SOEBIT Cybersecurity E-Symposium for Students & Professionals – 2026 – (4th edition)
This year theme of the E-Symposium is Indian Cyber Warfare, with Panel Speakers and Keynote speakers in the cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, AI, field from (Indian) Army.
Date: Saturday 18 July 2026
Time: 12:00 PM till 7:00 PM IST (India) (7 hours)
Methode: online on Cisco Webex
Language: English (85%) & Hindi (15%)
Prices:
MOU Signed with SOEBITÂ = 100% Free – Only, if you are student of one of the below MOU Signed College, University, institute, this will be validated.
Volunteers fees =   100% Free – (limited persons)Â
Student fees =  200 INR (Indian Rupees)Â
Professional fees = 500 INR (Indian Rupees) for professionals in India.
International fees = 25 EURO (ex. 21 % VAT) for Students & Professionals outside India.
EMPOWERED & MOU Signed with SOEBIT: Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) – Gandhinagar – Gujarat | SUPAUL College of Engineering – Supaul – Bihar | Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women – Coimbatore – Tamil Nadu | National Post Graduate (NPG) College & University, CS – Lucknow – Uttar Pradesh SANDIP University – Madhubani – Bihar | Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University (CSVTU) – Bhilai – Chhattisgarh | Sharda University – Delhi – Uttar Pradesh (UP) | Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies- Technical Campus (VIPS-TC), Delhi, and more….
Speakers
Sqn Ldr Anjali Rai (Retd)
Squadron Leader Anjali Rai (Retd.) is a former Indian Air Force officer with a decade of leadership in operations, crisis response, and gender equity advocacy. She led transit relief and coordinated rescue and rehabilitation for over 10,000 people during the 2014 Jammu & Kashmir floods and supported complex humanitarian operations after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. As the first woman commentator for the resurrected Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, she inspired young audiences—especially girls—to pursue careers in defence. She led research that contributed to the historic induction of women into the National Defence Academy in 2022. After service, Anjali transitioned to development and governance, completing the Citizens for Public Leadership Fellowship and Women on Boards programme (ISDM, 2024). She supports NGOs including ALERT India, SS Sansthan, and the Robinhood Army, and leads diversity, equity, and inclusion and leadership programmes in the corporate sector as GM — Talent & Capability. Her work centers on accountable systems, inclusive leadership, and expanding opportunities for women in public service.
Wing Commander DVM Teja (Retd)
Air Veteran, Indian Air Force
With over 14 years of service as a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force, I honed expertise in aerospace systems, UAV technologies, MEAT systems, and counter-UAV solutions. My tenure exemplifies a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, maintenance safety and value addition within the aerospace and defense sectors.
The Indian Air Force benefited from my dedicated service and contributions to advanced technologies with innovative solutions in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Loitering Munitions (LMs), Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and Aerospace Engineering. Equipped with Agile and Lean Management with Green Belt in Lean and Six Sigma certifications, I am dedicated to driving efficiency, responsiveness and innovation in the aerospace and defence industry.
