Cyber Leaders

The Rise and Fall of Conti with Geoff White

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined for a second time by investigative journalist and author Geoff White to discuss the extraordinary story of the Conti ransomware gang. Ahead of the latest BBC podcast series Cyber Hack, Geoff shares his expertise on Conti’s emergence as one of the original big game ransomware groups, the catastrophic attacks that brought them global attention, and the dramatic and acrimonious collapse that tore the gang apart. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Defending with the Same AI That’s Coming for You with Chris Cochran

In this episode, Ciaran and James speak with Chris Cochran, Field CISO and Vice President of AI Security at SANS Institute, to discuss AI and cyber defense. Chris shares his perspective on the rise of AI-driven attacks, why community matters for security leaders under pressure, and what it will take to keep AI safe. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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She Convinced the Pentagon to Let Hackers In. Legally. With Katie Moussouris

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Katie Moussouris, Founder of Luta Security and one of the pioneers of vulnerability research and bug bounties, to discuss how the industry has changed over time. Katie shares her expertise on vulnerability disclosure programmes, researcher protection and equity, and why she still bets on people in an AI-driven world. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Still Getting Cloud Wrong. Here’s what to Fix. With Simon Vernon

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Simon Vernon, Head of Research and Development at SANS Institute, to discuss cloud and AI security. As a practitioner in the field, Simon shares his experience building hands-on training, where cloud security still goes wrong, and how AI is changing attacker behaviour and creating new risks. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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The Weakest Link in a Global Life Sciences Company? People. With Dr. Kevin Jones

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Dr. Kevin Jones, Group CISO of Bayer and honorary professor at Cardiff University, to discuss cybersecurity across critical industries. Kevin shares his expertise on human behaviour in security, the growing impact of AI on both attacks and defences, and the challenges of protecting complex, real-world systems. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Your CISO is Now Your Chief Trust Officer with Jitender Arora

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Jitender Arora, Partner and CISO for Deloitte North and South Europe, to discuss the human side of cyber leadership and how the role is changing. As a veteran of the industry, Jitender shares his perspective on burnout and supporting cyber talent, how the CISO role is shifting towards trust, and how organisations can prepare for AI. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Stories from an Expert Threat Hunter with Taz Wake

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by Taz Wake, Digital Forensics & Incident Response expert, to talk about the realities of defending organisations today. Drawing on his background in military intelligence and years on the front line, Taz shares insights on incident response, threat hunting, and the common myths the industry still gets wrong. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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How Zalando Deployed GenAI Without Handing Attackers the Keys with Florence Mottay

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Florence Mottay, CISO of Zalando, to discuss the state of cybersecurity in business. Florence shares her expertise on bringing generative AI securely online, how traditional and AI-enabled threats are evolving, and how European organisations are navigating regulation, resilience and risk in a fast-changing landscape. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Weathering the AI Vulnerability Storm with Gadi Evron, Rob Lee and Ed Skoudis

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Gadi Evron, Rob Lee and Ed Skoudis to discuss Claude Mythos and the paper co-authored with SANS, the Cloud Security Alliance, [un]prompted and OWASP in response. Gadi, Rob and Ed share their expertise on AI-driven vulnerability discovery, how cyber teams should respond, and what this shift means for the future of security work. Gadi Evron is the founder and CEO of Knostic and CISO in residence for the Cloud Security Alliance. Rob Lee is Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at SANS. Ed Skoudis is the founder of the SANS Penetration Testing Curriculum and Counter Hack and President at SANS Technology Institute. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Defending Critical Infrastructure in Hot War with Tim Conway

In this special episode of Cyber Leaders, Ciaran and James are joined once again by Tim Conway, Technical Director of Industrial Control Systems Security at SANS, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Iran. As three of the world’s most potent cyber actors clash militarily, Tim shares his expert insight on the cyber dimensions of the conflict, the real-world risks for cyber defenders, and how best to protect critical infrastructure in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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How Secure by Design and Public Partnerships Drive Deterrence: A Conversation with Jen Easterly

