Nish Malik is a transformational technology leader with more than 20 years of IT leadership experience spanning higher education, state government, and the private sector. As Senior Associate Vice President & CIO at San Francisco State University, Nish has guided large-scale digital transformations, built high-performing teams, and modernized enterprise systems while delivering resilient IT infrastructure with 99.9% uptime.

He successfully led the consolidation of distributed IT units across campus, streamlining operations for Finance, Housing, Student Affairs, Human Resources, and other divisions, while delivering mission-aligned, people-first technology services. Major initiatives under his leadership include the launch of the SF State Mobile App, expansion of campus-wide Wi-Fi, Two-Factor Authentication, Office 365 migration, Student Health Information Management System, Mashouf Wellness Center technology, Datacenter Virtualization, ServiceNow, Box.com, Disaster Recovery site, a full network refresh, Copilot, and ChatGPT.

Recognized as an effective agent of change, Nish has positioned ITS as an award-winning organization. ITS earned multiple California Public Higher Education Innovation Focus on Efficiency Awards (2018, 2019, 2023) and the Cal State Tech Award for Organization Growth, Change, and Leadership (2019). Nish is also committed to leadership development and global collaboration. He is a graduate of the Leadership San Francisco program and a Fulbright grant recipient, representing the U.S. in Berlin and New York as part of a 10-member delegation exploring the impact of digitalization on the future of higher education.

A CIO for all seasons, Nish thrives in times of change, growth, and reinvention, aligning technology with strategy, long-term value, and service excellence.

As a CIO within the healthcare industry, transforming and improving the consumer and patient experience through innovative and creative partnerships with high-tech has been an ongoing focus and passion. With more than 25 years of combined nursing, clinical, healthcare and technology experience, I have held various healthcare IT leadership positions focused on the delivery and realization of premier technology solutions and best practices. Over my career, I have served at the executive level within health care organizations leading enterprise-wide digital transformation spanning multiple acute care hospitals, outpatient facilities, ambulatory clinics and community networks. In my current role as CIO, I am responsible for leading technology strategy, digital experience, innovation, information services resources, clinical engineering, and cybersecurity while re-defining services and products to meet today’s unique healthcare environment.

I have been honored to receive the HMG Strategy Global Leadership Institute Award, Becker’s Healthcare “100 Community Hospital CIOs to Know,” YWCA “Tribute To Women Award” and an Orbie “Bay Area CIO” and Iowa Technology Association “Women of Innovation” Award” finalist.

Gunther Lenz is a seasoned software R&D executive with extensive experience leading digital and AI transformations in healthcare and life sciences. As VP of Software R&D at BD Biosciences, he oversees a global team of over 150 engineers and manages multimillion-dollar budgets, focusing on accelerating time-to-market, enhancing software quality, and fostering innovation through agile and lean practices.

Previously, Gunther held leadership roles at Google, IBM, and Microsoft, where he led large-scale software initiatives and transformed traditional software organizations into agile, learning-driven teams. He is a certified Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, a four-time Microsoft MVP for Software Architecture, and the author of three books on software architecture and digital transformation.

Herman Brown Jr has over 25 years of IT experience spanning the military, private sector, and public service. As the Chief Information Officer for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, he has dedicated the past 13 years to driving innovation and efficiency within The City and County of San Francisco, with the last eight years as the SFDA CIO leading the office’s digital transformation.

With a proven track record of consolidating services, streamlining processes, and reducing operational costs, Herman has been instrumental in modernizing a traditionally paper-heavy “law firm” into a technology-driven enterprise. His strategic vision focuses on leveraging smart technology to enhance efficiency, transparency, and productivity.

Herman brings a results-driven approach to IT leadership, drawing on his diverse background to implement forward-thinking solutions that meet the evolving needs of government and justice systems. His commitment to innovation continues to shape the future of technology in public service.

David Bridgman is an accomplished information security and software development leader with over 30 years of experience across higher education, financial services, and technology sectors. Currently serving as Associate Vice President of Information Security at National University, David is responsible for safeguarding critical institutional data, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and leading strategic initiatives to enhance the university’s cybersecurity posture.

In his role, David oversees a diverse team of security professionals and collaborates closely with academic and administrative departments to implement robust security frameworks. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the university’s information security strategy, aligning it with best practices and regulatory requirements.

