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Qubit Conference® Prague 2026

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Why Take the Stage?

Cybersecurity
League

Being invited to the Qubit stage means your voice carries influence. And the audience knows it.

Speak to peers

An audience that understands, recognizes excellence, and appreciates it.

Credibility
that speaks for itself

Being a “Qubit Conference® Speaker” means joining the ranks of those who set the tone for the entire industry.

Legendary networking awaits

Talks that are awaited all year, because speakers’ presentations take the discussions to an entirely new level.

About Event

Date: 18 – 20. May 2026

Venue: Orea Hotel Pyramida, Prague

Audience: : CISOs, CTOs, CSOs, Information Security Managers, SOC Managers, Cyber Risk Managers, Security Architects, Forensic Experts, Security Engineers, and other specialists.

Conference Main Theme

The Trust Shift: Cybersecurity in the Age of Intelligent Autonomy

From human judgment to algorithmic control — can we still trust?

Security is changing in real time. AI is taking the wheel, autonomous systems are making decisions, and protocols run without human involvement. After years of building resilience, a new challenge emerges — trust in autonomy. Trust in systems that learn, never sleep, and remain beyond our full understanding. The Trust Shift is a silent earthquake shaking the very foundations of cybersecurity. Manual control is fading, traditional trust models are collapsing, and we are forced to rethink everything — from identity to the right to decide. That is exactly what Qubit Conference® Prague 2026 will be about.

Thematic
and Presentation Formats

Code Without Humans – AI, Autonomy and the End of Control

Focus: automated attacks, LLMs, autonomous defense systems, human-free red teaming

Securing Ordinary AI: How to Control What’s Already Running

Focus: robotic process automation, day-to-day AI operations, AI risk management

Synthetic Truth– Identity, Deepfakes and the Collapse of Verification

Focus: synthetic identities, deepfakes, social manipulation

Trustless by Design – Zero Trust in a Borderless Infrastructure

Focus: Zero Trust, cloud-native security, multicloud, edge computing, SBOM, CI/CD

Governance at Gunpoint – Regulation, Sovereignty & Accountability in Autonomy

Focus: AI Act, CRA, NIS2, digital sovereignty, accountability of autonomous systems

Suggested Presentation Topics
Keynote ( 30 min ):
Keynote presentations for the entire audience

Executive Talk ( 30 min alebo 40 min ):
Executive presentations focused on new approaches and recommendations

Technical Talk ( 30 min alebo 40 min ): Technical presentations with practical case studies and demonstrations.

Workshop ( 90 min ):
Interactive hands-on training

Panel Discussion (60 min):
Discussion with multiple experts

Pre-Conference Training (360 min): Full-day practical training

Criteria and Requirements

Organizational
Requirements

  • Speaker registration by the submission deadline in English
  • Presentation content provided in English
  • Personal attendance at the conference to deliver the presentation
  • Technical rehearsal of the presentation prior to the session

Presentation
Requirements

  • Originality of content
  • Emphasis on practical examples
  • Interactivity of the presentation
  • Relevance and timeliness of the topic
Personal
Requirements
  • Practical expertise in the relevant field
  • Presentation skills in English
  • Clear and comprehensible communication
  • Ability to respond to audience questions

Selection Process

Registration of Applications

Submit your application with a presentation abstract via the registration form. The application must be completed and submitted in English. Please note that the presentation must be original and must not have been delivered at other events.

Deadline: 31.10. 2025

Evaluation of Applications

All submissions are reviewed on an ongoing basis by an independent selection committee of experts. Priority is given to presentations that include real-world case studies and practical recommendations.

Presentations Selection

Selected speakers will be contacted directly after the evaluation process.

Final Preparations

In the final stage, speakers complete their presentations and participate in technical rehearsals to ensure a smooth delivery

Speaking Bureau

The Speaking Bureau is annually responsible for the most important task, which is compiling the list of speakers and their topics at the highest professional and qualitative level.

Speaking Bureau for conference
and panel discussions

Nicol Dankova

Head of Security Operations Center | Researcher | Henkel | Tomas Bata University | Germany

Read more >
Shyam Sundar R.

Senior Manager | Arctic Wolf Networks | India

Read more >
Joseph Carson

Chief Security Evangelist & Advisory CISO | Segura | Estonia

Read more >
Mackenzie Jackson
Researcher & Advocate | Aikido Security | Netherlands
Read more >
Marek Zeman

General Director | Competence and Certification Center for Cybersecurity | Chairman of the CISO Club | Slovakia

Read more >

References

„In my opinion, it was a well-organized event where a group of cybersecurity experts traditionally gathered. I consider it a great opportunity to learn about the latest developments, exchange practical experiences, and meet new people from this industry.“

Frantisek BodaEMM Slovakia

“One of the most amazing things about being at Qubit Conference is the people, ranging from private, to industry, to academia to individuals in the cybersecurity arena. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet, greet and collaborate.”

David HitchcockFBI AGENT

“Events like the Qubit Conference are how you meet colleagues working on the same problem that you are. You get perspective that you may not get every day.”

Charles TangoCISO at Sysco

“I found the Qubit to be one of the most interesting and worthwhile conferences I have attended.”

