In October 2025, SECURE | CYBER CONNECT went global – from the Cyber Leaders’ Summit to the International Cyber Expo & Digital Transformation EXPO (DTX) (London) – Connecting with Changemakers & Driving Real Change! We didn’t just show up; we’ve been working relentlessly to understand the challenges Organisations & Individuals face, Consolidating Insights into Practical, Inclusive Resources.
Over the past weeks & months, we’ve spoken with 120+ Leaders, capturing “honest conversations” on Leadership, Culture, Resilience & Diversity. As we digest these discussions, we’ll share deeper insights – for now, here’s what you might have missed….From Security-First Cultures & Emerging Risks, to Resilience, Diversity & Human-Centred Cyber Security, the conversations we’ve had, amplify one “simple truth”:
Technology Alone Isn’t Enough….Culture, Empathy & Leadership Drive Real Change!
Stay Tuned – in the coming weeks, we’ll share more insights and incredible stories from the 120+ Leaders we’ve met with.
Read Below for Our Full Reflections & Lessons from CLS, ICE, DTX & Beyond…
This month, we proudly marked the “First Anniversary” of the SECURE | CYBER CONNECT Community & Podcast. In just one year, we’ve grown into a vibrant, Global Community with ~30,000 Subscribers, 350,000 Engaged Views & around 4 Million Impressions. We’ve Hosted 75+ Thought Leaders & Changemakers, Innovators & Leaders from across the world, Exploring Real Challenges, Sharing Practical Insights & Amplifying the Voices of those Driving Meaningful Change within Cyber Security & Technology.
It Hasn’t Been Easy! Running a Podcast alongside a Solutions Consultancy, a Community and a Cyber Security Search & Recruitment business requires constant Prioritisation, Resilience & Creativity. These challenges have reinforced a core truth: Our Work is about More than Content or Recruitment; it’s about Action & Measurable Impact. Every Guest, Partner & Organisation that has trusted us with their voice has contributed to a Community where learning is authentic, insights are actionable, and change is possible.
As we celebrate this milestone, it’s also a moment to reflect on How Our Community, Podcast & Events are Making a Real Difference, Not Just Sharing Ideas, but Driving Action, Impact & Meaningful Change for Individuals & Organisations alike. In October, we took these conversations on the road, from Brussels to London, Exploring How Leadership, Culture & Human-Centred approaches are Shaping the Future of Cyber Security & Digital Transformation.
Taking SECURE | CYBER CONNECT International:
Travelling to Brussels for the Cyber Leaders’ Summit (CLS Benelux) was a chance to reflect on How Cyber Leadership is Evolving in Europe. The Summit brought together Senior Leaders from Belgium, the Netherlands & Luxembourg, creating a space for Honest, Human-Centred Conversations about Resilience, Culture & Leadership.
The Event Highlighted a Key Challenge: Many Organisations Invest Heavily in Technology but Underestimate the Human & Cultural Aspects of Cyber Security! Through our Pre-Event Podcast Sessions, Panels, Roundtables & On-Site Interviews, we explored these challenges deeply:
- Amir Vashkover on Embedding Security-First Practices to Address Insider Threats & Emerging Risks like IoT, OT & Quantum Computing.
- Charmaine Tumalad on Resilient by Design, Showing How Leadership, Diversity & Motherhood Can Shape Authentic Resilience.
- Veerle Peeters on Why Cyber Security Fails Without Human Understanding, Proving That People Are Both the Greatest Risk & the Most Powerful Defence.
For many individuals, these discussions offered Practical Guidance on Leadership & Career Growth. For organisations, the Summit reinforced that Resilience Comes From Culture, Empathy & Inclusive Leadership….Not Just Technology!
Watch & Listen to All Our Cyber Leaders’ Summit Special Edition Episodes Here:
Reflections From International Cyber Expo 2025, London
ICE 2025 was a vivid reminder of Why Both Connection & Collaboration are Critical within Cyber Security. Walking the Halls, Recording Live Interviews & Engaging With Attendees alongside Warren Atkinson, I was struck by the Breadth Of Challenges That Organisations Face: Talent Shortages, Inclusion Gaps, Leadership Pressures & Rapidly Evolving Threats.
Some of the Stand-Out Conversations Included:
- Dr Emma Philpott FCIIS MBE on Opening Doors for Neurodiverse Talent Through Accessible Cyber Security Certifications.
- Iryna Volnytska on Fostering Resilience & Rapid Reskilling Through SET University in Ukraine.
- Yota Trom on Confidence, Pay Equity & Truly Authentic Leadership.