Phani SRIPADA
Cyber Security and AI Specialist
Ex-CISO of GAVI, JP Morgan Suisse SA
Dr. Sailesh Suryanarayan Iyer
Professor and Principal. NSIT-IFSCS, Ahmedabad
Dr. Sailesh Iyer has a Ph.D. (Computer Science), Post Doc from University of Louisiana, Lafayette, USA (Public University ranked among the top 100 Public Universities) and currently serving as a Professor and Principal at NSIT-IFSCS, Ahmedabad. 9 Scholars have been awarded Ph.D. and also recognized as Co-Guide for Post Doc Scholars at 3 reputed International Universities like University of Louisiana (Lafayette, USA), Singapore Institute of Technology (Singapore) and Lincoln University College (Malaysia). IEEE and CSI Membership. He is also an Adjunct Research Faculty and Post Doctoral Supervisor at Lincoln University College, Malaysia from January 2025. He has more than 26 years of experience in Academics, Industry and Corporate Training out of which 21 years are in core Academics. He has been awarded Research Excellence Award for years 2021, 2022 and 2023 by Rai University and an Honorary Adjunct Research Scientist at Neurolabs International under Dana Brain Health Institute, Iran from August 2022 to August 2025. He has several Patents granted and published to his credit and is involved as an Editor for various book projects with Elsevier, IGI Global (USA), Wiley, CRC Press Taylor and Francis (UK) and Bentham Science (UAE). He has been invited as Keynote Speaker in various International Conferences held in 11+ Countries all over the world. A hardcore Academician and Administrator, he has excelled in Corporate Training, delivered 250+ Expert Talks in various AICTE sponsored STTP’s, ATAL FDP’s, Reputed Universities, Government organized Workshops, Orientation and Refresher Courses organized by HRDC, Gujarat University. Research Contribution include reputed Publications, Track Chair in reputed International and National Conferences, Reviewer of International Journals like Multimedia Tools and Applications (Springer), Journal of Computer Science (Scopus Indexed), International Journal of Big Data Analytics in Healthcare (IGI Global), Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment and Editor in various Journals. He has also been invited as a Judge for various events, Examiner for Reputed Universities, is a Computer Society of India Lifetime Member and also serving as Managing Committee (MC) Member, CSI Ahmedabad Chapter from 2018-2020. Research interest areas: Computer Vision and Image Processing, Cyber Security, Data Mining and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain
Niranjan Kumar Parhi (Retd)
Principal Director Cybersecurity, Air Commodore Niranjan Kumar Parhi (Retired)
An Ex-Indian Air Force Air Commodore with 34 years of dedicated and disciplined service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a technically-skilled IT professional with demonstrated experience & expertise in managing and directing the full spectrum of operations in IT, Communication, Networking and Cyber security, leading operations & technical teams, and maximizing use of multi-domain expertise in technology to advance goals of the organization.
R. N. Prasher
Principal Advisor
R. N. Prasher has post-graduate degrees in physics and economics and a degree in Law. His work experience varied from teaching physics in a college to 34 years in the highest civil service of India, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). As a member of this generalist service, he headed varied departments like education, taxation, urban development, transport, power and irrigation. Retiring in 2009, he was appointed Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister of state of Haryana and thereafter Chairman of Haryana State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He has written more than 260 editorials during the last five years for the Daily World, Chandigarh, India. He has published research in comparative mythology, including a paper in Indologica Taurinensia of the Turin University. He is an adventure enthusiast, driving, sometimes solo, in high Himalayas.
Contributing as:
Member, National Road Safety Council,Member, Advisory Board, Rishihood University,Member, Advisory Board, Independent Power Producers Association of India, Member, State Advisory Committee, Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission
Sudhir Singh (Retd)
Cyber Recovery Specialist – Ex. IT advisor ( Ex- United Nations)
FIP-IAPP, CIPP/e, CIPM, ISO 27701, ISO 22301, ISO27701:LA, CDPSE, CISA, CISM, CCNP and CCIE-Security ( written)
Trainer – IAPP Masterclass
Sudhir is a highly skilled and experienced Information Security, Resiliency and Data Privacy Consultant with a strong background in developing and implementing comprehensive security, resilience and data privacy strategies. He has 20+ years experience and proven track record in assisting organizations across various industries in protecting their sensitive data, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing overall cybersecurity posture. Possess in-depth knowledge of industry best practices, emerging threats, and data protection laws.
His experience and career in Security & Data protection, data management, data resilience and GRC field has further strengthened his ability to:
− Formulated the data privacy strategy/road map for the organization in line with business goals and applicable regulations
− Worked earlier with Nets, United Nations, DNB bank – Norway, HCL, HP and AstraZeneca-UK as data privacy risk officer/information security head and successfully executed the data privacy policy/information security, Data backup and cyber recovery strategy across the organizations and their clients.
− Involved in the execution of key governance initiatives e.g.: GDPR, Data backup BCP/DR, Cloud data security framework, ISMS, PIMS, PCI DSS, ISAE3000/3402 assurance audits.
