Speakers

Bill Fisher is a security engineer at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). In this role, he is responsible for leading a team of engineers that work collaboratively with industry partners to address cybersecurity business challenges facing the nation. He leads the centre’s Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) project, Mobile Application Single Sign On (SSO) for the Public Safety and First Responder Sector and is part of the ITL Cybersecurity for IoT program. Prior to his work at the NCCoE, Mr Fisher was a program security advisor for the System High Corporation in support of the Network Security Deployment division at the Department of Homeland Security. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American University and a master’s degree in cybersecurity from Johns Hopkins University.

John is the Cybersecurity Lead at Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division at NIST, where his research portfolio includes critical topics such as identity management, mobile device and application security and LTE/5G security. He has 20 years’ experience as a cybersecurity professional where he has served in many important roles, including security specialist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton and Staff Sergeant in the US Army Signal Corps.

Randy Richmond started working for Zetron shortly after graduating with a BSEE degree in 1981. Since then Randy has architected Zetron’s first and second generation radio dispatch, fire station alerting and 9-1-1 call taking solutions, served as product manager for those product lines, and is presently Zetron’s Standards & Regulatory Specialist, Broadband Push To Talk Product Manager, and Broadband Strategy Advisor the Zetron’s parent company JVCKenwood, Corporation. Randy chaired, co-chaired and is participating in a number of NENA, APCO, NPSTC, NFPA, iCERT, PSTA, TCCA and TIA TR8 Project 25 industry, standards and requirements committees. Randy is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Trevor Manning has had the rare opportunity to see all the facets of designing and operating a microwave radio network. Having worked for both operators and suppliers, in a career spanning 30 years, he has also recently helped to design and build the world’s longest high capacity Ethernet link (>200km). He understands both the technical and commercial challenges to designing, building and operating networks.

As Senior Solutions Manager at DAMM Cellular Systems, Simon provides technical expertise to DAMM sales teams and partners worldwide. He holds a B.A. in Electrical Engineering and an M.A. in Telecommunication Management and has worked with TETRA solutions for over 20 years. He has held various positions at Nokia's PMR business (later to become Airbus), giving him wide experience with delivering technical and pre-sales support and technical training. Simon worked as a system architect for BOSNET, the largest TETRA network in the world, for many years, focusing on traffic engineering and solutions to optimise voice and data communications on narrowband systems. He has also been deeply involved in designing mission-critical solutions over broadband giving him a complete technical background on PMR and a clear understanding of the market needs.

Graham Tait has worked for Fire & Rescue NSW for the past 37 years, occupying various roles as a frontline firefighter and Station Commander, Communications Centre Operator and Supervisor, and communications specialist on the NSW Urban Search & Rescue team. These roles have seen him involved with all types of emergency incidents from both the front line, and from within the control room environment. For the past 14 years, he has been working within the Operational Communications Branch with a few different roles, including managing the operational use of organisations’ computer-aided dispatch system, and the integration of new technologies such as mobile data terminals and automatic vehicle location systems, as well as operational management of the LMR radio system across the state. Graham held a key role in the project to implement a new CAD system and the rationalisation of communications centres for Fire & Rescue NSW, which resulted in the introduction of a brand-new call taking and dispatch environment for the state in 2012.

Rodney Nebe has been working in networking and communications for the last 22 years: 6 years initially in the military (Army) and the remainder 16 years in the mining sector. This experience has given him a broad knowledge of all facets of communications. From his training in the military, he always applies a ‘can do attitude’ and has a passion to resolve conundrums. Currently Rodney manages all network and communications infrastructure (everything from underground to surface) at the four Gold Fields Australasia mine sites. Rodney’s strong technical background enables him to understand and translate technical requirements into easily understood business concepts for both management and end users.

Rui Chen is Senior Lead Architect at CommTel Network Solutions, a company specialised in providing solutions and products for mission critical networks. Rui has extensive experience of over 20 years in designing, engineering & commissioning of business critical and mission critical systems as well as carrier network across APAC. He has worked with a wide range of technologies over the time and focus on legacy system, various radio communication systems, IP and security for both OT and IT networks.

Peter Jackson is an experienced IACS Cyber Security professional. Peter leads the ECL Cyber team of industrial cyber specialists in supporting the industrial sector in NZ. Peter’s background includes control and safety systems experience as a TÜV certified Function Safety Engineer. Peter is SANS GIAC GICSP and GRID certified as is currently working through the SANS instructor development program to teach ICS515 (ICS Active Defence & Incident Response). Peter has spoken at many conferences, nationally and internationally. In conjunction with the SANS ICS and ECL Cyber, Peter established the NZ ICS Cyber Technical Network (refer https://icscyber.org.nz).

Lawrence McKenna has extensive ICT/telecommunication experience acquired from working 16 years with Queensland Rail, three years with Project Services (Qld) and five years with SKM. This experience includes voice networking (inc. PABXs, regional-wide networks), telecommunication and transmission networks (optical fibre and microwave radio), structured cabling designs, WAN/CANs, LANs, audiovisual systems, security systems and various radiocommunication systems. Lawrence is a member of the Standards Australia (Standards development) CT-001 (Communications Cabling), CT-002 (Broadcasting and related services), the ITU-T SG5 working group and the ITU-R ARSG-5 working group. And he was involved with the Communications Alliance Working Committee WC45: Update of Industry Code DR C524:2013 - External Telecommunication Cable Networks Code.