Mr Kegoya currently serves as Deputy Director General for cyber security and information technology management of Japanese Ministry of Defense, a role he has held since July 2024.

Dmytro Plieshakov is a Ukrainian tech entrepreneur with a rich background in AI. He is currently a CEO and co-founder of Osavul, a startup focused on countering disinformation and FIMI. Since 2022, he has been collaborating closely with the Ukrainian government, aiding in the advancement of information security and resilience by implementing cutting-edge technologies for threat detection and data analysis. The technology of Osavul is in active use by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and other big government agencies. Apart from his entrepreneurial journey, Dmytro has a passion for AGI and the philosophy of mind.

Professor Gabi Dreo Rodosek holds the Chair for Communication Systems and Network Security at the Universität der Bundeswehr München, Germany. She is the Founding Director of the research institute CODE (Cyber Defence), member of the Supervisory and Advisory Board of Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, member of the Advisory Board of the BWI GmbH, member of the Governing Board of the Deutsches Forschungsnetz (DFN) and member of the IT expert panel of the German federal financial supervisory agency (BaFin). Professor Rodosek studied computer science at the University of Maribor and the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich. In 2016 she was awarded the European Medal from the Bavarian Minister for European Affairs and International Relations Dr. Beate Merk.

Dr. Cassandra Steer is Chair and founder of the Australian Centre for Space Governance. Globally recognised for her expertise in space governance, space law, and space security, she has published widely on these topics, including the application of the law of armed conflict and use of force in outer space. She has consulted on these issues to the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, the Australian, Canadian and U.S Departments of Defence, the Australian Space Agency and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has taught space law and space security at McGill university, the ANU College of Law, the National Security College and the Australian Defence College.
Dr Steer is multilingual, and has lived and worked in five countries, in a range of educational, non-profit and public institutions. She has degrees in philosophy, civil law, international law, international criminal law, and training in common law, comparative law and space law.
Dr. Steer is co-founder of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance, a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Technical Advisory Group for Space Situational Awareness, a member of the Space Traffic Management Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics, and a member of the International Institute of Space Law.

Dr. So Jeong KIM is a senior research fellow of Institute for the National Security Strategy. She leaded the Emerging Security Team of INSS in 2023. She is also an adjunct research fellow of Center for Strategic and International Studies in the U.S She is currently an advisor in the science and technology field of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an advisor to the Korea-U.S. Cyber Security Working Group. Before joining INSS, she worked at the NSR(National Security Research Institute) from 2004 to Feb. of 2022 as team lead.
Since joining NSR in 2004, she led the cybersecurity policy team and provides recommendations on cybersecurity policy and regulatory issues. She was involved in drafting South Korea’s National Cyber Security Strategy, published in April 2019, the 4th and 5th UN Information Security Group of Governmental Experts as an adviser, and the MERIDIAN process as an adviser and organizer.
Her main research area is various policy issues regarding national cybersecurity policy such as countering foreign malign information interference and hybrid threat, cybersecurity international norm setting processes, Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, national cybersecurity capacity evaluation methodology development, etc. Her recent paper is about the DPRK’s cyber threat, New Treaty between Russian and DPRK, an analysis on ROK’s new National Cybersecurity Strategy, and evaluation of cyberattack severity and proposing national response matrix.

Joseph Jarnecki is a Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London-based defence and security think tank. His research focuses on cyber security and technology policy. He has recently published a paper on the UK-Japan Cyber Partnership which has been released in English and Japanese. His other research priorities are the role of cloud solutions in national cyber defence, international rapid response mechanisms, UK-China relations on cyber security and activities by big tech companies to influence international governance.

Col John Davies is a serving officer in the British Army, having previously served in UK Special Forces, and he is also an Honorary Colonel of a unit in the Royal Corps of Signals. Having first joined the Army in 1983 his service spans over 40 years and in recognition of this experience, he received an MBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2022 for “”Services to the UK Cyber Ecosystem”.
Dr John was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of South Wales for his “”services to cyber research and education””. In addition to this, he is also currently researching a second PhD at the Department of War Studies in King’s College London. The title of his dissertation is “Tactical Cyber Power Projection” under the supervision of Prof Michael Goodman, Professor of Intelligence and International Affairs at King’s College and Professor David Gioe, Visiting Professor of Intelligence and International Security from the US Military Academy at West Point, a History Fellow for the US Army Cyber Institute.
He is Co-Founder and Chair of the Cyber Wales ecosystem of cyber clusters, and the Vice Chair of UKC3 (the Government funded UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration group) assisting cyber clusters all over the UK. He has worked with the Japan Cluster of Security Professionals in Tokyo for the last 6 years and was pivotal in the formation of the new Cyber Hiroshima Cluster which was formed at the time of the G7 Summit and UK-Japan Accords.

