Agenda

Dr. Sanju Abraham is the Chief Technology Officer at kWh Analytics, bringing over 20 years of experience in leveraging technology to drive business growth and transformation. In his role, he leads the development of innovative software solutions for the solar energy industry, utilizing data science, cloud computing, and web applications. Prior to joining kWh Analytics, Dr. Abraham served as CTO at QuickConnectMD, where he oversaw software development and IT for telemedicine and electronic health record systems. He also co-founded Quze and held leadership positions at Devx5 and SOCIALDEALER, focusing on product development and technological strategies. Dr. Abraham holds a PhD and an MBA in Computer Science from DePaul University.

Brian Burnett is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with over 15 years of experience in building and managing robust cybersecurity programs. Since November 2020, he has served as the Director of Cybersecurity at North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, where he established and leads the organization's cybersecurity program, ensuring the security of both IT and operational technology environments. Prior to this, Brian held a number of key cybersecurity/IT positions including Information Security Manager at IQVIA and Senior IT Auditor at Cherry Bekaert LLP. Since August 2011, he has served as a part-time instructor at the American Public University System, teaching courses in cybersecurity and digital forensics. Brian holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from Utica College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Guilford College. His certifications include EnCase Certified Examiner and Certified Computer Forensics Examiner.

Florian Doumenc is the CEO and Co-Founder of Trout Software, a company dedicated to enhancing security for industrial and defense sectors. Since April 2022, he has led initiatives to protect facilities from cyber threats and simplify compliance processes. Prior to founding Trout Software, Florian served as a Strategic Cloud Engineer at Google from February 2018 to January 2023, focusing on security projects such as Chronicle and Quantum & AI at GoogleX. He also held roles as an Account Executive at Dataiku and Glow Digital Media, and was the CEO of Hi Karl, an NLP-based virtual concierge company. Florian holds a graduate degree in cybersecurity from Harvard Extension School.

Julian Durand is the Chief Security Officer and Senior Vice President of Product Management at Intertrust Technologies, bringing over 30 years of experience in launching and scaling innovative products globally. At Intertrust, he directs IoT product development and oversees security practices. ?Before joining Intertrust, Julian held leadership roles at Qualcomm, where he spearheaded product security initiatives, virtual SIM development, and the company's inaugural IoT efforts, contributing to significant revenue growth. He also served as the technical lead for Nokia's first music phone. An inventor named in ten issued patents across IoT, Digital Rights Management (DRM), and virtual SIM technologies, Julian holds a B.Eng from Carleton University and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and an active member of the Forbes Technology Council.

Abubaker Elteriefi, PE is a Power Systems Engineer with over twenty-five years of experience in transmission system planning, design, and operations. He has been with ITC Holdings Corp. since 2007. As Operational Planning Manager, Mr. Elteriefi oversees operational assessments, identifies potential System Operating Limit exceedances, and develops mitigation plans to ensure system reliability and efficiency. He also serves as a subject matter expert for multiple North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards. Prior to ITC, he worked at Alliant Energy as a Substation Design Engineer and Lead Delivery System Planner. Abubaker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and is a registered Professional Engineer in the branch of Electrical Engineering. He is also a NERC-certified system operator at the reliability coordinator level and an active member of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Operating Reliability Working Group.

Eduardo Giancristofaro is Business Development Director of OT at SSH Communications Security, where he is responsible the development of the industrial automation market across the Americas, focusing on the U.S. and Canada. With a career spanning over three decades, Eduardo began as a PLC/SCADA programmer in 1994 and transitioned into industrial communication network sales, specializing in providing secure access solutions for operational technology environments. Prior to joining SSH in September 2022, he served as Channel Sales Manager for Latin America at HMS Networks, achieving a 300% market growth over five years. His earlier experience includes roles at Siemens, where he managed and expanded the Marine and Cruise Line Business portfolio as an Account Executive, and at ProSoft Technology, Inc., where he was involved in sales, business development, and technical support. Eduardo holds a Technician degree in Electronics from Escola T�cnica E. Lauro Gomes (1988-1992) and a degree in Engineering with a focus on Electronics from Universidade Paulista (2001-2005). He is based in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Area.

