A leading cyber security expert has been confirmed as the latest speaker for next week’s East Midlands Cyber Summit.

Dr Adrian Davis, Managing Director at Horme Business Services, will explore how organisations can move beyond box‑ticking and make cyber awareness genuinely people‑driven, practical and impactful.

With more than 20 years of experience in cyber security across sectors from defence to entertainment, Adrian has held senior roles including Managing Director, CEO, CISO, CIO/CTO and Principal Consultant. 

He now leads a consultancy delivering cyber projects for blue‑chip companies and national governments, covering strategy, supply chain security, blockchain security, risk management and large‑scale cyber assessments.

Adrian has written widely on cyber security including authoring a book and has played a major role in international standards development, contributing to the ISO/IEC 27000 family and blockchain‑related security and privacy standards. 

He is also closely involved in cyber skills development through the UK City & Guilds Cybersecurity EPQ, lectures at several UK universities, and is a Visiting Professor in cyber security at De Montfort University.

The sold‑out East Midlands Cyber Summit takes place on 12 February and will bring together expert talks, practical workshops and focused networking for regional businesses. Delegates will gain a clear, practical picture of how cyber attacks unfold and the concrete actions they can take to protect their organisations.

Speakers include regional industry director Paul Abbott, former group director of Knights of Old, which went into administration in 2023 following a ransomware attack that led to the loss of hundreds of jobs. His first‑hand experience offers a stark insight into the real‑world impact of cyber incidents on businesses and their people.

Other confirmed speakers include: 

• Martin Sadler OBE, former Vice President for Research at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Colin Ellis, Director of the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre
• Jill Broom, lead for the techUK Cyber Resilience programme
• Simon Plummer, Director of Information Security at Collective Security
• Sophie Powell, co‑founder and director of CyberWomen Groups CIC and talent manager for Cyber PATH.

Organised by East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster as part of its DSIT‑funded Cyber Growth programme, the East Midlands Cyber Summit gives SMEs a rare chance to understand how and why attacks happen – and to learn proven, practical ways to strengthen their resilience.

The event runs from 9am to 4pm on 12 February 2026 at The Venue, Western Boulevard, Leicester. All funded places have now been reserved, but you can join the waitlist for returns here.

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FAQS

How will the East Midlands Cyber Summit help SMEs improve their cyber resilience?

The East Midlands Cyber Summit helps SMEs improve their cyber resilience by translating expert insight and real‑world case studies into clear actions, tools and signposts to regional support that they can use immediately to better protect their systems, data and customers.

Why is Paul Abbott’s ransomware story important for East Midlands organisations? 

Paul Abbott’s ransomware story is important for East Midlands organisations because it shows, in real terms, how a single cyber incident can close a long‑standing company and cost hundreds of jobs, underlining that cyber risk is a core business risk, not just an IT issue.

What can businesses expect to learn by attending the East Midlands Cyber Summit?

Businesses attending the East Midlands Cyber Summit can expect to learn how cyber attacks typically unfold, which risks are most relevant to SMEs, and what practical, affordable steps they can take to strengthen their defences.