Agenda

Check-in/Breakfast
Generously sponsored by iVerify

Opening

Ian Gottesman, CEO NGO-ISAC

Plenary Session #1: Defending Civil Society: The Star Blizzard Takedown
Learn how Microsoft and the Digital Crimes Unit partner with organizations around the world to disrupt cyber threats.

Sean Farrell, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit

Networking Break

Breakout #1A: Community Crafted, Community Protected: Practical Tactics for Driving Real-World Impact from Information Sharing
Explore how to effectively curate and share threat information to drive real-world action. Attendees will hear case studies that demonstrate how to assess and utilize threat information, learn the importance of threat information sharing in enhancing community safety, and understand the transformative potential that effective information sharing holds for their organization and our community as a whole.

Alec Dhuse, Cyber Security Manager, The Brookings Institution
Junell Felsburg, Sr. Dir Cybersecurity & Infrastructure, Columbus Foundation
Jeje Mohamed, Managing Partner, Aegis Safety Alliance  
Seamus Tuohy, CISO, NGO-ISAC 

Breakout #1B: Record Retention for Non-Profits: Drafting, Adopting, and Implementing a Record Retention Policy
Explore the essential process of creating and executing a records retention policy tailored for non-profits, with insights into common challenges and successful implementation strategies. This panel will guide you through the nuances of change management, ensuring your organization effectively retains vital records.

Ian Gottesman, CEO of NGO-ISAC 
Matt Sanderson, Member, Caplin & Drysdale
Danacea Vo, CEO of Cyberlixir
Dae Yi, Chief Information Officer, Center for American Progress

Lunch
Generously sponsored by iVerify

Breakout #2A: Security Without Silos: Unifying Physical and Digital Defense

This panel will explore good practices for intentional integration between cyber and physical security teams. We will look at why the integration started, what it looks like (e.g. communication, collaborative budgets, shared tools), how they collaboratively respond to incidents, and the challenges they face. For resource-constrained organizations that don’t have dedicated teams, we’ll look at where to start.

Tara Arthur, CEO, Collective Security Group 
Steven Becker, Manager, IT Risk and Assurance, Open Society Foundations
Ankur Bhatt, Vice President and CTO, The Brookings Institution
David Fortino, Executive Director, Head of Corporate Security, New York Blood Center Enterprises
Dave Nicholas, Director of Safety and Security, The Brookings Institution
Matt Timblin, Senior Director, Global Security & Enterprise Risk, Open Society Foundations

Breakout #2B: Managing Cyber Risk: Legal and Governance Tools for NGOs
NGOs, regardless of their size or mission, face a complex and growing landscape of cybersecurity risks that extend beyond technical threats. These risks are deeply intertwined with legal compliance, organizational governance, and evolving public policy. Failure to adequately address these areas can lead to severe consequences, including loss of funding, reputational damage, civil or criminal liability, and, most critically, the compromise of sensitive data belonging to beneficiaries, staff, and funders.

Craig Lucca, CISO Bloomberg Philanthropies
Frank McGothigan, Chief Information Security Officer, Ford Foundation 
Anastassiya Miller, Program Director: Civic Space, PILnet 
Michael Razeeq, Non-resident Fellow, Public Interest Cybersecurity: UC Berkeley CLTC 

Networking Break

Breakout #3A: Separating AI Hype from Opportunity in Nonprofits
NGOs are experiencing near constant barrage of marketing about AI products, with promises of products taking on tasks across an organization as well as threats of replacing staff. What's real and what’s just part of the hype? Where are NGOs using AI-enabled tools to support security, augment workflows for effectiveness, and navigate issues of privacy and data management? This session explores practical and practiced adoption of AI tools, without promises or fear. 

Harlo Holmes, CISO, Dir of Digital Security, Freedom of the Press Foundation
Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow & Dir, Center for Technology Innovation, The Brookings Institution
Mia Velasco, Senior Manager, Global Operations, Namati 
Amy Sample Ward, CEO, NTEN

Breakout #3B: Beg, Borrow, and Collaborate - Exploring Creative Solutions to Funding Cybersecurity Programs This session explores how NGOs can design and grow a credible cybersecurity program using donations, philanthropy, skilled volunteers, and shared services instead of large budgets. Speakers will highlight concrete examples of partnerships, in kind support, open source tools, and creative governance models that raise security maturity. Attendees will leave with practical ideas, talking points for funders, and a prioritized roadmap.

Komal Bazaz Smith, Chief Business Officer, Global Cyber Alliance 
Sasha Cohen O’Connell, Sr. Dir, Cybersecurity Programs, Aspen Digital
Keenan Harrell, Program Lead, Philanthropy, Global Cyber Alliance 
Aaron Myers, CIO, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 
Jessica M. Walton, U.S. Regional Officer, CyberPeace Institute 

Networking Break

Plenary Session #2: Cyber Threats in Focus: Final Insights and Strategies
Comprehensive analysis and conclusion of current cybersecurity landscape trends, emerging threats, and recommended defensive measures.

Adam Meyers, CrowdStrike, Senior VP, Counter Adversary Operations

Closing
Ian Gottesman, CEO NGO-ISAC

Closing Reception
Happy hour and Backdoors & Breaches

Thank you to our Signature Meal Sponsor, iVerify, for generously supporting all meals, networking breaks, and the closing reception at the conference.