Security Visionaries

In this episode of Security Visionaries, host Emily Wearmouth and guest Samantha Swift delve into the world of BSides and CSides events. Samantha, who has experience as an organizer at BSides Lancashire, BSides Leeds, and BSides Newcastle, shares the origins of BSides, its community-driven ethos, and the unique aspects of these cybersecurity conferences. They also discuss the newer CSIDES initiative, which aims to bring cybersecurity knowledge to coastal towns, and the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for newcomers to the industry. If you’re interested in the way the broader cyber community brings in industry veterans and the “cyber curious” together, this episode is for you!

The 1995 film Hackers celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. To mark the occasion, host Max Havey sat down for a chat with guests Neil Thacker, Netskope's Global Privacy and Data Protection Officer, and Abby Olcese, Film Editor at The Pitch, to talk about the film and their relationship to it over the intervening three decades. Together they discuss why Hackers remains a cult classic, how Hollywood's depiction of cybercrime, cybersecurity, and cyberspace has evolved, and what modern depictions tell us about the world we live in.

In this episode of the Security Visionaries podcast, host Bailey Harmon speaks with Danyel Bischof-Forsyth, Chief Technology & Information Officer at 7 Brew Coffee. Danyel shares insights on managing aging infrastructure and modernizing systems without large budgets, drawing on her extensive experience at companies like Hallmark Cards and Tyson Foods. She discusses 7 Brew's rapid growth, the importance of a strong IT foundation, strategies for platform consolidation, and how the company ensures secure and seamless experiences for its dispersed franchisees. The conversation also touches on the cautious integration of AI and automation to maintain 7 Brew's unique culture and customer experience. You won’t want to miss this one!

Join host Emily Wearmouth for the very special episode of Security Visionaries recorded live at Infosecurity Europe. She's joined by Holly Foxcroft, Ian Golding, and Rich Davis to discuss the crucial conversations CISOs need to have with their CEOs this year. The episode dives into four key areas: cost, risk, innovation, and AI, offering insights and exploring the differing perspectives between tech leaders and CEOs.

On the latest episode of Security Visionaries, host Max Havey interviews Marcus Thompson, Director of Cyber Compass and former head of Information Warfare for the Australian Defence Force. They discuss the intersection of military and cyber defense, exploring how cybersecurity roles differ between military and civilian sectors, and the transfer of techniques and concepts. Marcus shares insights from his 34-year career in the Australian army, including lessons learned from cyber exercises and the importance of "cyber hygiene." The conversation also touches on international information sharing, the rising threat of cyber attacks, the role of AI in defense, and the responsibilities of both governments and private organizations in maintaining cybersecurity.

In this episode of the Security Visionaries podcast, host Emily Wearmouth chats with Netskope's Chief Scientist, Mark Day. They delve into the topic of AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), and why Mark believes they are "bullshitters." Despite this assertion, they discuss how these models can still be valuable and where AI truly shines within Netskope's systems. They also explore the difference between generative AI and agentic AI and touch on the future of AI and art. Expect a thought-provoking and slightly sweary conversation that challenges conventional views on artificial intelligence.

In this episode of the Security Visionaries podcast, host Bailey Harmon interviews Dan Whittingham, Enterprise Security Architect for Cyber Tooling at Rolls-Royce. Dan shares his extensive experience navigating the complex landscape of global compliance standards in the defense and aerospace industry. They discuss key regulations like Cyber Essentials Plus, NIST 2, ERSA, and CMMC, the challenges of balancing compliance with business needs, and Dan's advice for other security leaders. Tune in to hear insights on managing regulations, communicating with leadership, and the future of security in the age of AI.

In this special bonus episode, hosts Emily Wearmouth and Max Havey welcome new co-host, Bailey Harmon, to the Security Visionaries team. Listen in and get to know Bailey with this fun chat ahead of her upcoming first episode.

In this episode of Security Visionaries, host Max Havey and guest Savannah Westbrock, VP of Innovation at Coegi, discuss how to approach more security-focused roles when coming from a non-technical background. Specifically, they dive into the particulars of Savannah’s role and how security has become a big part of her role in enabling innovation in an increasingly AI-enabled world. Max and Savannah also dig into their shared journalism background and how that helps them to ask the right questions to best communicate and contextualize extremely technical topics. You won’t want to miss this lively and entertaining chat!

In this episode of Security Visionaries, host Max Havey chats with Michael Dickerson, CEO of TSC Global and founder of Dickerson Digital, about the critical topic of data sovereignty. They explore the differences between data sovereignty and data residency, the significance of indigenous data ownership, and the groundbreaking work behind Australia's first indigenous sovereign cloud. Michael shares insights on the challenges of securing cultural data, working with global cloud providers, and the broader movement toward national data sovereignty worldwide. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on the future of data security.

Security Visionaries is back for 2025, and host Emily Wearmouth is kicking things off with a conversation about the intersection between cyber and physical security when it comes to major events with Ben Morris, Group Head of Cyber Security for World Rugby. In their conversation,  Ben and Emily discuss the unique challenges of safeguarding international sports events, where cybersecurity and physical security intersect. From securing stadiums worldwide to collaborating with governments and navigating evolving threat landscapes, Ben offers fascinating insights into the complexities of modern sports security. Additionally, they also discuss how popular culture portrays security and the future of cybersecurity in global sports.

