Forging the Future of Cybersecurity
Thought Leadership | Peer Networking
Zero Trust & AI Guardrails: Commanding the 2025 Cyber Battleground
“AI with a Badge and a Backdoor” — Agentic AI as Adversary & Employee
Explore how autonomous agents can act as both your greatest accelerator and your most unpredictable insider threat. Learn the newest detection, containment, and audit strategies for AI systems that can think, act, and occasionally go off-script.
“The Hidden Workforce” — Shadow AI Governance
Business units are spinning up unsanctioned AI tools faster than security can blink. In this session, dissect real-world frameworks for discovering, governing, and securing these “shadow AIs” — without stifling innovation or trust.
“Who’s Logging In When It’s Not Human?” — Identity for Nonhuman Agents
As AIs begin to own credentials, call APIs, and request access, the next frontier in IAM has arrived. Discuss the architecture and policy implications of provisioning, rotating, and revoking identities for your nonhuman workforce.
“Built to Bend, Not Break” — Resilience by Design
Breach inevitability is the new baseline. This conversation dives into designing systems — and teams — that can absorb, adapt, and recover with board-ready transparency. Explore resilience metrics that translate cleanly to enterprise risk language.
“The Ghost in Your Supply Chain” — Model & Vendor Integrity
Third-party risk now extends to your AI models and data pipelines. Learn how forward-leaning CISOs are adapting SBOM/MBOM methodologies for AI supply chains, improving diligence, and demanding transparency from vendors and partners.
“From Gut Feel to Hard Numbers” — Quantifying AI & Cyber Risk
Boards want dollar signs, not acronyms. This session walks through emerging methods to measure and communicate AI-driven and cyber risks in financial terms — bridging the credibility gap between security, finance, and the C-suite.
Connect, Grow, and Innovate
with a community of your peers.
CISOphoenix CISO Leader's Network
Frank Steele
First VP of Security Architecture & Engineering, Bank of Hope
Bashar Abouseido
Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, Charles Schwab
Don Silva
VP, Chief Information Security Officer, SimonMed Imaging
Lester Godsey
CISO, Maricopa County
Larry Schwarberg
VP IT, University of Phoenix
Chris Lawrence
CIO/CISO, Risas Dental and Braces
An Exclusive CISO Luncheon Experience
Indulge in a dining experience where the sizzle of perfectly seared steaks meets the spark of meaningful conversation. This is more than a meal — it’s a forum for leading CISOs to exchange insights, share challenges, and forge valuable connections over handcrafted cocktails and exceptional cuisine.
Attended by the Best
Collaborating beyond the confines of the office
Agenda
11:00am - 2:30pm MST
11:00 - 12:15
Registration & Open Networking
Prepare to come away from an afternoon of fresh perspectives, insights, collaboration, and meaningful connections with select group of your local IT Security leadership peers.
12:15 - 12:25
Opening Remarks
Our professional Master of Ceremonies takes the floor to facilitate an afternoon of thought provoking sessions.
12:25 - 12:45
Fireside Chat
Fireside Chat with the insight and knowledge to help shape trending maneuver from within the office of the CISO.
12:45 - 1:45
Executive Luncheon: Conversations That Shape the Future of IT Security
Join fellow CISOs and senior technology leaders for a relaxed yet high-impact lunch designed to feed both mind and appetite. Over a chef-crafted meal, participants will exchange hard-won lessons and emerging strategies on AI adoption and digital resilience.
1:45 - 2:05
Fireside Chat
Fireside Chat with the insight and knowledge to help shape trending maneuver from within the Office of the CISO.
2:05 - 2:30
World Café Roundtables
Step into the heartbeat of the event — an energetic, peer-driven exchange where every table becomes a live intelligence network. In this World Café roundtable, you’ll rotate through fast-paced, themed conversations on the AI realities shaping enterprise IT — from ROI and governance to cost control and culture shift.
2:30 - 3:30
Cocktail Reception and Networking
Unwind and connect with the only peers who truly understand the pressure of leading technology at enterprise scale.
Join us for curated cocktails, conversation, and connections that can accelerate your next big move.
As a thank-you for staying to build your network, you will be entered into our Xbox S raffle. (Winner announced live at the reception—you must be present to win.)
Stay for the Sizzle — and Leave with an Xbox
We’ll be raffling off an Xbox — our most-coveted prize — along with a curated lineup of premium sponsor giveaways and swag you’ll actually want to keep.
The crowd roars. It’s pure energy. Don’t slip out early — the raffle gets electric, and the winners usually celebrate in style.
