EMCSC founder Ismini Vasileiou was invited to the Houses of Parliament for the inaugural Parliament & Cyber Conference – a landmark event convening decision-makers and innovators from across the UK’s cybersecurity sector. 

Hosted by the Cybersecurity Business Network (CBN), the conference brought together more than 150 senior executives, Parliamentarians, and thought leaders to collaborate on the approach needed to strengthen UK cyber resilience while stimulating innovation. 

The UK’s Security Minister, Dan Jarvis MP addressed delegates on why cybersecurity is now central to the UK’s economic resilience and democratic integrity. He emphasised the importance for every organisation, large or small, to take proactive measures to stay ahead of increasing threats.

It comes just weeks after Government ministers this week teamed up with the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency to write to the UK’s leading companies urging them to take action on cyber security.

The agenda also featured impactful keynote speeches from Jonathan Ellison OBE, Director for National Resilience at the National Cyber Security Centre, alongside other high-profile voices from government and industry. 

There was significant discussion around the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSR Bill) with the clear theme that although the Bill sets out what organisations need to do, it is less clear on how they are expected to achieve this in practice.

The conference heard that while investment is accelerating in AI, quantum and other emerging technologies, there is a growing gap in ensuring that every business is cyber secure.

Wider discussions also touched on the capability of regulators, the need to go beyond the Bill, and the importance of ensuring resilience measures are practical, interconnected, and deliverable by businesses.

Dr Vasileiou, founder of EMCSC and co-chair of UKC3, said: “The skills gap came through strongly, with multiple speakers agreeing that without a unified skills taxonomy, we cannot scale national cyber resilience. 

“A notable point was that cybersecurity must be treated as a strategic risk, grounded in people, process and technology. Secure-by-design should be the default expectation.

“Culture and collaboration were recurring themes throughout the discussions – a reminder that lasting resilience depends on government, industry and academia moving forward together. It’s essential that collaboration drives not just innovation, but also lasting resilience for our society and economy.”

Dr Vasileiou said the insights at the conference reflect the direction of travel across the sector and emphasise how the White Paper could help bridge the gap between policy ambition and operational reality.

Cyber Workforce of the Future: Why the UK Needs a Skills Taxonomy Now was officially launched during a special event in Westminster last month.

The key takeaway from the panel discussions was acknowledging that cyber resilience is a collective effort and a harmonised policy is needed whilst focusing on innovation and growth as tech advances in AI.

Matt Warman, Chair of CBN and former Minister for Digital & Broadband, who opened the conference, said: “The landmark event is a unique opportunity for key leaders from the across cybersecurity ecosystem to collaborate on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the UK – whether it’s stimulating innovation and growth, discussing the development of impactful cyber policy or exploring how emerging tech such as AI will change the outlook of the landscape. 

“As cyber becomes increasingly important to the UK economy and society, this event is the starting point for a series that provides a critical platform to discuss its impact.”