− Implemented GDPR framework from scratch, help organizations by embedding privacy by design & default as core value into their products and services.
− Managing data privacy compliance at organization level by designing and tracking KPI/metrics.
− Advisory/implementation of cyber recovery solutions to enhance an organization by making backup copies more resilient, allowing recovery after more sophisticated attacks.
− Implementation and configuration of Data domain and networker.
− Simulations of DDoS attacks in the test environment to test the DDoS architecture works as per the design
− Interfacing and maintaining the relationship with C-Level executives, chief compliance, risk and privacy officers and engagement sponsors.
− Build the data privacy awareness program & ensure duly execution for all the business units/Group functions within the organization
− Trainer for information security and data privacy courses, also speaker and panelist in various security/data privacy conferences
Group Captain (Dr) Ashok Kumar
Board of advisers
Cybersecurity | Insider Threat Researcher | Air Force Veteran | Board Advisor | Community Builder
Currently serving on the Board of Advisors at CyberAI Commune, I am deeply engaged in building a collaborative ecosystem for cybersecurity and AI professionals. With 34 years of distinguished service in the Indian Air Force, including 25+ years in IT and Security, I bring a mission-driven mindset to solving complex cybersecurity challenges in both public and private sectors.
Served a short stint as Cyber Security Consultant with Yotta Data Services, where I leveraged my credentials as a CCIO, Certified National Cyber Security Scholar, and ISAC Certified Cyber Security Governance Professional to design and implement effective security solutions.
My core expertise spans Cyber Threat Hunting (CTH), Information Security, and Incident Response, with hands-on experience in using advanced tools and techniques to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats.
PhD in Cyber Security from Mody University of Science and Technology, my research focuses on Insider Threat Detection and Prediction—a critical and often ignored aspect of organizational security. I developed a multidisciplinary, adaptive framework that integrates technical indicators, behavioral analytics, and organizational risk factors to get proactively detect and prevent insider attacks.
Passionate about contributing to national cyber resilience, fostering knowledge-sharing communities, and mentoring the next generation of cyber defenders.
Lt Col Harkamal Sidhu (Retd)
AI Security & Cyber Defence Architect
The line between Cyber and AI has dissolved. As a former Indian Army officer, I have operated in environments where the cost of a security failure is not a financial penalty, it is a strategic one. That operational mindset now drives how I architect AI Security, Blockchain-based assurance, and Cross-Domain Cyber solutions for businesses that cannot afford to be caught unprepared.
Attackers are already using AI to breach defences faster than most security teams can respond. Boards are asking questions that traditional IT leadership cannot answer.
I work at that intersection.
With a foundation built in the Indian Army, leading Cognitive Electronic Warfare and Cyber Security operations and over a decade architecting cross-domain solutions across AI Security, Blockchain, and Digital ISR, I help C-suite leaders do three things:
→ Identify where AI is creating invisible vulnerabilities in their existing systems
→ Build cyber-resilient architectures that don’t break as AI scales
→ Translate complex threat landscapes into board-level decisions and action plans
The convergence of AI and Cyber is not a future risk. It is today’s operational reality.
Soenil Soebedar
SOEBIT FOUNDER, E-symposium organiser
Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented IT & cybersecurity professional who spent more than 34 years in the IT sector, 23 years as a freelancer & founder of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in the Netherlands (Europe) and 14 years in the Cyber Security area as an Ethical Hacker, Penetration tester, PKI/Cryptography specialist/Architect, Senior Security Engineer, Senior SOC Specialist. He lives and studies in the Netherlands, born in Suriname (South America).
Lt Col Santosh Khadsare (Retd)
CSAM & Digital Forensics Expert
As a DFIR professional, my vision is to drive innovation, scale impact, and position India as a trusted global leader in cybersecurity and digital forensics.
I am committed to delivering proactive, customer-focused solutions that empower organizations to stay resilient against evolving cyber threats — combining advanced technology, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to digital trust.
