Anshuman Sharma is the Director of Verizon Threat Research Advisory Centre (VTRAC), Cybersecurity Consulting Services at Verizon Business. Anshuman has more than 17 years’ experience as a well-rounded and seasoned Cyber Security Professional. VTRAC is a specialized division within Verizon’s Cyber Security Consulting organisation, helping customers regain control and mitigate cyber threats from their networks, applications and devices. VTRAC team members are located across the globe, bringing together professionals with military, law enforcement and IT expertise who are well-versed in criminal and civil investigative requirements.  The organisation is a globally-approved PCI Forensic Investigator (PFI). As a regional leader for the investigative response team and a global capability lead for VTRAC, Anshuman is responsible for business portfolio management for professional services, especially focused on digital forensics, incident response, and threat intelligence in the APJ region while working for several top global enterprises and government organisations.

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Davis, Field CISO at JFrog, as he explores JFrog’s approach to building trust in software development pipelines and the evolution towards DevGovOps. Paul shares his perspective on elevating trust from the granular level of software releases to the broader application layer, emphasising the need for consistent, automated, and reliable methodologies in development. He discusses the critical role of automation in balancing speed and security, tackling tool sprawl, and mitigating risks posed by open source dependencies. The conversation touches on the realities of legacy tech debt, the challenges of integrating and consolidating security tooling, and the importance of having a single source of truth. Paul is an experienced IT Security Executive who, as Field CISO at JFrog, works to help CISOs, IT execs and security teams, enhance protection of their software supply chain. Additionally, he advises IT security startups, mentors security leaders, and provides guidance on various IT security trends.

In this episode, we sit down with M.K. Palmore, Chief Executive Officer at Apogee Global RMS, as he explores strategies for leading through uncertainty with a focus on security, safety, and cyber awareness in times of crisis. M.K. emphasises the critical importance of practicing security response scenarios, noting that organisations truly respond better in real-world incidents when they’ve regularly rehearsed decision-making with their teams. He discusses the value of people-centric leadership, the need for strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners, and the dangers of letting practice fall to the bottom of the priority list. As security concerns grow globally—particularly for government officials and public leaders—M.K. reflects on the heightened threat landscape, the impact of political divisiveness, and the role of leadership in lowering tensions. He concludes by highlighting the enduring need for leaders to maintain humanity and remain diligent, ensuring decisions are always made with people at the centre. M.K. Palmore is an award-winning cybersecurity executive, military veteran, public speaker, and leadership advisor with more than 30 years of combined public- and private-sector experience. He is the Founder and CEO of Apogee Global RMS, a veteran-owned enterprise risk management advisory firm delivering solutions across cyber and physical risk landscapes. Through Apogee, he also leads the Apogee Speakers Bureau, a premier platform showcasing more than 40 diverse experts at the intersection of technology, leadership, and security. Palmore’s distinguished career includes service as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, leadership as head of the Cyber Security Branch at the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, and senior executive roles in the private sector, including VP/Field CSO at Palo Alto Networks and Director in Google Cloud’s Office of the CISO. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Palmore also holds an MBA from Pepperdine University. His expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, executive risk management, leadership, digital transformation, cloud security, and national security. He is widely sought after as a keynote speaker and advisor to boards and senior executives navigating today’s complex threat landscape. Through Apogee Global RMS and its Speakers Bureau, Palmore is advancing his mission to amplify diverse voices and perspectives shaping the future of technology, leadership, and security.

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Stride, Chief Security Officer at Huntress, to discuss the escalating cybersecurity challenges facing the aviation industry. Eric highlights the alarming 600% year-over-year surge in cyberattacks targeting the sector, emphasising how attackers are exploiting the interconnected and fragile aviation supply chain—most notably seen in recent incidents like the ransomware strike on Collins Aerospace. He explores the growing risk posed by both IT and OT system convergence, the shift in regulation tying cybersecurity readiness directly to airworthiness, and the increasing adoption of robust frameworks to mitigate operational disruptions and data breaches. Eric also highlights the critical need for holistic supply chain security, the importance of regulatory enforcement, and a cultural shift in the industry toward prioritising safety and cyber resilience to restore public trust in air travel. Eric Stride is the Chief Security Officer at Huntress, where he oversees the company’s 24/7 Global Security Operations Center, Detection Engineering, Adversary Tactics, IT Operations, and Internal Security. A 20+ year cybersecurity leader, Eric has held senior roles spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, and private sector.  During his 12 years on active duty, Eric helped architect the Air Force’s first cyber combat mission team, co-authored its first offensive cyber operations manual, and rose to Deputy Chief for Cyber Operations at NSA Georgia. He continues to serve as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve, where he established its first cyber range squadron.  In the private sector, Eric co-founded Atlas Cybersecurity, advised defense and enterprise clients as an independent consultant, and led Deloitte’s Advanced Cyber Training portfolio, generating $135M+ in new business. He holds an M.S. in Information Technology Management, a B.S. in Computer Science, and multiple cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, GCIH, CEH). 

