Presently Union Home Secretary since 23.08.2024.

Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Home Affairs w.e.f. 14.08.2024 till 22.08.2024.

Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India w.e.f. 01.10.2021 till 14.08.2024.

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) w.e.f. 17.09.2018 till 30.09.2021.

Joint Secretary, MHA w.e.f. 14.05.2018 till 17.09.2021.

Before joining MHA, Shri Govind Mohan worked as Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, M/o Finance, Govt. of India with effect from 10.08.2017 to 13.05.2018. He also functioned as Principal Resident Commissioner, Sikkim since 25th August, 2015.

Prior to this assignment Shri Govind Mohan worked as Minister (Economic), Embassy of India, Washington DC, USA from 25th July, 2012 to 24th August, 2015. In this assignment he dealt with Co-ordinating issues of selected Ministries/Departments of Government of India with corresponding entities of the Government of USA; Economic liaison between the Indian Ministry of Finance and US Treasury; Energy partnership between India and US; Facilitation of dialogue between the commerce and industry chambers of India and US.

In previous assignments in Government of India, Shri Govind Mohan has worked as Joint Secretary, in the Cabinet Secretariat, from January 2011 to July 2012 and looked after the Special assignments relating to: Prices and inflation; Development of a natural gas grid; Transparency in allotment of natural resources; Telecom policy; Space Policy; Commonwealth Games; Development of inland waterways; Development of dedicated freight corridor (DFC). Handling matters related to social sector and infrastructure Ministries and Departments of Government of India, in so far as they pertain to the Cabinet Secretariat. Administration of Cabinet Secretariat.

He also worked as Director and thereafter Joint Secretary in the D/o Economic Affairs from February, 2008 to February 2009 and continued as JS upto January 2011 and looked after Infrastructure policy and public private partnerships (PPPs); Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB); Multilateral institutions (Asian Development Bank) and externally aided projects including co-ordination of the annual meeting (2010) of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF); Administration of mints and presses.

Shri Govind Mohan has also handled various assignments in the cadre in the State of Sikkim.

Presently Union Home Secretary since 23.08.2024.

Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Home Affairs w.e.f. 14.08.2024 till 22.08.2024.

Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India w.e.f. 01.10.2021 till 14.08.2024.

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) w.e.f. 17.09.2018 till 30.09.2021.

Joint Secretary, MHA w.e.f. 14.05.2018 till 17.09.2021.

Before joining MHA, Shri Govind Mohan worked as Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, M/o Finance, Govt. of India with effect from 10.08.2017 to 13.05.2018. He also functioned as Principal Resident Commissioner, Sikkim since 25th August, 2015.

Prior to this assignment Shri Govind Mohan worked as Minister (Economic), Embassy of India, Washington DC, USA from 25th July, 2012 to 24th August, 2015. In this assignment he dealt with Co-ordinating issues of selected Ministries/Departments of Government of India with corresponding entities of the Government of USA; Economic liaison between the Indian Ministry of Finance and US Treasury; Energy partnership between India and US; Facilitation of dialogue between the commerce and industry chambers of India and US.

In previous assignments in Government of India, Shri Govind Mohan has worked as Joint Secretary, in the Cabinet Secretariat, from January 2011 to July 2012 and looked after the Special assignments relating to: Prices and inflation; Development of a natural gas grid; Transparency in allotment of natural resources; Telecom policy; Space Policy; Commonwealth Games; Development of inland waterways; Development of dedicated freight corridor (DFC). Handling matters related to social sector and infrastructure Ministries and Departments of Government of India, in so far as they pertain to the Cabinet Secretariat. Administration of Cabinet Secretariat.

He also worked as Director and thereafter Joint Secretary in the D/o Economic Affairs from February, 2008 to February 2009 and continued as JS upto January 2011 and looked after Infrastructure policy and public private partnerships (PPPs); Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB); Multilateral institutions (Asian Development Bank) and externally aided projects including co-ordination of the annual meeting (2010) of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF); Administration of mints and presses.

Shri Govind Mohan has also handled various assignments in the cadre in the State of Sikkim.

Dr. Ajay Kumar joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1985 and retired as Defence Secretary of India on 31.10.2022.

Dr. Ajay Kumar is B. Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India. He is M.S. Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, USA and Ph.D. in Business Administration from Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA.

Dr. Ajay Kumar held various senior level positions in the State Government of Kerala and the Central Government. From July, 2015 to November, 2017, he held the post of Director General, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and IT. He was appointed as the Secretary, Department of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence in December, 2017 and later as Union Defence Secretary from August, 2019 to October, 2022.

Dr. Ajay Kumar has spearheaded several initiatives and reforms in his career in the Civil Service. These include corporatization of Ordnance Factories Board, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDex), AGNIPATH Scheme (Agniveers), promotion of Defence exports in the Ministry of Defence. In the Ministry of Electronics and IT, he was instrumental in revival of electronics system and design industry through a slew of policy initiatives including Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme, Electronic Manufacturing Clusters Scheme,

Preference to Domestically Manufactured Goods Scheme, Scheme for setting up semi-conductor fabs, Electronics Development Fund and Compulsory Registration Order mandating safety standards of electronic goods. As DG, NIC he was instrumental in launching various Digital India initiatives including MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, biometric attendance system among others. While in Kerala, Dr. Ajay Kumar is credited to have revived Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON) during 2000-2002 period and scaling-up of IT investments in the State during his tenure as Secretary IT of the State.

Dr. Ajay Kumar has, to his credit, several publications in national and international journals including at ICIS, IEEE, IJEC, HICCS etc.

He was awarded the "Silver Elephant" medallion by National Scouts and

Guides by His Excellency the President of India, in 1994. In the same year, he also earned a citation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and was adjudged the "Outstanding Young Person" by the Junior Chamber of Kerala.

He earned the Graduate School Fellowship by the University of Minnesota, USA for the years 2004 and 2005. He was adjudged as the "Electronics Leader of the Year" for the year 2012 for promotion of electronics industry in the country. He was awarded the Technovation Sarabhai Award by IESA in 2015 for his outstanding contribution to ESDM Industry and was also awarded the “Champion of Change” Award by CEAMA in 2017.

He was also awarded Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA)-2019 of IIT Kanpur.