Dr. Yisuo Tzeng currently works in the division of cybersecurity and decision-making simulation at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), a non-partisan research organization affiliated with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. He also lectures at National Defense University and Tamkang University as an adjunct assistant professor. He holds a B.A. in finance from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in political science from the George Washington University in the United States. Dr. Tzeng has been tasked with research on Chinese influence campaign, digital resilience, cyber warfare, and AI in defense. His recent publications cover Taiwan defense reform as well as how Taiwan faced threats posed by China’s cyber, cognitive, electronic warfare and unmanned platforms. In addition to engaging with Track 1.5 Dialogues with IISS, RUSI, ASPI, and other European think tanks, Dr. Tzeng has been participating in or tackling wargame design of tabletop exercises regarding how Taiwan copes with grey zone threats posed by China with Taiwanese government agencies, think tanks in India and those from Washington D.C..

COL. SUGIYAMA is the Commander of Space Operations Group, has responsibility for organizing, training and equipping for Space Operations Group.
In 1994, he has received his commission through the National Defense Academy, having obtained a Bachelor of Arts of International Relations.From 1996 to 1997, he studied military history as a research student at Sophia University.From 2010 to 2012, he spent two years in Massachusetts, USA, where he earned a Masters in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and was a visiting scholar in the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University.
In his assignments for Weapon Control Officer, he has experience in supporting in various positions on Aircraft Control and Warning, Surveillance Station, Direction Center to AWACS.
In recent years, he served as commander of the Northern AC&W Group and later as vice commander of the Central AC&W Wing. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Director of the Center for Air and Space Power Strategic Studies and specifically, as the main author of “”JASDF Core Doctrine 2022″”.

Derek Manky leads FortiGuard Labs’ Global Threat Intelligence Team at Fortinet, bringing over 20 years of cyber security experience. He has established frameworks in the security industry including responsible vulnerability disclosure, which has exercised the responsible reporting of over 1000 zero-day vulnerabilities. Manky has been with the Cyber Threat Alliance since it was founded in May 2014. For more than 15 years he has been highly engaged with collaborative industry efforts and public-private partnerships including the Cyber Threat Alliance, FIRST.org, NATO NICP, MITRE CTID, INTERPOL Project Gateway, and the World Economic Forum Partnership Against Cybercrime (PAC) & Cybercrime Atlas. His vision is applied to help shape the future of proactive cyber security, with the ultimate goal to make a positive impact towards the global war on cybercrime. In addition to the Cyber Threat Alliance board, Derek sits on the MITRE Engenuity Center for Threat Informed Defense Advisory Council and World Economic Forum Cybercrime Atlas Executive Committee.

MSG Murdock, Yukiko enlisted in the United States Army in 2005. She attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA receiving her MOS as a Signal Support Operational Specialist (25U).
MSG Murdock’s previous assignments include 1/29th Infantry Regiment: Fort Benning, Ga.,1-1 Air Defense Artillery: Okinawa, Japan, 101st Airborne Division: Fort Campbell, Ky., Cyber Center of Excellence, Fort Gordon, Ga., United States Military Academy., West Point, Ny., United States Military Academy Preparatory School., West Point, Ny., and is currently serving at the Army Cyber Institute., West Point, Ny.
MSG Murdock holds a General Studies Associate degree and her Bachelor’s in Science for Human Resource Management at Columbia Southern University. She is currently enrolled in Human Resources for her Master’s degree.

