CIO & CISO Think Tank

Dr. Erin Boyd is an energy economist with 25+ years of experience working across a multi- dimensional spectrum of organizations, economies and sectors including: consultancies focused on small to large scale energy access in developing and emerging markets as well as competitive behavior in European electricity markets; public and private utilities crafting optimal energy tariffs to incent desired outcomes; non-profits and trade organizations contributing to public policy and regulation in everything from EV charging to federal allocation of water rights for hydro; and now for a Fortunate 500 Global Energy Company, AES, where she is Chief Digital Commercial Transformation Officer. Underlying every aspect of her work is the utilization of data and analytics, with Erin considering herself a closet data scientist. Erin also loves to speak publicly and presents any chance she can, including at TEDx.

Ray Austad began his IT and Information Security career in Higher Education and Non-Profit, and pivoted over to financial enterprise after 18 years. Commencing his career with Zurich Farmers Insurance’s Group Information Security as a Business Information Security Officer. In 2014 he joined the Farmers Insurance Group Business Unit to lead Cloud and Application Security, Vulnerability Management, and Incident Response. In 2020 Ray took a different view of Cybersecurity and risks to business by moving over to Farmers Risk Management team. As Director Information Security and Risk Management, the next chapter started with being able to evaluate the organization with a new and intriguing lens. The first quarter was allocated to learning more about Enterprise Risk Management and adjusting to a role of business assurance, opposed to operational execution. The second quarter changed the organization and our personal lives with the pandemic, and provided new, unforeseen challenges. However this offered new opportunities to calculate organization and supplier risks, and view business resiliency differently. Heading into the third quarter, the focus will be on continued improvements with information security risk baselines, collaboration with our operational and business partners to monitor pandemic impacts, and evaluate new and emerging risks.

Dr. Chris Pierson is the Founder & CEO of BlackCloak, the pioneer in Digital Executive Protection for corporate executives, board members, and high-net-worth individuals and their families. Chris has been on the front lines of cybersecurity and privacy in both the public and private sectors for over 25 years. Previously at the Department of Homeland Security, Chris served for over a decade as a special government employee on the Cybersecurity and Privacy Committees. He’s also spent time as the Chief Privacy Officer for Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), as the Chief Information Security Officer for two prominent FinTechs, and is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Ponemon Institute.

With close to 25 years in advertising, broadcast media, live event production, experiential, news, and film/television from pre- to postproduction, Josh also works as a CTO, Director of Technology as well as Operations Manager. Josh implements innovative and creative solutions resulting in a track record that shows increased productivity and cost reduction. He works in system design and integration, design and installation of large technological infrastructures, and data distribution systems (internet: wired and wireless) for private and commercial construction. He has extensive experience customizing information and technology for diverse client needs, encoding systems, digital asset management, and collaborative software. He demonstrates skills as a maintenance technician, transmission specialist, video hardware engineer, and as project manager/coordinator/supervisor.

Experienced Technology Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the computer and network security industry. Skilled in Computer Security, Information Security Management, Start-ups, Security, and Project Management. Strong information technology professional graduated from UCLA.

Dave Williamson has extensive experience working in information technology within the biotech industry to increase manufacturing, quality and supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. Most recently, he worked for Abzena, a life science group headquartered in San Diego, CA as the Chief Information Officer.

Rhino Linings Corporation, established in 1988 and headquartered in San Diego, California , is a privately-held corporation and world leader in protective coatings and linings. Products manufactured and distributed by Rhino Linings Corporation include polyurethane, polyaspartic and epoxy coatings, concrete coatings, spray foam insulation and sealants, and interior and exterior stucco. Rhino Linings Corporation has a global retail and industrial applicator network consisting of independently owned and operated businesses and is the first company in the sprayed-on bed liner industry to achieve ISO 9001 certification.

I am a transformational buy-side CTO with over 20 years of experience on Wall Street. A technology executive with strong hands-on experience, leadership skills, and investment and technology expertise spanning across systematic and discretionary trading businesses. I am also an Entrepreneur, AI and Machine Learning Researcher, Technology Strategist, Software Architect and Engineer at heart.