On 28 July, the Charter of Trust Principle 6 ‘Education’ hosted the first-ever Charter of Trust webinar “The Human Element in Cybersecurity”. Discussions focused on why people are so central to cybersecurity, how capacity building can be beneficial, and which modern approaches to learning can be applied to effectively leverage the human element in cybersecurity.
Kai Hermsen is the Global Coordinator for the Charter of Trust for Siemens, Previously, he has been heading the Siemens Cybersecurity Strategy and worked as Project Manager in Siemens Management Consulting in Germany and India. He has a background in business administration.
Daria Catalui is a cyber security training and awareness professional with working experience in EU’s cyber security agency- ENISA, the European Commission and the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. She is an advocate for the following projects, which she had the chance to kick-off and helped grow for public awareness and scaled-up for impact: Cyber Aware and CyberReadyGame, European Cyber Security Month, NIS quiz, NIS educational map, European cyber security challenge and the Annual Privacy Forum. Furthermore, Daria is conducting research with focus on gamification and initiated CyberEDU project. She speaks regularly at international conferences.
Bernardo Garcia is an Education & Awareness Security Manager at Airbus, leading and planning security awareness plans to change behaviour and establish a security culture. A certified SANS Security Awareness Professional (SSAP), Bernardo has a broad experience in working in international environments and promoting culture changes. He joined Airbus in 2001, where he has held various positions and gained a strong experience in the aviation and aerospace industry.
Bernd Barban has over 20 years of experience in Information Security at the interface of organization, processes and technologies. In the early 80s, he started his career as an electronics engineer and developed electronic circuits for computer interfaces. In the following years, he broadened his knowledge in various projects from IT security software development to the creation of complex IT security concepts for military helicopters. For almost 10 years afterwards, was responsible for Client Security Management for several accounts in the telecommunications and chemical industry. In April 2017, he became Chief Information Security Officer for the Atos Global Business Unit Germany. Mr. Barban joined the Charter of Trust Principle 6 Taskforce ‘Education’ in mid-2018.
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Annual Thematic Dinner on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference
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External Engagement
Annual Thematic Dinner on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference
On February 13, the Charter of Trust hosted its annual Thematic Dinner on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. This year’s discussion focused on "Rethinking Cyber Trust: Building Resilience in the Age of AI".
Leading transatlantic voices from government, military, industry, law enforcement, and cybersecurity came together for a critical discussion on the evolving threat landscape. Key themes emerged:
o the urgent need for harmonized regulation,
o the reality that it takes networks to defend networks,
o and the recognition that energy infrastructure represents our next major cyber risk frontier as AI drives exponential growth in energy consumption.
A powerful reminder that there is no security without cybersecurity, and no cybersecurity without active cyber defense. The path forward requires accelerated standards development, stronger public-private information sharing, and moving from reactive postures to coordinated defense strategies.
We are grateful for the engaged dialogue and look forward to continued collaboration as we work together to build cyber resilience in the age of AI.
Leading transatlantic voices from government, military, industry, law enforcement, and cybersecurity came together for a critical discussion on the evolving threat landscape. Key themes emerged:
o the urgent need for harmonized regulation,
o the reality that it takes networks to defend networks,
o and the recognition that energy infrastructure represents our next major cyber risk frontier as AI drives exponential growth in energy consumption.
A powerful reminder that there is no security without cybersecurity, and no cybersecurity without active cyber defense. The path forward requires accelerated standards development, stronger public-private information sharing, and moving from reactive postures to coordinated defense strategies.
We are grateful for the engaged dialogue and look forward to continued collaboration as we work together to build cyber resilience in the age of AI.
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February 13, 2026
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Security by Default
Webinar: Cybersecurity Regulations in North America
On Tuesday, the Charter of Trust convened a timely virtual panel discussion on 'Security by Default in View of Major Cybersecurity Regulations in North America'. With more than 100 participants joining from around the world, the discussion underscored just how urgent, and global, the cybersecurity challenge has become.
A huge thank you to our outstanding panellists for their invaluable insights and for sharing their experiences with us: Linda Strick (Cloud Security Alliance), Kyle McMillan (Siemens), Lauren Zabierek (CAS Strategies), Rob Spiger (Microsoft), Sam Curry (Zscaler), and great moderation from Sudhir Ethiraj (TÜV SÜD).