Rear Admiral Hoshi Naoya is a native of Fukushima Prefecture. He graduated from National Defense Academy (NDA) in 1992 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He also holds a Master of Engineering from NDA, Graduate School of Science and Engineering and Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from U. S. National Defense University, the Eisenhower School.
Assignments RADM Hoshi has experienced are assistant communication officer for JS CHITOSE (DE-220); a staff of Repair and Supply Facility (RSF) Yokosuka; a staff of RSF Sasebo; a staff of Weapons Division, Plans and Programs Division, Maritime Staff Office (MSO); Aide-de-camp, Chief of Joint Staff; a staff of C4I Systems Division, MSO; Head of Ship Systems Planning Division, MSDF Maritime Materiel Command (MMC); Chief of Weapons Section, MSO; Chief of Operation Research section, MSO; Deputy Director of Plans and Programs Division, MSO; Director of C4I Systems Division, MSO; Deputy Director General (Naval Systems), Project Management Division, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA); Director of Naval Ship Design Division, ATLA; and Vice Commander, MMC.

Jiro Minier leads the Threat Intelligence Research & Analysis team at the Deutsche Cyber-Sicherheitsorganisation (DCSO), a Berlin-based cybersecurity competence center, with a personal research focus on China-nexus cyberespionage activity.
He is actively involved in the cybersecurity and technology policy debate, including as a member of the German Council on Foreign Relations’ Action Group Zeitenwende, and has held prior fellowships with the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative and the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School in Berlin.
He holds degrees in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Cambridge.

Didier Danet is a consultant specializing in cyber defense, particularly in crisis management in digital spaces and influence operations. He holds a PhD in Management from the University of Rennes and an accreditation to supervise research. He was a researcher and lecturer at the Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan Military Academy, where he served as the director of the Specialized Master’s in Cyber Defense, a program aimed at specialized officers as well as public sector and major corporation executives. He also directed the research laboratory ‘Conflict Transformation.’ His research primarily focuses on irregular combat organizations, battlefield automation, and conflicts in digital spaces. He co-edited the following books: *Cyber Defense* (Paris, Armand Colin, 2nd edition, 2023) and *Hybrid Warfare* (Rennes, University Press of Rennes, forthcoming 2025). He is currently an associate researcher at the GEODE Center (Geopolitics of the Datasphere) at Paris 8 University.

He graduated from the department of Technology, Keio University in 1984, and joined Hitachi Ltd. He has been a Professor of the School of Computer Science, Tokyo University of Technology since 2009. Since April 2016, he has been a Project Professor of Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University. He has been a Professor of Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University since September 2019. He is a Project Professor of Keio Global Research Institute at Keio University since April 2024.
He received the 2020 Info-communications Promotion Month Commendations from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, the 2013 Information Security Cultural Award, the 2008 IPSJ Best Paper Award, the IEEE-IIHMSP2006 Best Paper Award, and the 2004 IPSJ Best Paper Award.
In government related organizations, he is a member of Data Strategic Taskforce in Digital Government Cabinet Council, a chair of Trust Working Team under Data Strategic Task Force, a chair of eSeal Study Group at MIC, a SIP Sub Program Director of Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, a Committee Member of Critical Infrastructure Advisory in Cybersecurity Strategy Headquarters Information Security Policy Meeting, and a CRYPTREC Member. He has been a Commissioner of Personal Information Protection Commission, a Task Force Member of IT Strategy Headquarters Electronic Administration, a Working Group Member of Related Information Infrastructure Technology, a Member of Basic Resident Register Network Research Committee, and a Chairperson of the Electronic Signature Law Working Group.

Former MNCD&T Project Manager, a Smart Defence Project

Amy Ertan is a Cyber and Hybrid Policy Officer at NATO Headquarters, where she supports the development of cyber policies and initiatives across the Alliance. Previously, Amy was a Cyber Strategy Researcher at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, a Cybersecurity Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and held cybersecurity roles across the private and public sector. Her broader research interests in cyber strategy and emerging security challenges have led to publications on topics including the cyber-Emerging and Disruptive Technologies nexus, national cyber operations, and human aspects of cyber security. Amy holds a PhD in Information Security from Royal Holloway University of London and a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.

BSc Math & Physics, Presbyterian College, US.
Viaci, Inc.: Managing Partner
Skipper Wireless, Inc.: CEO
Japan Cluster of Security Professionals, Director
Cyber Hiroshima, Director
Cyber Wales UK: Japan Liaison
Co-Inventor: Redundant Encryption to Secure Data in Supervisory Control Systems (US11741243B1)

Chris is a diplomat with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He currently serves as Cyber Attaché for North East Asia and is based at the British Embassy in Tokyo. He has previously worked on a range of cyber topics, from serious organised crime to science and technology, for the Cabinet Office, Home Office and wider government.

