CIO & CISO Think Tank

Dr. Michael Owens is an innovative, collaborative, and distinguished leader with over 25 years of experience in startup, corporate, government, and military organizations. A transformation leader and sought-after speaker, Michael frequently keynotes on topics related to cybersecurity, cyberwarfare, and national security matters. As a cybersecurity executive, he has been at the vanguard of some of the most complex issues dealing with breach mitigation/recovery, threat intelligence sharing, and diversity within the tech and cyber industry. Michael is the president and CEO of the U.S. Global Center of Cyber Policy, where he leads the organization in providing federal, state, and local governments with non-partisan thought leadership and expert information and analysis on cybersecurity, cybercrime, and cyberwarfare trends, strategies, and policies from a domestic and international perspective. Prior to this, Michael led the Global Cybersecurity, Cybercrime, and Critical Infrastructure Program for EY within the Forensics, Investigations & Dispute division. In that role, he was responsible for the global strategic direction and standardization of threat intelligence, cybersecurity assessments, audits, and incident response services. Before this, Michael worked at Cisco Systems leading the Advanced Services, Public Sector service delivery team. During this time, he led cybersecurity, wired and wireless networks, and IT strategy engagements for government agencies in the U.S. southeast across and New York. Michael has extensive international and geopolitical experience with projects completed in over 100 countries. As an entrepreneur, Michael pioneered the practice of SMB MSP and fractional CIO/CISO services. Michael is an eight-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a current member of the US Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary. He is a member of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, a Political Partner with the Truman National Security Project, and serves on the State Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition, the Evanta/Gartner Atlanta CISO Governing Body, and the Leadership Board of the Cybersecurity Collaboration Forum. Michael's educational background includes a bachelor’s from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, a doctorate from California Intercontinental University, and advanced certificates and executive programs from the U.S. Army War College and Harvard University. He resides in Mableton, Georgia with his two children.

Highly qualified IT Security Analyst & Adjunct Professor with 15+ years experience specializing in business continuity, disaster recover, IT security, and knowledge transfer. Applies methods for assessing and mitigating risk, analyzing impacts, and managing incidents. IT security experience including security auditing, governance risk and compliance, ITGRC implementation and business continuity planning.Highly qualified IT Security Analyst & Adjunct Professor with 15+ years experience specializing in business continuity, disaster recover, IT security, and knowledge transfer. Applies methods for assessing and mitigating risk, analyzing impacts, and managing incidents. IT security experience including security auditing, governance risk and compliance, ITGRC implementation and business continuity planning.

Aneesh Kumar is an innovative digital leader with a record in healthcare as well as in Silicon Valley. He currently serves as the Chief Digital Innovation Officer at Catalyst Solutions. In this role, he is helping transform Catalyst’s BPO (business process outsourcing) offerings to a business-process-as-a-service platform powered by industry knowledge and advanced analytics. As the Chief Product Officer at Elevance Health, he helped drive a $1B+ increase in sales for the company’s commercial division. He has created product organizations, processes, and culture from scratch at Gainwell Technologies and Cigna. At Accenture, Aneesh helped payers and providers with system transformation. He has also founded and grown two healthcare startups and has led teams of 2 to 2,400 professionals. Earlier, in Silicon Valley, Aneesh defined and delivered multi-hundred-million-dollar products at Apple and Openwave Systems.

Deputy CISO at Maximus, where he orchestrates robust cybersecurity strategies for large-scale enterprise environments. With over 20 years of experience across the financial, insurance, and technology sectors, Nigel is an expert at bridging high-level strategic oversight with deep technical execution. Holding CISSP, CISA, and MCSE certifications, he has a proven track record of managing complex security operations, including threat intelligence, incident response, and vulnerability management, while leading diverse, high-performing teams toward operational excellence. Beyond his leadership in the C-suite, Nigel is a seasoned engineer with proficiency in a vast technical stack—ranging from Python and C++ to cloud security architecture across Azure and AWS. At Maximus, he has been instrumental in modernizing Identity and Access Management (IAM) and security engineering functions, consistently aligning NIST control standards with business-critical processes. Known as a trusted advisor and effective communicator, Nigel excels at translating intricate technical risks into actionable business cases, ensuring that cybersecurity remains a key driver of organizational productivity and resilience.