David Merrick President at Merrick Solutions

„For me personally, the best conference of 2022. It featured interesting topics, invited great speakers, and was excellently organized. I particularly liked the program, with one day focused on gaining knowledge and information, and the second designed with a playful and relaxing theme (featuring the game 'Backdoors & Breaches). This concept was perfect, intriguing, and diverse! Thank you for a great experience! You have done a fantastic job, and the entire Qubit team deserves a huge round of applause and recognition.“

Martin PilkaPROENERGY

“Enjoyed this Qubit and hearing the wealth of knowledge amongst the panel. collaboration – why I love this industry!”

Jeff Schmidt​ CEO Avertium

"At first, I was skeptical since there were no 'traditional' lectures in the program, but I can honestly say that I didn't miss them. On the contrary, the conference was more dynamic, people engaged more in discussions, and everything proceeded more briskly without compromising quality."

Veronika Krajcovicovabugino sro

"Thank you very much for the well-organized conference. This time, I really enjoyed it, and each day there were at least 2–3 sessions that were valuable and allowed me to do a follow-up with my team."

Daniel ChromekCEO ESET

„Qubit Conference is a well-organized gathering of cybersecurity professionals, where we managed to establish new professional connections with experts as well as key institutions in Slovakia. We also appreciate the inclusion of the engaging three-minute Shark Tank presentations, which brought fresh energy to the conference."

Radim KrautGREYCORTEX

Frequently Asked Questions

Kto schvaľuje žiadosti o vystúpenie na Qubit Conference®?

Prezentácie schvaľuje výberová komisia konferencie. Programová komisia má na starosti zostavenie zoznamu prednášajúcich a prezentovaných tém tak, aby spĺňali najvyššiu profesionálnu a kvalitatívnu úroveň.

Je vystúpenie honorované?

Účasť rečníkov na Qubit Conference nie je honorovaná. Qubit ako spoločnosť kladie dôraz na spoločenskú zodpovednosť a každoročne podporuje Spojenú internátnu školu v Levoči, ktorá sa venuje vzdelávaniu zrakovo postihnutých detí.

Od rečníkov nepožadujeme žiadne poplatky, zároveň však neposkytujeme finančný honorár ani náhradu cestovných a ubytovacích nákladov.

Ako poďakovanie ponúkame našim rečníkom bezplatný konferenčný lístok, ktorý zahŕňa vstup na všetky odborné prednášky, diskusie a networkingové podujatia.

Môžem prezentovať aj v inom ako anglickom jazyku?

Žiaľ, prezentácie v inom ako anglickom jazyku nie sú povolené. Qubit Conference® v Prahe je medzinárodné podujatie, ktoré navštevujú účastníci z rôznych krajín. Preto sa angličtina stala primárnym prezentačným jazykom konferencie, aby bol obsah dostupný a zrozumiteľný pre všetkých účastníkov.

Aká by mala byť dĺžka prezentácie?

Qubit Conference ponúka viacero formátov prezentácií s rôznou dĺžkou podľa typu vystúpenia. Je na samotnom rečníkovi, ktorý formát si vyberie podľa obsahu a štýlu svojej prezentácie:

Keynote (30 min): hlavné prednášky určené pre celé publikum

Executive Talk (30 alebo 40 min): manažérske prezentácie zamerané na nové prístupy a odporúčania

Technical Talk (30 alebo 40 min): technické prezentácie s praktickými prípadovými štúdiami a ukážkami

Workshop (90 min): interaktívne hands-on školenie

Panelová diskusia (60 min): diskusia s viacerými expertmi

Predkonferenčný tréning (360 min): celodenný praktický tréning

Prečo moja prezentácia nebola schválená?
Programová komisia sa každoročne snaží zostaviť čo najkvalitnejší program s vyváženým zastúpením tém a rečníkov. To znamená, že nie je možné prijať všetky návrhy, aj keď sú odborne hodnotné. Dôvodom zamietnutia preto nemusí byť nedostatočná kvalita prezentácie, ale napríklad jej prílišná podobnosť s inými príspevkami, obmedzený časový priestor alebo snaha o udržanie tematickej vyváženosti programu.

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Suggested Presentation Topics
created by digital and marketing agency ©CaIS4you, s.r.o., design by graphic designer ©Slaavo

Nicol Daňková

Head of Security Operations Center | Researcher | Henkel | Tomas Bata University | Nemecko
Nicol Daňková je skúsená líderka v oblasti kybernetickej bezpečnosti s rozsiahlymi skúsenosťami v kybernetickej obrane, reakcii na incidenty, spravodajstve o hrozbách a digitálnej forenzike. V súčasnosti pôsobí ako vedúca Centra bezpečnostných operácií (SOC) v spoločnosti Henkel, kde vedie globálny tím zodpovedný za nepretržité 24/7 monitorovanie a okamžitú reakciu na kybernetické incidenty v celej digitálnej infraštruktúre spoločnosti. Pred pôsobením v spoločnosti Henkel bola Nicol manažérkou Centra kybernetickej obrany v spoločnosti Deutsche Post DHL Group, kde dohliadala na bezpečnostné operácie globálneho podniku s viac ako 500 000 zamestnancami a státisícami koncových zariadení. Okrem svojej profesionálnej činnosti je Nicol doktorandkou na Fakulte aplikovanej informatiky Univerzity Tomáša Baťu v Zlíne. Vo svojom výskume sa zameriava na hrozby v prostredí IPv6, konkrétne na porovnanie rýchlosti zneužitia a vzorcov zraniteľností v sieťach IPv4 a IPv6. Cieľom jej práce je zlepšiť monitorovanie bezpečnosti prostredníctvom open-source a cenovo dostupných riešení, ktoré ponúkajú škálovateľnú kybernetickú ochranu pre organizácie s obmedzenými zdrojmi. Nicol je držiteľkou viacerých odborných certifikácií, vrátane CISSP, GCIH, ITIL 4, GCFE a GSOM, čo podčiarkuje jej odhodlanie dosahovať excelentnosť v oblasti kybernetickej bezpečnosti.

