Find Expert Speakers

I have spoken at multiple international cybersecurity conferences and platforms, addressing both deeply technical audiences and early-career practitioners, with topics spanning AI security, detection engineering, and modern SOC evolution. At NDC Security 2026 Oslo, I shall deliver “Who Gave the Agent Admin Rights?! Securing Cloud & AI Machine Identities”, where I'll examine non-human identities, AI agents, and the emerging risks of autonomous privilege, focusing on governance, detection, and containment strategies in cloud environments. At BSides Pittsburgh and BSides Krakow, as well as at the Silicon Saxony Day (19th edition), I presented “Enhancing Open-Source IDS & SIEM Solutions into AI-Enabled XDR & SOAR Solutions in Cloud Environments”, focusing on extending open-source detection stacks with automation, ML-driven enrichment, and response orchestration to build scalable, analyst-effective security operations. In contrast, my session at BSides Buffalo, “From Curiosity to Cybersecurity: A Practical Guide to Getting Started and Standing Out”, was designed for students and early professionals, offering actionable guidance on skill-building, differentiation, and navigating cybersecurity careers. Beyond conferences, I have appeared on the Distilled Security Podcast, where I discussed how deploying specialised, small language models locally can significantly improve efficiency, reduce operational friction, and make AI-assisted security workflows more practical and trustworthy.

Donavan is a Physics graduate turned into cybersecurity consultant with >8 years of experience in a variety of cybersecurity domains (e.g. offensive security, threat modeling, maturity assessments, security architecture) and business domains (cyber GRC).He blends his understanding of clients across both public and private sectors to identify key cybersecurity concerns and solutions to enable companies' cybersecurity compliance, confidence and cost-effectiveness (3 Cs).He has numerous contributions to the cybersecurity community since 2018. He has written hacking challenges, spoken at numerous conferences and events (SECCON JP, Threat Modeling Connect Japan, GCC 2025 @ Taiwan, Seasides 2025 @ Goa, SINCCON @ Singapore, DefCamp @ Romania) on topics ranging from threat modeling to application security. He has conducted career talks to encourage younger students from middle school to university levels to enter the cybersecurity industry. He also sits on the advisory board of VULNCON (since 2024), BSides Mumbai and Vazig, and has authored numerous articles on ISACA on topics ranging from post-quantum cryptography, to the relations between social sciences and cybersecurity as well as threat modelling. His views on cybersecurity has also been quoted by "The Pentester Blueprint" written by Phillip L. Wylie and Kim Crawley, and Offensive Security. He also contributes to the ISC2's Unified Body of Knowledge (UBK) through the Technical Advisory Panel Workshop.In Thales, he has also led a team to create a made in Singapore cybersecurity gamification experience, "Defend the Breach" (DTB), in three months, where players role-play CISO roles to make difficult cybersecurity decisions, taking into account both cyber and non-cyber factors such as the overall health of the business, manpower and operational requirements.Donavan also possesses certifications ranging from Offsec certifications (OSCE3, OSCP), ISC2 (CISSP), ISACA (CRISC) and is more than halfway through his Masters in Cybersecurity at Georgia Tech (OMSCY).On the mentorship front, he has developed and helped two mentees secure jobs, and mentors a dozen mentees in various capacities (individuals, cyber start-up founders)Outside cybersecurity, Donavan has also represented Singapore in international forums such as the ASEAN-India Youth Summit as a delegate.Find out more about me at https://donavan.sg and my cybersecurity writing at https://donavan.sg/blog.

Drijesh Patel is an Engineering Manager and AI security practitioner with extensive experience building and securing large-scale cloud and AI-driven systems. His work sits at the intersection of Generative AI, cybersecurity, and modern software engineering, where he focuses on identifying and mitigating real-world risks introduced by LLMs, AI agents, and automated development workflows.Over the years, he has led engineering teams delivering high-impact platforms across enterprise environments, with a strong emphasis on secure architecture, DevSecOps, and AI adoption. His recent work explores adversarial techniques against LLM-powered applications, including prompt injection, data exfiltration, and supply chain risks in AI-assisted development.Drijesh is also an active speaker and community leader, regularly conducting workshops and talks for developers and security professionals on AI, secure system design, and emerging threat landscapes. He has been recognized by Google Developer Communities for his contributions and continues to drive conversations around building secure, human-centric AI systems.

