3rd Annual CIRT-BS Cybersecurity Conference
+ ITU Regional CyberDrill
+ ITU Regional CyberDrill
Join us 15-17 January 2025
British Colonial, Nassau, The Bahamas
The 3rd Annual CIRT-BS Cybersecurity Conference and ITU Regional CyberDrill (formerly Stakeholder Engagement Symposium), under the theme, “Building Shared Cyber Resilience,” aims to enhance national and regional cybersecurity partnerships. The theme emphasises collaborative efforts across national and regional boundaries to strengthen defenses against cyber threats. By pooling knowledge and resources, we can create a more resilient digital landscape. This year’s conference features local and international experts covering topics like incident response management, threat intelligence, and cybersecurity strategies. ITU’s Regional CyberDrill brings together professionals from government agencies, private sector organisations, and civil society. Attendees, including local and international experts, gain practical insights on incident response management, threat intelligence, and cybersecurity strategies. Discussions cover legal frameworks, compliance, and regulatory requirements. The Cyber Drill enhances national defenses, fosters unity, and strengthens regional collaboration.
Conference Venue
About the Conference
Objectives
Agenda Topics
The event agenda will cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Incident Response and Handling: Case studies, methodologies, and frameworks for effective incident response.
- Threat Intelligence: Techniques for gathering, analysing, and sharing threat intelligence to mitigate cyber threats.
- Cybersecurity Technologies: Innovations in tools, technologies, and solutions for improving cybersecurity defenses.
- Digital Forensics: Advances in digital forensic techniques and their application in incident investigations.
- Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Leveraging artificial intelligence for incident response and defense purposes.
- Emerging Threats: Analysis of emerging cyber threats and proactive measures to counter them.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Success stories and models for effective collaboration among CSIRTs and other stakeholders.
Who Should Attend
The CIRT-BS Cybersecurity Conference attracts local and regional cybersecurity professionals in various spaces including government, academia, judicial, law enforcement, and governance risk and compliance professionals.
Conference Theme
The conference theme, “Building Shared Cyber Resilience,” emphasises collaborative efforts across national and regional boundaries to strengthen defences against cyber threats. By pooling knowledge and resources, we can create a more resilient digital landscape.
If you were invited to the event and do not have a code, please email [email protected] with your name and job title. If you’d like to join the event’s waitlist, please email [email protected] with the subject line “Join Waitlist”. Please also include your name and job title.
Schedule subject to change.
Conference Day 1 — Wednesday, 15 January 2025
08:30 – 09:00 | Entry – Onsite Registry * Breakfast |
09:00 – 10:00 | Opening Ceremony |
10:00 – 10:15 | Coffee Break |
10:15 – 10:45 | Presentation 1 Building National Resilience Sametria McKinney, CIRT-BS Director |
10:45 – 11:15 | Presentation 2 Sharon Mudd, Software Engineering Institute |
Break 11:15- 11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30-12:00 | Presentation 3 The Role of the CIRT in Protecting Critical Infrastructure Matt Palmer, JCSC |
12:00 – 12:30 | Presentation 4 Cybersecurity in The Bahamas and in the Caribbean (ITU GCI) Marwan Ben Rached |
12:30 – 1:30 | Lunch Break |
1:30 – 2:00 | Presentation James Mason, Recorded Future |
2:00 – 2:30 | Presentation |
2:30 – 3:00 | Presentation 2 Cyber Risk |
3:00 – 3:15 | Coffee Break |
3:15 – 3:45 | Panel 1 Building and Measuring Cybersecurity Capacity in the Region |
3:45 – 4:15 | Panel 2 Protecting Critical Infrastructure (Defining CII) |
4:15 – 4:45 | Panel 3 Building National Resilience |
4:45 – 5:00 | Closing Remarks
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6:00 – 8:00
CIRT-BS Launch Reception
Conference Day 2 — Thursday, 16 January 2025
08:30 – 09:00 | Breakfast and Entry |
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09:00 – 09:15 | Day 2 –Welcome Remarks – National CIRT-BS Director – Sametria McKinney |
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09:15 – 09:30 | Presentation 1 Cyber Crisis Preparedness in the Region Godphey Sterling |
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09:30 – 10:00 | Presentation 2 Incident Response and Recovery Planning |
10:30- 11:00 | Presentation 3 Cybersecurity Reports that Matter to the Board
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11:00 – 11:15 | Break |
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11:15 – 11:45 | Presentation 3
Building a Cybersecurity Awareness Program |
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11:45 – 12:15 | Presentation 4 |
Ransomware Preparedness (Playbooks and backups) |
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12:15– 1:15 | Lunch |
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1:15 – 3:00 | Technical Training by FIRST |
Expert: FIRST | |
3:00 – 3:15 | Break |
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3:15 – 4:45 | Technical Training offer by FIRST |
Expert: FIRST | |
4:45 | Closing Remarks Day 2 |
5:00 |
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ITU Regional CyberDrill — Friday, 17 January 2025
CyberDrill simulations are delivered through specific scenarios where is built a storyline, interactive simulations, competence objectives, user tasks and challenges, and can focus on a wide range of specific topics of national interest.