In this episode, we sit down with Christine Gadsby, Chief Security Advisor at BlackBerry, as she explores why mobile espionage has become a critical national security threat in Australia and globally. Christine unpacks the mounting risks posed by outdated telco infrastructure, the vulnerability of mobile communications, and the rapid evolution of attacker tactics—fueled by AI, automation, and the expansive attack surface created by free messaging apps. She highlights the real-world impact of scams, cultural differences in social engineering, and the challenges faced by both consumers and organizations in protecting sensitive information. Christine Gadsby is the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer for BlackBerry Secure Communications. With over 20 years of experience in mobile and information security, Christine is known for her strategic vision and leadership skills, with a proven track record of developing and implementing robust strategies that protect organizations from evolving risks and digital threats – particularly in the areas of communications security and critical event management. Gadsby is a visionary who helped pioneer secure software supply chain efforts and SDLC capabilities influencing industry and government-driven security frameworks in use by the world’s most security-conscious industries. She is a sought-after panelist, moderator, and keynote speaker with several awards for challenging security mindsets and leading Diversity efforts, including Cybersecurity Woman of the Year, Power 100 Women in Security, and Top 10 Women Leading Cybersecurity. She is a well-known contributor, including RSA, CES, Black Hat and has been quoted in notable media outlets Fox News, CBS, Yahoo, MSN, CSO Magazine, CyberScoop, and Dark Reading.

Joe Cozzupoli is a Principal Security Advisor / Field CISO at Cosive with a focus on helping clients operationalise Cyber Threat Intelligence and Security Operations to reduce risk and deliver measurable business outcomes. With over 20 years in cyber security, Joe has led strategy and delivery for enterprises and government, translating board priorities into executable security programs and aligning identity, data protection, and cloud controls with organisational goals. Equally comfortable in the boardroom and at the whiteboard, he bridges business, architecture, and operations across Australia and internationally. Prior to joining Cosive, Joe held senior roles at Microsoft, Citrix, Palo Alto Networks, and Cisco where he focused on AI and Data Security, cloud security, risk management, and executive engagement. He has served as a Virtual CISO and Security Architecture Advisor for complex transformations, including industrial and mining clients undergoing separation programs and Azure cloud migrations. Joe works extensively with Australian frameworks and regulations including the ACSC Essential Eight, APRA CPS 234, the SOCI Act, the PSPF, and ISO/IEC 27001, and partners with boards, CISOs, and delivery teams to operationalise pragmatic controls. A committed mentor to the next generation of practitioners, Joe has also completed ISACA training in AI Governance, AI Risk, and Auditing AI.

In this episode, we sit down with Anne-Marie Paterson, a profound risk executive, to explore the evolving role of the Chief Risk Officer and the changing face of risk management. Anne-Marie shares her perspective on how risk now has a real seat at the C-suite table, emphasising the shift from being a business roadblock to serving as an enabler of strategy. She addresses the traditional stereotypes of risk professionals, contrasts conservative legacy approaches with the need for creativity and relevance, and highlights the increasing focus on non-financial risks such as conduct, reputation, and operational challenges—especially in light of rapidly advancing technologies like AI. Anne-Marie also provides insights into Australia’s regulatory landscape, discusses the balance between regulation and innovation, and underscores the importance of fostering a proactive risk culture throughout organisations. Blending legal expertise with executive leadership to deliver risk transformation and regulatory uplift at scale. Anne-Marie Paterson is a risk executive and former legal partner with more than two decades of experience spanning risk management, governance, and legal services. Beginning her career in top-tier law firms before founding and leading her own practice, Anne-Marie has gone on to hold senior executive roles across ASX-listed companies and the financial services sector. Recognised as both a strategist and a problem-solver, she has built and led teams that deliver lasting impact in risk management, compliance, legal services, and organisational integrity. Anne-Marie has shaped enterprise-wide risk culture strategies recognised by APRA, designed whistleblowing and investigation frameworks for ASX-listed companies, and steered some of the largest regulatory uplift programs in the financial services sector. Her career highlights include establishing AMP’s inaugural Group Integrity Office, uplifting governance for Colonial First State post-demerger, and most recently leading Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s largest multi-stream risk transformation program. Equally comfortable in the boardroom and at the front line of crisis management, Anne-Marie is known for her values-based leadership, her ability to influence stakeholders from directors to regulators, and her focus on embedding sustainable change. A qualified lawyer, and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she is also a regular keynote speaker on risk, governance, and whistleblowing.