He was conferred Fellowship of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) for his outstanding contributions to engineering and dynamic leadership in engineering domain which have immensely contributed for the faster development of the country with effect from November 1, 2021. Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed Chairman, Union Public Service Commission by the Hon’ble President of India on 15th May, 2025.

REAR ADMIRAL SANJAY SACHDEVA is an alumnus of Naval Academy as he joined the (10+2 X' first course) in 1987 and passed out as second in overall order of merit (President Bronze Medal). He got commissioned on 01 Ju I 91.

Admiral has undergone specialization in Navigation and Direction and has tenanted various command and staff tenures. Admiral was also deputed to Russia for acceptance trials of Talwar class ships.

On academic front, Admiral attended 61^st Staff Course at Defeence Services Staff College, Wellington and qualified with DS Grading. He was awarded CNS Gold Medal for the best paper on operational issues during Naval Higher Command Course (2014). In 2018, he attended NDC at National Resilience Institute, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Admiral has also tenanted instructional appointments at prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi. Admiral took over the helm of premier Tri Services agency in Cyber Domain ie Defence Cyber Agency on 01 Jul 24. Admiral has also been conferred upon with Nao Sena Medal for devotion to duty in 2022.

He is an avid reader and loves to travel.

Nathan Hamiel is Senior Director of Research at Kudelski Security, where he leads the fundamental and applied research team, part of the Innovation group working to define the future of the company’s products and services. He focuses on emerging and disruptive technologies and their intersection with information security. This research includes new approaches to difficult security problems and the safety, security, and privacy of artificial intelligence. Nathan is passionate about risks at the intersection of technology and humanity and shares his thoughts on his blog, Perilous.tech. During his 25 years in cybersecurity, he has been a regular public speaker, presenting his research at global security events, including Black Hat, DEF CON, HOPE, ShmooCon, SecTor, ToorCon, and many others. He is also a veteran member of the Black Hat review board, serving as the AI, ML, and Data Science track lead.

With over 24 years of experience in IT security, he leads Red Alert Labs at NSHC. His core expertise lies in discovering zero-day vulnerabilities across a wide range of software, including web browsers, operating system kernels, IoT devices, and ICS/SCADA systems.

He has organized Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions at some of the world’s most renowned hacking and cybersecurity conferences, including Black Hat, DEF CON, MOTIE, and HITB. A passionate security researcher, he also actively participates in CTFs and high-profile computer hacking contests such as Pwn2Own and SPIRITCYBER.

His sustained contributions and technology leadership at ISRO in various capacities and roles have been transformative for making our nation self reliant in the field of space technology.

As Director, SDSC SHAR, he was leading multidisciplinary technical teams in the Solid Motor production and Launch Complex Infrastructure to meet ISRO`s increased demand of launches. Major flights successfully carried out include Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), LVM3 M2 / OneWebIndia-1-the first dedicated commercial mission, Vikram-S–the first privately built rocket of the country as well as Human Space Programme (Gaganyaan) experimental flights such as TVD01.

He has equipped SDSC-SHAR to concurrently expand the launch base infrastructure of ISRO and commercial space industry in line with the new space policy, through comprehensive resource planning and innovation. Exclusive launch complex for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle was being configured under his leadership.

During his career spanning nearly four decades, he has held several positions of leadership at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), where he was Deputy Director of three major entities. During this period, he specialized in the design and development of launch vehicles and spacecraft composite systems including the carbon–carbon composites, making ISRO a world leader in this niche domain. He also synergized all activities towards the design of key propulsion systems of SSLV and in the formation of a dedicated entity for Space ordinance in VSSC.

He is very active in the technology landscape in the country and has been serving as the President of ISAMPE, India from Nov 2023 onwards. He has several International Journal and Conference papers and was awarded with a patent in the area of Film-Boiling CVI technology development.

He has been awarded with Honorary Doctorate by Sathyabama University, Chennai for his excellent contributions for space applications. In recognition of his meritorious contribution for space research, he has been felicitated with several awards and honors including ISRO Merit award and Team excellence awards.

Pravin Kumar is the Chief Market Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer at the National Payments Corporation of India, with over 25 years of experience in Banking & Finance, having worked with HDFC Bank, JP Morgan, and Barclays. He holds numerous certifications, including CISSP, PMP, CIPM, TOGAF 9, CISA, CISM, CDPSE, CGEIT, CRISC and many more. His major responsibilities at NPCI include managing cybersecurity risks of critical infrastructures, overseeing the digital payment ecosystem risk, and ensuring privacy risk and compliance.

As the Chief technology Officer (CTO) of Federal Bank, Johnson is in charge of the bank's digital transformation and technological strategies. Having worked in the financial technology industry for more than 20 plus years, he is well-known for his ability to seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art technologies to improve operational effectiveness and provide outstanding customer experiences. He has successfully implemented network solutions across states during his tenure with Zenith Computers before joining the bank. In these capacities, he oversaw creative projects that considerably enhanced cybersecurity and digital platforms. He is an acknowledged thought leader in fintech innovation and IT strategy, having graduated with Bachelors in Electronics and Communication Engineering and MBA in project management, Johnson is dedicated to using technology to further the bank's expansion and uphold its competitiveness.

He has had a broad spectrum of positions and roles. He oversaw the rollout of digital systems such CBS Net Banking, network connectivity, and Total Branch Automation, which raised customer satisfaction and accelerated the acceptance of digital technology.

He was In charge of establishing FedServ, a fully owned subsidiary of Federal Bank, which assisted in putting the bank's backend operations into an efficient state that boosted output, decreased processing times, and cut operational costs. After that, he took position as Head operations division of the bank.

Johnson is dedicated to using technology to propel the bank's expansion and keep its competitive advantage in a sector that is changing quickly. His leadership is essential to making sure Federal Bank stays at the forefront of innovations in digital banking.

Sony A is a highly experienced individual currently serving as the Senior General Manager & CIO, Head of Digital & Technology at South Indian Bank. With a background in Computer Technology and Banking, Sony has held various managerial positions within the bank, focusing on digital banking. Sony has also been involved in the Indian Bank Blockchain Infrastructure Company as a Member of the Board of Directors. Additionally, Sony is a Certified Information System Auditor and has a strong educational background with an MBA in Computer Technology, a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers in Banking and Financial Support Services, and a Bachelor's degree in Physics. Currently, Sony is also the President of the ISACA COCHIN Chapter.

