BE-CEC-2025 by Pointury, 27/03/25

BE-CEC 2025, Belgium’s Cybersecurity Executives Conference

BE-CEC 2025 brings together Belgium's top cybersecurity executives, CIOs, CISOs, infrastructure managers, etc. for an exclusive, invitation-only conference. This semi-annual gathering, scheduled for March 27, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Salons Waerboom in Groot-Bijgaarden, is designed to foster strategic discussions, insights, and collaborative efforts among the leaders responsible for safeguarding Belgium’s digital landscape.

Purpose

The conference will provide a platform for C-level executives to discuss the latest cybersecurity challenges, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions that enhance organisational resilience against evolving cyber threats. With a focus on executive-level concerns, BE-CEC 2025 aims to inspire and connect.

Agenda Highlights

Keynote Presentations from cybersecurity experts that get straight to the point.
Insights on critical issues and industry trends like AI-driven threats and regulatory compliance.
Experiences with ransomware attacks and with successful cybersecurity implementations.
Networking for executives to connect and build valuable alliances.

Who Should Attend?

This event is exclusively for Belgium’s C-level cybersecurity and IT leaders.

Why Attend?

Discover how peers deal in smart ways with the current challenging context.
Reconnect and extend our personal network with over 200 cybersecurity executives.

AGENDA

As we get closer to the event date, we’ll be updating the agenda to reflect the latest developments in cybersecurity. We will add high-profile keynote speakers to ensure the agenda is as relevant and impactful as possible.

In today's geopolitical climate, cybersecurity is increasingly vital due to rising tensions, especially with state-sponsored cyber threats from countries like Russia and China. Cyberattacks now target critical infrastructure and government data, with ransomware and other malicious activities disrupting essential services. The conflict in Ukraine has amplified these concerns, as cyber warfare tactics are being deployed against Ukrainian and Western entities. In response, international organisations and individual countries are enhancing cybersecurity defences and regulatory frameworks, emphasising the need for international cooperation and resilience across sectors.

Taco will share his insights and hands-on experience with the implementation of NIS2 across several federal entities. Taco will discuss the strategic focus on people, processes, and technology that Belgian authorities have embraced to meet the directive's security requirements. He will highlight the practical steps, challenges, successes, and even the fun aspects of the implementation projects. Taco views NIS2 as an opportunity for CISOs to connect with like-minded professionals and collaborate toward a shared goal of enhancing cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity is critical in the healthcare sector as it protects sensitive patient data and ensures the integrity of essential healthcare systems. Hospitals and healthcare organisations are frequent targets of cyberattacks like ransomware, which can disrupt patient care by locking access to medical records and critical systems. Stéphane will share his insights and experience about cybersecurity challenges in healthcare, lessons learned in managing a cyber crisis and cybersecurity implementation roadmap.

Cybersecurity is crucial in the financial sector due to the sensitive nature of financial data and the sector's frequent targeting by cybercriminals. Financial institutions face a high volume of threats, including ransomware, phishing, and sophisticated fraud schemes. To counter these, they employ strong encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to protect transactions and customer data. Regulations like DORA, GDPR and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), mandate stringent cybersecurity practices to safeguard against breaches. Financial institutions increasingly adopt AI-driven anomaly detection to identify potential threats in real time, enhancing their resilience against cyberattacks.

In the software development sector, cybersecurity is increasingly prioritised through practices like DevSecOps, which integrates security into each stage of the development lifecycle. This approach uses secure coding, vulnerability assessments, and automated testing to identify risks early. Developers rely on methods like code analysis, threat modelling, and penetration testing to find and address flaws before deployment. The growing use of open-source components has also made supply chain security essential. Regulatory frameworks, such as the EU's NIS2 Directive, push for secure software practices, reinforcing the role of cybersecurity as a core aspect of quality development.

Airports rely on interconnected technologies for passenger services, baggage handling, and operational efficiency. This connectivity makes airports vulnerable to cyber threats as a successful attack could disrupt travel, compromise safety, and erode trust.

To mitigate these risks, public transport organisations must implement a multi-layered security approach, combining advanced threat detection, network segmentation, and staff training. Compliance with regulations like the NIS2 directive is necessary to protect our infrastructure and deliver a seamless, secure experience for passengers.

The cybersecurity sector has evolved from basic antivirus and firewall protections to sophisticated, AI-driven threat detection and automated responses. With the rise of digital threats and remote work, cloud security and zero-trust models have become essential. New regulations, such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive, emphasise securing critical infrastructure and supply chains, while technologies like artificial intelligence and encryption further strengthen defences. The sector continues to adapt to address increasingly complex and advanced cyber threats in today’s digital and geopolitical landscape.

Discover how a proactive, tailored, automated and participative approach to cybersecurity can safeguard against modern threats. From dismantling phishing infrastructures with BAPS, the Belgian Anti-Phishing Shield, to building public trust via Safeonweb, learn how targeted warnings and standards like the Cyberfundamentals Framework, cyfun.be and safeonweb@work, and finally balanced online accountability keep systems secure. Join us to explore five key steps in staying prepared, protected, and ahead of cybercriminals.

BE-CEC 2025

Belgium’s Cybersecurity Executives Conference
Smart Initiatives for Challenging Times

Johan is an award-winning public speaker, who has amongst others been CISO of Bank of New York Mellon, CIO of BNY Mellon European Bank, CIO of ING Belgium, Partner at A.T. Kearney, Member of the Executive Committee at SWIFT and Principal at McKinsey.

Stéphane is passionate about technology helping people to improve the quality of life in the way they communicate, work, learn, entertain and care. Before becoming CIO at CHU Saint-Pierre he was amongst other CTO at Wolters Kluwer Transport Services & Teleroute.

As CISO of Harrods, Paul Davies is responsible for cyber defence in a business that continually innovates to bring to life a world of luxury like no other destination can.

Karolien Dewit leads digital asset protection and cybersecurity strategy at Brussels Airport Company. With prior roles as Senior Project Manager and Business Project Manager, she has a strong track record in delivering impactful projects.

Bart Van Nynatten has been helping companies grow their technological capabilities with keen insight and creative ideas. Before becoming CIO of Agoria Bart was CIO at Partena Ziekenfonds and at Partenamut, IT Manager at Arvesta and CTO at Sodexo Benelux.

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