The Future of IT & Cybersecurity
CIO & CISO Think Tank
March 10, 2026 - NYC, NY
Visionaries
Cecilia Li
CIO
Urban Edge Properties
About Me
Urban Edge Properties is a NYSE listed real estate investment trust focused on managing, acquiring, developing, and redeveloping retail real estate in urban communities, primarily in the Washington, D.C. to Boston corridor. Urban Edge owns 77 properties totaling 17.4 million square feet of gross leasable area. Cecilia Li, Chief Information Officer, serves as a strategic partner to the executive management delivering vision, critical analyses, and recommendations. With over 20 years of experience with a focus on customer service and digital transformation, she leads the strategy and implementation of their technology operations and aims to deliver continuous and impactful solutions to the business. You will often find her speaking on relevant topics related to innovation, business intelligence, cybersecurity, and operations optimization. She plays an active role in bettering the built environment; She served as the Co-Chair for Realcomm, is a Board Member of Real Estate Cyber Consortium (RECC), is the recipient of several awards in the industry and mentors aspiring IT professionals.
Mark Grob
Head of Immersive Tech
UPS
Rod Aday
CISO
Bank of China USA
Namrata Shah
MD, Global Head of Engineering, Investment Technology
Global Investment Management
Alaa Moussawi
Chief Data Scientist
New York City Council
About Me
Alaa Moussawi serves as Chief Data Scientist for the New York City Council, where he oversees the operations of the data and web development units. Under his leadership, the data operations unit promotes the utilization of data to shape legislative initiatives aimed at addressing the diverse needs of NYC's residents. Utilizing advanced statistical and technological tools, they analyze a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to the city, ranging from pay equity to school bus delays. Their objective is to empower policymakers with data-driven insights, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in their models and research. Simultaneously, the web development unit designs and implements technologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of council staff while reducing cognitive load. By leveraging algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) technologies, they streamline user interfaces and automate complex tasks. Their solutions, developed exclusively using open source technology, are customizable and include CRMs, internal websites for streamlined processes like paperless hearings, dashboards, and machine learning models deployed to facilitate daily council operations.
Harry Halikias
Sr. Director, Global Information Security
Sony Music Publishing
Aaron Katz
CISO
TCW
Brennan Lodge
Head of Analytic Engines Cybersecurity
HSBC
Barbara Kissner
Chief Information Officer
Segal
Tony Parrillo
Global Head of Security
Schneider Electric
About Me
Experienced and passionate cybersecurity leader. Responsible for all facets of cyber security to Schneider Electric's enterprise IT, encompassing approximately 140,000 employees in 100 countries, including 220 factories, 35 distribution centers, and 1,200 sites
Avijit Chatterjee Ph.D
Head of AI/ML
MSKCC
Chris Manteria
CTO
Coldwell Banker American Heritage Real Estate (Anywhere Real Estate)
Katie Kirts
Global Director, Technology
New York Life Investments
Amir Sternhell
Chief Strategy Officer
Sertainty
Avishan Bodjnoud
Chief Information Management
United Nations Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO)
Melissa Ouari
CISO InfoSec Risk & Business Continuity Officer
Money Management International
About Me
Melissa Ouari is the Information Security and Business Continuity Officer for Money Management International. She has been I the world of technology and accounting for more than 25 years and has served in leadership positions while in her role at public accounting firms in New York City and Boston. Melissa has an array of cyber risk experience and worked across virtually all industry sectors. In her role at Money Management International, she is establishing collaborative relationships with key business and IT stakeholders to strengthen security protocols across the enterprise and finding balanced solutions to achieve productivity, efficiency and internal controls.
Louis Celiberti
MD of Application Development (CTO)
Guggenheim Securities
Kevin Walsh
CISO
PCHI
March 10, 2026
Attend this event
Agenda
All times Eastern Time
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Morning Networking
9:30 AM - 9:40 AM
Opening Remarks
9:40 AM - 10:05 AM
Keynote
The Pivotal CIO: The Helm of Modernization for Strategic Value
10:10 AM - 10:55 AM
Keynote Panel
Generative AI in 2026: Transforming Business and Technology
Explore the transformative potential of Generative AI in this forward-looking session, where we will delve into how this cutting-edge technology is set to revolutionize business and technology landscapes. We will discuss emerging trends, anticipated advancements in the next 12-24 months, and their impact on various industries. Learn about practical applications of Generative AI, from enhancing customer experiences to driving innovation and operational efficiency. Our experts will also address the ethical considerations, regulatory challenges, and best practices for successful AI integration. Join us to gain insights into how Generative AI can unlock new opportunities and shape the future of your organization.
10:30 AM - 11:05 AM
Fireside Chat
Cybersecurity Resolve: Mental Fatigue, Burnout & the Human Risk Factor
Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a human one. With mounting pressure, 24/7 threats, and increasing accountability, today’s workforce is under immense stress. This leadership roundtable explores the intersection of mental wellness, organizational resilience, and insider risk. Topics include burnout detection, human error trends, building psychologically safe teams, and fostering a culture where security isn’t just enforced—but owned. Learn how executives are rethinking workforce sustainability in security, with practical strategies for retention, performance, and mental clarity at every level.