In this episode, we sit down with Brad Jones, CISO at Snowflake, as he unpacks the evolving challenges of securing AI deployments and defending against large language model (LLM) powered attacks. Brad explores the complexities enterprises face in keeping up with the rapid pace of AI innovation, especially as traditional policy frameworks struggle to adapt. He outlines the growing use of LLMs in both consumer and enterprise environments, the unique risks of agentic workflows, and the blurred boundaries between public and private AI deployments. He also highlights the increased sophistication of social engineering threats fueled by LLMs and discusses strategies for observability, governance, and keeping security teams ahead of the curve in a fast-changing landscape.   Brad serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and has been with the company since 2023. Prior to joining Snowflake, Brad was the CISO and VP of Information Security at Seagate for over six years. Before his tenure at Seagate, Brad oversaw Information Security at Synopsys and SanDisk. Additionally, he has actively participated in a number of customer advisory boards and is currently part of the CISO Advisor Council at NightDragon. Brad earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis.

In this episode, we sit down with Prashant Vadlamudi, Senior Vice President of Product Security at Salesforce, as he explores how organisations can build secure foundations for agentic AI. Prashant offers a holistic view of agentic AI, highlighting its shift from simple generative models to autonomous agents capable of reasoning, sequencing complex tasks, and performing actions—while emphasising the productivity benefits and the imperative for strong trust and security principles. The conversation covers the balance between fostering innovation and maintaining robust governance and security, the evolving nature of guardrails as AI models mature, and the importance of ongoing policy updates to keep pace with rapid technological changes. Prashant also discusses Salesforce’s approach to deploying AI responsibly, the role of trust metrics such as bias and hallucination scores, the necessity for data governance as the backbone of AI strategies, and the shared responsibility between providers and customers to ensure that agentic AI operates securely and transparently. Prashant Vadlamudi is a strategic leader with two decades of experience driving transformative information security and compliance initiatives. As Senior Vice President of Product Security at Salesforce, he is responsible for safeguarding the company’s products and ensuring adherence to global standards. His career is marked by pivotal leadership roles, including Vice President of Information Security and Cloud Compliance at Cisco, where he established robust security baselines for SaaS offerings, and Director of Technology GRC at Adobe, where he architected the Adobe Common Controls Framework (CCF), a cornerstone of their global trust strategy. Prashant’s expertise spans cloud security, global certifications, and data-driven risk management, allowing him to navigate and mitigate complex security challenges in today’s dynamic landscape. He utilises a risk-based approach to decision-making and focuses on operational efficiency. He has experience in team development and mentoring, with individuals he has mentored holding security leadership positions across the industry. His professional experience includes strategic planning, technical implementation, and team management within the field of information security.

In this episode, we sit down with Emilio Escobar, Chief Information Security Officer at Datadog, as he explores the evolving definition of the modern CISO and what it means to lead security programs in today’s technology-driven organisations. Emilio delves into the transition of CISOs from traditional audit and IT backgrounds to deeply technical and business-savvy leaders, emphasising the importance of being part of the C-suite and understanding both regulatory and technological risks. We discuss the growing need for CISOs to embrace failure as part of innovation, the increasing accountability and liability facing security leaders, and the shift in expectations as companies fine-tune their search for security executives with both operational expertise and business acumen. Emilio also shares his views on the “technical enough” debate within the industry, the potential splitting of the CISO role, and the value of fostering trust and adaptability in security leadership. Emilio Escobar is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at observability and security company Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG). With two decades of experience in Information Security and Compliance, Emilio has worked at large enterprises, medium-sized companies, and government organizations. Before Datadog, Emilio served as the VP of Information Security for Hulu, where he played a pivotal role in setting up key security functions. Prior to that, Emilio worked for PlayStation, where he built and ran the software security teams. Emilio’s unique approach to security and compliance has always prioritized partnerships and people—hiring the right talent to build the processes, procedures, and technologies that unite Security, Engineering, and Operations teams. Emilio holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico.