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by cyber policy and practices leader Jen Easterly. Together they discuss the power of storytelling in cybersecurity, the evolution of cyber as a tool of state power, and why Secure by Design is critical to improving the security of the technologies we rely on Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

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Live Special: Securing the Connected World with Thomas Harvey 

In this special live episode of Cyber Leaders, Ciaran sits down with Thomas Harvey, CISO at Santander UK. As one of the UK’s leading operational cybersecurity figures, Thomas discusses the growing need for cross-sector collaboration, why a more connected security community is essential to national cyber resilience, and how building trust can help create a safer and more fraud-resistant digital landscape. Recorded at Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London on Wednesday the 22nd of October 2025. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Who Really Controls the Internet—And Why it Matters with Emily Taylor and Roxana Radu

In this episode, Ciaran and James speak with Emily Taylor of Oxford Information Labs and Roxana Radu, Associate Professor of Digital Technologies and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, about who really controls the internet. Emily and Roxana discuss how internet governance operates amid shifting geopolitics, dissect the foundational protocols (and problems) that underpin the web, and explore the often-obscure institutions that keep it running. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Beyond Best Practice: How We Really Build a Safer Digital World with Curtis Dukes

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by Curtis Dukes, Executive Vice President of the Center for Internet Security, to discover what “best practice” really means in cybersecurity today. Curtis draws on his extensive experience as former Head of the Information Assurance Directorate at the NSA, and discusses his current work on safe harbor laws and global “secure by design” initiatives aimed at building a safer digital world. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

The Hidden Conflicts Inside Every Cyber Team with Dr. Nikki Robinson

In this episode, Ciaran and James speak with Dr. Nikki Robinson – author, professor, and Senior Technical Staff Member and Senior Manager for Platform Development at IBM – about vulnerability management and human factors in cybersecurity. Nikki shares insights from her research into vulnerability chaining and how organisations can strengthen their approach to managing technical risk, as well as the human dynamics that shape security behaviour across teams. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Inside Digital Forensics: Hunting for Truth in the Dark with Heather Barnhart

In this episode, Ciaran and James speak with Heather Barnhart, Senior Director of Forensic Research at Cellebrite and Head of Faculty and DFIR Curriculum Lead at SANS, about the challenging world of digital forensics. Heather shares her experiences working on high-profile criminal cases, discusses the importance of thorough logging, and reflects on the real-world impact of cybersecurity on people’s lives. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Quantum’s Leap: How Cyber Leaders Are Preparing for the Post-Encryption Era with Applied Quantum

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by Marin Ivezic and Dr. Kawin Boonyapredee of Applied Quantum to discuss one of the biggest strategic challenges in the future of cybersecurity: quantum computing. Marin and Kawin share their insights on quantum and how it could reshape security; from the existential risk of Q-Day to the regulations driving quantum readiness. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

How Modern Threats Are Redefining the Rules of Defense with Paul Chichester

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by Paul Chichester CMG, MBE, Director of Operations at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, to explore how cyber threats have evolved over the decades. Drawing on more than 30 years experience at GCHQ, Paul reflects on the progression, from early digital espionage to major nation-state attacks and the rise of ransomware, and explains why collaboration and partnership remain essential to building a safer online world. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Bonus Episode: The Human Edge of AI

In this episode, Ciaran and James are joined by SANS Chief of Research and Head of Faculty, Rob Lee, to tackle the one big issue on everyone’s mind, AI. Rob shares his expert insight on the rapid rise of AI, from mainstream adoption to cognitive impact, and examines the threats, opportunities, and where human judgment still matters. Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org

Series Two Round-Up

In this bonus episode, Ciaran and James look back on the memorable moments of Series 2, revisiting insightful interviews and compelling discussions. They explore recurring themes such as cyber conflict, critical infrastructure protection and the shifting threat landscape. It’s a chance to reflect and gear up for what’s ahead in Series 3. To see links and learn more about the show, visit https://www.sans.org/cyber-leaders-podcast/ Contact: Have questions or comments? Email us at cyberleadersnetwork@sans.org