Harry has 25 years of experience in the tech industry. He's the founder and the Executive Director of Kenya-founded DEMO Africa, a launchpad for emerging technologies and trends on the continent. He's also the Co-founder and Director of the African eDevelopment Resource Centre; Co-founder and Director of the Events Management Solutions.

A respected executive in cloud and enterprise technology, Niral has led major technology businesses at Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and IBM. Most recently, he served as Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Google Cloud, where he drove cloud adoption and business expansion across the region. Prior to that, as Managing Director of Oracle South Africa, he played a key role in scaling Oracle’s enterprise software and cloud business. With deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, business development, and enterprise technology, Niral’s people-centric leadership approach has been key to driving high-performance cultures and fostering innovation. He is uniquely positioned to lead ADG’s next phase of growth.

Grant Hughes, widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most certified cybersecurity professional, holds a master’s degree in information security and an impressive portfolio of more than 30 industry certifications, including CISA, CISM, CDPSE, CISSP, CCSP, CEH, and more. As the Group CISO and Senior Partner of a pan-African cybersecurity provider, a former CISO of a global automotive organisation, and former Head of Cyber for a large petroleum company, he is a trusted advisor and respected thought leader in the security industry. His expertise spans multiple disciplines within information security, including Risk Management, Human Risk Management, Security Operations, Security Management, Security Strategy, and Architecture. Grant is a featured speaker at industry conferences both locally and internationally. He has authored several peer-reviewed articles in the ISACA International Journal and regularly contributes to other publications. Grant’s accolades include the 2025 ISACA SA Chapter President’s Award, a CIO Africa magazine cover feature, recognition in Top Cyber News Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (Berlin, 2024) and winning the Cyber Leadership Institute’s Global Competition in 2023 for developing a leading cyber resilience strategy. Finally, Grant is an ISC2 Authorized Instructor and a Certified EC-Council Instructor. He hosts various masterclasses and training sessions and serves as the founder and president of the ISC2 Cape Town Chapter and the Africa Tech Talent Support Project.

Steve Jump has an unashamedly technical background, being both a chartered engineer, and an entrepreneur. Skills he uses it to translate complex technology into serious business value. He presently consults, coaches, and advises in the field of Information Security Risk and Governance, where his belief that Cyber Risk is too important to leave up to IT allows him to expresses support, sympathy, incredulity and fortunately, frequent flashes of inspiration around the state of Information Security risk management in business today. Steve coaches and mentors at all levels, from CIO’s forming a security team to manage cyber risk and to the business managers and top executives that own the business risk. Guiding and tutoring both young and experienced entrepreneurs in secure business thinking, and helping postgraduate business and technical specialists to understand and promote their own value in the world of digital risk management. In his presenter role Steve frequently talks around information security governance and cyber risk being an existential business threat and has chaired conferences and presented simple and complex papers and keynotes around cyber security and risk management topics internationally.

Dr. Bright Gameli Mawudor is a leading expert in Cyber Security and Blockchain Intelligence, shaping Africa’s digital landscape. As the Regional Training Lead for Crystal Intelligence, he has played pivotal roles in advancing security infrastructure across the continent. He also founded Africahackon, a Cyber Security collective focused on capacity building. Dr. Mawudor holds a PhD in Cyber Security and serves on prestigious advisory boards, including EC-Council's CTIA, Moringa school and Ushahidi. With over a decade of experience, he is a recognized speaker at 340+ tech conferences, known for his expertise in Cyber Security Strategy, Resilience, and Blockchain Intelligence. His work has earned him recognition, including Tribe of Hackers: Blue Team 2020 and Top 40 Under 40 in Kenya. He has held roles in organizations like Dimension Data/NTT, Cellulant, and Ushahidi, successfully implementing IT security strategies to protect critical business environments.

I am a Pan Africanist and Afro Optimist who is also Kenya's first formally trained cybersecurity lawyer as well as one of the first on the African continent & have a Master of Laws in Cybersecurity, Counter Terrorism & Crisis Management. I am a dynamic legal professional with a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions at the intersection of law, technology, and international relations. With extensive experience in cybersecurity law, international compliance, and policy advisory, I specialize in crafting strategies that enable organizations and governments to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. As a trusted advisor, I have successfully navigated complex legal frameworks to drive digital transformation, enhance regulatory compliance, and promote sustainable development. My work has included advising on critical legislation, negotiating high-stakes international agreements, and providing strategic counsel on matters of governance and development partnerships.

Bright Iremhinmhen is the CEO of Storhet Solutions, bringing over a decade of experience in enterprise IT, cloud computing, networking, data center infrastructure, and cybersecurity. He has extensive expertise in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance organizational performance, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen security frameworks across diverse industries.

Established, result –oriented and driven Chief executive officer with more than 20+ years of experience in impacting the performance and turnaround of companies. Extensive accounting ,budgeting and finance experience skilled in the development and implementation of strategic plans, business planning and development, acquisitions and integrations .Successful in leading private and corporate business unit environments with full P & L responsibility & board experience.

