MOLDOVA MOLDOVA MOLDOVA CYBERSECURITY CYBERSECURITY CYBERSECURITY MOLDOVA CYBERSECURITY MOLDOVA CYBERSECURITY MOLDOVA CYBERSECURITY FORUM 2026 FORUM 2026 FORUM 2026

Conference Moderator

Sebastian-Dan NASTE, Expert in legal policies and cyber security standardisation / Data Protection Officer (DPO), Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate

Registration and welcome coffee

Opening Ceremony

Speakers: Eugeniu OSMOCHESCU, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization of Moldova;
Nick PIETROWICZ, Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy in Moldova;
Fern HORINE, Ambassador, Embassy of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Moldova;
Petra LÄRKE, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova;
Máté CSICSAI, Deputy Head of Delegation, EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova;
Viorel BOSTAN, Rector, Technical University of Moldova

High-level opening remarks highlighting Moldova’s commitment to strengthening national cybersecurity and advancing regional cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

Fireside Chat

Moldova’s Cybersecurity Roadmap: Progress and Priorities

Moderator: Antoaneta ROUSSI, Cyber and Intelligence Reporter, POLITICO Brussels
Speaker: Mihai LUPASCU, Director of the Agency for Cyber Security, Moldova

This conversation will explore Moldova’s evolving cybersecurity landscape, highlighting national priorities, ongoing reforms, and the role of international cooperation in strengthening cyber resilience. The discussion will also reflect on how Moldova is positioning itself within the broader regional and European cybersecurity ecosystem.

Panel discussion I

Regional Cybersecurity Landscape: Cybersecurity Without Borders

Moderator: Sébastien GARNAULT, Founder of CyberTaskForce and President of the Paris Cyber Summit
Speakers: Michelle ILIEV, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization;
Dan CIMPEAN, Director, Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate;
Nataliya TKACHUK, Secretary, NCSCC, National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine;
Petra LÄRKE, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova

Cyber threats increasingly transcend national borders, making regional cooperation essential. This panel will explore shared challenges, strategic responses, and opportunities to strengthen coordinated cyber defense across Europe, including through the recently signed trilateral MoU between Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, which formally established the Cyber Alliance for Regional Resilience, a new strategic cooperation framework aimed at strengthening cybersecurity resilience across the region.

Keynote Speech

Connecting Moldova to the European Cybersecurity Ecosystem: Opportunities for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Speaker: Luca TAGLIARETTI, Executive Director at European Cybersecurity Competence Centre

This keynote will explore how Moldova can deepen its integration into the European cybersecurity ecosystem and benefit from collaboration with European institutions, industry, and research networks. The discussion will highlight opportunities for Moldovan public authorities, companies, and critical infrastructure operators to engage with European initiatives that support cybersecurity innovation, capacity building, and resilience.

Panel discussion II

Building National Cyber Architectures

Moderator: Thomas DE RIDDER, Strategic Advisor on Hybrid Threat and/or Cyber Security, EUPM
Speakers: Olivier CALEFF, Chair, Board of Directors, FIRST;
Antanas ALEKNAVIČIUS, Director, National Cyber Security Centre Lithuania;
Fatlir BEQO, Specialist in the Cyber Incident Monitoring and Response Sector, National Cyber Security Authority in Albania;
Klaid MÄGI, Cyber Security Expert, E-Governance Academy Estonia

This panel will explore how countries are building and strengthening their national cybersecurity architectures. The discussion will focus on institutional frameworks, operational coordination, and the role of national cyber authorities and CSIRTs in protecting critical infrastructure and responding to cyber incidents. Speakers will share experiences and best practices in developing resilient cybersecurity ecosystems and enhancing cooperation across Europe.

Keynote Speech

Trends and Resilience Models for Eastern Europe

Speaker: Andreas Sfakianakis, Technical Director, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42

This keynote will examine key lessons learned from Ukraine’s experience in defending against large-scale cyber operations, hybrid threats, and disinformation campaigns. It will highlight practical strategies for strengthening national cyber resilience, protecting critical infrastructure, and improving coordination between government, private sector, and international partners in times of crisis.

Lunch

Panel discussion III

No Juniors, No Seniors: Fixing Cybersecurity's Broken Talent Pipeline

Moderator: Marius DUMITRASCU, Trainer, Cybercor
Speakers: Ludmila PECA, Director, Cybercor;
Dinu TURCANU, Vice-Rector for Digitalization, Technical University of Moldova;
Gabriela OJOG, Executive Director, Foundation for Advancement of Moldova;
Adrian MANOLE, President, ASSi;
Octavian OPREA, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Information Technology and Communications, Parliament of Romania

This panel will focus on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in cybersecurity education. Discussions will highlight approaches to developing skilled professionals, bridging the talent gap, and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity experts.

Keynote Speech

Counter adversary operations

Speaker: Tudor CRISTEA, Regional Manager, CrowdStrike

This keynote will cover modern threat hunting techniques, insights into emerging cyber threats, and practical strategies for proactively identifying and mitigating risks across critical infrastructures.

Panel discussion IV

Critical Infrastructure: Policy, Cooperation, and Response

Moderator: Gheorghe LAPTEANU, Head of Service Providers Identification Department, ASC
Speakers: Ivana ARAPU, Head of Corporate Security, Orange;
Andrei CEBAN, Head of Data Protection and Cybersecurity Section, Premier Energy Distribution;
Nicolai ROMANSCHI, Chief Information Security Officer, Moldindconbank;
Alexey SHULENKOV, Head of CyberSec Division, Daac Systems
*This panel will be conducted in Romanian.

This panel will focus on policy, cooperation, and response mechanisms for protecting critical infrastructure. Participants will discuss challenges, best practices, and collaborative approaches to strengthen national and regional cyber resilience.

Coffee Break

Panel discussion V

Securing Digital Government

Moderator: Diana GOTMANIUC, Head of Methodology, Standards, Research and Development Section, ASC
Participants: Nicoleta COLOMET, Director, E-Governance Agency (E-GA);
Radu VIERU, Director, Serviciul Tehnologia Informației și Securitate Cibernetică (STISC);
Carolina NOVAC, State Secretary, Ministry of Energy;
Stefan DANILA, Deputy Head of Division, National Bank of Moldova
*This panel will be conducted in Romanian.

This panel will focus on securing digital government services, exploring how Moldovan public authorities manage identity, trust, and the protection of e-services. Participants will share experiences and challenges in implementing cybersecurity requirements across key public institutions and critical sectors, including perspectives on cross-institutional cooperation and compliance with national frameworks.

Keynote Speech

AI for Security || Security for AI

Speaker: Madalin VASILE, Director System Engineering, Fortinet

Closing remarks

Summary of key messages and wrap‑up of Day 1.

Networking event

Evening networking reception with speakers, partners and participants.