The CoT expert panel:
- discussed fragmented cybersecurity regulations in North America and the need for more resilient infrastructure and security-by-default practices
- emphasized the need to embed security early in product architecture rather than addressing it post-incident
- highlighted the importance of structured collection of security signals and incident reporting to improve software safety
- discussed about software as critical infrastructure affecting national security, economy, and public health, requiring robust safety measures
Thank you to everyone who participated! A recording of the webinar can be found at the bottom of this page.
A huge thank you to our outstanding panellists for their invaluable insights and for sharing their experiences with us: Linda Strick (Cloud Security Alliance), Kyle McMillan (Siemens), Lauren Zabierek (CAS Strategies), Rob Spiger (Microsoft), Sam Curry (Zscaler), and great moderation from Sudhir Ethiraj (TÜV SÜD).
The CoT expert panel:
- discussed fragmented cybersecurity regulations in North America and the need for more resilient infrastructure and security-by-default practices
- emphasized the need to embed security early in product architecture rather than addressing it post-incident
- highlighted the importance of structured collection of security signals and incident reporting to improve software safety
- discussed about software as critical infrastructure affecting national security, economy, and public health, requiring robust safety measures
Thank you to everyone who participated! A recording of the webinar can be found at the bottom of this page.
Read more
January 27, 2026
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Artificial Intelligence
3rd CyberTrust Talk - Digital Omnibus & Trust - What it Means for Business in Europe?
Join us for a timely and dynamic edition focused on “Digital Omnibus & Trust: What It Means for Business in Europe” kindly hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU on November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM (Central European Time) for a lunch event filled with insightful discussions on cybersecurity and trust in the digital age.
With the European Commission unveiling its landmark Digital Omnibus Package just one day before, this event is your exclusive opportunity to be among the first to explore its real-world impact on business and the digital economy across Europe.
What to Expect:
Opening remarks by:
Dr. Armin Hartmuth, Director, Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union
Dr. Sumit Chanda, COO, Atos Group Security & Business Lines CISO, and Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust.
Keynote Address:
Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT), will share first-hand insights into the objectives and expected impact of the Digital Omnibus Package.
Expert Panel Discussion featuring:Moderated by Sudhir Ethiraj, Global Head of Cybersecurity Office, CEO Business Unit Cybersecurity Services, TÜV SÜD.
Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT)
Kia Slæbæk Jensen, Cyber Advisor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
Suzanne Button, Field CTO EMEA, Elastic
Tomas Jakimavicius, Director European Government Affairs, Microsoft
Yana Humen, AI and Cybersecurity Policy Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, IBM
Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and join the conversation on regulatory coherence, innovation, and the future of digital governance in Europe.
Closing remarks by Maria del Pino Gonzalez-Junco, Director of the Charter of Trust
Networking Lunch: Connect with peers, policymakers, and industry leaders in an informal setting.
Why attend?
Gain first-hand insights into the EU’s Digital Omnibus Package—straight from the policymakers and experts shaping it.
Understand the immediate implications for your business and how to navigate upcoming changes.
Be part of a strategic dialogue that could influence the future of digital regulation in Europe.
With the European Commission unveiling its landmark Digital Omnibus Package just one day before, this event is your exclusive opportunity to be among the first to explore its real-world impact on business and the digital economy across Europe.
What to Expect:
Opening remarks by:
Dr. Armin Hartmuth, Director, Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union
Dr. Sumit Chanda, COO, Atos Group Security & Business Lines CISO, and Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust.
Keynote Address:
Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT), will share first-hand insights into the objectives and expected impact of the Digital Omnibus Package.
Expert Panel Discussion featuring:Moderated by Sudhir Ethiraj, Global Head of Cybersecurity Office, CEO Business Unit Cybersecurity Services, TÜV SÜD.
Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT)
Kia Slæbæk Jensen, Cyber Advisor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
Suzanne Button, Field CTO EMEA, Elastic
Tomas Jakimavicius, Director European Government Affairs, Microsoft
Yana Humen, AI and Cybersecurity Policy Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, IBM
Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and join the conversation on regulatory coherence, innovation, and the future of digital governance in Europe.
Closing remarks by Maria del Pino Gonzalez-Junco, Director of the Charter of Trust
Networking Lunch: Connect with peers, policymakers, and industry leaders in an informal setting.
Why attend?
Gain first-hand insights into the EU’s Digital Omnibus Package—straight from the policymakers and experts shaping it.
Understand the immediate implications for your business and how to navigate upcoming changes.
Be part of a strategic dialogue that could influence the future of digital regulation in Europe.
Read more
November 20, 2025
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