Jonathan Waldrop is an experienced and passionate leader in cybersecurity and technology. He started his career on Active Duty in the Air Force as a communications and information officer and spent seven years in active service before transitioning to the Air Force Reserve. He is a participating reservist supporting Headquarters Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations. He has more than 15 years of experience across a broad range of technologies, industries, and government organizations. His current role at Insight Global is the Senior Director of Cybersecurity, where he has spent the past 6+ years building and developing the cybersecurity team, scaling the people, processes, and technology to support a company that has experienced rapid growth both from an employee, and revenue standpoint. He initiates projects to streamline business processes that are secure by design with a focus on usability and pragmatic security. Additionally, Jonathan has presented at security conferences on a variety of topics and frequently appears on podcasts. He earned a Master’s of Science degree in Management Information Systems and Services from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Meteorology from Florida State University. He also holds multiple certifications including CISSP, Qualified Technology Executive (QTE), and others. As a Veteran and participating member of the Air Force Reserve, he also works closely with the Veteran community, mentoring and guiding Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coasties, and Guardians during their transition from active duty service, whether it was after 2 years, or 20 years. On the personal side, he is a runner, cyclist, reader, and all-around family man.

Founded in 1984, CDW is a multi-brand technology solution and managed services provider to business, government, education and healthcare organizations in North America and the United Kingdom. The CDW Corporation operates a retail store at its corporate headquarters and manages an e-commerce site. CDW Corporation is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Nick Yaitsky is a transformational healthcare technology executive and Chief AI Officer at Lulav Technology Partners, where he specializes in the practical intersection of artificial intelligence, clinical innovation, and organizational culture. Drawing on his extensive experience as the Chief AI Officer and Head of Enterprise Architecture at Wellstar Health System, Nick focuses on what actually works in the field - moving beyond the hype to implement robust governance frameworks and scalable digital ecosystems. A Georgia Institute of Technology alumnus and frequent industry speaker, he is widely recognized for his ability to lead complex digital transformations that harmonize backend infrastructure with patient-facing care, ultimately leveraging data-driven strategies to optimize outcomes and streamline high-stakes clinical workflows.

Marcelo Tamassia, Syntax’s Global Chief Technology Officer since 2019, drives the company’s technology and innovation strategies. Co-founder of EmeraldCube Solutions, acquired by Syntax, he led their AWS cloud practice and software R&D, enhancing their position in the Oracle JD Edwards ecosystem. Prior, he managed ERP projects globally and led a technical consulting organization. With over two decades in technology, Marcelo emphasizes empowering individuals to provide exceptional solutions. He holds advanced certifications from AWS, Oracle, and Microsoft, along with an MBA from the University of Florida and postgraduate education from Stanford University, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning and excellence.

Kiba Polk is a visionary technology leader and Chief Architect for Healthcare Client Advisory at Gainwell Technologies, where he directs large-scale technology strategy across Payer, Provider, and Government programs. Specializing in the intersection of AI platforms, enterprise architecture, and cloud modernization, Kiba is a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and boards, known for translating emerging technologies into governed, scalable platforms that drive growth. With a career highlighted by high-impact leadership at organizations like CVS Health, he has delivered significant results, including 30% operational efficiency gains through AI and 50% improvements in process efficiency via cloud modernization. A 2024 Top Voice in AI and Digital Transformation and recipient of the 2025 Georgia Tech TechForward 2.0 Recognition Award, Kiba excels at navigating complex, matrixed environments to build high-performing teams and architect secure, compliant solutions. Whether leading Generative AI adoption or orchestrating API-first migrations across AWS, Azure, and GCP, he consistently aligns technical innovation with business-oriented narratives to deliver measurable ROI and long-term resilience.