Ajit Hatti is a serial inventor and innovator and founder of PureID. He has been developing enterprise class security products over a decade and a half. Ajit regularly presents his research & tools at conferences like Black Hat, COCON & DEF CON. He is also the co-founder of Null - Open Security Community & is the founder of Blockchain Village which he organizes at DEF CON.

Kishan Kendre is a seasoned Information Security senior-level professional with over 20 years of experience and expertise in Cybersecurity management, IT management, and IT enterprise architecture. Senior-level executive responsible for developing and implementing an information security program, which includes procedures and policies designed to protect enterprise communications, systems and assets from both internal and external threats. A visionary who translates evolving industry risks into ambitious technology roadmaps and robust security programs. Excels at synergizing people, processes, and technology around proactive defense. Continually sharpen the company's security maturity, aligning solutions with cyber security frameworks. Developed and implemented enterprise security strategy and framework that consists of strategically integrated elements of NIST risk management and Cybersecurity frameworks, ISO 27001 and COBIT 5 for Information Security. Demonstrated expertise in establishing and implementing large information security programs. Visionary leader implementing information security programs for enterprise protection. Hands-on experience in large-scale security technology implementations for over 100,000+ users. Excels in aligning proactive defense strategies with evolving industry risks through ambitious technology roadmaps and robust security programs. Worked across multiple sectors, including Retail, Telecom, IT/ITES, Manufacturing, Pharma, and Petrochemicals.

Shebin Mathew is a seasoned Security Researcher and Consultant with deep expertise in Red Teaming and offensive security. With a strong focus on initial compromise, privilege escalation, and execution techniques, Shebin brings a wealth of hands-on experience in simulating advanced threat scenarios across complex enterprise environments.

Currently, Shebin serves as a Red Teaming Consultant at one of the most respected security organizations in the industry. In this role, he is responsible for planning and executing sophisticated attack simulations to assess and enhance the security posture of Fortune 500 clients and critical infrastructure providers. His work involves mimicking the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of real-world adversaries to uncover vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Shebin holds a wide array of highly regarded industry certifications that reflect his technical depth and dedication to continuous learning. These include the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP), Certified Azure Red Team Professional (CARTP), GIAC Response and Industrial Defense (GRID), GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), CREST Registered Tester (CRT), CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA), as well as foundational certifications such as CCNA and MCSA. This diverse set of credentials underlines his broad skill set across network, cloud, and industrial security domains.

Beyond his professional work, Shebin is a passionate contributor to the global cybersecurity community. He regularly delivers educational sessions and workshops aimed at mentoring college students and aspiring security professionals, helping them understand practical attack techniques, red teaming methodologies, and career development in the cybersecurity field. His approachable teaching style and real-world insights have made him a sought-after speaker and mentor.

Shebin is also an active content creator and open-source contributor. He shares his research, tools, and write-ups through his blog on Medium and his GitHub repository at github.com/sheb1853. His publications often delve into cutting-edge topics such as Azure AD exploitation, phishing methodologies, and advanced post- exploitation tactics—providing valuable knowledge for both red and blue teams.

He has presented his research at several prominent conferences, including DEF CON, one of the world's largest hacker conventions, and BSides, a globally recognized platform for grassroots security talks. These speaking engagements reflect his commitment to pushing the boundaries of offensive security and sharing knowledge with the broader community.

Through his combined roles as a practitioner, educator, and community contributor, Shebin continues to make a significant impact in the cybersecurity domain. His work embodies a balance of deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a strong drive to empower others in the industry.

Arun Nair is Senior Security Consultant with experience of Red Teaming especially in malware development and defense evasion. He holds multiple certifications like OSCP, CRTP, CRTL, CodeMachine Malware Techniques and Hacksys Windows Kernel Exploitation. He has worked with top-tier organizations like Google and Mandiant with a role of red teaming. Beyond his professional endeavors, Arun is actively involved in the cybersecurity community. He has contributed as a volunteer in designing CTF (Capture The Flag) challenges for the Defcon Adversary Village, and has shared his knowledge through talks and workshops at prestigious events like Bsides Transylvania, HackSpaceCon, RingZer0, RedTeamSummit, c0c0n. In addition to his professional achievements and contributions to the cybersecurity community, Arun Nair dedicates his free time to sharing knowledge and insights on his blog at dazzyddos.github.io

Ashfaq Ansari is a vulnerability researcher and specializes in software exploitation. He is the develpper of **HackSys Extreme Vulnerable Driver (HEVD)** which has helped many upcoming professionals get started with Windows Kernel exploitation. He holds numerous CVEs under his belt and is the instructor of the popular "Windows Kernel Exploitation" course. His core interest lies in low-level software exploitation both in user and kernel mode, vulnerability research, reverse engineering, hybrid fuzzing, and program analysis.

Manish Gupta is Director of CyberWarFare Labs having 10 years of expertise in offensive Information Security. Previously he had worked as an red team operator & team lead at MNCs like Microsoft, Grab & Citrix. He specializes in Red Teaming Activities on enterprise Environment including On-premise & Multi-Cloud. His Research interest includes Real World Cyber Attack Simulation and Advanced persistent Threat (APT). Previously he has presented his research at reputed conferences like Blackhat, DEFCON, Nullcon, BSIDES Chapters, X33fcon Poland, NorthSec Canada & other corporate trainings etc.

Parth Agrawal is a Security Researcher at CyberWarFare Labs, specializing in Red and Blue Team operations with expertise in multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP). He has hands-on experience in building deceptive defense mechanisms, cloud-native honeypots, and designing IAM-focused cloud architectures for enterprises and training platforms. His work centers on cloud threat detection, deception-based defenses, and monitoring adversary activity. His research interests include cloud adversary emulation, IAM exploitation, and Red vs. Blue simulation scenarios.