Rod Aday
CISO
Bank of China USA
10:55 AM - 11:15 AM
Coffee Break
11:55 AM - 12:40 PM
Panel
The Next Wave Agentic AI: Control, Collaboration, and the Future Frontier of Automation
Agentic AI, autonomous systems that perceive, reason, and act with minimal human intervention is poised to redefine how work gets done. As these intelligent agents move beyond experimentation into enterprise-scale deployments, organizations must prepare to fundamentally rearchitect their digital environments.
This panel will explore how leaders can operationalize agentic AI to drive efficiency, creativity, and strategic advantage while preserving oversight, governance, and trust. Discussion topics will include designing workflows around autonomous decision-making, managing human-agent collaboration, and navigating emerging risks such as bias, security, and operational drift. Join us as we unpack what it truly means to lead in an era of intelligent, action-oriented AI and how to ensure these agents serve both your innovation goals and core business values.
Louis Celiberti
MD of Application Development (CTO)
Guggenheim Securities
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
Disruptor
What’s AI Doing for You?
The terms "Artificial Intelligence" and "Advanced Machine Learning" are often thought of interchangeably. While there is a relationship between AI and AML, to say they are the same thing is an oversimplification and misclassification. Rather, one begets the other with AI being the basic principle upon which AML is developed. As AI begins to mature and migrate away from purely advanced mathematical operations into decision making paradigms, AML steps forward as the predictive ability of machines to process vast quantities of data. As data and analytics becomes foundational to the way every business operates, AI and AML will become foundational capabilities.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Panel
Embracing Innovation: Best-of-Breed Emerging Technologies from Silicon Valley ... and Beyond!
In this strategic session designed for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), we delve into the transformative realm of "Innovate through Emerging Tech." As technology stewards, CIOs play a pivotal role in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. The session provides CIOs with actionable insights into leveraging these technologies to drive innovation within their organizations. Attendees will explore practical strategies for implementation, addressing potential challenges, and ensuring ethical considerations in adopting these disruptive technologies. Join us to empower your role as a technology leader and discover how CIOs can strategically leverage emerging tech to propel their organizations into the forefront of innovation.This panel discussion will take you on a journey through the forefront of technological innovation, featuring three visionary solutions poised to revolutionize the digital landscape. These pioneering solutions address pressing challenges faced by organizations worldwide, ranging from permissions management to troubleshooting live applications and system observability.
In today's dynamic digital landscape, managing permissions effectively poses a significant challenge for organizations. However, a pioneering solution emerges to address these pressing concerns by automating permissions management based on risk and usage patterns, ensuring alignment with business needs while minimizing security risks. Moreover, a revolutionary toolset empowers developers and SREs to troubleshoot live applications swiftly and efficiently, slashing mean time to resolution and delivering substantial cost savings. Dive deeper into how these groundbreaking approaches drive productivity gains and cost efficiencies for organizations worldwide.
2:50 PM - 3:25 PM
Fireside Chat
Securing the Rise of Agentic AI: Trust, Control, and Resilience in Autonomous Systems
As agentic AI systems evolve from experimental tools to enterprise-grade digital workers—capable of making decisions, taking actions, and adapting in real time—they introduce a new paradigm of both possibility and risk. Unlike traditional automation, agentic AI operates with greater autonomy, raising urgent questions for security leaders: How do we ensure control? How do we manage risk when systems learn, act, and adapt independently?
This panel will explore the security implications of deploying agentic AI across business operations—from data privacy and decision integrity to real-time threat mitigation and adversarial AI risks. We'll dive into the intersection of governance, identity management, and AI observability, and how CISOs can build frameworks that safeguard both the systems and the outcomes.
Kevin Walsh
CISO
PCHI
3:25 PM - 3:40 PM
Networking Break
3:40 PM - 3:55 PM
Disruptor
2026 Business-Tech: Aligning Business Goals with IT Innovation
In a world of rapid digital disruption, the most successful organizations are those where business strategy and IT execution move in lockstep. This panel brings together business and IT leaders to explore how to align long-term growth objectives with the right mix of emerging technologies—from AI and cloud platforms to data-driven decision-making and modern application architectures.
Panelists will discuss how to break down silos between departments, drive innovation through collaborative planning, and build agile digital infrastructures that scale with evolving business needs. Expect insights on joint KPIs, governance frameworks, and the cultural shifts required to turn IT from a support function into a strategic growth enabler.
4:00 PM - 4:35 PM
Fireside Chat
The Human Side of Tech: Why Soft Skills Are the Real Superpower
In a world obsessed with digital transformation, AI, and automation, it’s easy to forget the power of human connection. But the truth is—technology doesn’t lead, people do. As roles evolve and teams become more cross-functional, the ability to listen, influence, adapt, and collaborate has become just as critical as technical expertise.
Today’s CIOs, CISOs, and tech leaders are expected not only to drive innovation, but to communicate across departments, manage diverse teams, and navigate uncertainty with empathy and clarity. Emotional intelligence, storytelling, active listening, and resilience are no longer “nice to have”—they’re essential for anyone leading in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment.
Nowhere is this leadership shift more relevant than in the US particularly in NYC, a city built on creativity, reinvention, and cultural diversity. Here, the ability to connect across perspectives isn’t just a professional skill—it’s a way of life. As tech and business worlds converge, NYC’s unique blend of innovation and human-centered thinking offers the perfect backdrop to explore how soft skills are reshaping the future of leadership.
This session dives into why the most successful executives are blending EQ with IQ to inspire trust, build alignment, and drive lasting impact.
