WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Greater Washington Board of Trade and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the advocate for the profession of directorship, joined forces this month to present a groundbreaking conference, Board Agenda: Cyber, that tackled the most critical cybersecurity issues facing business leaders. The first event of its kind, Board Agenda: Cyber brought together corporate executives and directors from Fortune Global 500 companies to share insights and strategies that can improve cyber oversight and reinforce that the Greater Washington area is central to the issue of cybersecurity.
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"Bringing together our top business, government, and military leaders helps all of us be better prepared to confront the unprecedented challenges of data breaches, privacy, and cybersecurity across a company's entire business," said Jim Dinegar, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. "Without question, this region serves the integrated needs of companies facing this challenge now or in the near future."
More than 250 directors and executive leaders from around the world gathered at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for a series of frank discussions on the current threat landscape, implications for board oversight, and leading practices for assessing and addressing cyber risks. The speakers, panelists, and moderators agreed that boards must set clear expectations and support management in prioritizing cybersecurity threats in relation to key business and strategic assets.
Click here for the five boardroom imperatives that emerged from the discussion.
"It's critical that we start to demystify cybersecurity for the director community. Directors don't need to be technology experts, but they must play an effective role in cyber-risk oversight," said NACD CEO Ken Daly.
Board Agenda: Cyber speakers included the following experts:
- Sondra Barbour, Director, 3M
- The Hon. Thomas J. Ridge, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Former Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Rhett A. Hernandez, Lt. General, U.S. Army (Ret.); Former Head, U.S. Army Cyber Command
- Donald Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO, Burson-Marsteller
- John M. McConnell, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.); Former Director of National Intelligence; Former Director, National Security Agency
- Shawn A. Bray, Director, INTERPOL Washington
- Michele J. Hooper, Director, PPG Industries and UnitedHealth Group
- William F. McCracken, Former Chair and CEO, CA Technologies; Director, NACD
Major support for the program was provided by KPMG and Accenture. Other sponsors included AIG, Booz Allen Hamilton, the Center for Audit Quality, Guggenheim Partners, Northrop Grumman, Pepco Holdings, and Verizon.
About the Greater Washington Board of Trade
The Greater Washington Board of Trade is the premier regional business network and the only local business association representing all industry sectors. Founded in 1889, the Board of Trade enjoys a long history of helping its members' businesses grow by providing content-rich programs, connecting business leaders, and marketing Greater Washington's economic opportunities. The Board of Trade addresses business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, Suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on transportation, emergency preparedness, green as a competitive advantage, workforce issues and the emerging cybersecurity agenda. Pro-business and bipartisan, the Board of Trade develops positions on issues with the basic premise that sound, reasonable policies will benefit the economy and the community at large. To learn more about the Greater Washington Board of Trade and its commitment to improving the region's business community, visit www.boardoftrade.org.
About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the advocate for the profession of directorship and is focused on advancing exemplary board leadership. Informed by more than 35 years of experience, NACD delivers insights and resources that more than 16,000 corporate director members rely on to make sound strategic decisions and confidently confront complex business challenges. NACD provides world-class director education programs, national peer-exchange forums, and proprietary research to promote director professionalism, ultimately enhancing the economic sustainability of the corporate enterprise and bolstering stakeholder confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org.
