Aspire Cyber Summit 25 Programme

This session offers timely and credible intelligence on the current cyber threat landscape. Understand which sectors are being targeted, how attacker tactics are evolving, and what organisations can expect to face this year. Whether you are building your strategy or refining it, these insights offer a credible foundation for decision-making in 2025.

How well is your organisation prepared to defend against today’s evolving cyber threats? In this interactive session, Bob McKay, Director of Information Security at Aspire guides delegates through the core pillars of security maturity, from identity and endpoint protection to response capability and user awareness. You’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your own organisation’s approach and see how it compares with wider industry trends. Drawing on patterns Aspire regularly sees across sectors, Bob will share practical observations, common pitfalls, and impactful steps that can help strengthen your security posture.

AI is influencing how organisations think about cyber security, but cutting through the noise to understand what actually works remains a challenge. This session looks at how AI and automation are being applied in real settings, from supporting threat detection and response to enhancing day-to-day operations in co-managed and internal environments. It highlights where these tools are proving effective and where human judgment and experience continue to play a critical role. With practical insight into how the landscape is evolving, this session offers a clear perspective on the opportunities, limitations, and priorities shaping the use of AI in modern security strategies.

Back by popular demand, Paul Abbott returns to our stage to reflect on the ransomware attack that led to the collapse of KNP Logistics Group: a 158-year-old organisation that entered administration following a major breach in 2023. In this session, Paul is joined by Aspire’s SOC team to examine the technical side of the incident. Through live “what if” scenarios, the SOC team will demonstrate how the attackers gained access, how containment might have been possible, and how recovery outcomes could have differed. With a combination of lived experience and technical insight, this session offers a rare look at the decisions, vulnerabilities, and lessons that matter most when everything is at stake.

Cyber security is a board-level issue, but how do you make it land with executives who don't speak tech? In this keynote, Heather Lowrie shares proven strategies for translating technical risk into language that resonates at the exec level. Drawing on 25 years of experience across multiple sectors, including leading the University of Manchester through a major cyber incident as Chief Information Security Officer, Heather explores how to get meaningful buy-in, secure investment for cyber initiatives, and align digital risk with business priorities. Practical, grounded, and empowering for anyone responsible for securing leadership support.

Cyber incidents are defining moments for leadership. This session offers a first-hand account of guiding an organisation through the impact of a serious attack, from the initial response through to recovery and long-term resilience. It provides a practical, executive-level perspective on navigating uncertainty, protecting trust, and making decisions when the stakes are high. The speaker outlines how priorities were established, how internal and external communications were handled, and how the experience helped to shape future strategy and organisational culture. The session highlights the structure, focus, and leadership that supported a successful recovery, along with the lessons that continue to influence the organisation’s approach to risk and resilience.