Conference part of Council’s “100 Years Together” initiative aimed at forging the next century of Polish-American partnership
WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council and PKO Bank Polski announced today a major cyber conference “A New Initiative for Poland: A Future Global Leader in Securing the 4th Industrial Revolution” to take place in Warsaw on January 16-17, 2019. The high-level pubic conference, which comes on the 100th anniversary of US-Poland relations, will convene key decisionmakers and policymakers to deepen US-Polish transatlantic ties by developing cybersecurity as a key pillar of the relationship.
“We are excited to launch this important cyber conference that will explore Poland’s significant potential to become a global leader in cybersecurity,” said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. “This conference is part of a body of work that further deepens the Atlantic Council’s commitment to Poland, an important ally to the United States, who celebrates its 100th anniversary since regaining independence. We look forward to the next 100 years of Polish-American friendship and alliance that will help meet this century’s most pressing challenges.”
The cyber conference, featuring His Excellency Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland, and General Keith Alexander (ret.), former commander of US Cyber Command, will explore cybersecurity issues in three tracks—policy, innovation, and private sector leadership. It will include cyber, innovation, defense, and foreign policy experts from the United States, Poland, and other European countries, and aims to highlight Poland’s potential to become a powerhouse on cyber issues in Europe and the world while bolstering Poland’s cybersecurity expertise in the policy and strategy space.
“Digital transformation and its impact across society and the economy make cybersecurity a critical business issue and development enabler. No country or company can deal with this challenge alone. International cooperation is the key to versatile, modern, and flexible cybersecurity solutions and is a way to solve human capital crisis in this industry. As an unquestioned leader of the Polish banking sector, each day we support the development of Poland and Poles. Therefore, we are committed to the idea of Polish-American cybersecurity alliance – we can benefit both at the level of individual entities and the national economy,” says Zbigniew Jagiełło, President of the Management Board of PKO Bank Polski.
Over the course of two days, participants will consider key issues underpinning Poland’s ongoing digital transformation, such as the role of innovation, combating disinformation, cloud technologies, critical infrastructure protection, and cybersecurity education. Speakers will include: Ambassador Daniel Fried, distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council and former US Ambassador to Poland; Tom Bossert, former assistant to the US president for homeland security and counterterrorism; Lt. Gen. William Mayville (ret.), former deputy commander of US Cyber Command; Merle Maigre, executive vice president of government relations at CybExer Technologies; Christopher Porter, chief intelligence strategist at FireEye; Klara Jordan, director of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative; Fred Streefland, Regional Chief Security Officer (CSO) for North & East-Europe at Palo Alto Networks, Paula Januszkiewicz, founder and CEO of CQURE; and Adam Marciniak, vice president of PKO Bank Polski.
The conference is a part of the Atlantic Council’s “100 Years Together” initiative aimed at forging the next century of Polish-American partnership rooted in common values, shared interests, and commitment to a strong transatlantic community of freedom.
For questions or to attend the cyber conference, please email press@atlanticcouncil.org. Follow the conversation online using #ACcyber and #StrongerWithAllies.