In this episode, we sit down with Christian Morin, Chief Security Officer and Vice President of Product Engineering at Genetec, as he shares his insights on the critical importance of moving beyond a “checkbox” approach to incident response, emphasising the value of regular tabletop exercises and fostering genuine security muscle memory within teams. He highlights the convergence between physical security and cybersecurity, arguing for a unified approach that bridges silos and enhances both protection and response capabilities. Christian also reflects on the growing risks posed by connected IoT and OT devices, the challenges of asset inventory, and the cultural shifts required to improve cyber awareness. Christian Morin is the Chief Security Officer at Genetec. With over 20 years of experience in IT, telecommunications and physical security industries, Chris has a keen ability to anticipate technological trends and drive meaningful organizational growth. He is a multidisciplinary business leader, having managed the Operations, Customer Service, Sales Engineering, Technical Support, Professional Services, and IT Teams since joining Genetec in 2002. Chris’ executive leadership continues to support the strategic direction and success of the company.

In this episode, we sit down with Marco Pereira, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Cybersecurity at Capgemini, as he explores the looming risk posed by quantum computing to current encryption standards. Marco breaks down what could happen the day encryption breaks—referred to as “Q Day”—and highlights why the urgency to prepare for quantum threats is so critical, especially given the uncertainty about when this shift might occur. He discusses the widespread reliance on RSA-based encryption, the potential for a sudden cyber ‘Armageddon’ if organisations are not proactive, and the immense challenge of transitioning global digital infrastructure to post-quantum cryptography. Marco also addresses the current lack of urgency and crypto expertise in the industry, emphasises the need for crypto agility, and draws parallels to the rapid adoption challenges seen with cloud computing and AI. Marco is an industry-recognised cybersecurity thought leader and strategist with over 25 years of leadership and hands-on experience. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing highly complex, large-scale IT transformation projects. Known for his visionary approach, Marco has been instrumental in shaping and executing numerous strategic cybersecurity initiatives. Marco holds a master’s degree in information systems and computer engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen enables him to bridge the gap between technology and strategy, driving innovation and achieving organisational goals.

In this episode, we sit down with John Hultquist, Chief Analyst at Mandiant Intelligence, now part of Google Cloud, as he shares his insights on Australia’s evolving cybersecurity threat landscape. John explores the increasing complexity and velocity of threats, spotlighting both nation-state actors—particularly from China—and financially motivated cybercriminal groups like Scattered Spider. He addresses the psychological and structural drivers behind rising attacks, including the troubling pattern of minors engaging in increasingly aggressive cybercrime. The discussion further examines the targeting of critical sectors such as healthcare, the growing use of advanced techniques to evade detection, and the influence of geopolitics and emerging technologies like AI on intelligence operations. John Hultquist – Chief Analyst, Mandiant Threat Intelligence John Hultquist serves as the Chief Analyst at Mandiant Intelligence, now part of Google Cloud. In this senior leadership role, he oversees global threat intelligence operations—tracking cyber espionage, hacktivism, ransomware, and state-aligned threat actors. He regularly advises C-suite and public-sector leaders on cyber risk strategy and prioritisation. John’s unique background—spanning military intelligence, U.S. government service, private sector leadership, and real-time cyber conflict analysis—positions him as one of the most respected voices in global threat intelligence. He brings a strategic mindset focused equally on technical insights, geopolitical awareness, and operational impact.

