Meet Middle East thought Leaders
Together with EC Council’s CISO Mag we invite you to join us for an infosec expert’s virtual session, a live summit happening in Middle East this June- “The Middle East CISO Forum”
Topic: Cybersecurity in a hyper connected world [Free Registration]
29th June | 9:55 AM – 13:00 PM GST
Register Here
The event will be a mix of keynote speaking sessions, panel discussions, innovation & technology-based sessions and engaging activities. We want to bring the Infosec Community together!
Our Eminent Speakers:
- Sohail Munir, Advisor – Emerging Technologies and Digital Innovation, Smart Dubai Government
- Sultan Altukhaim, Director, Information Security Department (CISO), Risk Management, Capital Market Authority
- Dr. Erdal Ozkaya, Managing Director & Regional Chief Information Security Officer, Standard Chartered Bank (LinkedIn)
- Piyush Kumar Chowhan¸ Group CIO, Lulu International
- Abdullah Biary, Chief Information Security Officer, Salama Cooperative Insurance Company
- Mohamed Saad Mousa, Chief Information Security Officer, IKEA
- Thomas Heuckeroth, Group CyberSecurity Lead, Emirates Group (LinkedIn)
- Saqib Chaudhry, Chief Information Security Officer, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (LinkedIn)
Why we think you will be interested!
- 400+ Infosec professionals coming together
- Value driven sessions by 10+ Industry Leaders & Influencers
- Q&A session
- Certificate of attendance*
- Complimentary Take Away
How to Articles;
https://www.erdalozkaya.com/category/how-to/
Meet Middle East thought Leaders & Influencers on 29th June – Middle East thought Leaders
CISO Insight
The most valuable conversations in cybersecurity happen between peers who face the same challenges. Roundtable formats with CISOs, CIOs, and technology leaders create a safe space for honest discussion — where practitioners can share what actually works, what failed, and what keeps them up at night. These peer exchanges consistently deliver more actionable intelligence than any vendor presentation.
The Power of Peer-to-Peer Knowledge Exchange
Executive roundtables and thought leadership forums serve a fundamentally different purpose from traditional conferences. While conferences deliver one-to-many information transfer — speakers on stage, audience in seats — peer forums create genuine dialogue between practitioners who share comparable challenges, authority levels, and accountability. A CISO speaking candidly with other CISOs about a failed security initiative provides more practical value than any polished vendor keynote.
In the Middle East, this peer community is particularly strong. The relatively compact geography, shared regulatory environment, and common threat landscape mean that CISOs across the GCC often know each other personally and collaborate informally on threat intelligence sharing, incident response, and best practice development. Events that bring these leaders together — like CISO Mag roundtables, the Global CIO Forum events, and private CISO dinners — strengthen these relationships and accelerate collective security maturity across the region.
Building Your Professional Network as a Security Leader
For CISOs and aspiring security leaders, building a strong professional network is not optional — it is a strategic asset. When a major incident occurs, the CISOs who recover fastest are those who can call peers who have handled similar situations. When evaluating new security technologies, the most reliable assessments come from practitioners who have deployed them in comparable environments. When navigating organisational politics or board dynamics, mentors who have been through similar challenges provide guidance that no certification course can offer.
Effective networking in cybersecurity is not about collecting business cards or LinkedIn connections. It is about building genuine relationships through consistent engagement — attending events, contributing to discussions, sharing knowledge generously, and being available when peers need support. The security leaders who give the most to their community consistently receive the most in return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can CISOs build a stronger peer network?
Join industry-specific CISO forums and communities like the Global CISO Forum, ISSA chapters, or ISC2 local groups. Attend intimate roundtable events rather than only large conferences. Engage actively in discussions rather than passively observing. Share your own experiences — including failures — honestly. Follow up with new contacts and maintain relationships between events. Consider joining or creating a private CISO peer group for regular, confidential discussions.
What should CISOs discuss in peer forums?
The most valuable peer discussions cover real-world implementation challenges, vendor and tool evaluations based on actual deployment experience, board communication strategies, talent acquisition and retention approaches, incident response lessons learned, and emerging regulatory requirements. Topics that are difficult to discuss publicly — budget challenges, organisational resistance, and security failures — are often the most valuable in confidential peer settings.
Related reading: For leadership development resources, visit our CISO Career Hub or explore the Become a CISO roadmap.