Matthew Warren is the Director of the RMIT Univeristy Centre of Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI) and a Professor of Cyber Security at RMIT University, Australia.

Professor Warren is a researcher in the areas of Cyber Security. He has authored and co-authored over 300 books, book chapters, journal papers and conference papers. He has received numerous grants and awards from national and international funding bodies, such as AustCyber, Australian Research Council (ARC); CyberCRC, Engineering Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK; National Research Foundation in South Africa and the European Union.

Professor Warren gained his PhD in Information Security Risk Analysis from the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom and he has taught within Australia, Finland, Hong Kong, Lithuania and the United Kingdom.

Professor Warren is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA).

Since joining the company Hitachi, Ltd. 2015, he has been primarily engaged in design and development of cybersecurity-related systems for government agencies. Currently, he is collaborating with the company’s R&D department to develop elemental technologies to realize cyber mission assurance.
Master’s degree (engineering) /

Mr. Malhotra is a cybersecurity analyst at the United States Indo-Pacific Command, where he advises policy leaders and military decision-makers on regional cybersecurity threats. Prior to civil service, Mr. Malhotra worked in private-sector consulting to provide clients with IT auditing, cybersecurity risk management, and data analytics services. Mr. Malhotra holds an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Chief Director and Chair of the Board, Organization for Cyber Innovation

Professor, Graduate School of Regional Policy Design, Hosei University.
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Ph.D. from University of Tokyo,
Major in Innovation Study, Innovation Policy, IPR Strategy and Policy and Regional Innovation.
Government Expert for 33 years on the international trade and industry policy with experience of industry and technology policy in the field of IPR, innovation, University-Industry Cooperation policy and Industry policies on service, bio-science, chemicals, materials, energy and others.
Professor of Waseda University since 2014, then appointed Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology since 2016. Chair of the department since 2020 to 2022.
Professor of Hosei University since 2022 after retired Tokyo Tech.

Mr. Hashimoto is a seasoned attorney specializing in international transactions, dispute resolution and national security matters. Recently, his practice Is increasingly focusing on export control, investment regulations, cybersecurity and space as one of the very few private sector practitioners in Japan with expertise in public international law and in the law of armed conflict. Mr. Hashimoto is also a Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, JGSDF. Mr. Hashimoto is admitted in the State of New York and is a registered foreign lawyer in Japan. He holds a B.A. (law) from Tokyo University, an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, a J.D. from Columbia Law School and an M.I.A. from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. In addition , he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in public international law at Osaka University.

With almost 5 years of experience I’ve been working in public sector my whole career. Starting as an engineer, I learned many different things and moved to managing and leading international team of Cyber threat intelligence specialists. Focus on improving the quality of CTI we provide, constantly learning about various news techniques and tools.

Alexander Patton has a decade of experience as a critical national infrastructure (CNI) cyber security specialist and is registered as a Chartered Engineer with the UK’s Engineering Council.

He became involved in the UK-Japan cyber partnership just before the signing of the Hiroshima Accord in 2023 and moved to Japan in 2024 to support knowledge sharing and international collaboration. Since then, he has authored papers for the Government of Japan giving guidance on active cyber defence and public-private partnership.

Before coming to Japan, he served as the cyber security lead for major infrastructure engineering programmes in the UK and Australia, including the East Coast Digital Programme, London Underground Deep Tube Upgrade Programme, and the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. During that time, he also led CNI cyber security research, including creation of industry-specific reference architectures and baseline security assessments. From 2022 to 2023, he authored cyber security guidance, including the UK’s official cyber security guidance on digital roads, and provided policy advice to the UK Government. In 2023, he led research that demonstrated cyber security vulnerabilities in safety-related critical systems and issued guidance to the vendor and operators.

Alexander is a member of the IET, IRSE, the Japan Society (UK) and the Japan British Society (Kansai). He is also an organiser of the ASPECT 2025 engineering conference in Yokohama.

I graduated from the National Defense Academy in 1992 and subsequently joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the same year. Over the course of my career, I held various positions, including service aboard submarines, working in system-related roles, and engaging in research and educational activities. In 2023, I retired from the JMSDF and, in the same year, assumed the position of Director at the Cyber Defense Innovation Organization.