Over the course of my journey — from Vice President of Digital Forensics & Incident Response at eSec Forte® Technologies to spearheading strategic initiatives at SysTools — I have led high-impact cyber operations, built capable teams, and strengthened organizational reputations as pioneers in digital forensics.
Having completed a transformative chapter at SysTools, I now carry forward a wealth of experience, a broader perspective, and a sharper resolve — to contribute meaningfully to India’s forensic and cybersecurity ecosystem, and to help organizations secure their most critical digital assets.
Dr. Ramesh Kanneganti
AIHS RF Founder
The Artificial Intelligence Human Security Research Foundation (AIHS RF) is committed to advancing human-centric AI to address both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. By fostering democratic, inclusive, and responsible AI adoption, the organization prioritizes marginalized and rural communities while promoting ethical, socially, and legally sustainable technology governance.
As Founder Director, contributed to strategic frameworks and partnerships to tackle global security issues through innovative AI-driven solutions.
With over 12 months of leadership as Chairman of the National Security Studies Experts Committee for UGC, supported impactful policy initiatives.
Expertise spans nonprofit leadership, security, and foreign policy, with a focus on fostering collaboration across
diverse sectors for responsible AI
development.
As Founder and Executive Director, Center for Human Security
Studies (CHSS) Indias first mobile think tank on Internal Security and External Affairs of India located in Hyderabad from scratch and till now offered Research Internship opportunities to more than (Mission E3 – Educate -Empower-Expand our CHSS flagship program especiallyto marginalized sections of India)15,000 UG and PG level students on Coastal Security and Seaport security and Geopolitics and Internal security spanning across counter Terrorism and new emerging technologies.Have held many capacity Building programs to Andhra Prade
sh Police and Telangana Police officers . CHSS collaborated with SVP National Police Academy MHA Govt o fIndia @ Hyderabad and organized a course ” Coastal Security management of India ” for senior Indian Police Service Officers way back in 2014 itself.
Cdr Prateek Bhamri (Retd)
Senior Product Manager at Microsoft with 16+ years of experience spanning cybersecurity, secure systems design, and product management. His expertise in perimeter security, security systems, and PCI DSS underpins his focus on building secure, scalable solutions that meet business objectives. Previously, Prateek led global security product operations at Spiro—managing cross‑functional teams, delivering strategic initiatives that boosted efficiency and customer satisfaction, and driving measurable cost savings. His formative years in the Indian Navy instilled a disciplined, tactical approach to cybersecurity and compliance, earning him formal commendation for operational excellence.
Faizal Ahamed
CTO
Faizal Ahamed is a technology and cybersecurity executive with over 25 years of experience, having served in leadership roles including Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Technology. He has led large-scale technology modernization, cybersecurity, digital transformation, governance, risk management, and business resilience initiatives across multiple industries. An ISB alumnus, Faizal holds globally recognized certifications including CISSP, CISM, CISA, CEH, ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, and Azure Solutions Architect Expert. He is passionate about helping organizations leverage technology securely, strengthen cyber resilience, and drive sustainable business growth.
Parth Dobariya
cybersecurity professional
Parth Dobariya is a cybersecurity professional with an M.Tech. in Cybersecurity from Rashtriya Raksha University. He gained diverse industry exposure while working at SEOBIT Cybersecurity, KPMG and CDAC. He is passionate about offensive security, Research, OSINT, and emerging technologies. He actively engages in cybersecurity events and Capture-the-Flag competitions to stay at the forefront of the field.
Dr Manesh Thankappan
Senior Lecture and Programme Leader of Cyber security, University of the West of Scotland London Campus
With over 22 years of experience in academia, my expertise lies in the field of Information Security. As a dedicated academic professional, I am passionate about fostering innovation and promoting applied research in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics. My commitment to staying at the forefront of knowledge and disseminating cutting-edge practices has led to numerous publications in esteemed journals and presentations at prestigious conferences.
Throughout my career, I have taken on several leadership roles and key responsibilities, allowing me to closely collaborate with colleagues and students. This experience has given me a deep understanding of their needs and enabled me to provide the best possible support, both academically and professionally.