Sametria McKinney
A trailblazer in corporate Bahamas, Sametria has led cybersecurity initiatives at some of the country's most prestigious institutions, including its central bank and national computer incident response team (CIRT-BS). Earning several respected cybersecurity certifications, Sametria also holds a Global Business MBA. As CIRT-BS director and driver of The Bahamas' National Cybersecurity Strategy, Sametria's leadership continues to be instrumental in building Bahamian cyber resilience.
Matt Palmer
Formerly a fortune 500 global CISO, Matt has served as a tech and cyber security leader for some of the world’s leading financial institutions, and had the privilege to advise both countries and corporations.
As Director of Jersey Cyber Security Centre, Matt's role is to lead Jersey’s cyber defence, overseeing the direction of JCSC to promote and improve cyber resilience across critical national infrastructure, businesses, communities, and citizens.
Sharon Mudd
Sharon Mudd is currently a Senior Cybersecurity Operations Researcher in the CERT® division of the Software Engineering Institute @Carnegie Mellon University, helping international teams build security operations and incident management capabilities. In this role, she provides mentoring and training on a broad range of cybersecurity topics to foster development of maturity for security incident response and security operations teams internationally. Her career spans 30+ years in IT and information security roles, focusing on information security governance, risk management, compliance, and assurance. She has been a GRC leader in several organizations with global information security responsibilities across a diverse set of industries, including financial services, retail, education, government, telecommunications, and healthcare. In 2024, Sharon completed a PhD in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity focusing on human factors within information security risk management.
Shakera Johnson
Shakera is an accomplished cybersecurity leader with a deep passion for Information and Cybersecurity, driven to excel in a field traditionally dominated by men. Based in Nassau, Bahamas, she holds a B.A. in Computer Information Systems and an M.B.A. with an IT focus. Her impressive credentials include certifications such as C|CISO, CISSP, CISM, CISA, and CRISC, and she recently earned a Chief Information Security Officer certificate from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. Shakera's career began with over a decade at Atlantis Resort & Casino, where she rose to the role of Manager of IT Governance, Risk, and Compliance. Now serving as the Director of Information Security at Cable Bahamas Ltd., she leads the company’s cybersecurity strategy, ensuring robust protection and innovation. A passionate advocate for cybersecurity education, Shakera is a sought-after speaker, encouraging women and youth to pursue STEM careers. She is a recognized STEM leader, as well as a dedicated wife and mother, an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a proud member of the Rotary Club of South East Nassau
Pablo Palacios
Pablo Palacios is Telecommunications Engineer of the Escuela Politecnica Nacional, Quito-Ecuador. Pablo has an MBA in International Management of the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt (HfWU), Nürtingen-Geislingen, Germany, a Master in Cybersecurity, focused on Digital Forensic Analysis at the EcCouncil University, USA, and a Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy and Related Qualifications at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
Pablo has about twenty-one years of national and international experience in telecommunications and ICTs. He worked for six years in several telecommunications companies in Ecuador and since 2010, Pablo joined the International Telecommunications Union.
Pablo worked three years in Geneva supporting the work of the Study Groups of ITU-T and their meetings. From 2013, Pablo is part of the ITU Team for the Region of America as Programme Officer located in Chile. Pablo is the focal point for the Cybersecurity, Child Online Protection (COP), International Internet Access (IXP), and Emerging Technologies for the America Region.
Additional speaker information coming soon.