Shyam Sundar R.

Senior Manager | Arctic Wolf Networks | India
Shyam Sundar KR je šéf aplikačnej bezpečnosti s viac ako 17-ročnými skúsenosťami v oblasti aplikácií, digitálnej forenznej analýzy a analýzy pamäte/malvéru. Rečník, autor a profesor “loví” hrozby prostredníctvom logov a výskumu. Je držiteľom magisterského titulu z digitálnej forenznej analýzy a pokračuje v doktorandskom štúdiu, pričom vášnivo stráži digitálny svet.

Joseph Carson

Chief Security Evangelist & Advisory CISO | Segura | Estónsko
Volám sa Joseph Carson a som skúsený odborník na kybernetickú bezpečnosť s viac než 30-ročnou praxou v tomto odvetví. Počas celej svojej kariéry som aktívne prispieval do komunity kybernetickej bezpečnosti ako pedagóg, etický hacker a rečník na globálnych konferenciách. Vlastním certifikácie Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) a Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) a zároveň pôsobím ako poradca pre viaceré vlády, organizácie kritickej infraštruktúry a odvetvia ako financie či doprava v otázkach kybernetickej bezpečnosti. Som autorom šiestich kníh o kybernetickej bezpečnosti, vrátane publikácie „Kybernetická bezpečnosť pre začiatočníkov“ („Cybersecurity for Dummies“), ktorá získala celosvetové uznanie za pomoc firmám pri integrácii ľudí, procesov a technológií s cieľom posilniť ich obranu proti kybernetickým útokom. Knihu si prečítalo viac ako 50 000 čitateľov po celom svete a ponúka jednoduchý a zrozumiteľný pohľad na problematiku kybernetickej bezpečnosti. Okrem písania kníh som autorom mnohých článkov a výskumných prác, ktoré boli publikované v médiách ako The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Dark Reading a CSO Magazine. Mojím poslaním je vzdelávať budúcu generáciu lídrov v oblasti kybernetickej bezpečnosti a prispievať k budovaniu bezpečnejšieho internetu pre všetkých.

Mackenzie Jackson

Researcher & Advocate | Aikido Security | Holandsko
Mackenzie je bezpečnostný výskumník a advokát so silnou vášňou pre aplikačnú bezpečnosť. Ako spoluzakladateľ a bývalý CTO zdravotnícko-technologickej spoločnosti Conpago sa z prvej ruky naučil, aké kľúčové je budovať bezpečné aplikácie. Dnes pôsobí ako výskumník a advokát v spoločnosti Aikido Security, kde zdieľa svoju vášeň pre bezpečnosť s vývojármi a ukazuje im, ako škodliví aktéri odhaľujú a zneužívajú zraniteľnosti v kóde. Mackenzie je tiež skúsený rečník – vystúpil na konferenciách v 29 krajinách, moderuje The Disclosure Podcast a pravidelne prispieva do rôznych odborných médií, ako sú Dark Reading a Security Boulevard.

Marek Zeman

Generálny riaditeľ | Kompetenčné a certifikačné centrum kybernetickej bezpečnosti | Chairman Qubit CISO Clubu | Slovensko

Marek Zeman je expert na informačnú a kybernetickú bezpečnosť. Pôsobí ako generálny riaditeľ Kompetenčného a certifikačného centra kybernetickej bezpečnosti a zároveň prednáša na Fakulte informatiky a informačných technológií Slovenskej technickej univerzity v Bratislave. Má viac ako 20 ročné skúsenosti s riadením informačnej bezpečnosti vo veľkej finančnej inštitúcii, kde pôsobil na pozícii CISO.
Vo výskume sa zameriava na manažment informačnej bezpečnosti, bezpečnostné aspekty moderných technológií, najmä umelej inteligencie, autonómnych systémoch a implementáciu AI v robotickej procesnej automatizácii (RPA).
V rámci dobrovoľníckych aktivít je predsedom CISO Clubu a autorom učebníc a metodík informačnej bezpečnosti pre základné a stredné školy. Jeho profesijným poslaním je systematické budovanie povedomia o informačnej bezpečnosti naprieč spoločnosťou — od technických expertov až po širokú verejnosť.

Nicol Dankova

Head of Security Operations Center | Researcher | Henkel | Tomas Bata University | Germany

Nicol Daakova is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with extensive experience in cyber defense, incident response, threat intelligence, and digital forensics. Currently serving as the Head of the Security Operations Center (SOC) at Henkel, Nicol leads a global team responsible for 24/7 monitoring and immediate response to cybersecurity incidents across the company’s digital infrastructure. Prior to her role at Henkel, Nicol was the Manager of the Cyber Defense Center at Deutsche Post DHL Group, overseeing the security operations for a global enterprise with over 500,000 employees and hundreds of thousands of endpoints. In addition to her professional roles, Nicol is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Applied Informatics at Tomas Bata University in Zlín. Her research focuses on the IPv6 threat landscape, specifically the comparative exploitation speed and patterns of vulnerabilities in IPv4 versus IPv6 environments. Nicol’s work aims to enhance security monitoring through open-source and cost-effective solutions, providing scalable cybersecurity measures for organizations with limited resources. Nicol holds several industry certifications, including CISSP, GCIH, ITIL 4, GCFE, and GSOM, underscoring her commitment to excellence in cybersecurity.