Chikara Nakama is Business Development Executive at Splunk Japan. Chikara is focusing on supporting government and companies through data analysis and utilization and contributing to the digitalization of Japan. He is also a reserve major in the Ground Self-Defense Force.

Prior to joining Splunk, he worked as a government employee in the Cabinet Cyber Security Center, the Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, where he was involved in strategy and planning related to IT technology and cyber security, system development, and human resource development. Also, in the private sector, as the Chief Security Officer of Cisco Japan, Chikara was engaged in work to ensure the consistency of security with products, services, and supply chains.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Information Engineering from the National Defense Academy, and has interests in statistics, data science, machine learning, cyber security, cloud, and human resource development.

Titles
Cybersecurity Strategist of NTT Security Japan
Security Adviser, National center of Incident readiness and Strategy (NISC)
Visiting Resercher, National Institute of Advanced Indunsrial Science and Technonogy (AIST)

Biography
Approximately 250 words in English or around 800 characters in Japanese.

Academic history
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineer of Tohoku University (1984).

Professional experience
Since May 2018, he had been in charge of protecting Critical Infratsructure as Counselor at National center of Incident readiness and Strategy (NISC) of Cabinet Secretariat. retired in March 2022.
Before that he worked for Threat Hunting on internet at Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy Planning Group of NISC.
Long years of field experience in Energy sector. Career paths include Deputy Products Safety, Electricity Safety Nuclear Power Inspection, and Nuclear Energy Policy at METI. Worked as the safety inspector of Nuclear Power Station from 1995 to 2018.Inculuding working at US NRC for Licence Renewal Progmram from 1998 to 1999. In 2000s, As an IAEA expert, worked for new international management requirements, international regulatory review.
Career started by designing, installing, operation and maintenance at electric power stations, substation at local government public utilities Bureau. Based on experience there, joined in safery design review of Nuclear Power Station, inspection, the accident investigation at METI.

Publications
Drafted many incident reports, including report of PII breach at Japan Pension Service in 2015. Also, drafted “General Framework for Secure IoT Systems”in 2016 that developed ISO/IEC 30147:2021 entitled “Internet of Things (IoT) – Integration of IoT trustworthiness activities in ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 system engineering processes

Mr. Shinichi Yokohama is the Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of NTT Holdings and the CEO of NTT Security Holdings. He also has been responsible for cybersecurity public advocacy to talk to thought leaders in academia, government, and industry globally. He has given numerous talks at high-level conferences. For example, he was on a panel at the White House Cyber Security Summit in 2015; the G7 ICT Industry Ministerial Multi-stakeholder Conference in Torino, Italy, in 2017; the Munich Cyber Security Conference in Munich, Germany, in 2020. He serves as a member of Global Cybersecurity Group at the Aspen Institute since 2022.

Before starting cybersecurity role at NTT Holdings in July 2014, he led post-acquisition integration of international businesses at NTT DATA, Tokyo. Prior to joining NTT DATA in 2011, he was with McKinsey Japan for 19 years leading its Technology Practice. He originally served the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for 8 years.

He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree (nuclear engineering) from the University of Tokyo. He also has a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He served as a board member of the Special Olympics Japan between 2012 and 2019.

After graduating from the National Defense Academy in 1995, he served in the Air Self-Defense Force in the operation and maintenance of information and communication systems, mainly in the warning and control units, anti-aircraft units, and related command posts. He also served in the Air Staff Office as the Director of the Information and Communication Systems and Cyber Security Division, and in the Joint Staff Office as the Director of the Command and Communication Systems Division, where he was involved in operations as well as projects. He was also involved in the restoration of the base after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and in disaster relief efforts. He retired in 2018 as the deputy commander of the Northern Air Defense Command, and served as an advisor to the Defense Systems Division of Hitachi, Ltd. and as a visiting researcher at the Air Self-Defense Force Staff College from 2019 to 2023.
He is also doctor of Engineering, National Qualification: Registered Information Security Specialist (RISS), and Nationally Certified First-Class Technical Radio Operator for On-The-Ground Services.

Mr. Akihisa Nagashima is a distinguished politician and scholar with a profound background in constitutional law and international relations. He graduated from Keio University and earned a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in the United States. As a Member of the House of Representatives for seven consecutive terms, he has held pivotal roles, including Vice Minister of Defense and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Security.

