SecureWorld West Virtual Conference 2026

Sukeerth Reddy is a Senior Product Manager at Google Cloud, where he is responsible for platform modernization for Google Security Operations Product. Specializing in Security infrastructure strategy, identity and access management, Sukeerth bridges complex security infrastructure requirements with large-scale GTM execution to empower Security Operations Centers (SOCs) globally.

Sukeerth holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening and cooking—often applying product management principles to tomatoes and curries with mixed success.

Krista Arndt is the Associate CISO at SLUHN. As the Associate CISO, Krista is responsible for managing the security program's day to day operational effectiveness. Krista has been working in information security in various capacities for more than 15 years. In her previous roles, Krista assisted with developing and leading security programs in national healthcare, crypto, finance, and the Department of Defense. She currently holds her CISM and CRISC certifications and NHRA competition driver's license.

Krista is an active member of ISACA, serves as InfraGard Philadelphia Chapter’s Healthcare Sector Chief, serves on Neumann University's Business Advisory Council, and is Marketing Committee Chair for Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Delaware Valley Affiliate. Through this service, Krista's mission is to give back to her community by providing mentorship and support for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, especially for women who wish to enter the field.

When off the clock, Krista takes her affinity for overcoming challenges to the garage and the race track, where she enjoys building and improving her own race car, competing as a driver in national drag racing events with her family, and using her racing as a forum to advocate for neurodiversity awareness and inclusion.

Mikel Costello is an enterprise architect and former IT executive with 25+ years of experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and cloud strategy across government and military sectors. At Washington Technology Solutions, he leads statewide IT strategy, designs secure multi-cloud environments, and develops governance frameworks to enhance cybersecurity and reduce technical debt. A Zero Trust and SASE thought leader, he authored Washington’s Zero Trust White Paper. His career includes managing large technology portfolios, modernizing infrastructure, and delivering cost-efficient, resilient, and mission-aligned IT solutions across multi-agency environments.

Shubham Anandani is an Engineering Manager at LinkedIn, where he leads teams focused on AI and professional identity platforms. Previously, at Oracle Health Sciences, he architected pioneering SaaS infrastructure for clinical trial randomization, serving Tier-1 pharmaceutical companies and ensuring FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

He holds a Master’s in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Senior Member of IEEE. Shubham combines deep expertise in distributed systems with a focus on responsible AI to solve complex security and identity challenges.

Dr. Omondi John Opala is a seasoned executive with expertise in cybersecurity, IT governance, and leading technology teams, backed by over 20 years of experience. His professional career reflects a steadfast commitment to enhancing digital security, ethical responses to complex cybersecurity challenges, and advancing the application of AI and emerging technologies globally.

Currently serving as the Vice President of IT and Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Hanesbrands Inc., Dr. Opala leads efforts to strengthen the company’s cybersecurity posture against evolving threats. Prior to this role, he was Vice President of IT and Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at McCormick, where he transformed cybersecurity risk remediation and response strategies to enhance network security globally.

In addition to his corporate achievements, Dr. Opala is deeply engaged in academia. As an adjunct professor, he has taught a variety of cybersecurity and business risk-related courses, including certified ethical hacking, information security risk management, digital forensics, and business ethics. He is currently developing program curricula focused on responsive AI usage. His dedication to education is further exemplified by his numerous publications on topics such as cloud architecture, cybersecurity risk governance, and the impact of cyber warfare on enterprise networks. His work has been featured in respected journals like the International Journal of Computer Networks and Communications and presented at IEEE conferences, among others.

Dr. Opala earned a Ph.D. in Information Technology with a specialization in Information Security Assurance & Governance from Capella University. Continuously striving for excellence, he is currently pursuing further education in Business Management at Harvard University Extension School.

Driven by a passion for innovation and knowledge, Dr. Opala focuses his research on information security, cloud computing, enterprise architecture, data analytics, big data and now AI. His exploratory analyses on the influence of information security on cloud adoption and the governance of cybersecurity risks have garnered widespread recognition.