- Beth Rosary & Valeria Santamato on Mentorship, Inclusion & Empowering the Next Generation of Cyber Leaders.
Beyond the Podcast, ICE Highlighted Innovation In Action: Behavioural Nudges (Tim Ward – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ward-cyber/), Deepfake Detection (Ashima Chopra & Sadip Wagle) & AI-Driven Security Solutions (José Lázaro & Matt Lovell). On the “Cyber Skills Stage”, Yota Trom’s “Get Paid What You’re Worth” provided Tangible Strategies for Professionals to Advocate For Themselves & Realise Their Potential!
From my perspective, ICE delivers Dual Value: It Equips Individuals With Actionable Insights while giving organisations the Strategies to Embed Culture, Resilience & Innovation into their Teams. It also Reinforced a Fundamental Truth: Cyber Security Is As Much About People As It Is About Technology!
Watch & Listen to All Our ICE Special Edition Episodes Here:
Reflections from Digital Transformation Expo (DTX) London 2025:
Digital Transformation EXPO (DTX) (London) Highlighted a Recurring Theme: Technology Moves Fast, But Transformation Is Human! As Founder of SECURE | CYBER CONNECT & CEO of a Cyber Search & Recruitment company, I’ve seen organisations Struggle to Balance Innovation with Human-Centric Approaches & DTX brought this to life.
Through our Special Edition Podcast Episodes we explored the following:
- Gurps Khaira on Exploring & Guiding Teams Through Uncertainty & Understanding that Change is Constant.
- Charlie Sinclair from Unilever on Sharing Strategies to Shift Culture & Reducing Human Risk.
- Sophia Adhami on Reminding Us That Inclusion Must Be Embedded at the Heart of AI & Digital Innovation.
- Praveen Tomar from Ofgem on Highlighting the Critical Importance of Ethics & Transparency in AI Adoption.
Across the Event, Leaders like Charlotte Bemand, Peter Nota, Shruthi Sharma, Kerry Sheehan, Marcin Roth & Danielle Sudai Shared Lessons on Breaking Silos, Building Resilient AI-Driven Security & Embedding “Human-First” Processes. And then, Sir Mo Farah‘s Keynote brought a Simple, Powerful Message: Success Depends On People, Mindset & Collaboration….Not Just Talent!
For me, DTX wasn’t just a tech showcase – it was a Reminder That Transformation Starts With Trust & Culture…Not Just Tools! It reinforced our mission at SECURE | CYBER CONNECT: To Create Spaces Where Authentic, Actionable Conversations Happen & Where Insight Translates Into Impact.
Watch & Listen To All Our DTX Special Edition Episodes Here:
Empowering Innovation & Real-World Impact:
Beyond the Expos, October saw SECURE | CYBER CONNECT Driving Practical Action For Organisations & Individuals:
- InnovationX: Let’s Democratise Innovation – with Gilda Smith-Leigh CMgr MCMI, Mo Qadar, Sherin Mathew & Others, Helping SME’s & Start-Ups Unlock Growth Through Practical, People-First Innovation Strategies.
- Zero to AI Workshop, Leeds – with Rebecca Wilson, Rujuta Singh, Solved Together & Armstrong Watson, Guiding Leaders to Cut Through the AI Hype & Create Boardroom-Ready Roadmaps.
The Takeaway? Innovation Isn’t About Scale, Tools or Budget….It’s About Clarity, People & Collaboration.
Key Takeaways:
Across every event, some clear truths emerged:
- People Are Your Greatest Asset – Culture, Leadership & Collaboration Drive Sustainable Success.
- Leadership Is Human – Authentic, Empathetic Leaders Enable Resilience & Innovation.
- Learning Is Continuous – Curiosity, Reflection & Connection Fuel Growth.
- Diversity & Inclusion Strengthen Outcomes – Varied Perspectives Consistently Outperform Homogeneity.
We Create Spaces where Conversations, Insights & Experiences Translate Into Real-World Impact! And above all, we are Grateful To Every Single Guest, Partner & Community Member – Your Voices, Trust & Stories “Make Everything Possible”!
