Decisions affecting the cyber security industry made at the recent COP26 in Glasgow will be the focus of University of Gloucestershire's upcoming C11 Cyber Security and Digital Innovation webinar.

Leading academics Dr Jon Furley, sustainability operations manager, and Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz, associate professor in network security, will review and consider the implications of COP26 to the cyber security industry and the key touch points between environmental protection and cyber security.

Dr Furley and Dr Al-Sherbaz will also explain how the university's C11 Cyber and Digital Innovation Centre is meeting the needs of the changing digital landscape, by offering a specialist secure environment for businesses and sector-leading testing and research.

The webinar takes place via Teams at 12.30pm on December 14 and registration is now open here. 

Professor Kamal Bechkoum, head of school of computing and engineering at the university, said: "We're looking forward to hosting the C11 Cyber Security and Digital Innovation webinar and providing a platform to inform and engage with professionals from within the sector to consider the implications of COP26.

"The webinar will provide answers to a wide range of important questions, including the potential impact that decisions made at the conference will have on cyber security and cyber technical industries.

"We will consider the implications of stronger and faster environmental protection on the already rapidly changing technology and security industries.

"In addition, we will examine the first steps that businesses should be taking to prepare for this escalating state of change and, importantly, what University of Gloucestershire is doing to assist."

Dr Furley is responsible for improving sustainability practice and environmental management across the university and its core operations at all sites.

In his role as the university's carbon manager, he is driving emissions reductions and energy efficiency through development and delivery of its commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Dr Al-Sherbaz has more than 25 years' theoretical and practical experience in network and cyber security.

He has been heavily involved in driving excellence in academic research, as well as the development of business, government and education partnerships in the EU, Middle East, India and China.

The university is a key partner in the Golden Valley Development - home to Cyber Central UK - chairing the research and innovation stakeholders' group and sharing its expertise in a range of cyber-tech areas related to skills and education, as well as research and knowledge exchange in topics from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Security to randomness and the interface between cyber security and human behaviour and ethics.