Through his leadership, scholarship, and teaching, Dr. Omondi John Opala has become a prominent figure in the fields of cybersecurity and information technology, inspiring both industry professionals and aspiring technologists.

Christer Swartz is Director of Industry Solutions for Illumio. He has spent many years in the Cyber industry, beginning with a small startup called Cisco. He was part of Netflix’s design of internet video-streaming, without breaking the internet, then with Palo Alto Networks. He focuses on the details of cybersecurity to specific industries, and how platforms integrate across the broader security industry, from Cloud-managed Kubernetes to Data Center mainframes.

Reanna Schultz, from Kansas City, MO, holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Cybersecurity. With over six years of professional experience, Reanna has contributed to various corporate environments, leveraging her expertise to strengthen cybersecurity practices.

Throughout her career, Reanna has worn many hats, including roles in Endpoint Security Engineering, Detection Engineering, and leading a Security Operations Center (SOC) team. In addition to her primary responsibilities, Reanna serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) and is also an entrepreneur.

Reanna is the founder of CyberSpeak Labs, a platform dedicated to fostering community engagement through collaboration. She hosts the podcast Defenders in Lab Coats, where she delves into cyber threats and occasionally invites passionate guests to share their insights.
Driven by her passion for cybersecurity, Reanna frequently travels to speak at events, sharing her industry knowledge and empowering others to improve their organizations' cybersecurity practices.

Steven is Mandelbaum Barrett’s Chief Cybersecurity/Legal Officer. An ISACA Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer, Steven’s client-facing practice focus is on cybersecurity and privacy, risk assessments and data breach response, AI risk, and regulatory compliance. He regularly publishes on cybersecurity law, privacy, and emerging technology risk, advises organizations on aligning technical security programs with legal and regulatory obligations, and teaches Cybersecurity Law at Nova Southeastern University Law School.

Roberta Anderson is a 25-year cybersecurity veteran, Air Force veteran, and published author whose career spans the DoD, Fortune 500, healthcare, and government. She served as the City of Colorado Springs' first CISO, where she built the city's information security program from scratch, and today serves as CISO at Onterris and co-founder of TrustDossier, a security attestation platform built for software vendors navigating enterprise procurement. Her credentials—CISSP, CRISC, CDPSE, Security+, Network+—represent the full arc of a GRC and risk management career. She holds an M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from National University and a B.S. in Cybercrime Investigation from Colorado Technical University. She is the author of "Breaking the Firewall: How Women in Cybersecurity Rise from Entry-Level to the C-Suite" (2026) and "AI for Beginners in the Digital Age" (2025). For more than two decades, she has mentored women in cybersecurity—resume by resume, negotiation by negotiation, promotion by promotion. She is a member of WiCyS, ISC2, ISACA, and ISSA.

Cedric Leighton is a CNN Military Analyst and a retired United States Air Force Colonel. On CNN, he has provided incisive commentaries on the Israel-Hamas War, the War in Ukraine, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and numerous other conflicts around the world. His analysis has been seen by millions of viewers around the world and provided much needed context to some of the most pressing national security issues of our time. As a U.S. Air Force officer, Colonel Leighton served at U.S. Special Operations Command, the Joint Staff, and the National Security Agency, where he helped train the nation's cyber warriors. A Middle East combat veteran, he is the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Bronze Star. After serving 26 years as a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Col. Leighton founded a strategic risk consultancy and became the co-founder of CYFORIX, where he advises multinational businesses on developing better cyber strategies designed to reduce risk and unpredictability.

VJ Viswanathan is a global technology and security executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning AI, cloud and enterprise platforms, cybersecurity, privacy, and technology risk. He has held senior executive roles at large enterprises, including Keurig Dr Pepper, Comcast, HD Supply, and GE, where he led technology, cybersecurity, privacy, and risk programs across highly complex and distributed environments.

Today, VJ works with boards and executive teams on the security challenges created by AI, automation, and digital sprawl—helping leaders understand where traditional security models fall short and how to adapt. He currently serves as Founding Partner of CYFORIX and CEO of TORQE, focused on strategic defense and enterprise transformation.