Shyam Sundar R.

Senior Manager | Arctic Wolf Networks | India
Shyam Sundar KR is an Application Security Chief with 17+ years of experience in appsec, digital forensics, and memory/malware analysis. A speaker, author, and professor, he hunts threats through logs and research. He holds a Master’s in Digital Forensics and is pursuing his Ph.D., passionately guarding the digital world.

Joseph Carson

Chief Security Researcher & Advisory CISO | Wiretrap | Estonia

Joseph Carson is a cybersecurity professional and ethical hacker with over 25 years of experience in enterprise security specializing in blockchain, endpoint security, network security, application security virtualization, access controls, and privileged account management.

Joseph is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and an active member of the cybersecurity community, frequently speaking at global cybersecurity conferences, and contributing to international cybersecurity publications. He is a cybersecurity advisor to several governments, and critical infrastructure, financial, transportation, and maritime industries.

Joseph regularly shares his knowledge and experience giving workshops on vulnerability assessments, patch management best practices, the evolving cybersecurity perimeter, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation. He is the author of Cybersecurity for Dummies and Privileged Account Management for Dummies.

Mackenzie Jackson

Researcher & Advocate | Aikido Security | Netherlands
Mackenzie is a security researcher and advocate with a passion for application security. As the co-founder and former CTO of the health tech company Conpago, he learned first-hand how critical it is to build secure applications. Today, as a researcher and advocate at Aikido Security, he shares his passion for security with developers to reveal how malicious actors discover and exploit vulnerabilities in code. Mackenzie is also a seasoned speaker, having spoken at conferences in 29 countries, he is the host of The Disclosure Podcast and a frequent contributor to various technical publications like Dark Reading and Security Boulevard.

Marek Zeman

CEO | Competence and Certification Center for Cyber Security | Chairman of the Qubit CISO Club | Slovakia

Marek Zeman is an expert in information and cyber security. He is the CEO of the Competence and Certification Center for Cyber Security and also lectures at the Faculty of Informatics and Information Technologies at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. He has more than 20 years of experience in information security management at a large financial institution, where he served as CISO.
His research focuses on information security management, security aspects of modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and the implementation of AI in robotic process automation (RPA).
As part of his volunteer activities, he is the chairman of the CISO Club and the author of textbooks and methodologies on information security for primary and secondary schools. His professional mission is to systematically build awareness of information security across society — from technical experts to the general public.

Lenka Madudova

Trainer | Wellbeing Advisory | Slovakia
Lenka Madudova is a neuroscience-based mental fitness trainer and founder of Nervove fitko, an innovative platform that helps people strengthen their mental resilience and emotional balance through practical neurohacking techniques. Her work combines the latest findings from neuroscience with simple, effective tools for stress management, focus, and wellbeing. At Nervove fitko (neural gym), she guides individuals and teams to better understand their brains, boost performance, and stay mentally fit in a fast-paced world.

Dave Lewis

Global Advisory CISO | 1Password | Canada

Dave has over 30 years of industry experience with a strong background in IT security operations and management. He is the Global Advisory CISO at 1Password and the founder of the Liquidmatrix Security Digest and podcast. Dave also hosts the Chasing Entropy podcast. He served on the board of directors for BSides Las Vegas for eight years and currently sits on the advisory boards of Byos.io and Knostic.ai. Dave has previously worked in critical infrastructure for nine years and has held roles at companies such as Duo Security, Akamai, Cisco, AMD, and IBM. He also served on the board of directors for (ISC)² and co-founded the BSides Toronto conference. In his spare time, he wrangles small mammals (his kids), plays bass guitar, grills, and is a part-owner of both a whisky distillery and a soccer team.

Aleksander Gorkowienko

Head of Security Testing Team | Risk Crew | United Kingdom
Aleksander Gorkowienko is an experienced cybersecurity professional with more than 15 years of practice, working in numerous industry sectors. Aleksander has a passion for advanced technology and applied information security, which he shares with the industry and business leaders, including the UK Government. He leads Risk Crew’s Security Team, helping organisations in the UK and worldwide to secure their business and digital identity. Aleksander is specialised in the security of IoT and industrial systems, and (inevitably) also experiments a lot with AI and researches how AI changes the world we live in and the cybersecurity landscape.

Domagoj Maric

AI Customer Delivery Manager | Pontis Technology | Croatia
Domagoj Maric graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, shifting from information security to data science with a focus on web scraping. He began his career at Megatrend poslovna rješenja, developing Python applications and data solutions, later leading the data science department. A role he continued at Comping. Today, he works as the AI Customer Delivery Manager at Pontis Technology, leading the delivery of projects in NLP, computer vision, predictive analytics, and generative AI. In addition to his industry work, he also works as a lecturer in programming.