Kumar Ashwin is a Security Researcher at RedHunt Labs with a strong background in offensive and defensive security, Ashwin specializes in OSINT, web, cloud, and software supply chain security, bringing a unique perspective to tackling modern security challenges. Ashwin has delivered presentations and conducted training sessions for security professionals at renowned conferences like x33fcon, BSides, and c0c0n. He has also actively contributed to security communities such as null. The Open Security Community, Winja, and DEFCON Cloud Village, creating CTF challenges and sharing insights through different engagements. Ashwin's expertise encompasses security engineering, offensive and defensive security where his practical experience and innovative approaches have been pivotal in assisting organizations in strengthening their security posture and safeguarding their digital assets.

Shubham Mittal is the CEO of RedHunt Labs, a leading 360-degree Attack Surface Management platform. Shubham co-founded Recon Village, an OSINT-focused mini-conference, and has organized it at DEFCON since 2017. He is a review board member at BlackHat Asia, BlackHat Europe, RootConf, and Pycon India (Information Security Track). He has trained and presented to various government organizations, and security firms, and at notable conferences such as Black Hat, DEFCON, HackMiami, Nullcon, and various government orgs. Shubham has a strong foothold in OSINT, Recon, Cybersecurity, and Product Engineering. His expertise covers Offensive and Defensive security, Open Source Intelligence, and Perimeter Security. Actively involved in the Null-Open Security Community, Shubham prefers working from the command line and using the vi editor.

Dr. Satheesh Kumar S, Associate Director at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Thiruvananthapuram, has more than two decades of experience in spearheading research projects in cyber security and digital forensics. His area of expertise includes vulnerability analysis, exploit development and forensic analysis of smart devices. He is a GIAC Mobile Device Security Analyst (GMOB) and has several research publications in his credit. He has vast experience in delivering training sessions and workshops for various Law Enforcement Agencies in India. He is also certified in Direct Trainer Skills (DTS) & Design of Training (DoT).

Jiffy Joseph is a vulnerability researcher with a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering. With extensive experience in Android reverse engineering, kernel exploitation, and low-level binary analysis, Jiffy has been contributing to the field of Cyber forensics through R&D projects at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) Thiruvananthapuram, India. Her core interests include Android vulnerability analysis & exploitation, ARM64 assembly, and kernel debugging, complemented by a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and expert lectures on generative AI and Android security.

Saurabh Rai is an Android security researcher specialised in userland fuzzing and exploitation of native libraries. His area of interest includes reverse engineering, vulnerability analysis, kernel debugging and exploit development. He is a Certified Android Exploit Developer. He is currently working as research engineer at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, India and has many contributions in his credit in the field of Android security through various R & D projects at the centre.

Ibrahim Badhsha is a vulnerability researcher specializing in Android kernel exploitation and low-level software security. With a deep focus on identifying vulnerabilities and developing reliable exploits for Android devices, his work has contributed significantly to the field of Cyber forensics through R&D projects at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) Thiruvananthapuram, India. He has extensive experience in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and exploit development across various Android platforms. His core interests include Android kernel and user-mode exploitation, reverse engineering and binary assessment.

Kartheek Lade is a passionate security researcher with a strong focus on enhancing the security landscape of the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). He actively contributes to the Seasides community and serves as a technical committee member of the ASRG Vulnerability Management team, focusing on fortifying vehicles and embedded security.

Kartheek is also a regular speaker / trainer at renowned international security conferences, including Seasides, C0c0n, DEFCON Car Hacking Village, BlackHat Arsenal, Secure Our Streets (SOS) and NullCon. Whether it's breaking down security barriers or sparking insightful discussions, he's always up for the challenge.

• Security Architect
• Over six years of experience in Information Security, design and development of Application Software.
• Audited 50+ business Web-Applications in the areas of Banking, Finance, Insurance, Trading and eCommerce.
• Conducted security audit of Payment Gateway.
• Expertise in handling various Application security Assessments, Penetration Tests and Vulnerability Assessment
• Good work exposure on implementation of SOC (Security Operation Centre) and Data Loss Prevention
• Proficient in understanding application level vulnerabilities like XSS, SQL injection, response splitting attacks, session hijacking, authorization bypass, weak cryptography, authentication flaws & design level vulnerabilities along with the defence mechanisms.
• Expert in web security testing tools like Proxy Editors, Network Sniffing tools, Web Vulnerability scanners, flash de-compilers.
• Well versed with OWASP Top 10
• Proficiency in creating Threat profile for different types of applications
• Knowledge of different phases, methodologies, concepts and procedures involved in the PT/VA.
• Good understanding of vulnerability scanners like Nessus, QualysGuard, Rapid7 and Symantec CCSVM.
• Expertise in implementation and configuration disk encryption and email encryption (PGP)
• Sound knowledge on remediation process for the vulnerabilities identified during the assessment
• Proficient in Information security reporting for executive management
• Trained in secure code review of .NET applications.
• Trained in web services testing methodology.
• Sound knowledge of T-SQL, Crystal Reports, VBA, C# (Winforms), Visual Basic.NET
• Expertise in database programming
• Experienced with exposure and experience in understanding, reversing and fuzzing wireless protocols in the RF-Layer of systems.
• Experienced in reversing hardware protocols and implementing hardware attacks and threat-modelling of Wireless and Signals Systems. Have previous exposure and experience in Signal Design and Offensive Signal Tactics. Presently working on application of EW and SIGINT techniques in the Aerospace and Defence domain. Personal projects include machine learning and deep learning methods of recognition and deepfaking signals that can cause signal cant impact on the physical domain/layer of systems and OpenWRT for mesh networking.
• Signal Detection meta information extraction of signals using Commercially available SDR platforms.
• Protocol decomposition of signal of interest.
• Baseline formulation of minimum jamming requirements for RADAR and datalink.
• Utilization of SDR for SIGINT and ELINT in drones.
• Proof of Concept development of DRFM systems using commercially available SDR.
• Telecom signal (LTE) reconnaissance using commercially available SDR
• Radio Direction Finding (RDF) and aggregation using commercially avaialble SDR.
• Establishment of CEMA guidelines for EW and Cross layer protocol research.
• Bechmarking of default DSP algorithms in GP-CPU's using python (adopted from BDTI guidelines)
• Network metrics computation of IQ data transfer metrics on mesh networks for SIGINT and ELINT operations.
• Wideband FHSS interception techniques using aliasing and FFT shot detection.
• Development of PoC of Automatic Modulation Recognition techniques using function models in python.
• 3D cyclostationary analysis of signals for operator visulalization.
• IQ signal generator and interference generator using SDR for RDF testing.
• Information security baseline for CEMA and ELINT operations

Aditya Arun Kumar is a Communication Engineer based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, with a focus on security and signal processing. He is currently employed at Nokia, where he holds the position of Product Security Specialist, having recently transitioned from an R&D Specialist role after nearly three years. His expertise includes Software Defined Radio-based signal processing, with experience in areas such as 5G, C++, and security testing.

