Contact:

Anu Khurmi

Templar Executives

anu@templarexecs.com

+44 (0)2035429075

July 2023

Over 150 delegates and prominent industry figures gathered at a prestigious Cyber Symposium held by Templar Executives and Lancaster University on 6th and 7th July 2023, shining a spotlight on the critical role of Cyber Security leadership.

The event, held under the Chatham House rule, brought together leading figures from UK national security agencies, including: the National Cyber Security Centre, Ministry of Defence, National Crime Agency, National Cyber Force and industry leaders from the nuclear, maritime, health and commercial sectors.

Speakers included: Paul Chichester MBE, Director of Operations at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC); Simon Fell, Member of Parliament for Barrow-in-Furness; Claire Fry, Director of Functional Integration for the Ministry of Defence’s Digital Function; Dr Claudia Natanson MBE and Simon Hepburn, UK Cyber Security Council; Dr Mary Haigh, Global CISO for BAE Systems and James Babbage from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

According to the World Economic Forum, 3.4 million Cyber Security service experts are needed to support today’s global economy, but the industry is currently struggling to meet this demand. A key theme highlighted during the two days was the importance of Cyber Security knowledge among senior leadership teams. There was a repeated emphasis on how Cyber leadership roles make or break Cyber Security initiatives in organisations. Senior UK security figures also shared insights into the qualities that are essential for those seeking to become Cyber leaders.

Templar Executives’ CEO Andrew Fitzmaurice commented: “Templar Executives has been at the forefront of developing Cyber leadership for more than a decade and with our strategic partner Lancaster University, this Symposium is the only event dedicated to Cyber leadership at the C-suite level. It provides a stimulating opportunity to discuss and share the nuanced differences in Cyber leadership across different Critical National Infrastructure sectors in an uncontested environment.

I was also delighted that we were joined by a number of senior representatives from international countries who were able to discuss the importance of Cyber leadership in their respective jurisdictions, making this a truly exceptional event. The Symposium was also a great example of how collaboration between industry, academia and government can be a real game changer in the evolving world of Cyber and business.”

Collaboration also emerged as a central theme throughout the Symposium. The UK’s prominence as a global Cyber power can be attributed to its collaborative efforts that transcend boundaries and sectors. By fostering partnerships between researchers, industry experts, and practitioners, as well as between the public and private sectors, the UK has created a uniquely connected and cohesive Cyber ecosystem. It was discussed how this is exemplified by the groundbreaking Cyber Executive Masters in Business Administration (CEMBA) programme.

The Symposium is just one strand of activity led by Lancaster University and Templar Executives aiming to boost UK Cyber leadership skills. The CEMBA is a part-time postgraduate MBA degree offering a blend of practical expertise and academic excellence. Created to help address a critical gap in Cyber knowledge among business executives, it is the first of its kind to receive backing from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). To find out more about the CEMBA, click the link here.

Daniel Prince, Professor of Cyber Security at Lancaster University, said: “Cyber Security is about people and culture, not just technology, and this event creates a safe space for individuals to learn and share this critical skills set. Without developing the area of Cyber leadership, all the technology in the world will not be able to ensure organisations are resilient in the face of Cyber threats.

It was fantastic to be able to welcome these experts and leaders from across multiple industries and public sector organisations, to share ideas and insights here. The North West, as a region, is accelerating in growth as a leading, diverse hub for Cyber Security in the UK.”

Reflecting on the importance of building on this globally strategic agenda, Templar Executives and Lancaster University are delighted to announce that the theme for next year’s Cyber Leadership Symposium will be ‘Developing a Secure Future – from Inspiration to Impact’.

About Templar Executives

Templar Executives is a globally recognised, award-winning Cyber Security consultancy offering a world-class portfolio of consultancy and solutions. Serving as a trusted advisor to Governments, multi-national organisations and SMEs, the firm has an outstanding track record in helping clients develop resilient and business enabling Cyber Security capabilities and embedding best practices for competitive advantage.

Today they are continuing to help build Cyber capacity and capability with clients across a range of industry sectors including critical national infrastructure, healthcare, defence, civil service, civil nuclear, oil and energy, maritime, education, transport and financial services. From the Board to the front-line, Templar Executives work closely with leadership teams demystifying the Cyber threat landscape and supporting the entire organisation’s journey towards sustainable Cyber resilience.

For more information about Templar Executives, visit their website here.

About Lancaster University

Lancaster University’s strong track-record across teaching, research and engagement places it among world-leaders in Cyber Security. It is one of only a handful of universities whose education, research and training is recognised by the NCSC. This year, Lancaster complemented its NCSC-certified MSc Cyber Security with a new BSc Hons Cyber Security, and the launch of the CEMBA, further enhancing its wide-ranging activities in the Cyber sphere.

Lancaster University recently announced a £19m investment into Security and Protection Science – an initiative that will see it recruit 33 new cross-disciplinary academics, 15 Professor in Practice roles and 10 support staff. This investment builds on the University’s recognised position as a centre for Cyber Security expertise, research and training, to support the organisation’s key role in the North West Cyber Corridor, enabling the UK deliver on its mission to become a major, responsible Cyber power.

For more information about Lancaster’s Cyber Security courses, and information of how to enrol, visit here.