Currently, I am exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing cybersecurity and digital forensics. My research focuses on leveraging AI-driven techniques to improve threat detection, automate forensic investigations, and strengthen proactive security measures. I believe that AI-powered solutions have the potential to revolutionize cyber defense strategies, making security frameworks more adaptive, intelligent, and resilient against emerging threats.
Beyond my professional responsibilities, my true passion lies in mentoring and inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. I am deeply committed to preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving tech landscape. Through continuous learning and collaboration, I strive to advance the field of Information Security and drive impactful innovations.
I am always open to connecting with like-minded professionals, researchers, and industry experts to exchange ideas and contribute to the growing domain of cybersecurity.
Soenil Soebedar
FOUNDER SOEBIT Cybersecurity Netherlands, Speaker, Trainer, Cryptography Specialist, E-symposium organiser
Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented IT & cybersecurity professional who spent more than 34 years in the IT sector, 23 years as a freelancer & founder of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in the Netherlands (Europe) and 14 years in the Cyber Security area as an Ethical Hacker, Penetration tester, PKI/Cryptography specialist/Architect, Senior Security Engineer, Senior SOC Specialist. He lives and studies in the Netherlands, born in Suriname (South America).
Wing Commander DVM Teja (Retd)
Air Veteran, Indian Air Force
With over 14 years of service as a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force, I honed expertise in aerospace systems, UAV technologies, MEAT systems, and counter-UAV solutions. My tenure exemplifies a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, maintenance safety and value addition within the aerospace and defense sectors.
The Indian Air Force benefited from my dedicated service and contributions to advanced technologies with innovative solutions in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Loitering Munitions (LMs), Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and Aerospace Engineering. Equipped with Agile and Lean Management with Green Belt in Lean and Six Sigma certifications, I am dedicated to driving efficiency, responsiveness and innovation in the aerospace and defence industry.
Phani SRIPADA
Cyber Security and AI Specialist
Ex-CISO of GAVI, JP Morgan Suisse SA
Winnie Kiran
career mentor
Vania Paulene
Agenda
|
Time (India Timezone – IST) |
Speakers |
Category |
|---|---|---|
|
12:00 – 12:30 |
Welcome speakers |
General |
|
12:30 – 13:00 |
Keynote speaker 1 – Niranjan Kumar Parhi (Retd) |
Career in Cybersecurity |
|
13:00 – 13:30 |
Keynote speaker 2 – R. N. Prasher (Retd) |
Offense & Defence in India Cyberwar |
|
13:30 – 14:00 |
Keynote speaker 3 – Sudhir Singh (Retd) |
Ethical Hacking / Security Engineer |
|
14:00 – 14:10 |
Break |
Paani, Chai & Coffee break |
|
14:10 – 14:40 |
Keynote speaker 4 – Dr. Ashok Kumar (Retd) |
AI & Cybersecurity |
|
14:40 – 15:10 |
Keynote speaker 5 – Lt Col Harkamal Sidhu (Retd) |
ML (Machine Learning) & Cybersecurity |
|
15:10 – 15:20 |
Break |
Paani, Chai & Coffee break |
|
15:20 – 16:20 |
Panel Discussion – Several Speakers |
10 Topics |
|
16:20 – 16:50 |
Keynote speaker 6 – Soenil Soebedar |
Cybersecurity Training & Certification |
|
16:50 – 17:00 |
Break |
Paani, Chai & Coffee break |
|
17:00 – 17:30 |
Keynote speaker 7 – Lt Col Santosh Khadsare (Retd) |
Digital Forensic / Cyber Crime / Cyber Fraud |
|
17:30 – 18:00 |
Keynote speaker 8 – Dr. Ramesh Kanneganti |
Cybersecurity for Girls & Women |
|
18:00 – 18:30 |
Keynote speaker 9 – Cdr Prateek Bhamri (Retd) |
DataScience + Cybersecurity |
|
18:30 – 19:00 |
Closing speakers |
General |
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