder, Cyber Security Unity

Lisa is a keynote speaker, moderator and panellist, and has taken part in numerous conferences and events, both in-person and virtual. She is often asked to write articles, blogs and press features about cyber security, neurodiversity, mental health issues and more.

Danny Dresner

Professor of Cyber Security, University of Manchester

Danny is a respectable Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester and a Fellow of the Institute of Information Security Professionals. Whilst at the NCSC, he created the core of SANS' training for BS 7799, edited national security breaches surveys, and wrote the first standards for source code escrow. He has contributed to books, conferences, and appeared on numerous TV channels including the BBC.

Steve Furnell

Professor of Cyber Security, University of Nottingham

Steven is a Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Nottingham. His main research interests are broadly linked to the intersection of human, technological and organisational aspects of cyber security, and has authored over 330 papers in refereed international journals and conference proceedings, as well as various books, chapters, and professional articles.

Edd Hardy

Director of Cyber security, AlixPartners

Edd has worked in most roles in cyber, from pentesting and audit through to risk management and CISO roles.

He is a highly experienced consultant, manage cyber risk to enable organization growth and security. Working with investors and the C-suite to ensure security is adding value to the organization.

He has helped large organizations transform their cyber programs from reactive functions that inhibit the business into proactive value creating teams. Not only aligning cyber with the organizations risk requirements but using it to deliver business objectives, create flexibility and enable the organization to safely embrace risk.

Andrea Cullen

CEO & Co-Founder, CAPSLOCK

Andrea has years of industrial experience as a computer programmer and systems analyst working on projects throughout the UK where she has been responsible for the development and implementation of many software systems. She co-authored, developed, and delivered the GCHQ-certified Cyber Security Master’s degree at the University of Bradford, and is also the Co-founder and Head of Research & Development at CAPSLOCK.

Paul Watts

Distinguished Analyst, Information Security Forum

Paul is a senior Information Security and Technology professional with over twenty-six years’ experience covering vertical markets including Transportation, Banking and Finance, Manufacturing, Retail and Telecommunications both in Europe and the UK. He was named as one of the top 100 global CISOs in the HotTopics.ht “CISO 100 2017” in 2017 and 2020.

Ed Tucker

CyberSecurity CTO, Telefonica Tech

Ed is a recognised expert, with a rich history of creating high performance teams, world class capabilities, driving business resilience and confidence. He is a pragmatic, yet passionate individual with a demonstrable record of defining and executing transformational change into businesses of varying maturities.

Paul Holland

Cyber Capability Manager, Royal Mail

Paul has worked in Information Security and IT for over 25 years, across financial, consultancy and managed services, retail, education, manufacturing and logistics plus more, before joining the ISF in 2019 and presently at Royal Mail. He was previously responsible for technical security, including architecture and penetration testing, and awareness programs as well as managing senior stakeholders and incident response.

Stuart Frost

Head of Enterprise Security and Risk Management Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Stuart Frost, BEM, is head of Enterprise Security and Risk Management within the UK Government. A vastly experienced, highly certified Security and Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) professional with extensive sector knowledge and significant experience of delivering successful risk-based security programmes, across large scale, multi-disciplined and geographically dispersed organisations. He is also a leading voice on managing risks faced by the burgeoning use of interconnected supply chains. An accomplished speaker, he has taken part in events across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia.

Stuart has won multiple industry global awards for his work in the GRC space and is adept at integrating all security disciplines to enable a holistic approach in support of business objectives. He was named as one of the UK’s top 50 Tech Leaders and a top 30 Transformational Change Leader in May 2024 for his role in driving innovation and change across the security sector.

He was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2017 for his services to the local community and in 2023 was also the proud recipient of the Coronation medal in recognition of his security input to the Coronation of King Charles III.

Keil Hubert

Head of Security Awareness & Training, OCC

Keil Hubert is the head of Security Training and Awareness for OCC, the world’s largest equity derivatives clearing organization, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to joining OCC, Keil has been a U.S. Army medical IT officer, a U.S.A.F. Cyberspace Operations officer, a small businessman, an author, and several different variations of commercial sector IT consultant. Keil deconstructed a cybersecurity breach in his presentation at TEISS 2014, and has served as Business Reporter’s resident U.S. ‘blogger since 2012. His books on applied leadership, business culture, and talent management are available on Amazon.com. Keil is based out of Dallas, Texas.

He knows he is only as good as the teams he leads, so he takes time to train, coach, and mentor each person for career growth and success, As a result, can create an environment of cohesion with optimal performance.

His key areas of expertise include Strategic Planning & Execution, Cyber Security, Financial Management, Policy Development & Execution, Project Management, Fraud Management, Staff Development & Leadership, ISO27001, NIS-OES, PCI/DSS & SoX, SOC/SIEM/SIAM/SOAR, ISO25999, NIST CSF, UK/EU Data Protection/GDPR and FCA/EBA Regulation.

Sandra Bell

Experienced Cyber Security Leader

Sandra is an experienced leader with over 30 years’ experience of helping organisations develop the skill, will and grit to succeed regardless of what happens. She has a track record of facilitating organisations achieve and maintain standards together with firsthand experience of managing crisis, emergency and disaster recovery activities.

Sandra is also a strong influencer who is able to rapidly assimilate complex regulatory and stakeholder environments and ensure risk and compliance solutions are intimately aligned to corporate strategy. An excellent communicator and business builder who has created and led successful business units and consulting practices.

Edward Starkie

Director of Cyber Risk, Thomas Murray

Edward adopts a business-centric approach to cyber security, data protection, and digital operational resilience. He leverages best practices gained from interacting with a diverse set of organisations and clients.

Edward is confident in his ability to engage effectively with both technical experts and Board-level stakeholders and ultimately deliver tailored services that empower organisations to identify, assess, and sustainably manage cyber security risks in a pragmatic, results-driven manner.

Lessie Skiba

Deputy Managing Director, Cyber Readiness Institute

Lessie is Global Director of Outreach and Partner Engagement for the Cyber Readiness Institute. Most recently, she worked for a cybersecurity start-up, Nisos, as Chief of Staff and Interim Director of Marketing. She also brings experience in working with new and emerging technology and cybersecurity companies from her previous role with an early-stage venture capital firm.

Laurie Gibbett

Managing Cyber Security Consultant, Eraneos UK Ltd.

Laurie specialises in security strategy and risk. More specifically, she looks to understand cyber risk exposure in financial terms and identify the priority defence mechanisms to reduce cyber risk. She uses Design Thinking techniques to assess situations and scenarios before deep diving into potential solutions.

Laurie is creative at heart, so like to incorporate visual design into her personal and work life. She has an eye for detail however, she likes to bring out key messages and present the bigger picture. She has a strategic approach to most things and purposefully get involved in projects outside her day-to-day work on deals to ensure, she is
working on the strategy of the security business unit, implementing initiatives for purposeful change.

Janet Bastiman

Chief Data Scientist, Napier AI

Satyam Rastogi

Director of Information Security & DevOps, BAMKO

He is responsible for safeguarding BAMKO’s digital assets in accordance with ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA, and PCI DSS standards whilst bolstering their cybersecurity posture. His role involves leading dedicated teams in vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and the vigilant monitoring of infrastructures to pre-empt risks and ensure compliance.

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