Aditya has a Master of Technology (MTech) degree in Communication Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), where he specialized in topics like wireless communication systems, signal processing, and embedded protocols. Prior to his current role, he gained experience at various esteemed organizations working in areas like electronic warfare, security research, and signal intelligence.

He is a part of South Indian SDR User Group a non-profit that teaches people about SDR hardware and software.

Yash Bharadwaj, Co-Founder & CTO at CyberWarFare Labs with over 8.5 Years of Experience as Technologist. Highly attentive towards finding, learning and discovering new TTP's used during offensive engagements. His area of interest includes building Red / Blue team infrastructure, Security Controls Internals, Pwning On-Premise & Multi cloud infrastructure. Previously he has delivered hands-on red / blue / purple team trainings / talks / workshops at Blackhat, Defcon, Nullcon, X33fCon, NorthSec, BSIDES Chapters (US & Asia Pacific), OWASP Chapters, CISO Platform, YASCON & other private trainings.

Abhijeet is a security researcher specializing in adversary simulations that mimic advanced threat actors, by crafting multi stage attack chains, from initial foothold to stealthy persistence and data exfiltration. With extensive hands on experience, he has engineered and executed offensive engagements targeting CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes clusters, Active Directory environments, cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP), and *NIX systems. In his spare time he runs a homelab where he recreates adversary TTPs, toys with new tech, and dissects emerging threats. He’s also an avid reader, enthusiastic foodie, and weekend time home chef.

Dhruv Shah is an information security professional with over 13+ years of expertise in application, mobile, network and cloud security. He has co-authored the books "Kali Linux Intrusion and Exploitation" and "Hands-on Pentesting. with BurpSuite" by Packtpub. Dhruv has delivered Advanced web hacking, Hacking and securing Cloud Infrastructure and Tactical OSINT for Pentesters trainings and trained at major cybersecurity conferences such as Black Hat USA, Europe, and Asia, as well as other notable events like Hack in Paris, BSides Lisbon, Texas Cyber Summit, etc. He has provided security training to clients across the UK, EU, and USA. He is a core member of Recon Village at Defcon

Manoj Kumar has more than 10 years of experience in the field of Application Security with a master's in cybersecurity and is a co-founder of h1hakz. He has developed many Secure Application Projects using different languages and has code-reviewed a wide range of applications, from embedded systems to web applications including Retail Banking and E-commerce Applications. Also given training on c0c0n XIII, c0c0n XI, Bslides Delaware, WOPR, HackMiami etc.

Ranjith Menon who has more than 14 years of experience. He is an active player on Bug bounty programs and specialises in Web applications, Mobile, Cloud and a contributor to the Security Community and co-founder of h1hakz, an open platform for knowledge sharing through webcast series. Also, he has found many vulnerabilities for many organizations. Also given training on c0c0n XIII,c0c0n XII, c0c0n XI, Bslides Delaware, WOPR, HackMiami etc.Apart from hacking, he gets time for fitness from his work schedule.

Anant Shrivastava is an information security professional with 16+ yrs of corporate experience in Network, Mobile, Application and Linux Security. Anant is an avid opensource supporter and runs multiple opensource projects prominent of them being TamerPlatform and CodeVigilant.

He contributes to multiple Open communities like null and Garage4Hackers. He has also helped establishing local chapter in his hometown null Bhopal

He has been a speaker and a trainer at a multitude of conferences such as Black Hat -USA/ASIA/EU, Defcon, Nullcon, c0c0n, Rootconf and many more).

He also participates in various communities as a cfp reviewer. Notable of them being Blackhat EU, nullcon, Rootconf by Hasgeek, recon village @ Defcon , cloud village @ defcon, Adversary Village @ defcon

His code contributions can be found on Github. He is active on Twitter and Fediverse and his talks and presentations can be found here. He writes about his experiments at his blog.

After 17 years in ITsec and 24 in IT Abraham is now the CEO of 7ASecurity (7asecurity.com), a company specializing in penetration testing of web/mobile apps, infrastructure, code reviews and training. Security Trainer at Blackhat USA, HITB, OWASP Global AppSec and many other events. OWASP OWTF project leader, an OWASP flagship project (owtf.org), Major degree and Diploma in Computer Science, some certs: CISSP, OSCP, GWEB, OSWP, CPTS, CEH, MCSE:Security, MCSA:Security, Security+. As a shell scripting fan trained by unix dinosaurs, Abraham wears a proud manly beard. He writes on Twitter as @7asecurity @7a_ @owtfp or https://7asecurity.com/blog. Multiple presentations, pentest reports and recordings can be found at https://7asecurity.com/publication

Abhishek is a trainer at 7ASecurity, where he has conducted training at notable conferences like OWASP AppSec New Zealand 2021, 44Con 2020 & 2022, ThreatCon 2021, c0c0n 2019 & 2022 and Shu-ha-ri Labs 2020. Abhishek is also a Lead Security Engineer at CRED with primary research focus in mobile security. With years of experience in security, he leads two projects - Adhrit and EVABS and has presented his work at prominent conferences like BlackHat Asia 2023, BlackHat US 2022, BlackHat Europe 2021, OWASP Seasides 2019, ThreatCon 2019 and BlackHat Asia 2020 where his tool - Adhrit was covered by The Daily Swig by PortSwigger. He has also delivered talks at community meetups like Cysinfo & bi0s Meetup and was an assisting trainer at the International Summer School for Information Security and Protection, 2016

Anirudh Anand is a security researcher with a primary focus on Web and Mobile Application Security. He is currently working as a Senior Security Engineer at CRED and also Security Trainer at 7asecurity. He has been submitting bugs and contributing to security tools for over 7 years. In his free time, he participates in CTF competitions along with Team bi0s (#1 security team in India according to CTFtime). His bounties involve vulnerabilities in Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Zendesk, Sendgrid, Gitlab, Gratipay and Flipboard.

