After 7 years it is time for me to move on and explore new directions. I have seen the Conference grow so much over these years in the number of attendees, speakers, tracks, sessions, types of content and more. My favorite part of the job as content manager was getting to know the speakers and working with the Program Committees all over the world. I am awed by the ability of professionals who have deep technical knowledge to also be articulate and charismatic – an amazing group! And the best reward is to watch new speakers emerge and become recognized in the industry.

I have also been fortunate to be welcomed by the security blogger community and have had a great time sponsoring and working on the Security Blogger Meetup.

I have enjoyed the close partnership over the years with Hugh Thompson as Program Chair who has taught me much and kept me laughing all the way. I am so glad he will continue his role with our new content manager.

My goal has always been to ensure that the Conference content covered as much ground as possible in the field of information security and contained as many differing and controversial opinions as possible which I hope we were able to do for 2014 when passions were at the forefront. I have tried as much as I could to keep the content vendor-independent and bias-free and I have to thank the support of RSA who has enabled me to do that.

I am sure Britta Glade will continue to move the Conference content forward into the next stages along with Hugh Thompson. My final request is for speakers to keep submitting session proposals – and if you don’t get in the first time – not only try again but ask for feedback!

I will miss not being able to see and communicate with so many of you –  just make sure we are connected on LinkedIn!  www.linkedin.com/in/jeannefriedman