Tim is a Fractional CIO/CTO with 20+ years leading technology modernization across Africa. He has delivered 100+ innovation projects spanning AI, cloud, data platforms, and cybersecurity for high-growth startups, enterprise, and impact organizations. Tim specializes in scaling products in low-data, mobile-first environments and building cross-border payments, analytics, and automation capabilities. He advises founders and boards on technology strategy, organization design, and measurable impact, and has helped teams raise capital, de-risk scale-up, and accelerate time-to-value.

Experienced Cybersecurity Engineer with 8 years of impactful leadership and technical expertise. Proven track record in managing IT security strategies, conducting vulnerability assessments, and leading cross-functional teams to enhance overall security posture. Skilled in penetration testing, threat intelligence, and incident response, with a demonstrated ability to drive strategic planning and thought leadership. Recognized for fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, resulting in outstanding team performance and aligning products with evolving customer needs. Adept at developing comprehensive cybersecurity training programs and spearheading initiatives to raise awareness and enhance digital security. Ready to leverage extensive experience to drive excellence in cybersecurity engineering.

Francis Mwangi has over 15 years experience working as the CIO for various organisations across different sectors and Consulting for various companies in both the public and private sectors in the area of information security and data privacy. He is currently the Group Head of IT Security & Infrastructure at Platcorp Holdings Ltd. He also sits on the advisory board of Dx5 (Formerly CIO East Africa). In addition to this, He is a part-time lecturer in the School of Information Systems and Technology at USIU-Africa.

A vastly experienced cyber security professional with broad expertise and a proven track record of successfully implementing and maintaining robust security measures. I have over 11 years of experience in managing information systems, ensuring security, compliance, and customer satisfaction in the banking sector. My core competencies include information security, IT risk management, data privacy and project management. I have successfully delivered multiple projects involving information systems security, audit, and governance, working with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders. Currently, I am the Chief information security Officer (CISO) at Family bank Kenya Ltd and a member of the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) IT Risk and Cybersecurity committee.

I am currently the Regional Head of Forensic & Information Security Services at Jubilee Holdings Limited. I am responsible for the oversight of all forensic & Information Security for the Group Companies in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi i.e. Jubilee Life, Jubilee General, Jubilee Financial and Jubilee Medical businesses. Previously, I was the Head of Claims for Jubilee General Insurance business. In this role, I was responsible for overseeing the claims function across the motor, non-motor and legal sub-units while overseeing a staff complement of 37 staff. Before Joining Jubilee Insurance I was a Senior Manager in the Forensic and Litigation Support Services department of Deloitte East Africa. I joined Deloitte in July 2015. Prior to joining Deloitte, I was the Head of Internal Audit at Eveready East Africa Limited. I have also worked with KPMG in Kenya and Uganda for a total of 6 years as a manager in the risk consulting division (Forensic, IT and Internal audit) where I successfully played a critical role in the setting up of the risk consulting department at KPMG Uganda for a period of 2 years. I have worked with IQ Plus Kenya Limited as a Certified Sage Pastel Implementation Consultant for a period of one year.

Michael Michie is a leader in the technology industry with over a decade of experience. The Co-founder of Everse Technology, an AI startup working on AI as a service and the Co- founder of the Non-Profit Nia za Akili Zetu Foundation. He leads the AI and infrastructure team at the Action lab. His professional experience includes serving as CTO of Solv Kenya, a B2B marketplace owned by Standard Chartered UK Holdings Ltd. Prior to Solv, Michael was the Head of Information Technology and Innovation at TripleOKLaw, where he successfully transformed the law firm through digitalization and implementation of innovative legal tools. Michael has an impressive track record in the industry, having risen from a management trainee at M Oriental Bank to become the Head of Information Technology and later, the Chief Information Security Officer. In 2019, he was awarded the Business Daily Top 40 under 40 Men award for his role in driving digital transformation within the legal industry, making him the youngest recipient of the award that year. The subgroup chair of the Technical Working Group on Development of Media Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence & Social Media by the Media Council of Kenya and other working groups around AI. A member of the National Technical Working Group tasked with developing the country’s first AI strategy launched in 2025. Michael was involved in the development of the curriculum for Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and AI Skilling in the Public Service (RCOC) in 2025. A Member of Kenya AISI (AI Safety Institute) working on AI safety on cybersecurity, prompt injection and Multilingual AI models. Michael also develops and trains AI masterclasses and workshops for Policy makers, public sector, ML Engineering and other sectors. He provides strategic guidance on AI engineering, DevSecOps, MLOps, Cybersecurity, and cloud for various leading technology companies. He sits on several advisory boards, including the Advisory Council for fTLD registry services, Agora Nexus advisory committee, the CIO East Africa Fintech Summit Advisory Board, and the CISO Alliances Nairobi Chapter Content Committee. An advocate for dyslexic thinking and mental health in the workplace, Michael is also a published academic writer, host of the podcast Mind and Machine Africa, and commentator in the technology space. Aside from his professional pursuits, Michael's passions include hyperrealism art, reading philosophy, training dogs, and game design and development.