Anirudh is an open source enthusiast and has contributed to several OWASP projects with notable contributions being in OWTF and Hackademic Challenges Project. He has presented/trained in a multitude of conferences including c0c0n 2019, BlackHat Arsenal 2019, BlackHat Europe Arsenal 2018, HITB Dubai 2018, Offzone Moscow 2018, Ground Zero Summit Delhi 2015 and Xorconf 2015.

Amrudesh Balakrishnan is a Senior Mobile Security Engineer at CRED, where he leads efforts to embed security into the product lifecycle and advance security automation. Starting his career as an Android developer, he carries a developer-first mindset into security, focusing on making the secure path the easiest path for engineers. He is the creator of MORF (Mobile Reconnaissance Framework), an open-source project recognized at Black Hat Arsenal Asia and US. Amrudesh has delivered talks and workshops at Nullcon, THREAT CON, and other global conferences, and is currently exploring the critical intersection of AI and product security.

Product Security Engineer @ Security Centre of Excellence – Philips Innovation Campus. He is M.Tech. in CS with Specialization in Information & Network Security. He conducts frequent talks and workshops on Info Sec topics @ several places including c0c0n, NullCon, Defcon BHV, Bsides Delhi & Bangalore Chapter, OWASP, Null A'bad & Bangalore Chapter, DroidCon-IN. Kartik loves to write technical Blogs in his leisure time.

Aravind is a security consultant at Optiv, specializing in offensive security. With multiple certifications, including CRTP, CRTE, CRTO, and CRTL, Aravind has extensive experience conducting numerous engagements. This experience has provided valuable insights into the tactics employed by real-world adversaries. His expertise enables him to simulate attacks effectively and identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks, showcasing his problem-solving skills and practical knowledge. He has delivered talks and workshops at prestigious events like Defcon Red Team Village, c0c0n.

Soumyadeep Basu is a cybersecurity professional with over five years of experience in both offensive and defensive security. He began his career in red teaming and has worked with organizations like Mandiant, Payatu, and Zscaler, contributing to adversary emulation, malware development, and cloud deception. He holds certifications including OSCP, OSEP, eCPTX, and AZ-500. Currently, Soumyadeep is a Senior Security Engineer at GoDaddy, where he leads threat detection initiatives. He has delivered training and talks at conferences such as HackSpaceCon, RingZer0, and c0c0n, covering topics like red team automation, cloud attack simulation, and advanced evasion techniques.

Dr. Anand Handa is the Chief Strategy Officer at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at C3i, focusing on advanced cybersecurity domains such as malware analysis, memory forensics, and intrusion detection systems (IDS). A Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst and CompTIA Security+ certified professional, Dr. Handa’s research interests include malware analysis, memory forensics, IDS, and developing staging pipelines for projects involving DevSecOps. Dr. Handa earned his Ph.D. from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, where his research centered on building multi-modal recognition models using biometric features. Since joining the C3i Center, he has led multiple projects in collaboration with public and private sector entities, focusing on setting up analysis pipelines for various cybersecurity engines. In addition to his research, Dr. Handa serves as an instructor for cybersecurity courses offered by C3i IIT Kanpur in partnership with NSE Talentsprint, Simplilearn, and IIT Guwahati-Jaro Education. He has published over 25 papers in renowned journals and conferences, edited two books, and co-authored five chapters in the field of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity researcher with over 7 years of experience currently serving as a Senior Research Engineer at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur and pursuing a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering at IIT Kanpur with expertise in malware analysis, reverse engineering, digital forensics, honeypot deployment and secure infrastructure design. Actively engaged in building scalable virtual labs, leading large-scale cyber awareness initiatives, and contributing to national R&D project.

Certified ethical hacker and penetration tester with 3years of experience in networking, VAPT, WAPT and cybersecurity training.

Deexitha Valurowtu is a cybersecurity expert specializing in digital forensics, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing. With experience training government and defence officials.

Driven to support startups by connecting them with the right resources and opportunities. Passionate about enabling innovative ideas with real-world impact and facilitating meaningful collaborations. Committed to contributing to a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Prasanjeet manages incubation and startup programs at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, focusing on deep-tech and cybersecurity innovation. He works at the intersection of technology, investment, and ecosystem development to support early-stage ventures addressing national security challenges.

With nearly 30 years of experience in the IT industry, Mr. A.Balakrishnan is a true leader and visionary who has taken GTL through a path of sustainable growth and profit over the years. With various national and International awards to his credit in both management and technology, he manages the organizational IT strategy development and Implementation at GTL.

Vijayakumar is the CISO of NSE Clearing Ltd and has more than 25 years of experience. He has been the CISO for Standard Chartered Bank until June 2024 and has experience across various domains in Information and Cyber Security. He also has experience in audits, consulting and technology. He is a Chartered Accountant and has also completed CISA, CISM and PMP

Nikhil Mittal is the Chief Information Security Officer, Cybersecurity & Digitalization at Pipeline Infrastructure, bringing expertise in cybersecurity and digitalization within critical infrastructure environments. They demonstrate applied engineering knowledge with a Bachelor of Engineering.

Their leadership in cybersecurity and digitalization is evident through their progression within Pipeline Infrastructure. Previously holding the role of Senior General Manager, Cybersecurity & Digitalization, they oversaw operational initiatives and drove strategic planning. Earlier, as General Manager, Scada & Ot Cybersecurity, they managed team functions and coordinated project execution. Their expertise extends to SCADA and OT cybersecurity, crucial for maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructure.

Prior to Pipeline Infrastructure, Nikhil served as Manager Instrumentation at H-Energy Pvt, contributing to the company's focus on sustainability and social responsibility within the energy sector. Their experience also includes a role as Control System Engineer at Saudi Aramco, where they contributed to the U.S. energy sector. At Shell, as Senior Instrumentation Control Engineer, they worked on maintenance and brownfield projects for Instrumentation, spearheading DCS, PLC F&G modifications and installations. Their career began at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals as an Instrumentation & Control Engineer, applying engineering methodologies to ensure system reliability within the oil and gas refinery.