In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Norton, Board Director at ISACA, and Rob Clyde, Crypto Quantique and past ISACA Board Chair, as they discuss the impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity and how professionals can prepare for imminent change. Jamie shares insights from a recent ISACA global survey revealing that 95% of organizations lack a quantum computing roadmap, highlighting both a general awareness of the concept and a significant gap in practical action. Rob emphasizes the urgency of understanding and adopting new post-quantum cryptography standards, noting the risks posed by “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks and the likelihood of nation states leading the charge in exploiting quantum capabilities. Together, they explore the need for continuous education, the evolving skills landscape—including the increasing value of quantum and AI literacy, and practical first steps organisations should take to assess risk, build strategy, and transition critical assets to post-quantum security measures. Rob Clyde, Chairman, Crypto Quantique, and past ISACA board chair Rob Clyde is a distinguished cybersecurity and technology leader with over three decades of experience in executive, board, and advisory roles. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Crypto Quantique, a company specialising in quantum-driven IoT cybersecurity solutions. He is also the Executive Chair of White Cloud Security and a long-term board member of ISACA, where he previously held the position of Chair. Rob’s career includes notable positions such as Chief Technology Officer at Symantec, CEO of Adaptive Computing, and co-founder of Axent Technologies. As Managing Director of Clyde Consulting LLC, he provides strategic advisory services to cybersecurity software companies. Rob is also a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds the NACD Directorship Certification. A frequent speaker at global cybersecurity conferences, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to discussions on digital trust, governance and emerging technologies. Jamie Norton, ISACA Board Director Jamie Norton is a leading cybersecurity expert with over 25 years of experience across government, commercial and international sectors. He is Chief Information Security Officer at Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and Board Director at ISACA. He is a Partner at McGrathNicol, where he advises executives and boards on cyber risk, resilience and strategic performance. Jamie also serves on the Advisory Board of Avertro, a cybersecurity start-up focused on informed, data-driven decision-making around cyber resilience and AI safety. He previously held leadership roles at NEC, Tenable, Check Point and the World Health Organisation. Jamie is the former Chief Information Security Officer at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), one of Australia’s largest federal agencies. He has chaired and contributed to numerous interdepartmental and industry committees on cyber strategy, and represented Australia at international government forums on cybercrime. He holds degrees in accounting and IT from the Australian National University and is a respected speaker and media commentator.

In this episode, we sit down with David Wiseman, Vice President, Secure Communications at BlackBerry, as he explores the growing challenges of authenticating identity in digital communication channels. David discusses recent high-profile incidents—including compromised government messaging apps and political deep fakes—that highlight vulnerabilities in platforms like Signal and WhatsApp. He highlights the risks associated with AI-powered voice and message spoofing, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between business and personal communications to prevent data leaks and blackmail. David also explains how evolving AI tools are making targeted spam, phishing attacks, and metadata mining more effective, and calls for stronger controls, technological safeguards, and user awareness to preserve trust in digital communications. Experience David has 25+ years of experience in software, security, information management, mobility and communications at BlackBerry, IBM, SAP, Sybase, and the US Navy. His expertise in Secure Communications leads BlackBerry in the vision of securing a connected future you can trust, helping governments to augment and fortify digital defences to strengthen national security Notable Achievements David helped design the world’s first large-scale environmental geo-spatial database for NASA. He also helped design the software for one of the first shipboard radar data fusion systems for the US Navy.   At BlackBerry, David and his team have helped NATO and multiple global governments operating in challenging geo-political environments to establish trusted, secure communications channels from the battlefield to the boardroom – using military-grade software to ensure classified conversations and messages remain private.

In this episode, we sit down with James Blake, Vice President, Global Cyber Resiliency Strategy at Cohesity, as he shares his insights on assessing and building organizational cyber resilience. James emphasizes the importance of pragmatism and preparedness, urging companies to address their weakest resiliency links rather than over-focusing on a single area or relying entirely on technology for prevention and detection. He discusses the growing sophistication of cyber threats, particularly ransomware and wiper attacks, and highlights the need for a shared responsibility model between IT and security teams. James leads cyber resilience strategy at Cohesity. He brings extensive hands-on experience in leading incident response in dozens of ransomware and wiper incidents; as the former CISO of Mimecast and Global Director of Cyber Transformation at JPMorgan Chase; and having led a consultancy practice that built the end-to-end security operation center capability for over 91 organizations including over two dozen in the FORTUNE 100.

In this episode, we sit down with Federico Torreti, Senior Director of Product for AI & ML at Oracle, as he discusses the company’s latest partnership with xAI to bring the Grok 3 model to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Federico explores the importance of offering curated model choice to enterprises, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI solutions. He highlights the challenges organizations face in evaluating AI models, managing decision fatigue, and moving from experimentation to production. The conversation also covers the critical role of data security, privacy, and sovereignty when implementing AI, as well as Oracle’s differentiated approach to embedding AI across its entire technology stack. Federico Torreti leads the vision, strategy, and delivery of generative AI services, enabling enterprises to build, deploy, and scale large language model applications on Oracle’s cloud platform. Prior to Oracle, he spent over 20 years at Amazon Web Services, Eaton Corporation, and Rolls-Royce, leading AI product teams and launching corporate ventures.

