Cybersecurity in Practice: A Boardroom Perspective

Joseph Stephens is Director of Resilience of Ireland’s National Cyber Security. The resilience directorate covers Strategic Risk Management, Engagement, Capacity Building, Cyber Compliance, and Project Management functions. He previously held roles in the NCSC as the Head of Engagement and as a cyber security compliance specialist. He served as an officer in the Irish Defence Forces for 14 years, specialising as a Technical Exploitation Operations (TEO) manager for Ireland’s Special Forces unit the Army Ranger Wing. Joseph represents Ireland on a number of international cybersecurity forums including the EU NIS Cooperation Group, the EU Cybersecurity Crisis Liaison Organisation Network (EU-CyCLONe) and the White House’s Global Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI). Joseph was awarded a Fulbright Cybersecurity Scholarship and will travel to Boston College in 2022 as a visiting scholar to conduct research relating to the protection of critical infrastructure from cyber threats. He has a master’s in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation from UCD and is a Certified Information System Auditor.

Dera McLoughlin is a Partner and Head of Consulting at Forvis Mazars in Ireland, where she leads the firm’s management consulting and risk consulting practices. She oversees a broad portfolio of services spanning cybersecurity and NIS 2, artificial intelligence (AI), IT audit, technology and digital consulting, strategy and planning, organisational design, and financial consulting. Dera works extensively with financial services organisations, regulators, and public sector bodies, helping them navigate complex challenges at the intersection of technology, regulation, and organisational transformation. In 2024, she was appointed by the European Commission to join the expert group tasked with drafting the first EU General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, a cornerstone initiative supporting the implementation of the AI Act across Europe. A Chartered Accountant (FCA) and University College Dublin Commerce graduate, Dera also holds multiple professional credentials, including CISA, CISM, Prince2, CMC, and a CIPD qualification in HR Management. Her expertise, leadership, and forward-looking perspective make her a sought-after voice on digital transformation, emerging technologies, and regulatory innovation.

Caroline Spillane CDir is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Directors Ireland. She commenced the role in July 2022. Caroline has held several senior leadership roles including most recently as Director General of Engineers Ireland, the all-Ireland professional body for engineers, CEO of the Medical Council of Ireland, the independent statutory regulator of over 25,000 medical practitioners and Assistant National Director of the Health Services Executive. Caroline is an experienced Non-Executive Director serving as a board member of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), ESB Networks and Irish Manufacturing Research. She is also a member of the Advisory Group to Balance for Better Business, an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve gender balance in senior leadership in Ireland. Caroline's qualifications include a BA from UCC and an MA from TUD. She is currently undertaking a Doctoral programme with SETU.