For the fourth year in a row, the three WARPs in the North of England are coming together to deliver our annual Northern WARP Conference. This conference is an exciting collaboration that brings together experts, speakers, suppliers and local public practitioners together on the topic of cyber security, cyber resilience, and data protection. For the very first time this year, this conference will be held in person, in Manchester on Friday 13th September 2024.
The main draw of the Northern WARP conference are the Live Lounges. The Live Lounge sessions are an opportunity for open and constructive dialogue between the audience and guest speakers from organisations that we know our delegates want to talk to. Unlike a seminar or presentation, the Live Lounge format is conducted as an open and informal discussion where the audience can set the agenda by asking the questions that matter to them. Each live lounge is hosted by a chair, and this year we have confirmed live lounges with the following organisations:
- – Local Government Association (LGA)
- – Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
- – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
- – National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
Local Government Association (LGA)
The LGA has been providing invaluable cyber security support for the UK public sector. Both by directly supporting councils to improve their own practices and influencing national policy makers. They have also recently been conducting a lot of work around the use of AI in the local public sector and providing forums for consultation on this. Dave Sifleet, Senior Technical Advisor, and Ellie Stewart, are our guest speakers from the LGA and they will be making themselves available to answer your questions about the digital and cyber support that they offer to local authorities. This session is chaired by Graham Jordan, Gateshead Council. .
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
The ICO will be joining us for the first time this year in their first ever Northern WARP Live Lounge. We are pleased that Heather Toomey from the ICO will be joining us. The ICO have newly developed a focus around cyber security and have recently formed a new cyber security team. This will be an opportunity for the audience to understand these new developments and the opportunities for collaboration and mutual support.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
Recently reverting back to MHCLG under the new Government (previously DLUHC), we are excited to welcome Katie Owen and Phil James from the Local Digital Unit. . MHCLG has a large remit in delivering some of the key priorities of the new Government. Take this opportunity to understand what the changes are, and what is happening with regards to the Local Digital Declaration, and the rollout of the CAF for Local Government.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
The National Cyber Security Centre is a key player in UK cyber security, and we are pleased to welcome them back for the fourth time. The NCSC is a strong advocate of the WARPs, and has supported the Northern WARP conference since its inception. . This session is an opportunity for delegates hear directly from NCSC colleagues, and to understand about their work on intelligence, future threats, supply chain security and other developments on the horizon.
Find out More
The agenda is almost finalised; find out who else is speaking, what session topics are on offer, and who is exhibiting by going onto the conference website.
Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your ticket to the best cyber security conference that is designed for the local public sector by the local public sector! This is free to attend for anyone holding a current WARP membership with any WARP in the UK. WARPs are trusted forums for local public sector cyber security and data protection officers to collaborate, receive threat intelligence and share best practice. There is a WARP in every part of the UK.