David’s career trajectory includes significant positions such as Senior Director of Information Security at National Education Partners and Director of Information Security at Northcentral University. His earlier roles encompass senior security engineering positions at NortonLifeLock and Early Warning Services, where he developed and implemented security solutions to protect sensitive financial data.

Holding an MBA from Northcentral University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University, David combines technical expertise with strategic insight. He is committed to mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and is passionate about integrating emerging technologies to bolster infrastructure performance.

David Bachechi is the Associate Vice President of Infrastructure Services at National University, bringing extensive leadership experience in IT operations and infrastructure management. He began his career as the first IT employee at a law firm, quickly advancing to develop and direct the department, and has since built a strong track record leading large-scale IT operations.

David specializes in building and managing high-performing teams and overseeing cloud-based infrastructure design and operations across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms. As a recognized industry expert, he advises stakeholders on on-premises and hybrid models, negotiates with vendors, manages enterprise systems, and leads projects from conception to deployment.

Known for his ability to identify root causes, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and implement innovative solutions, David combines technical expertise with strategic leadership to drive operational excellence and deliver impactful results for the organization.

Tony Batalla serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the City of Oakland, California, where he leads the city’s Information Technology Department. With over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Tony is dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance public services and promote digital equity.

In his role, Tony is instrumental in driving initiatives that bridge the digital divide, including the development of Oakland’s Broadband Master Plan and the implementation of a municipal fiber optic broadband network. These efforts aim to provide free, high-speed internet access to underserved communities, ensuring equitable access to digital resources.

Prior to his tenure in Oakland, Tony served as the Chief Technology Officer for the City of San Leandro, where he led the creation of the city’s Fiber Optics Master Plan and Smart City Strategy. He also spearheaded digital inclusion initiatives, such as launching public Wi-Fi and distributing computing devices to residents.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of San Francisco and an MBA in Technology Leadership from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is currently pursuing an executive doctoral degree with a focus on public-sector innovation.

Aman Grover leads engineering and machine learning teams at LinkedIn, shaping AI-driven products that impact millions of users worldwide. He manages a cross-functional team spanning the Bay Area, New York City, and Seattle, including tech leads, senior engineers, and applied researchers, growing the team threefold while scaling a multi-billion-dollar business.

Aman spearheaded the rebuild of LinkedIn’s acquisition platform with deep AI integration and launched the company’s first large language model (LLM) product, generating over $100 million in revenue. Previously, he built the Talent Solution and Careers AI Foundation team, powering skills-first hiring and leading Salary AI models.

He holds 18 U.S. patents in search and recommendation systems and thrives on solving complex AI challenges while fostering collaborative, innovative teams.

Raj Singh is an experienced cybersecurity executive with over 18 years of experience driving enterprise-wide security strategy, risk management, and digital transformation. He currently serves as North America CISO and Global Security Leader at Sagility, where he leads AI-powered security programs that protect healthcare operations and enable business growth through trust and resilience.

A strong advocate for the responsible use of AI in cybersecurity, Raj has pioneered its application in threat intelligence, SOC automation, and identity protection while developing governance frameworks to address emerging risks. He is an active thought leader, contributing to Gartner panels, the Elite CISO Networks, and global forums on cyber resilience, digital trust, and AI security.

Passionate about mentorship, Raj is committed to developing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and strategic storytelling as essential leadership skills. Guided by the belief that security is not only defense but also a driver of innovation, he continues to shape the future of cybersecurity by balancing resilience with agility and technology with human leadership.

Kyle Johnson is the Director of AI at Morgan Lewis, where he leads the firm’s AI Lab. His team conducts feasibility studies to identify how state-of-the-art AI can effectively address complex legal challenges, provides internal consulting, and develops thought leadership in AI. Kyle uniquely blends his background as a technologist and humanist—holding a PhD in Classics from NYU and extensive experience in computational linguistics dating back to the late 1990s—with professional experience as a research scientist at major firms such as Ernst & Young, Accenture, and most recently TikTok.

Auston Davis is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the City of San Jose, bringing more than two decades of experience defending enterprise systems in an evolving cyber landscape. His career spans military service, Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, and technology start-ups, with deep expertise in healthcare and health technology industries. Auston began his security career in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, advancing to Special Agent in Charge in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where he led cyber-crime and counterintelligence investigations. He later managed information security for organizations including Stanford University IT Systems & Services, First Franklin Financial, Visa, Inc., and Symantec Corp.

