Berlin Cybersecurity Social #18: AI & Cybersecurity Sessions

Are you a cybersecurity professional looking to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and make friends? Look no further! Join us for a special edition of the Berlin Cybersecurity Social hosted in collaboration with the Venture Café Berlin and the AI Ethics Action Hub for a fantastic evening of networking.

Agenda:

• 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM: Welcome
• 5:15 PM – 5:50 PM: Lightning Talk: AI Threat Modeling: how to bring the right mindset to detect and prevent AI risk - Iryna Schwindt
  In this talk, we'll explore the full spectrum of AI risks—not just security-related ones—and why understanding the application context is critical. You'll learn:
  - What are the types of AI risks (not only security risks)
  - Why AI application context matters
  - How to identify potential threats, apply effective controls and guardrails
  - Cultivating the right mindset to detect and prevent AI risks
• 5:50 PM - 6:30 PM: Panel: AI Meets Cybersecurity: Building Smarter, Safer Systems at Scale - Jose Quesada, Diana Waithanji, Ali Yazdani, Pranav Vattaparambil
  As AI rapidly integrates into every layer of digital infrastructure, the stakes for cybersecurity have never been higher. This panel brings together experts from across the security spectrum—ranging from DevSecOps and enterprise risk to cybersecurity strategy—to explore how AI is transforming threat detection, governance, and secure system design.
  We’ll dive into real-world use cases, emerging risks, and what it takes to build scalable, intelligent, and secure systems in an increasingly AI-driven world.
• 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Breakout Session: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Ethics & Human-Centered Future
  *Featuring Azer Aliyev (speakinprivate.com), Gunay Kazimzade (Mercedes-Benz Consulting), and Justin Shenk (AI Salon Berlin), this fast-paced session brings together innovators, researchers, and tech leaders to explore how to build AI systems that protect privacy, bolster trust, and keep humans at the heart of digital transformation.

*This session is organised by the AI Ethics Action Hub

About the Speakers:

Iryna Schwindt is a Cybersecurity engineer currently at Vodafone and a co-author at the OWASP AI Exchange (https://owaspai.org/) project, contributing to the EU AI Act security standard and AI Red Teaming.

Jose Quesada is the founder and director of Data Science Retreat (DSR), an advanced ML bootcamp that has helped over 300 professionals land data science roles. With a PhD and 20+ years in machine learning, Jose brings a unique blend of technical depth and creative flair—he’s also a former photorealism artist. He has advised on impactful projects ranging from malaria diagnostics to sustainability-focused robotics.

Diana Waithanji is a Cybersecurity Engineer at SAP SE, with experience working across Europe and Africa. She is an advocate for data privacy as a fundamental human right and serves on two technical committees at the Kenya Bureau of Standards. Diana is also a board member at Nivishe Foundation, where she supports youth mental health through safe spaces. Her work bridges global standards, social impact, and cutting-edge security practices.

Ali Yazdani is a seasoned security professional with over a decade of experience spanning offensive security and secure development practices. Starting his career as a penetration tester, he now specializes in building scalable DevSecOps programs and embedding security into engineering workflows. Ali brings deep technical knowledge and a pragmatic approach to security culture. His mission is to empower teams to build safer software at scale and is currently a founder at Scandog.io

Pranav Vattaparambil is Chief Security Officer at Unosecur (https://www.unosecur.com/) as well as a security and product strategist with deep expertise in fintech. Formerly VP of Cybersecurity at the EU’s largest Banking-as-a-Service company, he also advises multiple startups on navigating security, risk, and go-to-market strategy. Pranav bridges the gap between technical execution and business impact, especially in regulated industries like banking and crypto. His focus is on helping companies build secure, scalable products from day one.

About Venture Café Berlin: Venture Café Berlin connects a community of innovators and entrepreneurs with free high-impact programming and events. Venture Café is a part of the CIC network, whose mission is to fix the world through innovation.

About Berlin Cybersecurity Social: This meetup is open to cybersecurity professionals of all levels, from beginners to experts. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your journey in the field, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for cybersecurity.

About the AI Ethics Action Hub: A global, interdisciplinary collective dedicated to advancing ethical, inclusive, and accountable AI. We believe technology should be designed to respecting human dignity, planetary well-being, and intergenerational justice.