Mr. Nagashima has been instrumental in shaping Japan’s security policy, addressing critical issues such as abduction cases and educational reform. Beyond politics, he has made significant contributions to academia as a lecturer at Keio University and Chuo University and to sports administration as President of the Japan Skating Federation.

His notable publications, such as Kakugo (Resolve) and A New Blueprint for the Japan-U.S. Alliance, reflect his unwavering dedication to advancing Japan’s strategic vision and addressing pressing national and international challenges.

Captain Simmons hails from El Paso, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Regents College, a degree-granting institution in New York, and later completed a Master of Science in Information Systems at the Naval Postgraduate School. Initially commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer, he transitioned to the Information Warfare Community in 2004. Currently, Captain Simmons serves as the Chief of the Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems Directorate (J6) at the United States Forces Japan Headquarters.

Christophe Morand, born on March 9, 1967 joined the French the French Air Force in 1987. He started his career in the technical squadron of the strategic ballistic missiles wing. After several posts in military space units, he was appointed head of the military space programs division in the French joint staff, in charge of in charge of all French space intelligence programs. He retired in 2010 as Colonel and joined the Crisis Management and Planning Director in European External Action service. He established in 2015 the EEAS space task force.

He joined in 2020 the EU Commission in the directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), in charge of the supervision security activities of the EU space programme. DEFIS leads the European Commission’s activities in the Defence Industry and Space sector. DEFIS is in charge of upholding the competitiveness and innovation of the European Defence industry by ensuring the evolution of an able European defence technological and industrial base. In the area of Space DG DEFIS is in charge of implementing the EU Space programme consisting of the European Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus), the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo) and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

In 2022, he was appointed adviser of the Directorate General Timo Pesonen for Security of Information and Synergies between Space, Defence and Civil Industries. Beyond the security of the EU space programme, he is involved in EC activities in the field of EU crisis response, hybrid threat and cyber Security.

Mr. Phil Tran is a highly skilled satellite communications engineer with over 17 years of experience in architecting, developing, testing, and fielding advanced communication systems for the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Space Force. Currently, Mr. Tran serves as the Technical Director and Chief Engineer for the Tactical SATCOM Acquisition Delta. In this capacity, he is responsible for architecting the technical baseline and developing architecture runways for multiple major acquisition programs covering Space, Ground, and User equipment. His work ensures the seamless integration of systems-of-systems, achieving end-to-end communication capabilities critical for warfighters.

Mr. Wataru Suyama is as a Senior Analyst at Constella Security Japan, specializing in cybersecurity and cognitive domain operations. Starting from 2020, Mr. Suyama has been conducting researches and analyses in cyber and cognitive domains with focus on cognitive operations on social media platforms. Proficient in both Japanese and English, Mr. Suyama analyzed various cognitive operations – global and targeting Japan – bringing insights regarding various tactics and techniques used by actors, as well as possible measures to respond onto them.

Mr. Suyama has contributed numerous significant research papers and reports in the fields of cybersecurity and cognitive operations. His key achievements include analyses on information operations related to COVID-19 in Italy (2020), the Tokyo Olympics (2021), white papers on cyberattacks targeting Japan (2021-2023), and comparative studies on Russian and Ukrainian information operations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2022). Since 2023, he has expanded his focus to include the impact of generative AI on discourse trends in cognitive operations on social media, recently presenting insights on discussions and AI usage trends during the Tokyo gubernatorial election (2024).

Mr. Suyama’s expertise extends to training and education in the cyber and cognitive warfare domains, actively engaging in both domestic and international lectures and workshops. His insights continue to support critical advancements in the understanding and strategic response to information and cognitive security threats worldwide.

March 1989
Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Waseda University

November 1996
Became the third-generation president of a wholesale company at Ohta Fruit and Vegetable Market (family business)

January 2003
Chairman of the Tokyo Junior Chamber

August 2003
Elected for the first time as a member of the House of Representatives from Tokyo’s 4th district in the 44th General Election (re-elected consecutively for six terms)

December 2012
Appointed Parliamentary Vice Minister for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Cabinet Office (Second Abe Cabinet)

September 2014
Appointed Deputy Minister of the Cabinet Office (responsible for regional revitalization, national strategic special zones, Cool Japan Strategy, etc.) (Second Abe Cabinet, Cabinet reshuffle)

