Denise Anderson, MBA, is President and CEO of the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC), a global, non-profit organization dedicated to providing a trusted forum for timely and valuable situational awareness health sector companies can use to make informed, risk-based decisions about the physical and cyber threats they face. Prior to Health ISAC, she was Vice President at FS-ISAC where for almost nine years she helped grow the ISAC and achieve its successful status in the information-sharing community. She has over thirty years of executive-level leadership in the private sector.

Denise is currently Chair of the National Council of ISACs and serves on the following Boards: Global Resilience Federation (GRF), Cyber Future Foundation, and is an Advisor to the Cyber Working Group for the Health and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council. In addition, she participates in numerous industry and advisory groups and initiatives and has spoken at events all over the globe. Denise was certified as an EMT (B), and Firefighter I/II and Instructor I/II in the state of Virginia for twenty years and was an Adjunct Instructor at the Fire and Rescue Academy in Fairfax County, Virginia for ten years. She is a graduate of the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Security.

Marco (Marc) Ayala is an OT and industrial cybersecurity leader with more than three decades of experience in instrumentation, automation, control, and safety systems across the energy, oil and gas, chemicals, maritime, and offshore sectors. He currently serves as Technical Director in the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at ABS Consulting, where he leads initiatives to strengthen the security and resilience of operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems. An ISA Fellow (2025) and member of the ISA Executive Board, Marc is a recognized expert in implementing global standards and integrating cybersecurity with emerging technologies such as cloud, edge computing, and AI.

Marc also serves as President of the InfraGard Houston Members Alliance and InfraGard National Sector Chief for the Energy Sector, where he collaborates with the FBI, CISA, industry leaders, and government partners to strengthen cybersecurity resilience across the nation’s critical infrastructure.

The Honorable Joyce Connery is the founder of Connery Strategies, where she provides strategic advisory services to the nuclear industry, national laboratories, and related partners. Ms. Connery previously served as Chair of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), an independent executive branch agency focused on public health and safety at Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities. Her service on the Board—including roles as Member and Chair—spanned 2015 to 2025.

Prior to her confirmation, Ms. Connery was Director of Nuclear Energy Policy at the National Security Council (NSC), where she led policymaking on nuclear safety, security, and trade. During earlier NSC tours, she oversaw nuclear Cooperative Threat Reduction programs, supported the Nuclear Security Summit process, advanced efforts to secure vulnerable nuclear materials, and contributed to international nuclear energy policy and bilateral nuclear security and trade agreements. Ms. Connery also held senior roles at the National Nuclear Security Administration and served for two years in Kazakhstan, first as the Department of Energy’s nonproliferation representative at the U.S. Embassy and then as on-site project manager for the shutdown of the BN-350 fast breeder reactor.

Erika Dinnie is Vice President of Federal Strategy at MetTel, a leading communications solutions provider recognized for excellence in managed network services. 

With over three decades of experience, Erika drives enterprise-wide digital transformation, hybrid workplace innovation, and strategic planning in high-stakes federal and technology environments. Erika’s background includes key leadership roles at the General Services Administration (GSA), where she advanced modernizing government services through technology, organizational strategy, and resource optimization.

In the GovCon community, Erika serves as Industry co-chair for the ACT-IAC Community of Interest for Networks and Telecommunications.  She most recently authored a NextGov article,  “From the Trenches: Five Essential Lessons for Federal IT Modernization,” sharing her experience as Associate CIO in modernizing IT from within the Federal Government.

Erika is deeply committed to leadership grounded in resilience, service, and outcomes—values that align with CXC’s mission. 

As the Accenture Global Cybersecurity lead for Health and Public Service, Rick Driggers, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Assistant Director for Integrated Operations for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), provides cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security expertise and leadership to help guide the company’s information and operational technology security and holistic security business initiatives.

An expert in critical infrastructure security operations and cyber defense strategy and policy, Driggers brings 15 years of national security experience within the Joint Special Operations Community combined with over 17 years of homeland security expertise leading complex programs within the Intelligence, Critical Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity Communities focused on advancing policies and programs to improve the country’s ability to assess and manage risk and enhance our Nation’s infrastructure resilience.

Matthew (Matt) Fridley is the Vice President of Government Affairs for Brenntag, the world’s largest chemical distributor. He previously served as Chairman of the U.S. Chemical Sector Coordinating Council (CSCC) and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board for the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD). He also contributes to security committees within the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Chlorine Institute, and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM).

Mr. Fridley is a current member of the U.S. Delegation to the Global Congress for Chemical Security and Emerging Threats and serves as a subject matter expert on INTERPOL’s Global Advisory Panel and Chemical Security Steering Committee.

Jeff Gunnulfsen is the Assistant Vice President for Regulatory Affairs — Security & Risk Management Issues at the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), where he covers security and environment issues. Currently, he focuses on USCG MTSA security issues, pipeline security, drones, emergency response challenges, PFAS, and the connection between cyber and physical security. He represents AFPM and its members on numerous committees and working groups dedicated to topics relevant to the fuel and petrochemical community, advocates security issues with Congressional and Executive Branch staff, and develops security-related sessions at AFPM’s annual conference.

Tom Huntley serves as the General Manager and Vice President of REGENT Defense, where he is focused on developing and fielding advanced maritime defense technology.

A 22-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, Tom served as a search and rescue helicopter instructor pilot and flight examiner, shipbuilding budget and program manager, detailed professional staff member to the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, and earned both an MPP from Princeton University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.  

Debra Jordan is a cybersecurity and national security executive with over 30 years of leadership in cybersecurity, national security, public safety, and critical infrastructure resilience. As former Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission, she led numerous bipartisan regulatory initiatives, including development of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, and convened cross-sector cybersecurity coordination across more than 30 federal agencies. In 2025, she served as an expert witness before the U.S. Senate, providing testimony on cybersecurity and national security risks to critical communications infrastructure.   