Martin Pavelka

MKB and Researcher | Exemplar.sk and FIIT STU | Slovakia
He works as an independent security consultant and Cybersecurity Manager. He has experience in specific areas such as healthcare, water utilities, small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, or state administration. He specializes in security and business continuity in infrastructures built primarily on MS Windows. At FIIT STU, he participates in teaching subjects focused on operating system security and cybersecurity management. As part of his professional practice, he prepares organizations for certification according to the ISO 27001 standard in terms of harmonization of technologies and processes. He uses his experience in implementing a set of technical and procedural cybersecurity measures.

Jan Dusatko

Security Principal | DHL IT Services, s.r.o. | Czech republic
Jan Dusatko has been involved in computers and computer security for nearly a quarter of a century. During his career, he has worked with leading cryptography experts such as Vlastimil Klíma and Tomáš Rosa. In his current role as a security consultant, he focuses primarily on topics related to cryptography, email communication, and Linux systems. In addition, he actively promotes cryptography and works to educate both the public and IT system administrators in this field.

Yohann Sillam

Senior Security Researcher | Imperva | Israel
Yohann Sillam, Senior Security Researcher at Imperva, investigates emerging threats, analyzes cyberattacks, and regularly publishes his findings. His work focuses primarily on malware research and application security.

Ladislav Snapko

Certified Cybersecurity Auditor, Certified Cybersecurity Manager | KCCKB | Slovakia
Ladislav Snapko works as a certified Cybersecurity manager in public administration, where he focuses on improving management, control, and risk management processes. Through his work, he supports the effective functioning of institutions, the improvement of employee competencies, and the implementation of modern approaches to public resource management. He has long been involved in education, lecturing, and consulting, combining professional knowledge with practical experience in organizational management. In his training courses, he emphasizes compliance with personal data protection principles/GDPR. He also works as a cyber and information security auditor. Through his work, he contributes to improving the quality, transparency, and security of processes, building a culture of open communication, and strengthening trust in public administration. The aim of his activities is to strengthen the capacities of public administration and contribute to the more efficient, open, and modern functioning of institutions.

Tamas Buzgo

OT Security Expert | Asolutions Security s.r.o. | Slovakia
Tamas Buzgo is an OT/ICS cybersecurity architect and expert with extensive experience in protecting critical infrastructure. He specializes in IEC 62443, NIS2, NIST 800-82, ISO/IEC 27000, and the EU Cyber Resilience Act, focusing on secure OT network design, segmentation, hardening, and risk management. His deep technical background covers SCADA, PLC, HMI, RTU, and IED environments, including vulnerability assessments and the development of advanced security frameworks. As an OT Security Architect, he designs resilient architectures aligned with European cybersecurity and compliance requirements. As the Managing Director of ASolutions Security, he provides strategic consulting and tailored security solutions for industrial, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

Stanislav Balko

Chief of Information Technology Department | University Hospital Martin | Slovakia
Specialist in cybersecurity in healthcare, currently working at Martin University Hospital. He focuses on the implementation and audit of information security in healthcare information systems with an emphasis on the protection of patients’ personal data and compliance with GDPR requirements. He has extensive knowledge of international information and cybersecurity standards and experience in auditing them. As a certified cybersecurity manager, he is involved in the practical implementation of security measures in the public and private sectors. With his expertise in IT security and law, he focuses on improving the level of patient data protection.

Michal Kaprinay

Systems Engineer | Fortinet | Slovakia
Michal Kaprinay is an IT security and network management specialist focused on Fortinet solutions. He has extensive experience in designing and maintaining secure network architectures, optimizing infrastructure, and leading technical teams. His work centers on integrated cybersecurity strategies, threat prevention, and operational efficiency across diverse enterprise environments. Michal combines strong technical expertise with a managerial perspective, emphasizing reliability, innovation, and proactive protection in the field of cybersecurity.

Lubomir Kriz

CISO | Slovak Post | Slovakia
Lubomir Kriz is an experienced IT professional with more than 30 years of experience in system and database administration, and especially cyber security. He started his career as a lead programmer, where he led development teams for 6 years and participated in the design and implementation of complex software solutions. For the next 6 years, he worked as a senior systems and database specialist, specializing in optimizing the performance and reliability of IT infrastructure. He devoted a significant part of his career—17 years—to information security as head of the IT security department, where he was responsible for the design and implementation of security policies, risk management, and critical infrastructure protection. For the last 3 years, he has served as Head of Development and Cyber Security Department. He currently works as CISO, combining technical and strategic leadership to ensure effective development and a high level of cyber protection. He also serves as Cyber Security Manager at Slovak Post.

Slavomir Zavacky

Head of Distribution System Automation Department | Východoslovenská distribučná a.s. and Západoslovenská distribučná a.s. | Slovakia
Slavomir Zavacky has been working at Východoslovenská distribučná a.s. since 2000. For more than 20 years, he has held various management positions, mainly in the field of operational technology (OT), with many years of experience in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, remote control and management systems, automation technologies, electrical power equipment protection, and geographic information systems (GIS). Since 2024, he has been responsible for the area of distribution system automation at Východoslovenská distribučná a.s. and Západoslovenská distribučná a.s. His work focuses on the implementation of modern technologies and advanced solutions with the aim of increasing digitization and automation, which contribute to more reliable, efficient, and secure operation of the distribution system in a critical infrastructure environment.