Jim Harmening has spent his entire career in the Information Technology Sector. From his time working as a full time Mainframe Computer Operator at the University of Illinois at Chicago, through starting with the Illinois Commerce Commission as the Director of Cybersecurity and Risk Management, he has focused his work on making improvements in IT & Cybersecurity. From 1995 to 2020 he served as the president of Computer Bits, Inc. a small software development, IT support and computer forensic company in the Chicagoland area. He focused on the legal industry, provided services to the Cook County Sheriff, Lake County Chief Assessment Office and Illinois Secretary of State, as well as many small businesses. Jim has a degree in Mathematics & Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has written several chapters in college textbooks. He was an Encase Certified Forensic Examiner and has taken courses in ethical hacking, operational technology cybersecurity and exercise creation. He looks forward to improving Cybersecurity in the 21st century.

Katherine Hutton is Product Manager for OT Cybersecurity at Fluence, where she oversees the development of cybersecurity solutions for energy storage products, ensuring compliance with evolving threats and global regulatory standards. Her career includes roles such as Senior Strategy Consultant at StealthPath Inc., Business Data Analyst at Schneider Electric's Global Product & Systems Security Office, Research Scientist at the Army Cyber Institute, and Special Advisor in the Office of the Director at the U.S. Secret Service. Katherine holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a Master's in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management from George Washington University. She actively contributes to the cybersecurity community as a Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Veterans Advanced Energy Project, Chief Advisor for Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) UK & Ireland, and Advisory Board Member at the Technology Advancement Center (TAC).

Dr. Taesic Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Missouri, where he directs the Cyber-Physical Power and Energy Systems (CPPES) Laboratory. His research focuses on developing resilient and secure power and energy systems, encompassing areas such as cyber-physical security, artificial intelligence, quantum intelligence, and power electronics. Dr. Kim has secured multiple grants from organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, holds two U.S. patents, and has authored over 100 papers in refereed journals and IEEE conference proceedings. Prior to joining the University of Missouri in September 2024, he served as an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his B.S. from Changwon National University in South Korea.

Carter Manucy is the Director of Cybersecurity at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), where he oversees a team dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity for over 900 electric cooperatives, leveraging federal funding, partnering with national labs, and developing programs and resources to bolster co-op cybersecurity. Before joining NRECA in February 2023, he served as the IT/OT & Cybersecurity Director at the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), where he led initiatives in cyber and physical security, as well as strategic execution of IT and OT cybersecurity measures. His efforts have been recognized by the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), which awarded him the Electricity Security Service Award in October 2024 for his leadership in enhancing grid security. Manucy is also actively involved in professional affiliations, including chairing the Cyber Mutual Assistance Compliance Committee and participating in NERC's Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee (CIPC). He holds a degree from the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Shane McFly is a Senior Cybersecurity Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), specializing in cyber-physical systems security, complex system architecture, and cyber range development for cybersecurity research exercises. Since joining NREL in 2019, he has led initiatives to integrate the Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework with NREL's cyber range, enhancing the laboratory's capabilities in securing energy systems. In addition to his role at NREL, Shane serves as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor at the Colorado School of Mines, where he teaches courses on Cyber-Physical Systems Security. His prior experience includes positions at Boeing as a Software Engineer and the Information Trust Institute as a Research System Administrator, focusing on cybersecurity and networking research. Shane�s research interests encompass vulnerability analysis, mitigation strategies, and the development of immersive tools for cybersecurity training and workforce development.

Patrick Miller, CEO and owner of Ampyx Cyber, has over 35 years of experience in IT and OT security, focusing on critical infrastructure protection. His career began in the telecommunications industry during the 1980s, eventually shifting to cybersecurity. Miller has held pivotal roles across various sectors, including energy, water, telecommunications, finance, and insurance. Notably, he founded EnergySec, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity in the energy sector, and served as its President and CEO. His expertise is internationally recognized, particularly in regulatory compliance and NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection standards. In addition to leading Ampyx Cyber, Miller contributes to the global cybersecurity community as the U.S. Coordinator for the Industrial Cybersecurity Center based in Madrid and as an instructor for the Cyber Information Security Leader course through CSA CPH in Copenhagen.

Sai Molige is a cybersecurity professional with 5+ years experience in threat hunting, detection engineering, and incident response. Since July 2019, he has served as the Senior Manager of Threat Hunting at Forescout Technologies Inc. in Irving, Texas, where he orchestrates coordination among multiple teams to enhance threat detection capabilities and provides threat-hunting services to over 30 diverse clients. Prior to joining Forescout, he contributed to security initiatives at Comcast and Snap Inc., focusing on application support, security development, and corporate security analysis. He holds multiple GIAC certifications, including GCIH, GCDA, GCFE, and GNFA.

