The 2025 Conference Programme
Across a day of exclusive sessions, the 2025 agenda will feature contributions from an array of innovators and industry leaders. Speakers and discussion participants will cover topics including threats, skills, and tech infrastructure, and explore topics such as the huge and inescapable impact of artificial intelligence, how to protect critical public services, and the methods and motives of an increasingly diverse world of hostile actors.
08:45 – 09:30
Registration & Refreshments
09:30 – 09:40
The Conference Chair’s Opening Remarks
Sam Trendall, Editor, PublicTechnology
09:40 – 10:00
Implementing cyber security strategy – the challenges facing government
In the face of an ever-growing threat, government has prioritised its response and resilience to cyber risks in recent years, with the publication of various major plans and policies. But, as a report published by the National Audit Office earlier this year revealed, there are some significant barriers to the state’s security objectives – including ageing IT, gaps in specialist expertise, and governance issues.
Jonathan Pownall, Senior Digital Specialist, UK National Audit Office
10:00 – 10:15
Supporting colleagues through cyberattack response
In the aftermath of a significant cyberattack, the damage is often quantified in terabytes and downtime. But the toll on staff leading the response – including guilt, anxiety, and stress – can be just as destructive. In this session, experienced public sector CIO Sean Green will provide insights gained from responding to a ransomware breach, and share tips on how to ensure staff feel safe and supported during a singularly difficult time.
Sean Green, Interim Public Sector CIO
10:15 – 10:35
Does public sector IT need greater governance in the age of AI?
A recent study from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, highlights overwhelming public expectations for higher professional standards in the use of artificial intelligence and digital systems across government and public services. The research found that 85% of the public want IT professionals working on critical systems to be formally registered and held to an independent Code of Conduct, in line with established professions like medicine or law. In this fireside chat, BCS AI Programme Lead Emma McGuigan will unpack the research and discuss what a stronger professional framework could mean for trust, accountability, and the future of public sector technology.
Emma McGuigan, AI programme lead, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Sam Trendall, Editor, PublicTechnology
10:35 – 11:00
Q&A With Morning Speakers
This session will give attendees the chance to put their questions to all our morning speakers.
11:30 – 11:55: From Data to Defence: How Crown Hosting Guards Against Cyber Risks
Sponsored by:
Crown Hosting Data Centres protect UK government & Public Sector Organisations data bearing equipment through strict compliance with security standards and robust physical controls, including guards, access systems, and CCTV. They maintain continuous 24/7 monitoring and resilient infrastructure to detect threats early and ensure service continuity. By collaborating closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, they stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and implement best practices across all operations.
Robert Horne, Client Engagement Manager – Local Gov, Education, NHS, Blue Light & Research, Crown Hosting Data Centres
11:55 – 12:20: How can leaders take advantage of the latest tools to meet the latest threats?
While new and novel threats are emerging faster than ever before, so are the methods and tools to tackle them. But how can security leaders know which technologies and services to invest in – particularly when budgets are tight? In this presentation, attendees will hear expert insight from market-watcher Forrester, with senior analyst Tope Olufon sharing the top priorities that will emerge for cyber teams, practical ways to stay ahead, and the opportunities that will be presented by the market to meet them.
Tope Olufon, Senior Analyst, Forrester
11:30 – 12:20: Roundtable | How can the public sector put secure by design principles into practice?
In partnership with:
“Not merely a cyber security initiative – but a transformative approach that enhances digital resilience.” This is how government’s central digital teams characterised the secure-by-design initiative launched across Whitehall last year. The rollout of this approach was backed by 10 principles intended to help public bodies embed security in the fabric of citizen services, as well as ensuring that “cyber is everyone’s collective responsibility”.
In this roundtable discussion, held under Chatham House rules for a select group of attendees, participants will have the chance to examine the challenge of turning sound principle into solid practice. The conversation will allow contributors to share thoughts and experiences, with the aim of collectively demystifying what ‘secure by design’ means, as well as how it can best be implemented, the barriers to doing so – and the benefits that can, ultimately, be achieved.
12:20 – 13:10
Panel discussion – Protecting frontline services from cyber threats
Cyberattacks pose severe operational risks to all kinds of organisations. But, for those that provide critical public services and support for society’s most vulnerable, the dangers posed by disruption and interruption are grave. This panel discussion will bring together local leaders to explore how their organisation’s cyber set-up can help safeguard services.
Nasser Arif, Cyber Security Manager, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Opama Khan, Director Technology and Workplace, London Borough of Hackney
Ben Carlton, Service Owner – Defend As One, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Sam Trendall, Editor, PublicTechnology – Moderator
13:25 – 13:40
Retail has written the rulebook for public sector risk
The surge of ransomware and social engineering attacks seen across retail, automotive manufacturing and most recently aviation in 2025 has highlighted how quickly threat actors adapt to exploit human and process weaknesses. While these campaigns have so far focused on private industry, the lessons are directly relevant to public sector departments seeking to strengthen resilience and meet the updated CAF 4.0 objectives.
In this session, Rob Demain, CEO and Founder of e2e-assure, will share frontline insights from defending against these threat actors. He will show how public sector teams can apply proven monitoring improvements, tighten response processes, and reduce complexity without overhauling existing investments.
Attendees will hear real-world examples of how threat detection and response can be tailored to the government to build cyber resilience. Expect a practical, jargon-free discussion grounded in experience, with clear takeaways for leaders and practitioners alike.
Rob Demain, Founder and CEO, e2e-assure
Sponsored by:
14:00 – 14:30
In focus: Protecting the mental health of cyber professionals
In this session, advocates and experts in mental health will discuss how colleagues and employers can best support the well being of experts working in a singularly stressful field. The audience will be encouraged to engage with questions and contributions throughout.
Sarb Sembhi, Chair and Founding Member, Mental Health in Cyber Security Foundation
Noor Taha, Mental Health First Aider & Chair of the Mental Health Ambassador Network, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Sam Trendall, Editor, PublicTechnology – Moderator
14:30 – 15:15
Panel discussion | Criminals, hostile states and ideologues: who is attacking the public sector and why?
The UK public sector – and the country as a whole – has never faced such a diverse array of bad actors in the cyber sphere, all with very different motives and methods of attack, including misinformation as well as traditional cyber aggression. This panel discussion will bring together experts to discuss different types of attackers and the scale of the danger they pose to public services.
Jeremy Banks, Detective Chief Inspector, NPCC Cybercrime Team
Louise Marie Hurel, Research Fellow, Cyber and Tech from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
Dr Akshi Kumar, Senior Lecturer, Research Ethics in Computing, Goldsmiths
Sam Trendall, Editor, PublicTechnology – Moderator
Sponsorship Opportunities
Our tailored sponsorship packages deliver exceptional visibility, putting your best people, products, and services front and centre. From prominent branding, networking, and thought-leadership opportunities to lead-generation and relationship-building, we can develop your bespoke package.
This is your chance to forge new relationships that drive sales and open new growth avenues.