Chiru B, Dan Regalado Helen Gidney Victor S. Scott Goodwin Rick Jones Jim Routh Jennifer Cox Christian. Toon – FCIIS Lianne Potter Igor Portugal Jemma 🦸♀️ David Edwards Gary Hibberd FCIIS Aliyu G. Yisa Iffat Tariq Marius Poskus Jessie Lajoie Rukayat Alabi Yossi Appleboum Mark Child Dr Mike Brass Kewal Rai Steve Lamb Annick O’Brien, CIPP/E, CIPM Raghav Singh Alex Hudelot Paul Jackson Lauren Wilson Ami Hofman 🔥 Dr Iretioluwa Akerele Toby Wilmington Rafah Knight Graham Thomson Sean Gilroy Bennet Morka, CITP, MBCS, CISSP, CISM Jonathan Marnoch Sarah Williamson Stuart Coulson Wendy Goucher Luis Rodríguez Berzosa Harris D. Schwartz Juana Attieh Rio Sherri Ålex Martin Alexandra Forsyth David Taylor Damian Bierman David Brown Michael Burkhardt Andy Simpson Adrian Taylor Heather Lowrie Abdallah Kanaan Daniel Killeen Leo Scott Alistair Kennedy (ACIIS) Chris Eastwood Dr. Meera Sarma Dr. Thomas Matheus, Ph.D. Nick Ascoli Dr. Elena Mechik Robert Connor Jack Miller John Daley Mike Fell OBE
INTRODUCING MATTHEW GREAVES – YORKSHIRE WATER
On this Latest Episode , we Welcome Matthew Greaves, Head of Cyber & Protective Security at Yorkshire Water. Matthew Leads Efforts to Safeguard the Water Supply from Both Cyber & Physical Threats, ensuring that when you turn on the tap, water flows safely and reliably. His work spans Sec Ops, InfoSec, Cyber-Physical Systems, People Management & Electronic Security. Passionate about Nurturing Grassroots Cyber Talent, Matthew Serves as a Cyber Ambassador for NCSC’s CyberFirst Program & Advises for Cyber Bradford. His experiences provide a unique perspective on Protecting Critical Infrastructure, Building Resilient Teams & Supporting the UK’s Technological Future, including AI Centres & Other Key Innovations.
In this “Manchester Cyber Leaders’ Summit Special Edition Episode”, we explore Why Water Systems Are Prime Targets, How Organisations Balance Operational Technology (OT) with IT Security & the Evolving Threat Landscape for Utilities. Matthew Shares Practical Insights on Day-to-Day Resilience, Safeguarding Long-Standing Physical Systems Against Modern Digital Threats & Building Cyber-Physical Talent Pipelines. He also offers Career Guidance, Lessons from Cross-Industry Leadership & Strategies that Organisations & Individuals Can Apply to Strengthen Security Culture. “Real Resilience”, as Matthew shows, Isn’t Just About Technology…Its About Skilled People, Strong Processes & Proactive Leadership!
Catch the Full Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPjvwI_mxRA&t=27s
INTRODUCING CHRIS LEPPARD (DIGITAL XRAID) & JOSH PRIBANIC
We’re thrilled to welcome Chris Leppard CISSP MCIIS, CISSP MCIIS, Head of Consultancy Services at DigitalXRAID & Josh Pribanic, President & Co-Founder of LastLine Cyber, Inc. Chris brings over 30 years of experience leading SOCs, Managing PCI DSS Compliance for Clients including Visa Europe & Providing vCISO Services. Josh has Co-Founded LastLine Cyber, Inc. to Make Security Actionable for SMEs, Serving as CISO for Multiple Organisations & Embedding Security-Aware Cultures where employees understand their role in Protecting Critical Assets. Together, they offer decades of practical experience Navigating Complex Cyber Challenges & Building Resilient, People-Focused Security Strategies.
In this Episode, we explore Why AI Alone Cannot Deliver True Cyber Resilience & How Organisations Can Address Real Operational & Cultural Gaps in Incident Response. Chris & Josh Share Actionable Insights On Balancing Tools, Skills & Staffing, the Lessons that Tabletop Exercises Reveal About Organisational Weaknesses & How to Leverage AI to Support….Rather Than Replace….Human Decision-Making. Whether you’re a CISO, IT Leader or Cyber Professional, this Episode delivers practical strategies, real-world lessons, and critical guidance to strengthen your security posture and build resilient teams.
Catch the Full Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTFFy7YRLFs&t=5s
🔗 The SECURE | CYBER CONNECT Directory Facilitates Strategic Introductions, Cross-Sector, Helping Organisations Tackle Cultural, Technological & Talent Acquisition Challenges, Build Partnerships & Adapt to Regulatory Shifts.
Reach Out to Warren Atkinson or Justin (Jay) Adamson to explore how we can collaboratively navigate the complexities of AI, Information & Cyber Security to Build a Safer Digital Future!
Article by Justin (Jay) Adamson…TO HEAR MORE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinadamson/