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Healy, Founder of Empowered Cyber, as she shares her insights on how to successfully engage and sell to CISOs. Kate highlights the challenges salespeople face in a market where traditional tactics, such as cold calls, unsolicited emails, and LinkedIn pitches, often fall flat and can damage long-term relationships. She emphasizes the importance of building genuine trust, creating value, and truly understanding a CISO’s unique challenges rather than launching straight into product pitches. Kate also discusses how effective sales strategies in Australia hinge on relationship-building and mutual respect, and offers practical advice on leveraging existing customer introductions, participating in industry events, and communicating with authenticity and transparency. She strongly advocates for marketing, PR, and sales teams to align more closely and for both sides, vendor and client, to treat each other with empathy, honesty, and a human-centric approach. Awarded Australia’s Most Outstanding in IT Security 2024, Fellow of AISA, and Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors, Kate is a distinguished cyber security executive with over 25 years global experience. She has served in influential roles including Interim CISO The Lottery Corporation, Head of Security Google Cloud ANZ, Head of Risk, Wholesale Banking, Standard Chartered Bank and has been a volunteer Board Director. This diverse experience positions her uniquely, having been both an operator and a vendor, she understands the industry from both sides. Kate brings not only deep expertise but also a passion for making this knowledge accessible to everyone through her company Empowered Cyber.

In this episode, we sit down with Jadee Hanson, Chief Information Security Officer at Vanta, as she explores whether compliance is simply a minimum standard or a strategic enabler in cybersecurity governance. Jadee shares insights on how compliance, when approached with transparency and accountability, can build customer trust and drive business success. She discusses the shift from outdated, manual audit practices to a model of continuous, automated compliance monitoring, emphasizing the efficiency and assurance provided by real-time controls. Jadee also highlights the importance of going beyond compliance “checkboxes,” advocating for proactive security measures, such as bug bounty programs and responsible disclosure processes, that strengthen organizational resilience. Jadee Hanson, Chief Information Security Officer Jadee is Vanta’s Chief Information Security Officer leading the organization’s security program and overseeing Security, Enterprise Engineering and Privacy, Risk and Compliance (PRC). Prior to joining Vanta, Jadee served as CISO and CIO for Code42, where she elevated the Security team within Code42, helping internal teams and customers adopt right-sized risk management and increasing the company’s cyber detection, response, and recovery capabilities.Previously, Jadee held a number of senior leadership roles in the security department of Target Corporation including serving as the security leader for the acquisition of software development and online retail companies, and the sale of Target Pharmacies to CVS Health. Before joining Target, Jadee worked at Deloitte as a security consultant for companies across diverse industries such as healthcare, manufacturing energy, retail and more. Hanson received her Bachelor of Science, Information Systems from the University of North Dakota.

In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Guss, Director of Crisis Response at Sempris, as she sheds light on why a crisis plan alone won’t always save organizations in moments of disruption. Courtney unpacks surprising research showing that despite 97% of organizations regularly planning and training for crises, 76% still suffer significant impacts during incidents. She discusses how misaligned training, outdated and irrelevant scenarios, and a “checkbox” mentality frequently undermine preparedness. Courtney emphasizes the need for organizations to tailor crisis exercises to their specific business context, practice more frequently in smaller, relevant groups, and prioritize adaptability with backup plans when things go awry. She also highlights the importance of having accessible contact information and robust communication channels, as well as clearly defined decision triggers and justifications for pivoting during an incident. Courtney Guss, Semperis, Director of Crisis Management  Courtney Guss brings over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, crisis response, and business resilience. She began her career in the insurance and risk management sector, working with FEMA and the NFIP, where she developed a strong foundation in emergency preparedness and crisis communications before transitioning into cybersecurity leadership roles.  Courtney has led cyber crisis management initiatives for a wide range of organizations, including global enterprises, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously served as a senior consultant at IBM Security, where she specialized in cyber risk quantification using the FAIR framework and advised clients on regulatory compliance, incident response, and stakeholder management.  Her work has included developing and running executive-level tabletop exercises, supporting ransomware recovery efforts, advising organizations on SEC, DORA, CCOP, and CIRCIA reporting obligations, and orchestrating cross-functional response plans to major incidents. Courtney is passionate about turning chaos into order and equipping teams with the clarity, tools, and playbooks they need to act decisively under pressure.