JUNE 25-27, 2026, İstinye University, Istanbul
2026 International Conference on Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, and AI Applications (ICCSDFAI)
Keynote and Distinguished Speakers:
The Keynote Sessions at the International Conference on Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, and AI Applications bring together world-renowned experts, thought leaders, and researchers to share their insights on the most pressing challenges and groundbreaking advancements in digital security.
In an era where cyber threats evolve faster than ever, and artificial intelligence reshapes the security landscape, our keynote speakers will offer visionary perspectives, present cutting-edge research, and inspire new approaches to cybersecurity, forensic investigations, and AI-driven defense mechanisms.
Our keynote lineup includes world-renowned professionals, visionary researchers, and industry trailblazers – individuals whose contributions have shaped the landscape of cybersecurity and AI-driven security solutions. These global thought leaders and respected authorities in their fields will share their expertise, offering invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Meet Our Esteemed Keynote and Distinguished Speakers Below!
In an era where cyber threats evolve faster than ever, and artificial intelligence reshapes the security landscape, our keynote speakers will offer visionary perspectives, present cutting-edge research, and inspire new approaches to cybersecurity, forensic investigations, and AI-driven defense mechanisms.
Our keynote lineup includes world-renowned professionals, visionary researchers, and industry trailblazers – individuals whose contributions have shaped the landscape of cybersecurity and AI-driven security solutions. These global thought leaders and respected authorities in their fields will share their expertise, offering invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Meet Our Esteemed Keynote and Distinguished Speakers Below!
Yerzhan Seitkulov
Head, Information Resources Protection Department
President of Kazakhstan’s Executive Office
Astana, Kazakhstan
Yerzhan Seitkulov is a leading expert in information security and cryptology. He currently heads the Department of Informatization and Information Resource Protection within the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan. Prior to his government appointments, he served for a decade as the Director of the Research Institute of Information Security and Cryptology at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. He holds a PhD in Physics and Mathematics, having graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University, and completed specialized research in information security at the State University of New York. He is a laureate of the Daryn State Youth Prize and holds a Presidential Letter of Gratitude.
Ulykbek Shambulov
Deputy Chairman of JSC "State Technical Service"
Astana, Kazakhstan
Dr. Ulykbek Shambulov is a cybersecurity expert and the current Vice Chairman of JSC State Technical Service. With a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technology from Nazarbayev University and an M.Sc. in Computer Science and Forensic Computing from Dublin University, he brings a deep academic and practical understanding of IT security. His industry experience includes roles as a security researcher and a Senior IT Security Engineer at BTSDigital. He holds numerous professional certifications from globally recognized organizations, including Splunk, the OSCE, and The SecOps Group.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Dr. Ulykbek Shambulov is a cybersecurity expert and the current Vice Chairman of JSC State Technical Service. With a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technology from Nazarbayev University and an M.Sc. in Computer Science and Forensic Computing from Dublin University, he brings a deep academic and practical understanding of IT security. His industry experience includes roles as a security researcher and a Senior IT Security Engineer at BTSDigital. He holds numerous professional certifications from globally recognized organizations, including Splunk, the OSCE, and The SecOps Group.
Prof. Dr. Seref Sagiroglu
PhD, Professor in Software Engineering at Gazi University (GU) Computer Engineering Department
Ankara, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Sagiroglu is a Professor of Software Engineering at Gazi University and a highly cited researcher with over 12,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 43. Earning his Ph.D. from Cardiff University, his extensive career spans artificial intelligence, big data, cyber security, and software engineering. A Senior Member of IEEE, he has held prominent leadership roles, including Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Gazi University and Director of the Gazi AI Center. He has authored over 20 books, holds numerous patents, and actively contributes to the global tech community by organizing and chairing major international events, including several prominent IEEE-sponsored conferences.
Ankara, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Sagiroglu is a Professor of Software Engineering at Gazi University and a highly cited researcher with over 12,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 43. Earning his Ph.D. from Cardiff University, his extensive career spans artificial intelligence, big data, cyber security, and software engineering. A Senior Member of IEEE, he has held prominent leadership roles, including Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Gazi University and Director of the Gazi AI Center. He has authored over 20 books, holds numerous patents, and actively contributes to the global tech community by organizing and chairing major international events, including several prominent IEEE-sponsored conferences.
Prof. Dr. Ibraheem Shayea
PhD, Assistant and Associate Researcher at Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Electronics & Communications Engineering Department.
Istanbul, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Ibraheem Shayea is a distinguished researcher in wireless communication systems based at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). With a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, his work focuses on the forefront of mobility management in future heterogeneous networks, mobile edge computing, IoT, and machine learning. At ITU, he leads advanced research initiatives alongside postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, contributing extensively to scientific journals and conferences on millimeter-wave propagation and future data traffic growth.
Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Electronics & Communications Engineering Department.
Istanbul, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Ibraheem Shayea is a distinguished researcher in wireless communication systems based at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). With a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, his work focuses on the forefront of mobility management in future heterogeneous networks, mobile edge computing, IoT, and machine learning. At ITU, he leads advanced research initiatives alongside postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, contributing extensively to scientific journals and conferences on millimeter-wave propagation and future data traffic growth.
Djordje Stamenkovic
CyberSec & InfoSec Expert
Astana, Kazakhstan
With over 20 years of C-level leadership in Information Security and IT Risk Management, Djordje Stamenkovic is currently the CEO of ADT Security. For the past decade, his primary focus has been on the architecture, technology, and operation of Security Operations Centers (SOCs). As a co-founder and former CTO of several commercial SOCs in Kazakhstan, he has successfully led teams in detecting and containing high-profile cyberattacks targeting national critical infrastructure. Beyond his technical expertise, he advocates for a holistic approach to cybersecurity, emphasizing the necessary synergy between technology, organizational maturity, motivation, and resources to achieve tangible security outcomes.
Astana, Kazakhstan
With over 20 years of C-level leadership in Information Security and IT Risk Management, Djordje Stamenkovic is currently the CEO of ADT Security. For the past decade, his primary focus has been on the architecture, technology, and operation of Security Operations Centers (SOCs). As a co-founder and former CTO of several commercial SOCs in Kazakhstan, he has successfully led teams in detecting and containing high-profile cyberattacks targeting national critical infrastructure. Beyond his technical expertise, he advocates for a holistic approach to cybersecurity, emphasizing the necessary synergy between technology, organizational maturity, motivation, and resources to achieve tangible security outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Adel Aneiba
PhD, Head of the College at Birmingham City University
Birmingham, UK
Prof. Adel Aneiba is the Head of the College of Computing and leads the Cyber Physical Systems Research Group at Birmingham City University. With over 15 years of experience bridging academia and global industry, he has served as a Senior ICT Consultant for UNESCO and various governmental organizations, managing mega-projects in data center development and digital transformation. He holds a Ph.D. in mobile computing and distributed systems from Staffordshire University. An active member of IEEE and ACM, Prof. Aneiba currently directs extensive research and supervises Ph.D. projects focusing on IoT and cyber-physical systems for smart health, smart cities, and industrial factories.
Birmingham, UK
Prof. Adel Aneiba is the Head of the College of Computing and leads the Cyber Physical Systems Research Group at Birmingham City University. With over 15 years of experience bridging academia and global industry, he has served as a Senior ICT Consultant for UNESCO and various governmental organizations, managing mega-projects in data center development and digital transformation. He holds a Ph.D. in mobile computing and distributed systems from Staffordshire University. An active member of IEEE and ACM, Prof. Aneiba currently directs extensive research and supervises Ph.D. projects focusing on IoT and cyber-physical systems for smart health, smart cities, and industrial factories.
Prof. Dr. Rachid Saadane
Full Professor at the Hassania School of Public Works (EHTP) in Morocco and Deputy Director in charge of research, cooperation, and partnerships
Dr. Rachid is a distinguished researcher and the Head of the LaGeS research laboratory at EHTP. He holds a Ph.D. from Mohamed V University in collaboration with the Eurecom Institute in France, where he previously served as a research engineer in RF channel modeling. A certified 5G ICT instructor, his expansive research encompasses next-generation wireless communications (6G), AI, IoT, cybersecurity for smart grids, and sustainable technologies like green hydrogen. He is a highly active contributor to the global academic community with over 150 publications and more than 500 peer reviews for esteemed publishers including IEEE, Elsevier, and Springer. His work on urban innovation earned him the Best Paper Award at the 2019 Smart Cities Applications Conference.
Dr. Rachid is a distinguished researcher and the Head of the LaGeS research laboratory at EHTP. He holds a Ph.D. from Mohamed V University in collaboration with the Eurecom Institute in France, where he previously served as a research engineer in RF channel modeling. A certified 5G ICT instructor, his expansive research encompasses next-generation wireless communications (6G), AI, IoT, cybersecurity for smart grids, and sustainable technologies like green hydrogen. He is a highly active contributor to the global academic community with over 150 publications and more than 500 peer reviews for esteemed publishers including IEEE, Elsevier, and Springer. His work on urban innovation earned him the Best Paper Award at the 2019 Smart Cities Applications Conference.