Zuzana Halasova

Head of the Cyber Security Department | the Slovak Ministry of the Interior | Slovakia
Zuzana Halasova has been the head of the cyber security department at the Slovak Ministry of the Interior since 2022. Previously, she held various positions within the armed forces, where she focused on cybersecurity, e-government, and e-signatures. She is the author and co-author of professional articles and publications and serves as a national expert for the European Commission’s legal and technical studies.

Marcela Zimova

Chief Information Security Officer | Piano Software | Slovakia
Marcela Zimová graduated from Information Security at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and has more than 10 years of professional experience in this field. She currently works as the Chief Information Security Officer at Piano Software, where she is responsible for securing corporate data and systems on a global level. he is a certified information systems auditor (CISA) and certified information security manager (CISM) within ISACA Slovakia. She is a member of the executive board of Women4Cyber Slovakia as the Chief Operations Officer. Marcela is a passionate ambassador for supporting women in information security and also works to raise awareness of the importance of information security among various interest groups. Her expertise and professional approach motivates others to get involved in this field.

Zdenek Huspenina

Head of AI Solutions | Blogic | Czech Republic
Zdenek has more than 20 years of experience in implementing software solutions and products in the corporate sphere. Thanks to his deep technical knowledge, he is able to effectively link technology with business goals and company needs In recent years, he has also been actively involved in lecturing as a keynote speaker, focusing on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Michal Gross

Head of IT Security | 365.bank | Slovakia
Is a security senior with more than 23 years of experience in the field of cybersecurity. He went from junior security administator through several various security specialist roles to leadership positions in corporate environment. Michal takes pragmatic approach to decisions and is always trying to support business development via modern security program aimed on continuous improvements in defense of clients‘ and shareholders‘ assets. He has been working at 365.bank for the sixth year.

Boris Mittelmann

Senior Systems Engineer | Veeam Software | Slovakia
Proud Kosice resident in exile. As a technology consultant for 25 years he has been discussing, designing and reviewing solutions for data storage, availability, protection and resilience. In the current five-year plan, with a primary focus on ransomware threats. Already on Veeam’s payroll for the second decade.

Branislav Magula

Global Cyber Security Manager | Marelli | Slovakia
Branislav Magula, CISSP, is an experienced professional with extensive experience in managing information and cyber security in IT and OT environments. He has worked in various industries, including critical infrastructure At Marelli, a key technology supplier to the automotive industry, he leads several global security teams and participates in the design, evaluation, and implementation of measures to strengthen the cyber resilience of IT/OT infrastructure. He also actively participates in the preparation and implementation of strategic initiatives in the field of information and cyber security. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and mountain biking.

Florian Ettinger

Solutions Architect | AWS Austria
Florian Ettinger is a Solutions Architect at AWS, specializing in guiding Financial Services customers across Central Europe through their cloud transformation journeys. He helps organizations navigate cloud migrations while maintaining the highest security standards essential for financial institutions.

Maximilian Stremy

rector | STU | Slovakia
Professor Maximilian Stremy is the new rector of STU in Bratislava. He took office on September 7th, 2025 Until now, he served for four years as STU’s vice-rector for strategic projects, development, innovation, and practice. He was responsible for international and development projects, cooperation with industry, innovation, technology transfer, the technology incubator, and other activities. He is a successful teacher and researcher who has worked and lectured at several foreign universities. He is a professor in the field of automation. He focuses primarily on supporting innovation and talent, which are prerequisites for successful Slovakia.

Martin Zajicek

CISO | Medirex, a.s. | Slovakia
He has been involved in information security since college, starting as a classic IT specialist, continuing as an IT manager, and then working for 20 years as an external consultant in the field of security, focusing on organizational and technical security such as emergency plans, BIA, risk analysis, personal data protection, OS/DB security audits, penetration tests, and social engineering tests. He continued for several years as an internal IT/SEC auditor at the largest Slovak bank and currently works as a CISO.

Ivan Malik

CEO/CTO | Logicworks | Slovakia
CEO and CTO of Logicworks, which he founded and has been successfully building since 2004. He has 25 years experience with Apple platforms – from technical roles to strategic management of the company. He is one of the leading experts on the integration and management of Apple devices in the corporate sphere and has long promoted their use as a secure and effective work tool. He graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a focus on management and marketing. His professional and personal interests include cryptographic algorithms, programming, and artificial intelligence applications.

Ondrej Krajc

Solution Architect | ESET | Slovakia

Ondrej Krajc graduated from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, where he mainly dealt with the design of metropolitan optical networks and advanced data security. Before joining ESET in 2008 as a Technical Support Engineer, he held several positions, including design activity and administration of network environments for various companies. At ESET, he was responsible for the implementation and optimization of antivirus solutions for the large customers. He has been working in IT security for more than 15 years. He currently works as a Solution Architect He focuses on consulting on large-scale ESET security products implementations in the enterprise segment, as well as presentation activities.

Zuzana Rebrova

Head of Third Party Cyber Risk Management | Swiss Re | Slovakia
She has been at home in cybersecurity for over 15 years. She has been at home in cybersecurity for over 15 years. She started out in IT companies, where she implemented ISO standards, conducted internal audits, and took care of personal data protection. Gradually, she expanded her focus – from compliance and regulations to supply chain resilience and cyber risk management. Today, she works at a global company, where she leads a team as well as several cross-team initiatives. She enjoys bringing people together, connecting different perspectives, turning complex topics into tangible results, and shifting the perception of security from a mandatory task to a competitive advantage.

