Speakers June 2023 – Session V

Dr Aleksandrs Cepilovs is a research officer at the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) and a research fellow at Tallinn University of Technology, where he obtained his PhD in Public Administration/Technology Governance. Previously he has worked as a research fellow and project manager at Tallinn University of Technology and was a civil servant in Latvia.

The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) was established to provide a long-term solution for the operational management of large-scale IT systems, which are essential instruments in the implementation of the asylum, border management and migration policies of the EU. The Agency currently manages Eurodac, the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS). Further to these, eu-LISA is developing the Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the European Criminal Records Information System – Third-Country Nationals (ECRIS-TCN). These systems and the pre-existing ones are being built/adapted to ensure Interoperability – improved access to information stored in EU information systems and identity management at an EU level. The Agency is also in the process of integrating e-CODEX into its portfolio.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, is responsible for helping the Swedish society prepare for major accidents, crises and the consequences of war. The agency coordinates the cybersecurity management in society, is the Single Point of Contact for the NIS Directive and hosts the national CSIRT. MSB also hosts the Swedish National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity Research and Innovation, NCC-SE, which is part of the framework of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, ECCC, the Network of National Coordination Centres and the European Cybersecurity Competence Community.

Christoffer Karsberg is Coordinator for the Swedish National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity Research and Innovation, NCC-SE, at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB. Previously at MSB, Christoffer coordinated the NIS Directive rollout in Sweden. Christoffer also has a background from the European Cybersecurity Agency ENISA and from the Swedish telecom regulator PTS.

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, is shaping the cloud-centric future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Eirik Valderhaug is a Senior Principal Systems Engineer Specialist currently working for Palo Alto Networks for the Cortex division, covering EMEA. He has over 20 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry and specializes in EDR, NTA, UEBA, SOAR, AI/ML. Eirik is highly skilled in Cortex XDR, XSOAR, XPANSE, and XSIAM. He has a proven track record of designing and implementing effective security solutions for organizations of all sizes, as well as strategic thought leadership at multiple levels ranging from engineering to C-level.

Leonardo is an Italian company with a global reach active in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sector and with an integrated offer of high-tech solution. The Cyber & Security Solutions Division operates in terms of Secure Cloud & Digital Transformation, Cyber Security & Intelligence, Global Monitoring and Mission Critical Communications. The offering includes control rooms and physical-logical security systems, solutions for decision support guided by information superiority, as well as solutions for the secure digitalization and cloud adoption for PA, Defence and companies. It also benefits from its Global Security Operation Centre and a Cyber & Security Academy.

Aldo today holds the role of SVP Cyber Security & Digital Center of Leonardo Spa which provides consultancy, design, and development of cyber solutions, as well as services provisioning for managed application, managed security, and managed detection and response. Aldo helps Leonardo’s customers in governments, critical national infrastructures, and large enterprises in protecting their organizations from cyber threats and cyberattacks by designing and implementing incremental countermeasure plans, proportional to the available budget and the type of cyber threats related to the organization itself. He graduated in telecommunication engineering from the University of L’Aquila, he is a recognized expert in cybersecurity and intelligence. His skills range from management to cybersecurity knowledge, including the management of cyberattacks and the analysis, evaluation, and response to cyber threats (crisis management and incident handling). Over a 20 years-long career within Leonardo, he held various roles in a broad array of fields related to cybersecurity, including networking and military-grade data protection’s product engineering, encrypted navigation services engineering (specifically for the European GNSS GALILEO), the management of primary intelligence and homeland control programs, as well as the cyber protection of complex critical infrastructures operating in national and international contexts.

Arcanna.AI is an AI-powered platform for cybersecurity that boosts human capacity by maximizing efficiency and reducing risks in decision-making. Our mission is to enable SOC teams to easily adopt AI and leverage its power to reduce response times and eliminate burnout effects without compromising decision quality. With a team of experts in Cybersecurity, IT Infrastructure, Data Science, Data Engineering, and Software Development, we offer a unique perspective on how AI can drive growth and efficiency. Our flagship product reflects our commitment to delivering the ultimate human-AI partnership and unique cybersecurity experience in the SOC.

Peter Ruta is a seasoned CEO and Founder with an extensive background in the technology industry. He launched Siscale AI in May 2015, after having spent 14 years at Cisco, where he held key positions such as Principal – Security Services and Sr. Manager, Advanced Services. During his tenure at Cisco, he acquired a vast knowledge of network security, cloud security, and automation solutions that catered to the Global FSI and US North East Enterprise regions. In addition to his work at Cisco, Peter served as the Regional Manager Enterprise in Bucharest, Romania, and as a Team Leader for IP/ATM Networks – Technical Support Group at Vodafone. Peter’s career began as a Linux System Administrator at the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI) in Bucharest, Romania, where he spent more than 4 years honing his skills. Throughout his professional journey, Peter’s analytical mind, results-driven approach, and unwavering focus have earned him numerous accolades.

Luca Tagliaretti has more than 20 years of experience working with European Institutions and International Organisations. From 2011 until taking up the Deputy Executive Director post at eu-LISA, in 2020, he led the Technical Centre of the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG), a global association of Central Banks that supports and deploys technologies that deter the use of digital equipment to counterfeit currencies. Prior to that, Mr Tagliaretti worked as a Senior Expert at the European Central Bank (ECB), focusing on setting the common quality and technical standards for banknote production and protecting the integrity of banknotes against counterfeiting. He holds an Engineering Degree from the Polytechnic of Milan, a Master´s Degree from the School of Management of the Polytechnic of Milan (MIP) and an MBA from Oxford Brookes University. He has also completed the Advanced Leadership and Management Programme (OALMP) at Saïd Business School, Oxford University and the Program of Negotiation (PON) at Harvard University.

The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) was established to provide a long-term solution for the operational management of large-scale IT systems, which are essential instruments in the implementation of the asylum, border management and migration policies of the EU. The Agency currently manages Eurodac, the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS). Further to these, eu-LISA is developing the Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the European Criminal Records Information System – Third-Country Nationals (ECRIS-TCN). These systems and the pre-existing ones are being built/adapted to ensure Interoperability – improved access to information stored in EU information systems and identity management at an EU level. The Agency is also in the process of integrating e-CODEX into its portfolio.