University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Biography:
Abdelsalam Helal (aka: Sumi Helal) is a Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Bologna, Italy. Prior to joining the University of Bologna, he spent 25 years as associate and then full processor in the Computer & Information Science and Engineering Department at the University of Florida, USA. At University of Florida, he directed the Mobile and Pervasive Computing Laboratory, co-founded and directed the Gator Tech Smart House –a real-world deployment project that aimed at identifying key barriers and opportunities to make the Smart Home concept a common place (creating the "Smart Home in a Box" concept). His active areas of research focus on architectural and programmability aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT), service-oriented IoT architectures, IoT edge intelligence, and pervasive/ubiquitous systems and their human-centric applications, especially in the Digital Health area. Helal is also a technologist at heart who founded several successful ventures in the areas of IoT and Digital Health. His patents that came out of his research were licensed by the top multinational tech industry including Google, Apple, Samsung, Bosch, Siemens, T-Mobile, Verizon, among others. Helal is a Fellow of the ACM, IEEE, AAAS, AAIA, IET, and a member of Academia Europaea. He can be contacted at: helal@acm.org
Founder of SCYTHE, USA.
Biography:
Bryson is the Founder of SCYTHE, a start-up building a next-generation threat emulation platform, and GRIMM, a cybersecurity consultancy, and Co-Founder of the ICS Village, a non-profit advancing awareness of industrial control system security. He is a Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute, USMA EECS Advisory Board member, and Adjunct Senior Technical Advisor for the Institute of Security and Technology. As a U.S. Army Officer, he served as a Battle Captain and Brigade Engineering Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before leaving the Army as a Captain. He is recognized as a 'Top 50 in Cyber' by Business Insider, 'Security Executive Finalist of the Year' by SC Media, was awarded 'Tech Titan' twice and is the 2023 SANS Difference Maker Award Winner for Innovator of the Year . Bryson received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He holds a Master's Degree in Telecommunications Management from the University of Maryland, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Florida, and completed graduate studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas.
CITS Cybersecurity Lead, USA
Pokémon Go took the world by storm, but behind the fun and adventure lurked serious cybersecurity, data privacy, and real-world safety risks. From malware-infected downloads and phishing scams to AI-driven data collection and physical threats, this session dives deep into the lessons learned from the world's most popular augmented reality (AR) game. Join cybersecurity expert Michael Esola as he uncovers how Pokémon Go became a case study in digital risk, ethical AI concerns, and the future of AR security. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, a privacy advocate, or just curious about the hidden dangers of gaming, this talk will change the way you see mobile applications and AI-powered experiences. Don’t miss it!
Biography:
Michael Esola is a retired U.S. Army Operations and Communications officer with over 25 years of technical expertise. Today, he leads organizations as a strategic cybersecurity and data privacy architect, specializing in security controls, risk management, and policy development. Leveraging industry standards such as NIST and ISO, Michael drives digital transformations and empowers organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience. With a robust portfolio of over 50 industry certifications, he brings practical, real-world insights to the stage, engaging audiences with his passion for innovation and forward-thinking strategies.
Data-Driven Defense Evangelist, USA
Biography:
Roger A. Grimes is a Data-Driven Defense Evangelist at KnowBe4. He is a 35-year plus computer security professional, author of 14 books and over 1,400 national magazine articles. He frequently consults with the world’s largest and smallest companies, and militaries, and he has seen what does and doesn’t work. Grimes was previously a weekly security columnist for InfoWorld and CSO magazines from 2005–2019. He regularly presents at national computer security conferences, and has been interviewed by national magazines and radio shows, including Newsweek magazine and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Roger is known for his often contrarian, fact-filled viewpoints.