The Future of IT & Cybersecurity

CIO & CISO Think Tank

March 12, 2026 - Minneapolis, MN

Visionaries

Jason Trunk Island
Jason Trunk

VP, Field CTO

Island

About Me

Jason Trunk serves as Vice President and Field CTO at Island bringing over 25 years experience with emerging end-user compute technologies, application performance, server side code optimization, network decryption, and virtualization. Jason has held prior leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, BigPanda, JPMorganChase, AppDynamics, Mercury Interactive and Quest Software. Jason resides in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, is a father of two, loves squash, sailing, island-hopping, and riding his OneWheel electric skateboard around the world.

Grant Ecker Ecolab
Grant Ecker

VP Chief Enterprise Architecture

Ecolab

About Me

Grant Ecker is the Founder and Chairman of the Chief Architect Network, and most recently the Vice President Chief Enterprise Architect at Danaher where he partnered closely with the architects across the company to lead strategy development, establish technology standards and to identify opportunities for modernization and transformation.  Prior to Danaher, Grant was the VP, Global Head of Architecture at Walgreens Boots Alliance, and he held a similar role at Medtronic. Earlier in Grant’s career he held architecture and management roles with expanding responsibility at Lowe’s and General Mills.  Grant is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, he received an MBA from University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and his BS in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis.  Grant is a board member of the Women in Architecture initiative and he holds various board advisory roles out of Chicago, Illinois. Please connect with Grant at

Mike Jackson Arctic Wolf Networks
Mike Jackson

Senior Director of Concierge Security Services

Arctic Wolf Networks

About Me

Mike Jackson is the Senior Director for the consulting group known as Concierge for North America at Arctic Wolf. He leads a team of hundreds of information security professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Mike also is the Executive Sponsor for Arctic Wolf’s Proud Wolves group; a DEI group focused on LGBTQIA+. Additionally, Mike has been in information security for over 20 years, with career arcs in security testing, computer forensics and investigations, threat intelligence, security audit, and security research. He has lead teams at Target and Best Buy, and was the head of security for SmartThings, a subsidiary of Samsung focusing on smart home technology before securing his position at Arctic Wolf.

Mitch Maxwell Fortinet
Mitch Maxwell

Systems Engineer

Fortinet

About Me

Mitch Maxwell is a Systems Engineer at Fortinet with over 25 years of experience in networking and cybersecurity. He works with enterprise organizations to design secure, scalable architectures across on premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Prior to Fortinet, Mitch spent more than a decade at UnitedHealth Group, where he served as both a technical contributor and a leader, supporting large scale, mission critical environments. He brings a practical, experience-driven perspective focused on simplifying complexity, improving security outcomes, and aligning technology with business goals.

March 12, 2026

Agenda

All times Central Time

8:30 AM - 9:02 AM

Registration


9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Morning Networking


9:30 AM - 9:40 AM

Opening Remarks


9:40 AM - 9:55 AM
Vision Voices Keynote

Beyond Compliance: Building Cyber Resilience in an Age of Intelligent Threats

Explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in this forward-looking session, where we will examine how organizations can move beyond compliance to achieve true cyber resilience. As AI-driven and intelligent threats outpace traditional defenses, we will discuss the critical role of adaptive governance, proactive risk management, and cross-sector collaboration in strengthening organizational security. Learn how leading CISOs are redefining their strategies to align with rapidly shifting threat environments and technological change. We will also address the cultural and leadership dimensions of resilience—empowering teams to stay vigilant, agile, and secure in the face of constant disruption. Join us to gain practical insights into building a security foundation that not only protects but also enables innovation and long-term competitiveness.


10:00 AM - 10:25 AM
Keynote

SASE in 2026: An Enterprise Roadmap for Scalable, and Converged Networking and Security

Enterprises are at a pivotal moment in their security and networking evolution. Hybrid work is permanent, cloud and SaaS adoption continue to accelerate, and AI-driven threats are increasing both in speed and sophistication. As users, applications, and data move beyond the traditional perimeter, enterprises must deliver consistent security and optimized access—everywhere—without increasing operational complexity.

This keynote explores how Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provides a unified, architecture-driven approach to converging networking and security. Attendees will gain a practical roadmap for evolving toward a scalable SASE strategy in 2026—one that strengthens identity-centric controls, simplifies operations, reduces architectural sprawl, and enables enterprises to modernize incrementally while protecting existing investments.

Together With:
Fortinet

10:30 AM - 11:05 AM
Fireside Chat

Mental Fatigue, Burnout & the Human Risk Factor in IT and Cybersecurity

Technology and 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.


11:05 AM - 11:25 AM

Coffee Break


11:25 AM - 12:10 PM
Panel

The Age of Agentic: Control, Collaboration, and the Next 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.


12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Disruptor

Building Resilience in the Face of Chaos: Lessons Learned from Crisis

How do you build a cybersecurity program in the face of a future of increasing unknowns? AI-driven and AI-augmented attacks, supply chain attacks, and quantum computing are changing the security threats that we currently protect against, in both predictable and unpredictable ways. Being able to defend against these new threats will take more than just point solutions - it will require a culture of adaptability and a structure that can learn and flex to meet these new challenges. Born from experiences where chaos has forced organizations to change, learn how to build adaptability into your security program.

Together With:
Arctic Wolf

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch & Networking


1:30 PM - 1:55 PM
Keynote

Reducing Application Delivery Tech Debt from the Inside Out

Three out of five organizations say it is likely or highly likely that data leakage will occur based on their current IT and security infrastructure. This new survey data reflects the high volume of sensitive data flowing through consumer web browsers and the complexities involved in keeping it secure. Join this session to discover a new approach to enterprise operations -- the modern alternative to legacy systems, inefficient application delivery methods, and outdated security controls.

Attendees will discover:

  • How the steady accumulation of disparate IT and security solutions creates technical debt.
  • Why operational and security challenges impact not just IT -- but end user productivity and the business itself
  • A new, modern approach to enterprise application delivery that simplifies IT, strengthens security, and enhances end user productivity.
Together With:
Island.io

2:00 PM - 2:35 PM
Fireside Chat

The Future of Cyber Resilience

Winning in a World of Constant Threats

In an era of escalating cyber threats, evolving attack surfaces, and accelerated digital transformation, traditional security models are no longer enough. This keynote will explore what it means to build cyber resilience in today’s complex environment—where speed, adaptability, and business alignment are paramount. From securing hybrid and multi-cloud environments to integrating AI-driven threat intelligence, we’ll examine how leaders can future-proof their security strategies while enabling innovation. Learn how to shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience, ensuring your organization can not only withstand but thrive amid disruption.


2:40 PM - 3:25 PM
Panel

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.


3:30 PM - 3:45 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.

3:45 PM - 4:05 PM

Networking Break


4:05 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 Minneapolis, 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, Minneapolis’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.


4:35 PM - 4:40 PM

Closing Remarks & Raffle Giveaway


4:40 PM - 5:30 PM

Cocktail Reception


Together With