East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster founder Dr Ismini Vasileiou was a guest at techUK’s Cyber Security Dinner in central London.

The annual event brings together senior stakeholders from across government and industry for informal discussion on the key issues facing the sector.

The Cyber Security Dinner provides a platform for businesses to engage with senior stakeholders, including representatives from the National Cyber Security Centre, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Department for Business and Trade. 

It also gives attendees the opportunity to network with members of the techUK Cyber Security Programme as well as wider stakeholders across the UK cyber security sector.

The keynote speaker was Liz Lloyd CBE, parliamentary under-secretary of State for the department for science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade. 

Nils Gerhardt, chief technology officer and head of product for Ultimico, the provider of cyber security solutions, also spoke at the dinner. He has more than 20 years experience in the cyber security industry, bringing major companies together and leading collaborative efforts to establish standards for secure global digital services and devices.

Dr Vasileiou – who is also Co-Chair of UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), and Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester – said: “It was great to be able to update Liz about the progress of our Cyber Workforce of the Future White Paper ahead of its official launch in Westminster later this month.

“With high-profile cyber breaches of businesses currently making headlines across the national media, it’s a really important time to address the huge risks of relying on a fragmented 20th Century cyber security training ecosystem as the UK faces 21st Century cyber threats.”

• EMCSC has received DSIT and Innovate UK funding to support 30+ East Midlands businesses on developing their cyber security. The programme starts on 4 November and SMEs can apply now.