Nikhil is also a certified Functional Safety Engineer by TÜV Rheinland Group, demonstrating a commitment to safety and reliability in their field

An experienced IT professional with 20+ years of experience in driving initiatives across IT & ICS Security, IT Operation & Business Support and Enterprise IT Architecture. Worked extensively in Information Security Risk Management, Design and implementation of Managed Security Services, Information Security Policy & Governance, DR & Business Continuity planning, Cyber Security Maturity Assessment for both IT & OT

Accountable for the integrated IT-OT Cyber Security Posture utility businesses. Extensively work with Group Cyber Security to implement mature cyber security for other business of Adani Enterprises. Active member of the Enterprise Architecture Review Board & Change Advisory Board

Sridhar has over 24 years of experience in the business-critical domains of cyber defence, data protection, and regulatory compliance, with extensive hands-on knowledge of all leading information security technologies.

   • Cyber Incident Response
   • SIEM Platform
   • Product Security
   • Risk Management
   • Security Process Governance
   • Enterprise Security Architecture
   • IT Security & Infrastructure Management
   • Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity Planning
   • Security Framework
   • Security Compliance
   • Strategy Planning
   • Information Security Awareness
   • Security Solutioning
   • Technology & Process Audits
   • Cyber Defence
   • Vulnerability Management
   • Information Privacy

He has acquired 11 industry-recognized certifications in the domains of IT, Information Security, Cyber Security Framework, and Secure Enterprise Architecture (CFE, CISA, CISM, SABSA, CDPSE).

Sridhar has worked as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of a large IT/ITES organization in his previous role and is currently the Head of Information Security at a large internet technology company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MTech from BITS Pilani. He has three patents (pending) in Cognitive Security. Sridhar has co-authored a book on “Insider Threat” published by Forbes Asia and DSCI. He holds numerous awards and accolades from industry bodies and consortiums.

He is currently associated as an industry expert, mentor, and faculty in specialized training institutes and universities. He is involved in course design, board of studies, and also mentors students while serving as faculty.

Shiju is a technology leader with strong business acumen with more than two decades of vast experience in major operating tenets of driving digital transformation through thought leadership, innovation, analytics & delivering value to stakeholders.

Shiju is currently working as Head – Information Technology for SBI Mutual Fund spearheading Group IT, Including Technology Strategies, Software Development & Cloud Engineering, IT Infrastructure, Enterprise-wide IT Transformation, Technology Security Operations and Analytics Functions.

Shiju comes with successful and steady career growth in reputed organizations viz., CARE Ratings Limited, Poonawalla Finance, IIFL Finance Limited, TransUnion CIBIL Limited, Fullerton India Credit Company Limited, PCS Technology Limited, Gateway Terminals India, Wipro InfoTech and Primus Telecommunications India Limited.
He is a prominent speaker at many industry conferences. Shiju has been recognized as one of the Most Innovative CIOs of India, Top 100 CISOs consistently over the last years by various media groups & forums. He is also associated with Cyberdome, Public Private Partnership initiative started by Kerala Police to combat Cyber Threats. Shiju was recognized as “Security Leader of the Year - Financial Services” in December 2016 by DSCI, NASSCOM.
Shiju holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Computer Science & Engineering from Bangalore University and a Master in Information Management from Mumbai University. He also holds a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai with research focused on securing networked systems against cyber-attacks using compartment models. An accomplished academic and professional, Dr. Shiju has published many research papers in international journals and also holds three patents registered with Indian Patent Authority. He recently received the prestigious Dr. K.C.G. Verghese Award for Best Researcher 2024.

An experienced leader of Datacenter Infrastructure and Information security with major operating tenets of implementing defense in depth, acquiring 360 degree view of security, implementing IT infrastructure setups from the scratch, revamping datacenters and designing & implementing Business Continuity plans and Disaster Recovery sites.

Maya has a demonstrated history of working in the diverse industries of Telecommunication, BFSI and Manufacturing. She succeeded in positioning the Technology function as a Business Transformation initiative, with major contributions in IT infrastructure, Security technology implementations focussing on protection, prevention, monitoring and alerting.

Key achievements in the current and earlier stints include setting up of complete IT and datacenter infrastructure from the scratch, setting up of Security technology and framework from the scratch and operationalising it and designing & implementing Business continuity plans and Disaster recovery sites.

She is associated with Cyberdome ranked as Commander, a Public Private Partnership initiative started by Kerala Police to combat Cyber Threats and to spread awareness among masses
Maya has won many industry accolades and awards in recognition to her contribution to technology and security. She is a regular speaker in industry forums and writes technology articles.

She holds an engineering degree in Electronics engineering and post graduate degree in Software systems with specialisation in Network security. She also holds a management degree in Finance management. She also has many certifications including CISA, ISO 27001 LA, DCPLA to her credit.

Appar Thusoo is a Security Engineer working with Secure Systems Reserarch Centre (SSRC) at Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. His background and interests are in embedded hardware and firmware security and reverse engineering, open-source software development, signal processing, and software-defined radio (SDR). His primary research focus revolves around Side Channel analysis and Fault injection, with a current emphasis on Side Channel analysis for various Digital Signature Schemes. Appar is an active speaker and trainer on various international platforms and one-sixth of the formidable SI-SDR-UG crew!

Founder & CEO of RUDRA Cybersecurity, with expertise spanning computer systems engineering, cybersecurity, RF engineering, and critical infrastructure protection. He leads R&D efforts in software-defined radio, passive radar, and AI-driven threat detection, and has trained signals intelligence officers while hosting RF hacking villages at leading security conferences. His work bridges advanced research and real-world operational use cases, making deep technical concepts accessible to both practitioners and decision-makers. Beyond hacking, Karan is also a classical guitarist, martial artist, and freediver.

Suchith is currently working as Staff Security Engineer at Razorpay. His interests are in CI/CD Security, Red teaming, Product Security and Threat Modeling. He has presented at C0c0n, Rootconf, Null, Bsides Delhi, Accel Cybersecurity Summit amongst others.