Prof. Dr. Laila Fetjah
Professor of Cybersecurity at the Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco
Dr. Laila Fetjah is a recognized leader in digital trust and cybersecurity education. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense, as well as Head of the Cybersecurity track for the Applied Computer Science Bachelor’s program. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and the prestigious Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR), her extensive research focuses on trustworthy AI, blockchain security, and digital sovereignty. Her impactful contributions to the field recently earned her the 2025 Cyber Security Woman Award (CSWA) as Cyber Word Researcher.
Dr. Laila Fetjah is a recognized leader in digital trust and cybersecurity education. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense, as well as Head of the Cybersecurity track for the Applied Computer Science Bachelor’s program. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and the prestigious Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR), her extensive research focuses on trustworthy AI, blockchain security, and digital sovereignty. Her impactful contributions to the field recently earned her the 2025 Cyber Security Woman Award (CSWA) as Cyber Word Researcher.
Prof. Dr. Tamara Zhukabayeva
Prof. Dr., Department of Information Systems, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Prof. Dr. Tamara Zhukabayeva is a globally recognized expert in artificial intelligence safety, AI ethics, and the security of cyber-physical systems. She serves as a Professor in the Department of Information Systems at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU). Her impactful work recently earned her a feature in the "Scientist Spotlight Series" by the Paris-based Women in AI (WAI) organization, where she was celebrated as an "architect of a secure digital future." An active leader in the global academic community, Prof. Zhukabayeva recently chaired a key session and won the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Global Congress on Emerging Technologies (GCET-2024) and SDS-2024 in Spain, presenting collaborative research conducted with the UK's Smart Systems, AI, and Cybersecurity Research Centre (SSAICS). She is also deeply involved in fostering international educational ties, notably through the Orhun academic mobility program (TURKUNIB).
Prof. Dr. Tamara Zhukabayeva is a globally recognized expert in artificial intelligence safety, AI ethics, and the security of cyber-physical systems. She serves as a Professor in the Department of Information Systems at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU). Her impactful work recently earned her a feature in the "Scientist Spotlight Series" by the Paris-based Women in AI (WAI) organization, where she was celebrated as an "architect of a secure digital future." An active leader in the global academic community, Prof. Zhukabayeva recently chaired a key session and won the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Global Congress on Emerging Technologies (GCET-2024) and SDS-2024 in Spain, presenting collaborative research conducted with the UK's Smart Systems, AI, and Cybersecurity Research Centre (SSAICS). She is also deeply involved in fostering international educational ties, notably through the Orhun academic mobility program (TURKUNIB).
Olzhas Satiev
CEO of TSARKA
Astana, Kazakhstan
Olzhas Satiev is the CEO of TSARKA, a private organization dedicated to advancing information security in Kazakhstan through ethical hacking. A pioneer in the region's cybersecurity landscape, he co-founded the hacker team TeaM13 and thehack.kz forum during his school years. Under his leadership, the TSARKA team has secured consecutive first-place victories at the international PHD StandOFF in Moscow, and their WebTotem project was awarded the best business solution in Singapore. A Half-Ironman finisher and marathon runner, his ultimate driving vision is the development of the "KazHackStan" brand, establishing the country as a global hub for top-tier cybersecurity talent.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Olzhas Satiev is the CEO of TSARKA, a private organization dedicated to advancing information security in Kazakhstan through ethical hacking. A pioneer in the region's cybersecurity landscape, he co-founded the hacker team TeaM13 and thehack.kz forum during his school years. Under his leadership, the TSARKA team has secured consecutive first-place victories at the international PHD StandOFF in Moscow, and their WebTotem project was awarded the best business solution in Singapore. A Half-Ironman finisher and marathon runner, his ultimate driving vision is the development of the "KazHackStan" brand, establishing the country as a global hub for top-tier cybersecurity talent.
Abilkair Imanberdi
Director of Malware Research Department at TSARKA
Astana, Kazakhstan
Abilkair Imanberdi is a cybersecurity expert specializing in malware research, digital forensics, and penetration testing. He currently serves as the Director of the Malware Research Department at TSARKA. A former CTF-trainer at Astana IT University and TeamLead at the State Technical Service, he brings a strong blend of advanced threat research and hands-on mentorship to the field. He earned his M.S. from Bauman Moscow State Technical University in 2019 and actively contributes to the academic community, having published over 20 national and international research articles.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Abilkair Imanberdi is a cybersecurity expert specializing in malware research, digital forensics, and penetration testing. He currently serves as the Director of the Malware Research Department at TSARKA. A former CTF-trainer at Astana IT University and TeamLead at the State Technical Service, he brings a strong blend of advanced threat research and hands-on mentorship to the field. He earned his M.S. from Bauman Moscow State Technical University in 2019 and actively contributes to the academic community, having published over 20 national and international research articles.