We are excited to announce the 3rd Annual CIRT-BS Cybersecurity Conference and ITU CyberDrill, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union. This year’s theme is “Building Shared Cyber Resilience” targeting both local and regional participation. The conference will span three days at the British Colonial in Nassau, The Bahamas, from Wednesday, 15 January to Friday, 17 September, 2025, from 9 am to 5 pm.
By sponsoring, you will have the opportunity to showcase your brand, products, and services to 150 hand-selected local attendees representing critical information infrastructure operators, government agencies, technical firms, and 20-30 cybersecurity representatives from the Caribbean region.
Sponsorship details are included in the table below.
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Fully-branded Dining Area
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Exhibition Space
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Attendee Bag Insert
Sponsors may submit one or two promotional items or pieces of literature (depending on the sponsorship level) to be placed in attendee bags. Please provide 200 pieces of each item by 8 January 2025.
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Door Prize Drawing Participation
We encourage our sponsors and exhibitors to provide a door prize to be given away in a door prize drawing during our closing ceremony. Attendees will receive a card to be stamped by each participating exhibitor and may enter completed cards into the door prize drawing.
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Conference Registrations
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Logo on Website
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Logo on Digital Signage
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Speaking Opportunity
(Based on availability)
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Media Release Recognition
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Booklet Ad
Other sponsorship opportunities or configurations available on request. For questions or additional information, please contact us at [email protected].
Sponsorship Form
The conference will take place 15-17 January 2025 at the British Colonial in Nassau, The Bahamas.
There is no cost to attend this year’s conference. Due to limited availability, admission to the conference is by invitation only. To request an invitation or join our waitlist, please email [email protected] with your name, job title, and organisation name.
Due to limited availability, admission to the conference is by invitation only. To request an invitation or join our waitlist, please email [email protected] with your name, job title, and organisation name. If you do not have valid registration, you may be turned away from the conference.
This year’s conference is restricted to invited guests only. If you show up without valid registration, you may be turned away. Check back early January for ticket slots that may open up.
To sponsor the event, please visit the “Sponsorship Info” tab.
Sectors: Government agencies, private sector organizations, and civil society.
Countries: Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Antigua, Belize, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, St Lucia, Cayman, Aruba, Turks and Caicos Islands
- Britsh Colonial (Conference Venue) https://www.britishcolonial.com/
Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau
- Distance: About 0.3 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-beach-resort-nassau
Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant
- Distance: Approximately 0.4 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.graycliff.com
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nassau
- Distance: About 0.6 miles from British Colonial Hilton
- Website: www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/nassau/nasbs/hoteldetail
Courtyard by Marriott Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach
- Distance: Around 0.7 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nascy-courtyard-nassau-downtown-junkanoo-beach/
The Royal at Atlantis
- Distance: Approximately 2.5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations/royal-tower
The Coral at Atlantis
- Distance: Around 2.5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations/coral-tower
The Cove, Atlantis
- Distance: Around 2.5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations/cove
The Reef, Atlantis
- Distance: Around 2.5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations/reef
Comfort Suites Paradise Island
- Distance: Approximately 2.5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.choicehotels.com/bahamas/nassau/comfort-suites-hotels
Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island
- Distance: About 2.6 miles from British Colonial Hilton
- Website: www.riu.com/en/hotel/bahamas/nassau/riu-palace-paradise-island/
Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Spa
- Distance: About 6 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.sandals.com/main/royal/rsb-home/
Sandyport Beach Resort
- Distance: Around 7 miles from British Colonial
- Website: https://www.sandyportresort.com/
SLS Baha Mar
- Distance: Around 5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.sbe.com/hotels/sls/sls-baha-mar/
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
- Distance: Around 5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/bahamas/grand-hyatt-baha-mar/nasgh
Rosewood Baha Mar
- Distance: Around 5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/baha-mar
Breezes Resort & Spa
- Distance: Around 5 miles from British Colonial
- Website: www.breezes.com/nassau/
For additional information, please visit https://www.bahamas.com/hotels#destination:31;page:1;.
Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA)
For additional information, please visit https://nassaulpia.com/.
The Bahamian dollar (BSD) is maintained at the same level as the U.S. dollar (USD) and both are accepted interchangeably.
ATMs and banks are located throughout Nassau/Paradise Island.
While several establishments accept both credit cards and cash, some only accept one or the other.
For additional information about The Bahamas, please visit https://www.bahamas.com/.