With 19 years of experience in Digital, I have risen from intern to CIO within a multinational, building a career at the intersection of engineering, finance, and technology. I focus on “midwifing” innovation by moving ideas from concept to impact while navigating people dynamics, technical complexity, and the occasional technology land mine in the boardroom. I often say the systems were never the hardest part; people were, and earning a “PhD in people” reshaped how I lead, influence, and align teams. Today, I oversee a portfolio of digital assets across 9 countries and lead a diverse organisation of developers, data analysts, infrastructure engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and digital marketers.

Oyedayo is the Chief Operating Officer of UCL and formerly served as its Chief Information Officer. With over 17 years of experience spanning network administration, systems engineering, cybersecurity, and executive leadership, his career has progressed from hands-on technical roles to enterprise-wide strategy and operational oversight. He began his career in systems infrastructure, and design of security environments before moving into leadership, where he built and led information security teams and strengthened institutional cyber governance. As CIO, he guided digital transformation initiatives while ensuring that security and risk management remained central to institutional decision-making. Now as COO, he oversees both technology and operations, aligning systems, people, and processes to improve resilience and performance. Within higher education, he has worked at the intersection of research, digital innovation, and data protection in an increasingly complex threat landscape. He is also a Global Delegate for the AI for Developing Nations Forum, contributing to discussions on digital sovereignty, responsible AI adoption and capacity building across economies in the global south. At the Africa CISO Summit 2026, he will speak on security sovereignty, the implications of rapid AI growth, and the need for stronger institutional and cross-sector collaboration to build sustainable cybersecurity capacity across Africa.

I am a business transformational leader with over 25 years of experience in local and international markets, specializing in business process automation, digital transformation and cybersecurity in the financial services, United Nations, and Oil & Gas sectors. With 20 years in banking, I have held senior leadership roles in technology and operations at reputable financial institutions. In the past two years, I led the implementation of a new core banking system that improved transaction processing speed by 40% and introduced an electronic records management system that increased operational efficiency by 30%. I also developed innovative self-service solutions, including a mobile banking platform that boosted customer engagement by 50% and a digital lending platform that reduced loan processing times from weeks to days. My expertise in banking operations allows me to leverage emerging technologies to transform business models, enhance customer experience, drive operational efficiency, and significantly increase revenue.

Experienced Director Of Information Systems security with a demonstrated history of working in the Telecom and banking industry. Skilled in Crisis Management, ISO 27001, Data Center, Checkpoint Security, and Business Continuity Planning. Strong information technology professional graduated from Addis Ababa University.

Joan Kiama is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Legal-Regulatory Affairs Officer at the Communications Authority of Kenya, with experience in digital governance, ICT regulation, and public policy. Her work centers on developing and implementing forward-looking legal and regulatory frameworks that support efficient, inclusive, and technology-driven public services. She has contributed to key national initiatives including ICT sector legal reforms, data governance frameworks, spectrum pricing models, ICT accessibility standards, and the National Space Bill and Policy. Ms.Kiama supports Kenya’s engagement in international digital and telecommunications processes through the Communications Authority of Kenya, which represents the country at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). She is also part of a Commonwealth-supported team addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence through policy interventions and awareness creation. In 2025, she participated in the International Space University Space Studies Program (ISU SSP25), representing Kenya and Africa, where she contributed legal and policy perspectives to interdisciplinary projects on space governance and the use of artificial intelligence in space exploration.

I am a seasoned Information Systems & Telecommunications Expert with 20 years pan-African experience in Telecommunications, Telco Value Added Services, Mobile Money, Fintech and most recently Banking and its associated Operations. I am an ardent advocate of digital transformation ensuring technology operates as a business enabler powering growth and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I have initiated & turned around key projects that have resulted in exponential revenue growth, improved customer experience & a corresponding enhancement in operational efficiency. My keenness for improvement opportunities has kept my leadership climate vibrant with a continuous flow & exchange of ideas & projects targeted at continuously & consistently improving customer experience.

Fredrick Wahome is a distinguished cybersecurity leader serving as the Cyber Security Strategic Officer and Founder of Secunets Technologies Ltd, a Pan-African provider of cybersecurity and ICT solutions. As a Certified Ethical Hacker with EC-Council, he has pioneered initiatives including the CybAccel Fund, which connects cybersecurity innovators with angel investors through an online crowdfunding platform. Wahome champions the Cyber4Dev concept, demonstrating how cybersecurity positively impacts social and economic development across Africa. He holds leadership positions as Co-Founder and Vice President of the Kenya CyberSecurity and Forensics Association and contributes to global standards as a member of the Internet Engineering Task Force's Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments working group. Wahome's commitment to education includes developing cybersecurity curriculum for TVET institutions and mentoring emerging professionals through his "In the Honor of Kevin Mitnick" program, which emphasizes technical excellence grounded in integrity.