In healthcare, Auston served as CISO for Kaiser Permanente and Stanford Children’s Health, successfully remediating breaches and strengthening enterprise security across more than 60 locations. At HeartFlow, Inc., he established the company’s first security function and drove a cloud transformation. Most recently, as CISO at Versant Health, he transformed the security organization and fostered a company-wide culture of cybersecurity awareness.

Auston is recognized for his executive strengths in information security management, IT infrastructure, cloud security, risk assessment, threat and vulnerability management, incident response, disaster recovery, business continuity, and regulatory compliance across frameworks such as FedRAMP, HITRUST, SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NISPOM, and HIPAA. He is also a dedicated team builder and leader.

In addition to his professional roles, Auston has served as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at San Jose State University since 2015, mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Awards and Recognition:
Top 10 Information Security Professionals, Cyber Defense Group (2023)
OnCon Icon Top 100 Information Security Professionals (2023)
Top 25 CISOs to Know, Becker’s List (2018 & 2019)
Adjunct Faculty of the Year, San Jose State University (2019 & 2020)

Christiana State is the Director of Cybersecurity Counsel at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she serves as a strategic legal advisor at the intersection of technology, privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property.

With a background spanning global law firms and multinational enterprises, Christiana advises on complex issues involving technology transactions, data protection, regulatory compliance, and incident response. Her experience extends across the full development lifecycle of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Christiana is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US and CIPP/E), a registered patent practitioner before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a certified mediator. She holds a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law with a High Technology Law Certificate, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, cum laude, from Santa Clara University.

A frequent speaker and published author, Christiana contributes thought leadership on privacy, cross-border data transfers, and the evolving governance of artificial intelligence.

Aladdin Elston is a cybersecurity thought leader and virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) with over 20 years of experience helping Fortune 500 organizations build AI Red Teams that uncover hidden cybersecurity and AI vulnerabilities. His work empowers organizations to secure systems against tomorrow’s threats while driving innovative, AI-driven security strategies. At Wells Fargo and previous organizations, Aladdin has led transformative initiatives including AI Redteaming, AI product management, developing a Vulnerability Management System (VMS) as a Single Source of Truth, launching a vCISO program, building an Attack Surface Management (ASM) platform, and creating advanced security assessment methodologies. These solutions enhance vulnerability detection, enable continuous red teaming, and ensure compliance with standards such as NIST and ISO 27001.

He has designed security awareness training for hundreds of professionals, covering OWASP Top 10, cloud security, API security, and more. Currently, Aladdin is expanding his expertise through an AI-focused intensive bootcamp, applying artificial intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and stay ahead of emerging threats. Aladdin holds certifications including PNPT, CRTO, CBSP, CISSP, and CSM. He combines strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise, mentoring the next generation of diverse cybersecurity professionals while delivering measurable results for enterprise clients.

Cecelia is Program Director of Systemwide Cybersecurity Awareness and Human Risk Management for University of California. She is a writer and award-winning cybersecurity awareness leader focused on making digital safety human and relatable, who uses her voice to reach everyday people through writing, media, and public education, offering clear, practical guidance to help individuals protect what matters most. In her current role, she works with partners across the University’s 11 campuses and 5 health systems to develop and implement innovative behavioral risk mitigation strategies and programs to reduce human-centric cyber risk. Prior to joining the UC, developed and implemented the data security governance program for the Motion Picture Association, and several years as risk audit specialist at Verizon.

Sagar Jain, Director of Digital Strategy & Enablement, KM & AI SSF, Roche: Strategic Knowledge Management and Digital Transformation with 11+ years of experience driving operational strategy in enterprise cloud, systems, and data programs in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Keen interest in improving ways of locating talent and resources to achieve various goals across strategic approaches. Skilled in aligning business needs with IT capabilities to deliver innovative, scalable solutions and fostering collaboration across global teams. Proven leadership in strategic planning, cloud strategy, and roadmap development.

Umesh Jagannatha has over 25 years of experience managing large-scale IT infrastructures and security operations. At Gilead Sciences, he oversees IT security engineering, leading teams of up to 45 professionals, including offshore staff, across multiple simultaneous cross-functional initiatives.

Throughout his career, Umesh has managed IT operating and capital budgets of up to $10 million, securing infrastructures comprising roughly 1,000 servers, more than 5,000 virtual machines, and 10 petabytes of storage across multiple locations. He has successfully implemented critical zero-day patching on up to 1,000 servers, ensuring high resilience and compliance.

