ND Dublin and AIG Ireland host Global Cybersecurity Symposium
On August 25, 2023, the University of Notre Dame Dublin, in collaboration with AIG Ireland, hosted the 2023 Global Cybersecurity Symposium. Held at AIG Ireland’s headquarters, the event attracted over 250 attendees, including C-Suite executives, academic leaders, and government representatives from Ireland, the United States, and Europe. This symposium provided a platform for key discussions on cybersecurity, risk management, technology, and governance, featuring insights from global experts in the field.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy
The keynote address was delivered by the Honorable John F. Plumb, PhD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense and a University of Notre Dame alum. His address underscored the importance of cybersecurity in national security, with a special focus on the global impacts of US cyber policy.
"There's still much more to do and much left to right," Dr. Plumb said. "Rapid technological changes, including large language models and quantum computing are just two examples of emerging tools, and like any tool they can be used for good or for bad."
Dr. Plumb joined Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, in conversation following his keynote. Ambassador Nason led the discussion around strategies to address the erosion of public trust in government and governance, amplified by the increasing prevalence of cyber threats.
"Building cyber resilience requires trust," Plumb asserted. "For [the Department of Defense], we try to include measures of transparency, not just for the department but also for our intelligence communities to make sure that folks not only understand the threat, but that we ourselves are being held accountable to make sure that we're not abusing our capabilities."
A second keynote was delivered by Congressman Brendan Boyle, United States Representative and University of Notre Dame alum, who reflected on the need for international collaboration to tackle both cybersecurity and societal challenges through innovation and partnership.
George Shevlin (AIG Washington, D.C.),
and Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason
Dara Calleary, Ireland's Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation, delivered the opening remarks, setting the tone for an insightful day. Welcoming addresses were provided by Aidan Connaughton, CEO of AIG Ireland; Thomas Lillelund, CEO of AIG Europe; and Michael Pippenger, PhD, Vice President & Associate Provost for Internationalization at the University of Notre Dame.
The symposium featured two major panel discussions:
The Cyber Governance Panel, moderated by Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, explored governance challenges in cybersecurity and the need for coordinated global efforts to address cyber threats, featuring:
- Jayne Brady, Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service
- Professor Joe Carthy, University College Dublin, School of Computer Science
- Sophie De Ferranti, Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Cybersecurity, Teneo People Advisory
- Tracie Grella, Global Head of Cyber Risk Insurance, AIG New York
The Cyber Industry Panel, moderated by Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and symposium emcee, focused on cutting-edge solutions from the private sector and how industries are adapting to the ever-growing cybersecurity challenges, bringing together industry leaders:
- Ryan Lasmaili, CEO of Vaultree
- Heather Melville, PhD, CEO & Founder of Clarke Smith Advisory, Chancellor of York University, and Senior Advisor (DE&I) to Teneo
- Mitch Kajzer, Associate Professor of the Practice, University of Notre Dame Cybercrime Investigation, Research and Education (CIRE) Initiative
- Roger Soer, Head of Cyber EMEA, AIG Europe SA
Athletics Director for Culture & Engagement
at the University of Notre Dame
speaks with Des Cahill, RTÉ Sports Presenter.
The Global Cybersecurity Symposium was one of the flagship academic events leading up to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on August 26, 2023, where the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish triumphed over the Navy Midshipmen at Aviva Stadium in front of 48,000 fans. To tie in with the weekend of American college football, two Sport for Social Good panels were hosted over lunch, moderated by Des Cahill, RTÉ Sports Presenter. These panels highlighted the power of sport in driving social impact and featured the following speakers:
- JP Abercrumbie, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Culture & Engagement, University of Notre Dame, and former NCAA Division I Track & Field Athlete
- Tim Curry, Founder of the Belfast-Beltway Boxing Project
- Conal Fagan, Special Olympics International, Former University of Notre Dame Official Leprechaun Mascot
- Bernard Jackman, Former Ireland National Rugby
- Niamh McEvoy, Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football
- Dean Rock, Dublin Gaelic Football
The engaging discussions covered how sport can be used as a tool for social good, exploring themes of inclusivity, personal development, and community engagement.
The 2023 Global Cybersecurity Symposium was a resounding success, fostering dialogue and partnerships across industry, academia, and government.