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Week long online festival on the fringe of cyber security

09/11/2020

The academic team behind the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has organised a week-long online festival covering a wide range of topics on the fringe of cyber and security.

The Cyber Fringe Festival, which is running from Monday 23 until Friday 27 November 2020 features over 100 experts from across the world who will deliver a range of strategic, operational and technical online sessions covering cyber industry, defence and emergency services as well as diversity, government, acceleration and skills.

Herefordshire will be home to the UK’s leading centre of excellence in cyber security – a £9m state-of-the-art hub supporting innovation and industry in the sector when construction completes on site later this year.

The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and part-funded by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Academics from the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute, alongside partners, have developed the fringe programme of online sessions in support of the cyber and security industry, drawing on expertise from across the globe to put the new centre on the cyber map.

Professor Prashant Pillai, Head of the School of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “The Cyber Fringe Festival speakers will be sharing their experiences, strategies and knowledge and the sessions will be of real value to anyone launching or growing a business.

“The expertise and specialist focus of the new centre will be part of a wider, growing campus of cyber sector companies based within the Cyber Quarter on Skylon Park. The area is already home to a highly regarded cyber economy, and the knowledge, expertise and opportunities that the centre brings will help to establish Herefordshire as one of the capitals of the cyber security sector.

“This festival will highlight some of the specialisms we offer, whilst at the same time, forging strategic partnerships and relationships with some of the world’s leading expertise in cyber and security.”

Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security will offer a package of tailored security testing, training, R&D and sector expertise to businesses and investors.

Supported by the university’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), the centre will also be home to 16 cyber SMEs and well as offering product testing and certification, CPD and short courses and cyber conferences attracting experts from across the globe. 

Key headline speakers during the event include: Dr Emma Philpot MBE, “Diversity in cyber security”; Seamus Tucker CMG OBE, “What skills do you need to be a great cyber leader?”; Katie King, “Harnessing AI ethically for growth”; Dr Mark Sirkin, “Imagine all the people, and the risks they pose”.

The event has been created and managed by Hugo Russell, Digital Projects Manager, and Charlotte Thomas, Business Development Manager, as part of the Hereford Centre for Cyber and Security project delivery.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Cyber Fringe Festival should check out the website for more details on speakers, sessions and how to get involved: https://cyber-fringe-festival.digileaders.com/

Contact email for the event is info@cyberfringefestival.org  

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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