Dustin Heywood, otherwise known as EvilMog has been in the Cybersecurity Industry for close to 2 decades. He is an Executive Managing Hacker and Senior Technical Staff Member for IBM X-Force, a member of "Team Hashcat", and a Bishop of the "Church of Wifi".EvilMog is a world champion Hacker Jeopardy Player, and a holder of multiple "Black Badges" including DEFCON, THOTCON, and CypherCon.

A highly accomplished professional with over 15 years of experience across diverse industries, including telecommunications, wireless technologies, networking, embedded systems, cybersecurity, and the automotive sector.Over the past seven years, I have specialized extensively in cybersecurity, with expertise in server security (including OpenBMC), automotive security, and network security.I earned my Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from V.V.P. Engineering College, Rajkot, and subsequently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Embedded System Design from C-DAC, Government of India.Currently, I am serving as a Security Expert at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Bengaluru, where I have been contributing for the past 4.5 years. My responsibilities include security architecture design and feature development across multiple domains, including security library development, FIPS certification, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions, hardware ASIC engine optimization for security operations, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and secure key management.In addition to my core responsibilities, I actively lead AI-driven cybersecurity initiatives focused on improving productivity and strengthening security operations. These initiatives include AI-based CVE assessment, threat modeling, and PQC compliance automation.I also serve as a mentor with the Cyber Security Association of India and am a lifetime member of QSECDEF. Furthermore, I regularly collaborate and participate in global initiatives, industry events, and professional forums related to cybersecurity, defense technologies, and artificial intelligence.

Pratham Pawar is an IT engineering student at Vasantdada Patil Prathisthan’s College of Engineering and Visual Arts, Mumbai, and a cybersecurity researcher with professional experience in penetration testing and security analysis. His work focuses on applied cryptography, offensive security, secure protocol design, and AI-driven cybersecurity systems. He has authored multiple cybersecurity books, including Hacker’s Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide into Ethical Hacking, Python Pen-testing Unleashed: Techniques for Ethical Hacking with Python, and Secrets Unlocked – Hacking Ciphers with Python.His research contributions have been presented at IEEE and Springer conferences, with published work in cryptography and secure systems engineering. He also holds certifications including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Microsoft Certified Cybersecurity Analyst, and has worked on projects involving AI-powered penetration testing, post-quantum cryptography, and advanced network security systems.

ISACA Cybersecurity ConferenceDelivered an insightful session on Zero Trust Security, breaking down its practical implementation and its role in modern cyber defense architecture. His talk was well-received by industry professionals and highlighted the evolving nature of perimeter-less security models.CIO News Cybersecurity ForumPresented on the integration of offensive and defensive security practices, emphasizing collaboration over siloed efforts. His impactful delivery earned him an on-the-spot award for excellence in thought leadership and practical insight.Crypto Expo DubaiTook the stage at one of the largest blockchain and cryptocurrency platforms in Dubai, where he delivered a high-impact talk on “Hacking Crypto Wallets”. The session provided deep dives into real-world attack vectors and preventive mechanisms, drawing significant attention from global fintech and blockchain professionals.

Currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Digital Forensics and Information Security at NFSU, building on a BCA background and a strong interest in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and the role of AI in national security. My academic journey and personal projects have consistently focused on understanding how digital systems function and more importantly, how to secure them. With a foundation in computer applications and practical, problem-solving experience, I’m now exploring deeper domains like threat detection, digital investigations, and intelligence-driven security systems. I’m particularly interested in how AI can be applied to surveillance, decision making, and cyber defense. My goal is to work on projects and research that bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, especially in areas that contribute to critical infrastructure and national security.