Rastislav Beno

EMEA Information Security & Cyber Resilience Manager | Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation | Slovakia

Rastislav Beno worked in various management positions in the field of development, operation and management of IT in the banking sector during his career. Subsequently, he focused on information security, crisis management and business continuity planning in the telecommunications sector. He is currently responsible for managing information security and cyber resilience for EMEA region in a global company operating in the chemical industry. His tasks include building an information and cyber security team as well as designing, implementing, and standardizing information security processes in an international corporation environment.

Pavol Dovicovic

Executive Consultant , certified auditor | Cyber Security Competence and Certification Centre | Slovakia

Certified cybersecurity auditor, lecturer, and consultant with many years of experience in cybersecurity. During his career, he has held several technical and management positions, where he focused primarily on the design and implementation of security measures in various sectors. In addition to his professional activities, he is also involved in education and awareness, helping organizations and individuals better understand the risks of the digital world and effectively address them.

Michal Srnec

CISO | Aliter Technologies | Slovakia

At Aliter Technologies, he leads the cybersecurity agenda with a focus on risk management, SOC/SIEM, and cloud data protection. He has over 10 years of experience in designing and implementing security architectures, incident response, and automation. He holds a PhD in applied computer science. He is also actively involved in information security topics as an author and speaker.

Milan Oselsky

Partner & Board Member | Xolution Robots | Slovakia

Milan is an experienced leader and entrepreneur with international expertise in artificial intelligence, strategic management, and building technology organizations. As Head of Operations and Country Manager at Amelia (IPsoft), he founded and led the Slovak branch starting in 2016. He built a delivery center of more than 100 employees, steered the company through a full reorganization in 2019, and oversaw all local functions from HR and marketing to legal and operational processes. He managed global teams for key clients across EU/USA/APAC, developed technology teams (NW, FW, R&D), represented the company at international conferences, and strengthened Amelia’s goodwill within the Slovak AI ecosystem.

At Xolution Robots, Milan focuses on growing deep-tech startups, designing and implementing AI orchestration, and driving innovation in enterprise automation. His work bridges business and technology – from strategy to operations – with an emphasis on building scalable solutions based on ontological and semantic models, advanced data and process integration, and process automation.

Ing. Radoslav Stefanek

State Secretary of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic and Government Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence.

Ing. Radoslav Stefanek is an experienced leader in the field of digital transformation and innovation in public administration.

He specializes in strategic management and crisis management, and has long held key positions in state administration as well as in public enterprises.

At the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, he oversees the main agendas of digital transformation in public administration, including information technology, innovation, and cybersecurity. He is responsible for the strategic coordination, policy development, and effective implementation of the ministry’s priorities. Based on the Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 368 of July 4, he was appointed as the Government Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence.
In the past, he served as the Director General of the Railways of the Slovak Republic (2023) and as a member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Services Division at the Slovak Railway Company (2016–2022). At the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family of the Slovak Republic, he held several managerial positions, including Director of the Office of the General Secretary of the Service Office (2012–2016), Director of the Management Support Department, and Director General of the Social Affairs Inspection (2024–2025).
He earned his engineering degree in Marketing and Management from Tomas Bata University in Zlín. He further expanded his expertise through specialized education in project management at RISEBA University of Applied Sciences in Riga.

Martin Kupci

CISO | Tatra banka | Slovakia

Martin has been working professionally in the field of information security for several years. He has worked in various areas of cybersecurity – from infrastructure and network protection, through security incident monitoring and SIEM solution development, to identity management (IAM/PAM) and application security.

In recent years, he has worked at Tatra banka as a Security Architect, where he focused on cloud security in public cloud platforms. Part of his work also involved introducing modern security principles into the development cycle.

He currently holds the position of CISO at Tatra banka, where he leads the team responsible for information security management.

Dusan Petricko

Cyber Security Domain Lead | SLSP | Slovakia

He has been involved in information security for over 12 years. In his role as an information security specialist at one of the largest Slovak banks, he focuses heavily on practical security and the implementation of security measures during the design and review of solutions. He consults on the design, architecture, and implementation of new technologies. He helps partners understand the mindset of security professionals, explains the rationale and benefits of thinking about security in advance, and can also demonstrate the consequences of neglecting security. In his role, he approaches security comprehensively—from communication with developers and architects, through security training and raising awareness among everyday users, to testing the security features of solutions, handling security incidents, and communicating with solution owners, vendors, and top management.

He also serves as a lecturer for the Cybersecurity Manager II course at the Competence and Certification Centre for Cybersecurity.

Igor Urban

Territory Account Manager | Forcepoint | Slovakia
Igor Urban has been in the field of information security sales for over 20 years, during which time he worked as a sales representative and sales director at system integrators, then as the executive director of a value-add distribution company focused on IT security, and since 2012 he has been working at Forcepoint as a regional representative for a selected country in Eastern Europe.

Jean Gobin

Senior Technical Architect | Truesec AB | Sweden

Jean-Francois is a Senior Technical Architect in Truesec’s leading CSIRT. He focuses mainly on network infrastructure and network forensic investigations. He is a seasoned veteran with a strong track record from engagements during which he assisted customers with security reviews, network designs, and robustness assessments to prevent breaches and minimize impacts of attacks.

