KBKAST

In this episode, we sit down with River Nygryn, CISO and AI thought leader, as she explores the critical concepts outlined in the executive playbook for AI leadership: Trust, Test, and Transform. River provides a comprehensive overview of AI’s evolution—from its historical roots in early automated machines and neural networks to the development of large language models (LLMs) and generative assistants. She emphasizes the importance of “trust but verify” in deploying AI, warning against overreliance and the risk of diminishing critical thinking skills. River introduces the 4Ds—dull, dangerous, difficult, and dirty work—where AI delivers the greatest value, and cautions about the loss of creativity and authenticity with widespread use of AI-generated content. She encourages organizations to leverage their unique data sets, underscoring that human judgment and oversight are essential for harnessing AI’s transformative opportunities.

River is a visionary cybersecurity and technology leader with a dynamic career spanning traditional banking, cutting-edge blockchain innovation, and Web3 transformation. As a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and fractional C-suite executive, River has driven security and operational excellence across highly regulated industries, including healthcare, financial services, and emerging tech.

Renowned for bridging the gap between strategic leadership and hands-on execution, River has played a pivotal role in modernising risk and security frameworks, scaling secure systems, and advising on crypto, digital asset infrastructure, and decentralized technologies. Her influence extends beyond the boardroom – she is a powerful voice in the tech community, advocating for digital trust, innovation, and ethical leadership in the AI era.

In 2025, River was named one of The CEO Magazine’s Top 50 Women of Influence, recognised not only for her technical expertise but for her commitment to shaping a more secure and inclusive digital future. She is a sought-after speaker, frequently appearing on stage at leading conferences, panels, and keynotes to share insights on cybersecurity resilience, leadership, and the evolving Web3 landscape.

With a storytelling style that blends bold insights with deep reflection, River continues to inspire the next generation of cyber leaders and disruptors.

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Loizou, Managing Director at Intrinsic Security and former CISO of Medibank, as he shares firsthand insights into the human impact of navigating a major cyber breach. Alex walks us through the initial moments of discovery, the emotional and psychological toll on teams, and the importance of staying calm under pressure. He dives into Medibank’s approach to incident response, including the use of multiple IR partners for comprehensive investigations and the challenges of coordinating large incident teams in real time. The conversation highlights the value of practical, repeated exposure to incident scenarios, the pitfalls of “ambulance chasing” in the security industry, and the vital role of transparent, evidence-based communication during sensitive events. Alex emphasizes lessons learned about organisational preparedness, collaboration across the cybersecurity community, and the importance of building strong relationships with external media and government agencies.

Alex Loizou is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with a proven track record of building and leading high-performing security teams. He has extensive experience as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for major organisations such as Medibank, Flybuys, and Bupa. Notably, he served as the CISO at Medibank during their 2022 cyber incident, where he played a crucial role in leading the response and recovery efforts.

In this episode, we sit down with Tammy Klotz, cybersecurity and IT executive and author of Leading with Empathy and Grace, as she explores the critical role of intentional empathy in leadership. Tammy unpacks the misconception that empathy and accountability are opposites, arguing they are essential partners for building trust within teams. She discusses the impact of technology on our ability to be present, the importance of transparency during organizational challenges, and the pitfalls of viewing empathy as a “soft skill” in cybersecurity. Tammy also addresses how leaders can be more intentional in their interactions, foster stronger human connections despite remote and hybrid work environments, and why self-care is foundational for personal and professional success.

Tammy Klotz is a vibrant and accomplished executive and best-selling author with over three decades of diverse experience in the manufacturing industry, specializing in cybersecurity and transformational leadership. She offers keen expertise in navigating mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures within both publicly-traded and privately-held companies and is seasoned in security, risk, and compliance leadership. Tammy brings a dynamic and positive approach to problem solving, excelling in simplifying intricate IT and cybersecurity concepts and facilitating pragmatic, non-technical dialogues that resonate with business executives. She is recognized as a strong, knowledgeable, thoughtful security executive who excels in public speaking and thought leadership, striving to empower others through knowledge sharing.

Mr. George C. Barnes is the President of Red Cell Partner’s Cyber Practice and a Partner at the firm. In this role, he oversees the pursuit of new-start incubations that are focused on cybersecurity opportunities spanning commercial and government sectors. He ensures optimized market gap responsiveness of new incubations and guides Red Cell’s platform team support as young cybersecurity companies progress through their early-stage business life cycles. As a Red Cell Partner, Mr. Barnes applies his national security and cybersecurity domain expertise to Red Cell’s incubation activities and oversees the company’s overall cyber-related investment strategy.

Prior to joining Red Cell, Mr. Barnes served as the Deputy Director and senior civilian leader of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) from April 2017 through September 2023. In this role, Mr. Barnes served as NSA’s chief operating officer, overseeing strategy, policy, and operations.  As an agency deputy in the U.S. national security system, Mr. Barnes supported the U.S. defense and intelligence enterprise in national security strategy execution and the formulation of supporting policies.  He positioned NSA as an integrated mission partner enabling U.S. decision advantage and security against foreign threats.

Over his 36-year career at the NSA, Mr. Barnes held numerous technical and organizational leadership roles spanning intelligence collection operations, intelligence target analysis, foreign liaison and industrial partnership management, workforce support, and global enterprise governance.

U.S. Government Service Recognition Includes:

Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security Distinguished Service Medallion

National Security Agency Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

Central Intelligence Agency Seal Medal

National Reconnaissance Office Medal of Distinguished Performance

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Medallion for Excellence

National Intelligence Medal of Achievement

Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award

Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Awards (2)

Mr. Barnes received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1986. In 2020, he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Maryland’s College of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The 2020 Partners Dialogue sits at the edge of possibility, where security meets technological ambition. In this special bonus episode, KB explores how nations can move beyond simply consuming innovation to actively co-creating strategic dominance. Anchored by AUKUS and empowered by cross-sector collaboration, this conversation features insights from industry leaders Paul Maddison (Australia &New Zealand Country Manager, Strider Technologies) and Jeff Lindholm (Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout).

Paul Maddison, Australia & New Zealand Country Manager, Strider Technologies

Paul Maddison is the Australia & New Zealand Country Manager at Strider Technologies, where he is responsible for leading Strider’s market expansion and strategic partnerships with Australian universities, corporations, and governments.

Prior to joining Strider, Paul worked at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and Canberra as Director of the UNSW Defence Research Institute. This was preceded by a four-year appointment as  Canada’s High Commissioner for Australia. Paul also spent over 35 years in Canadian naval service. As a surface warfare officer, he commanded at all levels culminating in his appointment as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy at the rank of Vice
Admiral. A graduate of Canada’s Royal Military College, and a dual national since 2020, Paul is from Canada but has chosen to make Australia his home.

Jeff Lindholm, Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout

As the Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout, Jeff oversees all aspects of the company’s global sales, including the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, as well as Channel Sales, Commercial Sales and Sales Engineering. He brings a wealth of experience in networking and security sales leadership, having previously served as President and CEO of Plixer, a company focused on network traffic analysis and visibility solutions. Before that, Jeff led sales operations at both Brocade and Juniper Networks. As the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Brocade, he oversaw a $2.5 billion global sales operation until the company’s acquisition by Broadcom Inc. At Juniper Networks, he served as Chief Revenue Officer, managing $2.5 billion in revenue.” He has also held significant global sales roles at Arbor Networks (the security division of NETSCOUT) and BigBand Networks. Jeff is based in Boston and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.