Martin retired in 2016 after a long career in the British Government, working primarily in the National Security Sector. He was at the heart of the UK’s response to the opportunities and challenges of digital and cyber technologies.

Originally trained in computer and natural sciences, he was involved as a programmer in the early personal computer industry as well as serving for seven years with the British Military. In 1983 he joined the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, working at first on Cold War themes before learning Persian and a posting to a war-torn, post-revolutionary Iran. For the following decade his work centred on countering nuclear proliferation, spending five years at the United Nations in Vienna.

In the late 90s he switched focus to counter-terrorism in Europe, building partnerships in the German National Security Sector. Following 9/11, Martin headed an expeditionary deployment to Afghanistan, taking the UK back to Kabul in November 2001. From London he had a central role supporting major combat operations in Iraq, before a second posting to Afghanistan between 2004 and 2006, where he led counter-narcotic, counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations as well the development of vital capabilities, both for the UK and the Afghan authorities. His work included close liaison with the most senior allied and Afghan figures.

Returning to London, Martin held prominent leadership positions, building offensive and defensive capabilities for the National Security Sector, combining traditional techniques and skills with emerging innovations, especially in the fields of mobile, cyber and data. He became an experienced executive and nonexecutive member of the top governance in his sector, retiring as Director General for Technology and Transformation.

Post-retirement, Martin works with businesses he believes address key capability gaps, bringing the finest emerging technology together with skilled humans to defend and transform both the commercial and government sectors. In addition he is a Visiting Professor at University College London looking at cyber and terrorism crime reduction and is Senior Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Credit Suisse Group. He is a non-executive Chairman and Director at several other businesses.

Martin swims and runs to stay in shape – and sane – and is happiest when hiking in the high mountains. He reads Persian poetry and bakes macaroons, both of which he enjoys with his wife at their home in central London.
 

Chris Palmer Managing Director, CIB Controls, JP Morgan, London

Chris has 19 years banking experience across 3 continents focusing on project implementation across the Markets and Controls area.

He began his Investment Banking career in Operational Risk before running the Commodities Middle Office, including managing the expansion into Asia where he was located for 4 years.

He currently leads the implementation of Front Office Supervision programs across the Corporate and Investment Bank at JP Morgan.
 

Brian leads all aspects of RedOwl’s operations to include customer sales and support, business development, and marketing. With over a decade of experience in business development and growth strategy leadership roles, Brian has a track record of enabling security-focused technology firms to scale and succeed. Most recently, he served as an advisor to high-growth cybersecurity companies at The Chertoff Group, where he led the firm’s strategy practice area and advised venture-backed security chief executives as well as Fortune 100 chief information security officers. Brian holds an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University; and a B.S. from Syracuse University.
 

Mark Harrington is a specialist consultant within the UK and Global Banking and Financial Markets division of BT.  Mark has been with BT for over 10 years spending the last 5 specialising in delivering innovation to the trading community.  Since 2011 Mark has been responsible for the introduction of leading compliance products to BT clients including the development and launch of the leading mobile compliance solution.

Before this Mark was responsible for complex integration and business transformation around Global Contact Centre and multi-channel customer service solutions where he would typically lead large teams of architects and consultants working together to deliver real business benefit from new technology.

Today Mark’s focus is around the delivery of solutions to enable compliance teams to ensure adherence to ethical and regulatory controls across the trading communities. This now extends well beyond BT’s traditional communications portfolio encompassing advanced technologies such as behavioural analytics and social media management.

 

Luke Beeson, BT

Luke Beeson is Vice President of Security for UK and Global Banking and Financial Markets customers.  He is a Chartered Engineer and member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.  Prior to joining BT Luke worked for Honeywell on Industrial Security projects in the Oil and Gas sector, predominantly in the Middle East.

Since joining BT ten years ago he has had a number of roles all with a focus on Service Delivery and more recently Security Service Delivery.  

Previously General Manager of BT's Cyber Defence Operations Luke spent two years in this role building and running a team of Security experts to counter the ever increasing cyber security threat.

Before this Luke was General Manager of BT's Metal Theft Task Force responsible for all BT's activities to minimise the impact of cable theft on its customers.  As well as driving a number of internal initiatives to minimise the service impact of cable theft he also worked externally with Industry partners, Law Enforcement Agencies and Government to help increase the level of collaborative working to tackle the problem ultimately resulting in changes to legislation.  

As Vice President, Security UK and Global Banking and Financial Markets Luke is now working to take BT's continually evolving security capability to market.