Hariprasad, a graduate of IIT Kharagpur, is a Lead Security Engineer at Razorpay. He builds solutions to safeguard critical infrastructure, specializing in DevSecOps. His work involves integrating security into CI/CD pipelines and developing novel defenses against supply chain risks introduced by generative AI and LLMs. Hari's commitment to automating security and tackling emerging threats has been instrumental in advancing Razorpay's security posture.

Akshay is a Senior Product security engineer with Navan, with extensive experience in the cybersecurity industry. His primary focus lies in application security and reverse engineering.

Akshay has shared his research and conducted training at leading conferences, including Nullcon, Threatcon, Sincon, HITB, PHDays, and inCTF.
Throughout his career, Akshay has discovered and responsibly reported multiple vulnerabilities to major tech companies such as Adobe, Apple, HP, and Google, earning numerous CVEs and acknowledgements.

A computer hacker, security engineer, artist, and musician. He leads application security at RUDRA and spends his time hacking critical systems. Jaden has worked extensively on securing power generation infrastructure, from hydro-electric dams to solar plants, and has discovered vulnerabilities in railway control systems and ship control systems, including remote access flaws exposing engine controls over the public internet.

A computer hacker, security engineer, artist, and musician. He leads application security at RUDRA and spends his time hacking critical systems. Jaden has worked extensively on securing power generation infrastructure, from hydro-electric dams to solar plants, and has discovered vulnerabilities in railway control systems and ship control systems, including remote access flaws exposing engine controls over the public internet.

A computer hacker, security engineer, artist, and musician. He leads application security at RUDRA and spends his time hacking critical systems. Jaden has worked extensively on securing power generation infrastructure, from hydro-electric dams to solar plants, and has discovered vulnerabilities in railway control systems and ship control systems, including remote access flaws exposing engine controls over the public internet.

Before helping to establish Childlight, Paul spent over 30 years working as a senior law enforcement officer in the UK and overseas. As Regional Director for the UK’s National Crime Agency in Africa, and later as the Director for the INTERPOL Global Organised Crime programme,

Paul was responsible for developing a cohesive approach with heads of state, governments, agencies and key partners across the world to mitigate serious global criminality. Paul sits on a number of strategic governance boards and has been responsible for establishing bespoke capability to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse globally.

As Professor of International Child Protection Research, Debi has over 20 years' experience developing data for change. She is passionate about using complex and disparate data sources to understand the magnitude, patterns and determinants of CSEA globally.

Debi leads the data strategy at Childlight driving a vision of creating and curating rigorous and robust data to safeguard children now and preventing violence from ever occurring in the future.

Kelvin has significant experience in UK and international law enforcement. While with the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) in Kenya, Kelvin set up Africa’s first dedicated child exploitation and human trafficking units.

Prior to this he was a Senior Investigating Officer within The Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre specialising in extra territorial prosecutions relating to child exploitation across the Globe.

Professor Paul Griffiths spent 15 years as Child Victim Identification Manager for Queensland Police Service, and was previously a police officer in the United Kingdom for over 18 years. Much of that time was spent investigating online child abuse, with Greater Manchester Police, the National Crime Squad (NCS) and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. Professor Griffith is a long-standing member of the INTERPOL Specialist Group on Crimes against Children. He was chair of both the Computer Facilitated Crimes against Children and the Child Victim Identification sub-groups, before serving as overall chair for six years

Kathryn C. Seigfried-Spellar, PhD, MA, is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. She is a renowned expert in the psychosocial and technological factors associated with cybercriminal behavior, specifically on the criminological characteristics and grooming strategies of online child sex offenders. Her research intersects multiple fields, including the behavioral sciences, social sciences, artificial intelligence, biometrics, natural language processing, and digital forensics.

Dr. Seigfried-Spellar works extensively with law enforcement agencies worldwide, conducting research on sensitive operational data and providing trainings related to vicarious trauma and online investigations. She is a Fellow and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Vicarious Trauma and the former Chair of the Digital and Multimedia Sciences section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts.

Finally, she was a co-founder of the Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network (CSARRN), a yearly workshop that brings leading researchers and thought leaders together to share their work, foster new collaborations, and develop unified solutions to better address child sexual abuse.

Current Research
• Grooming strategies of online child sexual exploitation and abuse offenders
• Knuckle and fingernail bed biometrics
• Behavioral analysis of digital forensic evidence
• Mental health & well-being of forensic science professionals

Areas of Expertise
• Cybercriminal behavior
• Online child sexual exploitation and abuse
• Behavioral analysis of digital evidence
• Vicarious trauma and psychological well-being

Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen is a leading authority in child protection, trauma recovery, and the wellbeing of frontline responders. With 30 years in the health sector and two decades dedicated to preventing sexual violence against children, particularly online, Nina has pioneered innovative approaches to safeguarding children and supporting professionals in this challenging field.

Doug has significant experience in UK Law Enforcement. He has been in charge as Senior Investigating Officer of a number of high-profile child abuse operations and held the public protection portfolio.

Doug sat on the National Executive Board for Family Liaison. He was formerly the Deputy National Co-ordinator at Operation Hydrant the UK response to non-recent child abuse

As Technical Advisory Program Manager, Lydia supports both the research and operational elements of Childlight.

With a 20-year career in UK law enforcement, in varied policing areas including Director of Intelligence, criminal investigations, and child safeguarding, also leading offender management and criminal justice departments.

Prior to Childlight, Lydia worked in academia in the UAE, lecturing on child protection, ethics and investigative programs and publishing in academic journals on child protection.

Lydia was seconded to the UK Home Office and the National Crime Agency working on international development programs. With the NCA, she was operations lead for child protection projects across the British Overseas Territories and involved in the development of a Child Protection Unit in Kenya. Lydia was a Senior Policing Advisor for the Home Office International Directorate.

Lydia has investigative and leadership certifications, underpinning commitment to public safety, education, and sustainable international capacity-building in child protection.

Samrawit brings more than 10 years of strategic communications experience across human rights, global health and international development. As Head of Communications at Minority Rights Group International, she collaborated with a network of minority and Indigenous partners across over 60 countries to amplify community voices and drive policy change. During her tenure, Samrawit co-founded Land Body Ecologies (LBE), a research collective examining climate change impacts on community mental health. LBE were recipients of the Wellcome Trust’s £1 million Hub Award (2021-2024).