In this episode of Cyber Security District, we sit down with Dimitri van Zantvliet, one of the most respected CISOs in the Netherlands and the current Chief Information Security Officer at the Dutch Railway (NS). Dimitri’s career spans from electromechanical engineering on offshore rigs to becoming a national authority on cybersecurity, advising startups, governments, and international councils.

He’s the co-founder of the Dutch CISO community, an angel investor, a public speaker, and Dutch ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI. Dimitri also serves on advisory boards such as TNO and the University of Amsterdam’s Leadership Academy, shaping the future of digital security on multiple levels.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Dimitri manages multiple leadership roles with purpose


• His early transition from engineering into cybersecurity


• Why public transport is a vital piece of national resilience


• NS’s approach to defending against state actors and activist threats


• What makes a strong CISO in today’s geopolitical climate


• The rise of responsible AI and why it matters now more than ever


• His advice for cybersecurity founders and next-gen professionals

Dimitri shares powerful insights on threat intelligence, incident response, ethical AI, and the evolving role of CISOs in a world shaped by hybrid threats and rapid technological change.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:10 - Managing Multiple Roles

04:17 - From Engineering to Cybersecurity

06:54 - Leadership Lessons Learned

10:14 - Importance of Certifications and Grit

13:06 - Cybersecurity Challenges at NS

17:20 - State Actors, NATO, and Public Transport Threats

23:00 - What Makes a Great CISO

28:09 - Responsible AI and Smart Cities

30:38 - Investing in Startups and Supporting Founders

34:45 - Tech Areas to Watch: Compliance, Anomaly Detection, AI Agents

42:41 - Unlimited Resources: What He'd Solve First

44:02 - Advice for Young Cybersecurity Professionals

46:05 - A Final Message to CISOs Worldwide

Connect with the guest:

Dimitri van Zantvliet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanzantvliet/

Follow Cybersecurity District:

Laurens Jagt (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurensjagt/

Website: https://www.cybersecuritydistrict.com/

All channels & newsletter: https://beacons.ai/cybersecuritydistrict