#CYBERFEST TO BE BIGGER AND BETTER

The inaugural #CyberFest event was organised by regional IT champions Dynamo North East last September. Six events were held throughout the region, which featured 40 speakers and were attended by more than 500 delegates.

Phil Jackman, Dynamo Cyber Security Lead and one of the organisers of #CyberFest, said: “#CyberFest raises awareness of the North East as a place to address cyber resilience and to educate and inform of the threats and opportunities from cyber. But it isn’t just about cyber security and resilience, it’s about the huge opportunities and how local businesses can grow their businesses.

“This year we’ve been working with Accenture to create more events, bring in more speakers and generate more opportunities for more people to get involved. We already have nine events planned, and more may be added before #CyberFest 19 begins,” he added.

This year’s festival will be held in September, with events planned for Durham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland and Alnwick. Venues for some events have yet to be confirmed.

The nine events already confirmed are:

• September 9 – Federation of Small Business (FSB) events, Salvus House Durham. Tickets available directly from FSB
• September 10 –The International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)² – Details to be confirmed
• September 11 – Half Day business event –  The Curve, Teesside University, hosted by Teesside University and Digital City, book tickets through www.dynamonortheast.co.uk
• September 12 – One-day business event at the Urban Science Building, Newcastle University hosted by Newcastle University Helix, book tickets through www.dynamonortheast.co.uk
• September 17 – Northumbria University, hosted by Not Equal and North East Initiative on Business Ethics, book tickets through www.dynamonortheast.co.uk
• September 18 – Civic cyber resilience event for the public sector, hosted by North East ICT Managers (NEICT). Tickets available through www.neict.org.uk
• September 24 – High value manufacturing and agritech event at Alnwick Castle, hosted by Northumberland Estates and Womble Bond Dickinson. Book tickets through www.dynamonortheast.co.uk
• September 26 – All day business event at University of Sunderland hosted by Sunderland and Northumbria Universities in conjunction with Digital Union – Details to be confirmed
• Cyber 101 Bootcamp – Register your interest here www.cyber101register.eventbrite.co.uk

“Our programme is wide-ranging with lots of different events and activities, but our two flagship events are Cyber in a Changing Business Model – Harnessing Opportunities at Teesside University on September 11, and #CyberNorth – Real Opportunity, Real Solutions the following day at Newcastle University,” said Phil.

“Speakers at the Teesside event include Tim Moran from Lujam; Kate Baucherel from Galiadigital and Jamie Hardesty, from Technation. Speakers at the Newcastle event, which will be in the university’s Urban Science Building, include Susan Bell, CEO at Waterstons; James Holmes, of North of England P&I; Caroline Churchill from Womble Bond Dickinson; Chris Ensore, Deputy Director for Cyber Skills and Growth at the National Cyber Security Centre, and Tony Smith, IS Security Manager at Northumbrian Water,” he added.

Dynamo is also planning a Cyber 101 Bootcamp. Cyber 101 is a DCMS-funded programme aimed at growing the UK’s cyber security sector. The programme offers intensive one-day bootcamps, deep dive sessions and demo days that will help early stage cyber security businesses to grow. Cyber 101 is delivered by Digital Catapult in partnership with The Accelerator Network, Inogesis, and The Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT).

All events are free to attend and for the full programme go to www.dynamonortheast.co.uk/cyberfest-september-2019

Phil leads on Dynamo North East’s cyber resilience cluster, which is supported by Accenture, and aims to champion the region’s cyber-security and resilience sector; work with universities to develop increase cyber research and development; to enhance skills in the sector and to work with law enforcement and other agencies to meet regional and UK-wide cyber security objectives.