In this episode of Security Visionaries, host Max Havey is closing out the year with a look back on some of the major threat trends from 2024 with guest Ray Canzanese, Director of Netskope Threat Labs. In their conversation, Max and Ray discuss the new frontier of AI-enabled threats and the proliferation of deepfakes used in social engineering attacks, as well as the landscape of nation-state attacks. Additionally, they also dig into the trend that surprised Ray the most, seeing phishing attacks continue to rise and their conversation concludes with a discussion of the cognitive burden that comes with users being bombarded with phishing at every turn.

In this episode of Security Visionaries, we're joined by Kiersten Todt, President at Wondros and former Chief of Staff for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to discuss predictions for 2025 and beyond.Topics include  the role of artificial intelligence in security, the potential for an AI bubble burst, and reclassifying the cloud as critical infrastructure. Kiersten also predicts an increase in detections of  cyber intrusions from nation-state actors, especially China, underscoring the need for readiness and global cooperation. The discussion concludes with Kiersten's resolution for 2025, emphasizing the role of individuals in demanding more safety and security measures.

Join host Emily Wearmouth on the Security Visionaries podcast for her engaging conversation with Phil Miller, Divisional CISO at LPL Financial, about democratizing security. Learn more about his unique approach to making security an understandable and shared responsibility, as well as how this democratized approach relates to the idea of “security by design.” Additionally, Phil showcases practical ways to implement the democratization of security, including leveraging automation and AI, as well as detailing what metrics are used to measure success and why the human factor cannot be overlooked within security protocols.

On the latest episode of Security Visionaries, hosts Emily Wearmouth and Max Havey sit down with Netskope co-founders CEO Sanjay Beri and CTO Krishna Narayanaswamy to talk about the future of security and where things are headed next. In this conversion, they delve into a wide-ranging array of subjects, that include how quantum advances are impacting data security, impending shifts due to AI, and the challenges posed by data protection regulations like GDPR. Additionally, Sanjay and Krishna shed light on strategies around planning for unforeseeable factors, like COVID-19, and the importance of incorporating climate change into business planning.

On the latest episode of Security Visionaries, host Max Havey sits down with guest Troy Wilkinson, CISO at Interpublic Group (IPG), for a deep dive into the world of data lakes. In this conversation Troy offers his perspective on why data lakes have become an important aspect of modern security strategies, the sorts of challenges CISOs often run into with data lakes, and advice he would offer to other security looking to protect their data lakes.

On this illuminating episode of the Security Visionaries Podcast, host Emily Wearmouth sits down for a conversation about neurodivergence in cyber with special guest Holly Foxcroft, a neurodiversity consultant and expert on neurodiversity research in the cybersecurity industry. Holly, who herself is autistic with ADHD, delves into the intricate world of neurodiversity, sharing her unique experiences and perspectives.Holly and Emily explore the crucial role of understanding and embracing neurodiversity in the workplace and share practical tools for building a truly neuro-inclusive environment. The discussion also delves into the lesser-known area of acquired neurodivergence and underlines the urgency for organizations to treat neurodiversity as a critical aspect of healthcare and mental health support.

Join host Max Havey on the latest episode of Security Visionaries as he sits down with guest Jadee Hanson, CISO at Vanta. Jadee offers an in-depth and insightful look at the intertwining roles of CIOs and CISOs in the high-stakes world of cybersecurity. Tune in to listen to Jadee's journey, learn about the strategies she’s used to build bridges between security and technology teams, gain insights into the future of CISO roles, and discover why integrated processes and equal accountability are changing the game. 

As June draws to a close, co-hosts Emily Wearmouth and Max Havey zoom out a bit to reflect on some of the most interesting episodes of 2024, the trends that are piquing their interest, and peak at what they’re hoping to cover in the rest of the year to come. This episode is great, particularly if you’re a new listener looking for a place to start. Some of the episodes covered include:How to Use a Magic Quadrant and Other Industry Research (with Steve Riley & Mona Faulkner)Changing Perceptions of Risk Appetite (with David Fairman & Jack Freund)Personal Resilience in Cyber (with Shanon Jurkovic and Samm Macleod)Young Voices on Diversity in Cyber (with Jacklyne Mbuthia, Sam Van Stockrom, and Ally Frame)Elections, Disinformation, and Security (with Shamla Naidoo)Zero Trust: It's More Than Just Identity (with John Kindervag & Neil Thacker)The Intersection of Zero Trust and National Security (with Chase Cunningham)

On the latest episode of Security Visionaries, co-hosts Max Havey and Emily Wearmouth sit down for a conversation with guest Chase Cunningham (AKA Dr. Zero Trust) about zero trust and national security. Drawing from his vast experience in both the Navy and cyber forensics, Chase discusses the significance of national governments adopting a strategic approach to cybersecurity. Listen as he examines the evolving cyberattack landscape and whether a Geneva Convention for cyber would be effective. Chase doesn't shy away from the tough issues, as he discusses the ethical challenges faced by democratic nations in a world where some adversaries play by different rules and he also shares interesting insights from his career journey both in the public and private sectors. Don't miss this episode packed with invaluable insights into cybersecurity, national security, and the zero trust framework