Speakers

2026 SPEAKERS

Robert Grillo

Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Florida International University

Mr. Grillo was named Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) in June of 2011. His passion for leading FIU’s Division of Information Technology is fueled by a commitment to delivering the most innovative technological advancements to the university community. Prior to coming to FIU, Mr. Grillo led the consulting division for PeopleSoft Latin America and the Caribbean region and also worked for Andersen Consulting LLP (currently known as Accenture) as a senior consultant for Fortune 500 companies as a healthcare industry specialist.

Mr. Grillo has fostered partnerships and collaborations with academic, research, and administrative areas to advance the technology and enable FIU to be a top 50 public research institution. With an extensive commitment to the community, Mr. Grillo has always focused on making a positive impact. As an active participant in local, national, and international groups, he fully advocates the pivotal role technology plays in education and research. Most recently, he served as the Chair of the Florida LambdaRail (FLR) Board of Directors from 2020 to 2024. 

Kasimir Schulz

Director of Security Research at HiddenLayer

Kasimir Schulz, Director of Security Research at HiddenLayer, is a leading expert in uncovering zero-day exploits and supply chain vulnerabilities in AI. His work has been featured in Forbes, BleepingComputer, and Dark Reading, and he has spoken at conferences such as FS-ISAC and Black Hat. Kasimir leads the development of advanced tools for automating vulnerability detection and implementing large-scale patches, fortifying systems against supply chain attacks. His dedication to proactive defense measures sets a new standard in cybersecurity resilience.. 

Helvetiella Longoria

Chief Information Security Officer at Florida International University

Helvetiella has over twenty years of experience in information and network security. During her tenure, she has played a critical role in the development and enhancement of FIU’s network, rolled out Two-Factor Authentication to over 80,000 users, deployed a new cyber security awareness training program and a vulnerability management program.

In 2014, Helvetiella received the prestigious Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation Award in the Education Category by the Center for Digital Government, awarded to those in state and local government and education who have driven forward cybersecurity efforts in their communities. Currently, she is on the Organizing Committee for the annual National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Conference and Expo, led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

Brandon Wales

VP Cybersecurity Strategy

Brandon Wales is Vice President for Cybersecurity Strategy at SentinelOne, where he leads its strategic advisory work. Mr. Wales has 20+ years of experience advancing the U.S. national security interests at the highest level of the federal government, most recently as the Executive Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) where he managed cybersecurity operations across the Agency and led strategy and policy efforts. In that capacity, Mr. Wales also led the US Government’s resilience efforts in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has also served as the Acting Director of CISA, Senior Counselor for Cybersecurity to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Acting Chief of Staff for the Department of Homeland Security, and Director of the Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis. He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award and was a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Brandon holds a bachelor’s degree from the George Washington University and a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University Paul Nitze School of International Studies.