Andrey Morochko is a seasoned technology executive and Head of IT Operations and Global Infrastructure at Novelis, where he leads large-scale efforts to optimize efficiency, resiliency, and security across complex global environments. With a diverse background spanning Fortune 500 infrastructure and operations, enterprise architecture, and smart manufacturing, Andrey excels at aligning cutting-edge technology strategies with core business objectives. Prior to his current role, he served as Chief Enterprise Architect at Novelis, driving architectural standards that delivered tangible organizational benefits. A startup advisor and frequent industry speaker, Andrey is recognized for his expertise in commercial software delivery and his ability to manage high-stakes technology transformations that bridge the gap between innovation and operational excellence.

Daan Gheysens is the CEO of Cyberwolf, a global cybersecurity firm with offices in the United States and Belgium. Cyberwolf delivers all-in digital protection for wealthy families and corporate VIPs, delivered in a private and convenient experience. Before Cyberwolf, Daan served as Head of Sales & Marketing at Robovision, where he built and scaled the go-to-market for AI-powered solutions in medical imaging and industrial automation. He began his career at Accenture, advising Fortune 500 companies on AI strategy and helping them establish their first AI teams and programs.

Dan VanBeek is a seasoned technology leader and Lead of GRC Engineering at MarketAxess, where he modernizes governance, risk, and compliance frameworks for the global financial technology leader. With over a decade of experience spanning computer engineering, M&A integrations, and information security strategy, Dan excels at bridging the gap between complex infrastructure and C-suite business risk. A Georgia Tech engineer and Washington University (Olin) MBA, he holds both CISSP and CISM certifications, positioning him as a rare expert in both the technical and regulatory nuances of global finance. Dan is particularly recognized for his forward-thinking approach to AI Risk Management, building robust governance models that focus on ethics, bias mitigation, and data protection to secure machine learning investments. At MarketAxess, he spearheads the automation of traditional GRC processes—including DORA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance—to provide real-time visibility into the organization’s risk landscape. A passionate team builder who advocates for "automating the boring stuff," Dan is dedicated to fostering high-performing security cultures that prioritize innovation, transparency, and resilient vendor oversight.

Chetan Prakash is a customer-focused technology executive and the Head of Merger, Acquisition & Divestiture and Enterprise Architecture at Zoetis Inc. With an extensive track record spanning industries such as Consumer Goods, Retail, and Software, Chetan specializes in defining and executing strategies that drive large-scale digital transformation and corporate growth. He is highly regarded for his ability to build sustainable enterprise capabilities and lead high-performance, multi-cultural teams through complex global initiatives. From evangelizing innovative cloud and data analytics technologies to managing high-stakes M&A integrations and SAP/Salesforce implementations, Chetan bridges the gap between IT innovation and business strategy to deliver measurable organizational value.

Ashok Narayan’s career in the technology sector spans over two decades, during which he has leveraged his expertise across a diverse array of industries, including telecommunications, manufacturing, supply chain, education technology, and financial technology, among others. Taking on technology leadership roles at various organizations, ranging from Fortune 10 companies like AT&T to mid-sized enterprises and innovative startups, he has successfully led the incubation, scaling, and maturation of numerous complex initiatives, navigating the ever-evolving technological landscape. Ashok's expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of technologies, from traditional client-server architectures to cutting-edge innovations in cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, generative AI, and the Internet of Things. However, Ashok firmly believes that the true foundation for a successful career lies in the cultivation of meaningful relationships. By building and nurturing connections with leaders, peers, vendors, customers, family, friends, and even casual acquaintances, Ashok has found the essential fuel that powers both his professional and personal triumphs. Family serves as the cornerstone of Ashok's approach to work and life, inspiring his dedication and balanced perspective. Beyond his professional life, Ashok is an avid reader, an enthusiastic tennis player, and enjoys solving escape rooms, traveling and hiking with his family and strongly believes that work-life harmony enriches one’s well-being.