Andrea Pezzotti

Global Head Cyber Security Operations | Sandoz | Czech Republic
With over 20 years of experience in IT and Security across multiple countries in Europe, Andrea has primarily worked within the banking and pharmaceutical industries. He has successfully led multiple transformations and programs aimed at enhancing both defensive and offensive security capabilities. In 2019, Andrea spoke at the Advanced Threat Summit in Poland, and furthermore in 2022, he recorded a lesson on modern Vulnerability Management Programs for EC-Council University.

Tiarne Hawkins

CEO & Co-Founder | Optica Labs | USA

Tiarne Hawkins is an AI strategist, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcast host and industry leader driving AI innovation, transformation, and safety on a global scale, ensuring AI services for the greater good of society. Tiarne’s journey began in IT recruitment programs in Australia, where she founded and led her first company at just 22, specializing in digital transformation consulting and recruitment. Through a strategic merger with leading firm Salt, she expanded operations into Asia, the UK, and Dubai, scaling the company to $37 million annual revenue before a successful exit. Following this success, Tiarne played a pivotal role in expanding an international firm in the U.S., contributing to its rapid growth from $500 million to $900 million as part of the global executive team. In 2017, She joined Playable AI, positioning its cutting-edge AI-powered video editing and email marketing platform for market dominance, collaborating with entertainment giants like Disney and ESPN. By 2019, Tiarne joined Welocalize, spearheading the launch of its AI training division, driving advancements in machine translation, multilingual language modeling, and AI data pipeline creation—leading AI programs for Google, Amazon, AWS, Meta, Apple, and more. Before founding Optica Labs, Tiarne served as an Industry Strategist at Invisible Technologies, crafting AI training strategies for LLM research, AI program development, and next-gen AI training breakthroughs—customers included OpenAI, Meta, xAI, Nvidia, Cohere, Amazon, and more. An influential voice in AI, Tiarne leads AI workshops for HPE, Nvidia, and AWS, engages CIO groups across the U.S., and speaks at premier industry events, including CES, AI Boston, AI Summit New York, and Voice & AI. She are also the host of the ‘You & AI’ podcast, featuring conversations with top tech leaders such as Mark Cuban, Adam Cheyer, and many more. Currently, Tiarne Hawkins is the Co-Founder of Optica Labs, an innovation lab operating at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and human interaction.

Michal Susko

IT GRC and Security Team Leader | VOLKSWAGEN Financial Services Slovakia | Slovakia

Michal Susko, the GRC and Security Team Lead at VWFS SK, brings a wealth of experience in IT security, compliance, and risk management. His expertise ensures robust security frameworks and compliance with industry standards, enhancing organizational resilience.

Jozef Filko

Cyber security consultant | beluga | Slovakia

Jozef Filko is a cybersecurity expert with 20 years of experience in IT governance, risk management, and AI security in finance. He leads AI-driven security & IT projects, ensures regulatory compliance, and holds CDPSE, CIPP/E, and ITIL 4 certifications.

Tudor Damian

Cybersecurity & Cloud Advisor | D3 Cyber | Romania

Tudor, an IT consultant with 20+ years of industry experience, Tudor is a Certified Ethical Hacker, and a Microsoft Cloud and Datacenter Management MVP. His commitment to staying at the forefront of technology trends enables him to provide valuable guidance and support to organizations seeking to navigate the ever-changing IT landscape. His passion for sharing knowledge and engaging with the community helped him become a regular presence at local and regional community events, providing valuable insights and guidance to IT industry professionals and enthusiasts.

Charles Tango

CISO | SYSCO | USA

Charles is the Chief Information Security Officer at Sysco, a Fortune 50 global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food and non-food products to customers around the world. Charles is a Venture Partner at Bloccelerate, one of the largest blockchain focused VC funds, and holds advisory board positions with several companies including OptimEyes, an AI risk management platform and Lytical Ventures, a cybersecurity / AI VC. . Charles is both a seed investor in early-stage startups and board /advisory director having led growth through profitability. Charles also does public speaking several times a year, including a past Keynote panel at RSA. Prior to his role at Sysco, Charles held the Chief Information Security Officer position at Altria as well as senior level Information Security positions with financial institutions in the NY metro area, including Chief Information Security & Risk Officer for Sterling National Bank and Senior Vice President, IT & Operational Risk at Citigroup. During his time in NY he was also a charter founding member of the NY ISC2 Chapter.

Lukas Hatala

Regional CTO | DXC Technology | Slovakia

Lukas currently serving as CTO responsible for Eastern Europe in DXC.technology. Because of his curiosity and strong believe in positive technology impact on human kind he is helping BlockChain Slovakia as Director of International Affairs. He also founded his own project called Neuromorphics Europe, where he serves as CEO. Lukas has experience from HP Labs, the European Commission in Brussels, and large international Go-to-Market (GtM) projects, where in previous years he promoted technologies such as IoT, Edge Computing, Blockchain, and AI.

Pavel Minarik

VP, Product Security | Progress Software | Czech Republic

As a VP of Product Security, Pavel is responsible for the secure software development life cycle across all Progress products defining and implementing product security standards and ensuring that security is inherent to our mindset and product development practice. Pavel is the former Chief Technology Officer of Flowmon Networks responsible for product vision and strategy for Network Performance Monitoring & Diagnostics and Network Detection & Response product portfolio.