An advocate for community engagement, Sai actively contributes to blogs, videos, and conferences, including the Blue Team Village at DEFCON, and volunteers in cybersecurity programs by conducting workshops and training sessions. He is passionate about leveraging threat intelligence to drive proactive threat-hunting initiatives.

Ruchi Rajasekhar is the Principal Advisor for Strategic Innovations at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), where he overseeing cross-functional teams that leverage data science and engineering to enhance energy markets, operations, and infrastructure systems. His career has spanned more than 23 years, including roles as Senior Consultant at Knightsbridge Solutions (later acquired by HP) and IBM, and Principal of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He holds a MicroMasters in Data Science from MIT and an MBA in Finance, Venture, and Technology Management from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Since August 2014, Ruchi has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University�Purdue University Indianapolis.

Ramesh Reddi is an experienced cybersecurity professional in energy, utilities, and critical infrastructure protection fields. He worked on projects at US utilities (Exelon, PG&E and FP&L), IBM and HP. Currently, Ramesh serves as the President and Chief Technology Officer of CybSecBCML Inc., a company he founded in Raleigh, North Carolina. In this role, he focuses on integrating zero trust architectures and artificial intelligence to enhance the security of utility assets. He holds certifications in zero trust from the Cloud Security Alliance (CCZT) and Zscaler (ZTCA), and has received training from Google on its Generative AI technologies. Ramesh has also played a pivotal role in developing IEEE blockchain cybersecurity standards tailored for energy and utility applications. He also contributes his expertise as a Senior Cyber Security Advisor for Protect Our Power, an organization dedicated to safeguarding the U.S. electric grid.

Dr. Emma Stewart is the Chief Power Grid Scientist and Research Strategist at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where she leads initiatives to enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. Prior to joining INL, she served as Chief Scientist at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), overseeing a multimillion-dollar research and development portfolio and directing the co-op's Cyber Solutions Program. Dr. Stewart's experience includes roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, focusing on power distribution, renewable energy integration, and operational cybersecurity. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Throughout her career, Dr. Stewart has authored over 112 peer-reviewed papers, secured two patents, and received accolades such as the Federal Lab Consortium Far West Region Award and an R&D 100 Award.

Tom Tansy is a technology entrepreneur and leader in the renewable energy sector, currently serving as the CEO of DER Security Corp since April 2022. In his role as Chairman of SunSpec Alliance since 2009, he has been instrumental in developing data and communication standards to facilitate the seamless integration of solar PV systems and energy storage into the smart grid. Previously,as Vice President of Business Development at Fat Spaniel Technologies, he contributed to the pioneering efforts in solar Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. His tenure as General Manager and Vice President of Business Development at Power-One (now part of ABB) involved overseeing plant computing and monitoring solutions for global solar power installations. He has also had strategic roles at innovative technology ventures including Zero Motorcycles, Magenn Power, and TWiki.

In his early career, Tom founded Tansy Associates in 1991, providing product marketing and channel development services to prominent companies such as Apple, Adobe, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, and Sun Microsystems. He also co-founded NetCarta, whose WebMapper� intranet website management tool was eventually integrated into Microsoft IIS, and Swan Labs, whose application WANJet� achieved "Visionary" status in the Gartner Magic Quadrant and was later acquired by F5 Corporation.

Dr. Chee-Wooi Ten is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Technological University, where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Cyber-Physical Systems. His research focuses on quantifying rare events through system risk models and data science, particularly in the context of power grid interactions with robotics and transportation systems for decarbonization and electrification. Dr. Ten earned his BSc and MSc degrees in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and completed his PhD at University College Dublin in 2009. Since joining Michigan Tech in 2010, he has done extensive work advancing cybersecurity measures for power systems and has co-authored textbooks on electric power distribution system engineering and modern power system analysis. He was previously an editor for the IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid and an active reviewer for proposals, manuscripts, and tenure cases. In March 2025, Dr. Ten took on the role of Chief Technology Officer at EdisonXFC, a company dedicated to enhancing public EV charging infrastructure.

Larry Truong has over two decades of international experience in solar, energy storage, microgrids, and uninterruptible power systems (UPS). Currently serving as the Product Manager for Solar & Energy Storage at Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation (TMEIC), he oversees the company's inverter portfolio and spearheads the development of next-generation utility-scale power conversion solutions. Throughout his career, Larry has held leadership roles in general management, sales, business development, product management, and technical services at renowned organizations such as Sungrow, ABB, Schneider Electric, and American Power Conversion (APC). His academic credentials include bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Rhode Island, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a master's degree in cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In addition to his professional endeavors, Larry contributes to industry standards and interoperability as a board member of SunSpec Alliance.