September 2016
Chairman of the House of Representatives Environmental Committee (192nd Diet session)

September 2019
Appointed Deputy Minister of the Cabinet Office (responsible for disaster prevention, administrative reform, IT policy, space policy, etc.) (Fourth Abe Cabinet, second reshuffle)

January 2024
Chairman of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Nuclear Power Issues (213th Diet session)

October 2024
Appointed Minister for Digital Transformation, Minister for Administrative Reform, Minister for the National Public Service System, Minister of State for Regulatory Reform, and Minister for Cybersecurity (Ishiba Cabinet)

November 2024
Appointed Minister for Digital Transformation, Minister for Digital Governance and Administrative Reform, Minister for Administrative Reform, Minister for the National Public Service System, Minister of State for Regulatory Reform, and Minister for Cybersecurity (Second Ishiba Cabinet)

Oct 2021
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs (Kishida Cabinet)

Nov 2021
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs (The 2nd Kishida Reshuffled Cabinet)

Conrad Prince CB was deputy head of the UK’s cyber intelligence and security agency, the Government Communications Headquarters, from 2008 – 2015. In 2015 he became the UK Government’s first Cyber Security Ambassador, providing strategic advice to a range of governments on cyber security strategy. In his role as a senior adviser to BAE Systems Digital Intelligence he advises a number of countries on cyber issues. He is additionally a Distinguished Fellow at the UK think tank the Royal United Services Institute, helping to lead the institute’s cyber research programme.

Bernard Siman is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute. He is Head of Cyber Diplomacy and Statecraft at the Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He also regularly teaches at the European Security and Defence College.

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence (DI) is the division of BAE Systems based in the UK with responsibility for cyber security, data, digital, and intelligence and space capabilities. Tim is
responsible for delivering cyber security solutions for government clients across the world.

Prior to BAE DI, Tim spent 18 years working for the UK government in a number of cyber-focused roles, including supporting UK military operations. In that time he worked with the UK’s international partners, helping them to
develop their national cyber security strategies and programmes. Tim was also the strategy lead for the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, working to develop the NCSC’s strategy and led the NCSC’s contribution to the UK’s National Cyber Strategy. In his spare time Tim is a long-term British Army reserve officer a career that has seen him take on a number of roles including on operations, and most recently with NATO.

Dr. Sandro Gaycken is an expert and industrialist for advanced defense topics.

Thus far, he founded four companies in the fields of cyber warfare and private intelligence, solving different problems on the higher end of complex new defense issues by building novel technologies or providing unique services. He serves his companies in different roles and is presently mainly Co-CEO at MONARCH GmbH, a network organization operating as a full private intelligence agency. He is a director in NATO’s SPS program and a UN appointed national security advisor, leading strategic military diplomacy projects and national strategy development in the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, served as an expert witness in international cases of strategic espionage, and is a government advisor to Germany, the EU, the UN and NATO where he authored the first cyber foreign policy strategy for Germany, introduced several cyber policy elements in the current (and future) grand coalition, directed a variety of defense tech strategy sessions for the German Bundestag, moderated the interdepartmental dialogues of the ministries of interior and defense, and was instrumental in the German-Chinese no-spy agreement of the German chancellery. In other industrial activities, he is advisor to a number of German DAX-listed companies on board level, developed cyber insurance standards, security benchmarks and innovation strategies for smart factories and smart cars, a cyber buyer’s guide for the German Chamber of Commerce and the German SMEs, among other things. As a scientist, he is director at his own research institute at the prestigious private university ESMT Berlin. He is a fellow of Oxford University’s Martin College, an advisor to the Harvard-MIT group on cyber norms, a fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow at EastWest Institute, a senior advisor at The Future Society’s AI Initiative, and an honorary research director at one of Paris’ Grand Écoles, Le CNAM.

April 2014 – Present: Professor, Department of Applied Information and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Hosei University

April 2008 – Present: Visiting Researcher, National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)1  

April 2008 – March 2014: Associate Professor, Department of Applied Information and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Hosei University

July 2006 – March 2008: Planning Officer for Safety and Security Science and Technology, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, MEXT

June 2004 – March 2008: Senior Researcher, NISTEP, MEXT

April 1997 – June 2004: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Miyagi University

September 1999 – August 2000: Visiting Researcher, MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

April 1992 – March 1997: Research Assistant, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University