Your risk, your reputation: A review of business threats and innovative ways to mitigate them

Ben Leary

Director, Forensic Pathways

Ben is known for his expertise and innovative contributions to the open-source intelligence dark web intelligence marketplace. As the Director of Forensic Pathways, Ben leads a team of dedicated specialists in providing cutting-edge solutions to law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, and corporate clients worldwide. Recently, Ben secured Forensic Pathways with a Smart Grant from Innovate UK to further develop innovative techniques for the detection of cybercrime, ransomware attacks, fraud and criminality on the dark web. Building on this state-of-the-art foundation, Ben envisions identifying cybercrime syndicates, especially those involved in ransomware, by analysing their behavioural patterns, victims, the industry sectors being targeted and their geographical locations of attacks.

John Thornton

Technical Director, Forensic Pathways

John leads the development of Forensic Pathways’ dark web and ransomware monitoring solution, Clarifyi.  John is a Microsoft Certified Professional and is FPL's Technical Director with overall responsibility for software development, design and delivery, delivering key FPL technologies.

Lee Doughty

Director of Security and AI Practice, Intercity Technology Ltd

Intercity Technology is a prominent Birmingham-Headquartered technology company providing communications, managed IT, and cloud and security services to private and public sector clients of all sizes, including many familiar names - Enterprise Cars, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, and Birmingham City Football Club to name a few.

Lee joined Intercity in June 2023 after a successful 25-year career in British Intelligence, serving in a variety of counterterrorism and counter-espionage roles in the UK and overseas.  As Director of Security & AI Practice for Intercity, Lee has focused on improving the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of Intercity and its clients, ensuring they are better prepared to assess and respond to the increasing risks from a complex and pernicious cyber threat.

A Visiting Professor at Aston University, Lee is taking cybersecurity to the next level as Chair of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Intercity and Aston.  Harnessing the power of GenAI technologies to a profound understanding of cyber risk, the Partnership is proud to be developing a uniquely innovative technological capability that will improve the cyber resilience of businesses of every size and sector.

Christian Toon

Head of Cyber Professional Services, Pinsent Masons

Christian Toon is a globally recognized expert in security and technology leadership, with over 17 years of experience driving strategic initiatives across a wide range of sectors. His extensive career has spanned senior executive roles in major corporations, government advisory positions, and board memberships. Christian is also a passionate and proven champion for inclusion and diversity within the security and technology fields.

Christian currently serves as the Head of Cyber Professional Services at Pinsent Masons, a role that has evolved from being their longstanding Chief Information Security Officer for five and a half years. He is also an Technology and Cyber Risk Audit Committee Member at the University of Lancaster.  

Previously, Christian served as a Board Member of the National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board for the Scottish Government. Worked as a Client CISO at PwC, providing annual cybersecurity leadership for clients like Coventry Building Society and MS Amlin. He spent several years as the European and APAC Head of Information Risk at Iron Mountain, spearheading cybersecurity and information protection programs internationally. It was here at Iron Mountain where his security journey started.