Joe Weiss is Managing Partner at Applied Control Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in ICS and cybersecurity. With over 40 years of experience in industrial instrumentation, controls, and automation, and more than 20 years dedicated to ICS cybersecurity, Joe is recognized as an international authority in his field. He has held significant roles at organizations such as GE, EPRI, and KEMA, and has been instrumental in developing security standards for critical infrastructure protection. Joe is also a Fellow of the International Society of Automation (ISA) and serves as the Managing Director for several ISA standards committees, including those focused on nuclear and fossil plant standards, as well as control system cybersecurity.

Tobias Whitney is President and CEO of Cumulys, a company he founded in April 2024 to enhance real-time adherence to industry standards for asset owners and operators. With over two decades of experience in cybersecurity and compliance, Tobias has held a number of leadership roles that have significantly influenced industry standards and practices, including six years as Senior Manager of Critical Infrastructure Protection at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and a two-year term as Technical Executive at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). He was also Vice President of Strategy and Policy at Fortress Information Security, he played a pivotal role in Fortress's selection to partner with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), facilitating real-time collaboration to mitigate cyber risks. He holds an MBA from Washington University and a BBA from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

K. Dixon Wright, President of SRC Digital Insurance Services, has been a prominent figure in the surety industry since 1981. He founded North Coast Surety Insurance Services, a specialty surety agency, and North Coast Surety Technologies, a technology company, both of which were acquired by Wells Fargo Insurance Services in 2009. Wright has held leadership roles at Surety Resource Connection, Inc., and FISTech Co., and is a founder and board member of OB Alliance Inc. As a strong advocate for open standards and interoperability, he has worked to improve access to surety credit for small and emerging businesses by expanding the XBRL taxonomy to include data fields tailored to the construction, energy, and transportation industries. His efforts aim to reduce administrative costs and enhance efficiency, enabling smaller companies to participate more effectively in community-serving projects.

Advait Patel is a skilled Senior Site Reliability Engineer based in Chicago, with a passion for leveraging technology to drive impactful solutions. With extensive experience in cloud computing, cloud security, and cybersecurity, he currently works at Broadcom, where he plays a key role in managing, building, and securing multi-million dollar revenue-generating products. Advait is also an advocate for professional growth and is eager to share his expertise with the next generation of tech talent through community involvement and mentorship. In his free time, he enjoys connecting with like-minded professionals and exploring innovative developments in the tech industry.

Sam Chanoski delivers technical leadership, expertise, and strategic insights to Idaho National Laboratory's portfolio of multi-million-dollar critical infrastructure security and resilience projects sponsored by the Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. He influences the development of large, long-term sustained programs for research, development, demonstration, and deployment associated with control system cybersecurity for nationally critical infrastructure, with particular focus on the energy sector.

Prior to joining INL, Sam spent sixteen years working in intentionally diverse positions across the electricity industry including real-time operations and maintenance with three large investor-owned utilities, situation awareness and event analysis with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, intelligence with Electricity ISAC, and as the global security incident response team leader for a major manufacturer.

Sam's professional interests include real-time transmission and distribution operations, organizational behavior, control systems cybersecurity, and emergency management and resilience. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, and an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University's School of Engineering & Applied Science.

Nadine Miller is a professional engineer, executive, and corporate director with 20+ years of experience in engineering design and project management in the mining and transportation industries. Ms. Miller is currently the Vice President of Cybersecurity & Operational Technology at JDS Energy and Mining. She also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Wesdome Gold Mines and OMAI Gold Mines, Canadian gold mining companies, and a Strategic Advisor at Awz Ventures Inc., a venture capital fund, and Drone Delivery Canada.

For 13 years Ms. Miller worked primarily on tailings projects before transitioning to business development. She led the Business Development departments for two of the world's largest engineering consulting firms' Toronto offices: Bantrel with the backing of Bantrel's parent company, Bechtel; and SNC-Lavalin's Mining and Metallurgy. At JDS Ms. Miller has focused on building a team specialized in cybersecurity and operational technology and her team is providing these services to the resource industry.

She is a strong advocate on issues pertaining to women in engineering and received the 2017 Leading Women Building Communities Award for her work in this area.

Ms. Miller graduated from the University of Oxford, Saïd School of Business, with an MBA focused on finance and strategy; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (specializing in geotechnical engineering); and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Toronto in Mineral and Geological Engineering.