Malia Markey is a Senior Director of Engineering at Univar Solutions, where she leads capital improvement initiatives, preventative maintenance programs, and operational excellence efforts across a network of facilities.  She is known for driving results in complex environments, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.

In her role, she leads a team of engineers responsible for improving asset performance, increasing efficiency, and supporting business growth through disciplined execution and innovative problem-solving.  She is passionate about building high-performing teams and developing people, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Malia and her husband have two sons who are passionate athletes and stay busy year-round playing football, basketball, and baseball.  Malia is actively involved in the community, serving on the booster club boards for both football and baseball.  She enjoys cheering on her boys from the sidelines, supporting her husband’s coaching career, and in her free time enjoys reading and spending time outdoors.

Dr. David Mussington is a Professor of the Practice at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy and an ICIT Fellow, where his work focuses on critical infrastructure security and resilience, AI governance, post-quantum cryptography, and national security policy. He serves as a Board Director of ISC2, the world's leading cybersecurity professional organization, and holds board and advisory positions in the quantum security and agentic AI risk management sectors, including engagement with an industry consortium developing AI risk control standards for critical infrastructure operators. His advisory roles span the homeland security and defense communities, including service on a major homeland security advisory committee and as a Theme Lead and Lead Writer for NATO's AI Defense Curriculum Development initiative.

Prior to his current roles, Dr. Mussington served as Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where he led the agency's critical infrastructure risk management and sector coordination mission across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and his research and analysis appears regularly in outlets including CyberScoop, SC Media, and the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology.

Brian J. Peretti is the Chief Executive Officer of Everstream Advisors, LLC, a full-service risk management and advisory firm specializing in helping clients identify, govern, and mitigate risks associated with emerging technologies—including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Biometrics, and Quantum Computing—as well as navigating complex government and regulatory environments. A seasoned strategic leader with more than 30 years of experience across financial services policy, cybersecurity, operational resilience, and critical infrastructure protection, Brian is widely recognized for shaping public-private partnerships, advancing technology governance, and driving enterprise-level risk management strategies. He retired from federal service as a member of the Senior Executive Service and a trusted advisor to Treasury Secretaries, White House officials, and international bodies.

Brian concluded his distinguished 22-year tenure at the U.S. Department of the Treasury as the Department’s Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. He also served as Executive Director of Treasury’s Artificial Intelligence Board.

Kristina Tanasichuk has spent nearly 25 years advancing collaboration, innovation, and information sharing across the homeland security community. She founded the Government & Services Technology Coalition (GTSC) in 2011, a nonprofit supporting small and mid-sized companies working with the Department of Homeland Security, and later acquired Homeland Security Today, growing it to millions of readers.

With a career in homeland security dating back to 2002—and earlier work in critical infrastructure and energy policy on Capitol Hill —she brings 25 years of advocacy, policy, and subject matter expertise to the homeland mission. In 2009, she founded Women in Homeland Security and has held leadership roles with the FBI’s InfraGard program and U.S. Coast Guard-affiliated organizations.

A first-generation Ukrainian, Tanasichuk has been deeply involved in humanitarian and defense support efforts for Ukraine, including supporting a State Department program for Professional Fellows, fundraising, delivering supplies, and advising non-profit organizations. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College and holds a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University.

Alexis Wales is the Chief Information Security Officer of GitHub. She leads a team of security experts focused on safeguarding the GitHub platform, products and the open source community, empowering 150 million developers worldwide to build and deploy software securely on GitHub. 

Alexis has 20 years of experience defending critical national and private sector networks, spanning positions with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Alexis served as a senior executive leading the National Threat Hunt and Incident Response program to mitigate cyber threats to critical infrastructure and national security. She collaborated with federal officials to enhance the U.S. Government’s use of cyber threat information and integrated specialized cybersecurity teams to defend against thousands of cyber incidents annually.  Alexis’s extensive experience and commitment to cybersecurity drive GitHub’s mission to ensure secure and collaborative software development on a global scale. 

Wales holds dual B.A. degrees in history and anthropology from Brandeis University and a M.A. in security policy studies from George Washington University. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys staying active through yoga and cherishes her “long” walks to the mailbox with her senior pug, Lola. 

Marty Williams is the Senior Government Affairs Manager with the American Public Works Association (APWA) where he is responsible for managing and implementing government affairs programs and projects in support of the association's government affairs priorities, goals, and objectives. He concentrates on Homeland Security, Emergency Management and Response, and Cyber-Security as they relate to public works.

 Marty’s work includes monitoring, advocating, and providing support on legislative and regulatory issues of concern to public works, as well as tracking the federal appropriations and budget process, administrative agencies, and state legislative initiatives in Congress. He works closely with senior government officials across the Executive branch. He also supports association chapters throughout the U.S. as part of the chapter-outreach and advocacy program. 

 Marty has more than 30 years of experience working in federal and local government as a trusted senior adviser and a representative of elected officials. His expertise includes Government Relations and Congressional Affairs, including working for two Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office.

Mara Winn serves as the Vice President of Aviation for K2’s Security Screening Group. She leads this team in designing, planning, managing, and installing critical security infrastructure for airports. Mara has more than 25 years of experience in all stages of program management, strategic roadmap development, and product development life cycles, from threat and need analysis through implementation logistics and closeout. Most recently, she was a Senior Executive in the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and Energy Information Administration. In addition to the energy sector, she has led teams in transportation security, healthcare/medical devices, communications, IT, radiological and nuclear detection, and immigration.

Mara received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Smith College and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College as well as certificates from Boston University and American University. She is a certified Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds several technical certifications.