Rob is a trusted and respected cyber security leader with a strong track record across the public, private, and academic sectors. With over two decades of experience at the heart of transnational security challenges—including intelligence, military, and cyber operations—Rob brings both strategic vision and operational insight to some of the most complex problems in the field.

A skilled communicator and facilitator, Rob has chaired and hosted major international conferences on behalf of the UK government, including events involving Ambassador-level delegates. He continues to hold a UK security clearance.

Rob is an Honorary Professor of Systems and Software Security at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Fellow in Cyber Deception at Loughborough University. In 2024, he was named UK Cyber Citizen of the Year, recognised for his passion, leadership, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of cyber professionals.

He served over a decade in the UK government, supporting cyber and military capability development. Notably, he created the UK’s first operational Human Sciences capability for cyber operations, embedded at GCHQ for the Ministry of Defence, and collaborated across the 5EYES community on joint operational initiatives.

From 2014 to 2024, Rob lectured in Information Activities at Cranfield University, part of the UK Defence Academy. There, he helped design and deliver classified training for the MoD’s Cyberspace Operations MSc and advised on cyber education strategy for senior leaders.

Rob also plays a leading role in advancing collaboration and innovation across the cyber sector:

• Director of the UK Cyber Leaders Challenge (2020–2024), developing emerging cyber talent as part of the NCSC’s CyberFirst programme.
• Senior Advisor to KPMG’s i-4, the world’s longest-running cyber security think tank for CISOs and global security leaders.
• Associate Programme Director at Wilton Park (FCDO), facilitating policy dialogue on cyber, security, and intelligence.
  Director of the Global Institute of Cyber Deception, fostering international collaboration on deception-based cyber defence.
• Cybersecurity Events Host, leading trusted, vendor-to-CISO engagement events from roundtable dinners, to multi-day conferences and events.
• UK Cyber Effects Community Advisor, where he helps shapes critical discourse across academia, industry and government on Offensive Cyber and Cyber Effects.
• Podcast Host for UK HMG for a series for national security policy makers.