His technical expertise spans IT security, infrastructure management, data center services, cloud technologies (AWS, Office 365, Google Apps), and monitoring platforms like Splunk. Umesh holds multiple industry certifications, including CISSP, MCSE, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect, reflecting his commitment to excellence and innovation in IT security and infrastructure management.

Sathish Kuppuswamy is a senior information security leader with 25 years of experience in information technology, including a 19-year track record of developing and executing robust cybersecurity programs. At Pacific Gas and Electric Company, he directs cybersecurity architecture, engineering, and operations, providing strategic guidance and thought leadership across multiple business verticals including eCommerce, energy and utilities, communications, healthcare, retail, and ISPs.

Sathish specializes in designing and implementing comprehensive security strategies and roadmaps, managing security programs and teams, and enabling secure cloud services. His expertise spans enterprise and customer identity and access management, secure DevOps, PKI governance, encryption key management, data loss prevention, endpoint and network security, and regulatory compliance, including NERC CIP, HIPAA, SOX, and NIST standards.

He has extensive experience in funding security initiatives, defining policies and standards, performing risk assessments and vulnerability management, and establishing business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Sathish is recognized for blending technical depth with strategic vision, helping organizations strengthen security posture while enabling business growth.

Jason leads product strategy for the Freshservice EX portfolio at Freshworks, with a focus on accelerating ITSM and ITOM capabilities for the enterprise. He brings deep experience scaling modern service management platforms, having previously led product, engineering, and design at Ready.net, and held senior leadership roles at ServiceNow. There, he helped grow ITSM from $0.5B to $2.0B+ ACV by applying human-centered design and AI-driven automation.
Outside of work, Jason enjoys hiking, surfing, and spending time with his wife Deanna, their four adult children, and two grandchildren.

Kevin Kirkwood serves as Exabeam’s CISO, leading the OCISO Security Center of Excellence comprised of governance, risk, compliance (GRC); application security, SOC, and physical security. Transitioning from IT to security at PepsiCo, he’s since amassed a wealth of experience, from architecting security at the Federal Reserve, driving a secure development pipeline at Bank of America to transforming mid-sized companies’ security systems. Kirkwood champions a proactive security philosophy, emphasizing its role as a business enabler rather than a hindrance. Armed with a BS in Computer Information Systems and certifications including CISSP and PMP, his dedication to advancing security is evident in his pursuit of an OCISO certification.
In his spare time, Kevin volunteers as the President of his water district, Vice Chair of the Elbert County planning commission and is beginning to play in local state politics.

Jamie works to empower organizations against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. He is a leader in strategic cyber resilience, designing and delivering high-impact drills that test technical skills and critical leadership decision-making under pressure. From C-suite executives to frontline security teams, he specializes in partnering with clients to build their human firewall, strengthening their defenses against real-world attacks. The Immersive goal is not just to train, but to build a generation of cyber heroes ready for anything. At Immersive, we believe the human element is key to cyber resilience and we are proud to play a role in shaping a world that’s truly ready for what’s next in cyber

Former Gartner research VP, identity, cryptography, fraud and cybersecurity visionary, Mr. Mahdi is an industry recognized pioneer. Co-Founder of the emerging Machine Identity Management (non-human identity (NHI)) market.

David has helped large organizations tackle digital transformation projects that included digital identity, zero trust, fraud, forensics, IAM, IoT security, and early stage blockchain efforts; guided organizations to build internal cryptography teams, such as the cryptography center of excellence; and consulted through IPOs, raising capital, and M&A, among many other contributions. A top performing analyst, his depth and breadth of coverage made him one of the most demanded industry analysts for clients around the globe. As a market maker, David was instrumental in creating markets and definitions for areas such as: Decentralized identity, Bring Your own identity (BYOI), passwordless authentication, Machine Identity management, and privacy enhanced computation.

As an executive leader, David holds several advisory and board positions for non-profits, and established technology providers in the areas of digital and decentralized Identity, post-quantum cryptography, cybersecurity awareness, and blockchain/NFTs.

Snehal Antani is the CEO and Co-Founder at Horizon3.ai. Prior to Horizon3.ai, Snehal Antani was a CTO in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the CTO of Splunk, and a CIO within GE Capital. Snehal holds 18 patents granted by the USPTO in data processing, cloud computing, and virtualization. He regularly participates in keynote speeches and often writes articles on leadership, innovation, digital transformation, data security, and cloud security.