Call for Speakers
Process Overview
We are delighted that you are interested in speaking at the 6th annual edition of Africa Cyber Defense Forum (ACDF) which will be held in Rwanda from 29 September to 3 October 2025.
29 – 30 September 2025
Workshops and Training Sessions
Kigali Marriott Hotel
30 September 2025
Gala Dinner
Kigali Marriott Hotel
1 – 2 October 2025
Conference – Plenary Sessions, Panel Discussions and Presentations
Kigali Marriott Hotel
3 October 2025
ACDF Golf Open
Kigali Golf Club
Our Committee of Experts-Working Group (CoE-WG) employs a robust speaker evaluation and selection process. We go through several rounds of review to ensure that we select presentations that best represent our attendees’ interests. This gives our Forum an edge over other industry events. The following is a timeline for the submission process for ACDF 2025.
- May 29, 2025: Call for Speakers opens
- July 31, 2025: Call for Speakers ends
- August 12, 2025: Notification of acceptance status
We are looking for fresh guidance and insights for ACDF 2025. Therefore, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- No more than two proposals per speaker
- Interactivity is encouraged — proposals that emphasize attendee engagement will be given priority
- Case studies will receive priority consideration
- Veteran speakers are welcome, but new material will be prioritized over past material
- Vendors and solution providers are encouraged to submit proposals, but a customer must be featured as a co-presenter
- Commercial/promotional content will not be considered
- Speakers will cater for their transport and accommodation costs for the duration of ACDF 2025
The CoE-WG receives hundreds of high-quality proposals from professionals throughout the industry and we will select the best mix to be part of the ACDF 2025 programme.
Selection Criteria
We want the very best presentations for ACDF 2025. What are we looking for?
The ideal speaker:
- Has significant experience and subject matter expertise in the topic proposed, strong content knowledge, experience, and passion
- Can engage an audience with purely educational, insightful, and focused content
- Knows that the strongest sessions are driven by real-life stories and insights
- Understands that session objectives and takeaways must be actionable
- Is comfortable speaking in front of large groups
- Is able to communicate, collaborate, and exchange ideas with attendees
- Is willing to partner with ACDF to deliver the best possible experience for attendees
- Believes a diverse speaker lineup delivers the greatest value
- Plans to attend the entire event and engage with attendees
- Is open to helping spread the word about ACDF 2025
The ideal session:
- Is relevant to information security and cyber security leaders
- Addresses the most pressing issues regarding best practices, processes, infrastructure, and strategy
- Is more than just theory, delivering practical experience, real-world examples, and case studies from all points along the path to maturity
- Is a coherent, interest-grabbing presentation featuring high-quality materials and accompanying documentation
- Is fresh, timely content that doesn’t promote or endorse a specific product/service
Please provide complete information for each proposal element.
- You must include a title that’s descriptive, attention-grabbing, and/or provocative
- You must include an abstract/description letting potential attendees know what’s in it for them; make a case for why your session/coverage is different, urgent, important to the industry, etc.
- You must identify 3-5 key takeaways to help attendees understand what they’ll gain from attending your session
- You must include full contact information, a brief biographical statement, and a headshot
Forum Tracks
Emerging Technologies
Dive into transformative technologies like AI, machine learning, blockchain, and quantum computing in the context of cybersecurity.
Policy and Regulations
Delve into the intersection of policy, regulations, and cybersecurity governance. Understand compliance frameworks and strategies for managing cyber risks.
Solutions
Explore cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, advancements in threat intelligence, incident response technologies, and emerging trends in security operations.
Government
Explore national cybersecurity strategies, international cooperation, and incident response coordination for securing African nations in the digital age.
Capacity Building
Focus on strategies for building and strengthening cybersecurity capabilities in Africa. Explore workforce development, cybersecurity education, and initiatives to address the shortage of cybersecurity talent in Africa.
Key Discussion Areas
Cybersecurity Capacity Building and Local Talent Development
With cybercrime costing Africa $4 billion annually, ACDF 2025 will focus on scaling training and regional academies to address the skills gap, ensuring African-led curricula to build a workforce capable of tackling local threats and reducing reliance on external expertise
Building African Cybersecurity Products and Services
Ransomware and phishing cause billions in losses yearly, making local cybersecurity solutions critical for sovereignty. The forum will promote startups, incubators, and open-source tools to develop tailored products, balancing global standards with regional needs
Regional Cooperation: Linking CERTs Across Africa
Transnational threats exploit weak coordination, so discussions will centre on linking CERTs and creating a continental network to enhance threat intelligence sharing, prioritizing African-led governance to align with regional priorities
Investment in Cloud, Digital Identity and Data Centre Ecosystems
With Africa’s cloud market set to grow significantly by 2029, the forum will explore investments in local infrastructure, using incentives and partnerships to ensure secure, locally owned ecosystems and reduce foreign dependency
Policy Frameworks to Enhance Digital Sovereignty
RWith 80% of African nations lacking robust cybersecurity laws, discussions will focus on strengthening continental and national policies, establishing oversight agencies, and balancing sovereignty with global collaboration
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa
AI can reduce threat detection time by 50% but raises ethical risks. The forum shall explore discussions around an African AI Ethics Charter to ensure ethical deployment, prioritizing local values to counter external corporate influence
Committee of Experts – Working Group
Trey Mujakporue
Director Consulting Services
Hunter-Mckenzie
Diana Agaba
Head Information Security, Stanbic Bank Uganda
Dr. Martin Koyabe
Senior Project Manager, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE)
Patricia Rotich
Cyber Security Incident Responder, Safaricom PLC
Daniel Ehrenreich
Thought Leadership Practitioner, Consultant, Lecturer
Marvin Ngoma Tyolani
Principal Security Architect, Elastic
Rules of Engagement
If you are selected you will receive a Speaker Agreement confirming and affirming your commitment to ACDF 2025.
- You (and any proposed co-presenters or panelists) must be available to speak anytime from 29 September to 3 October 2025; all sessions are assigned a date/time at the discretion of the CoE-WG team.
- You are expected to cover the entirety of your assigned time slot and present the session as described in the agenda. Attendees will be evaluating you on how well your session related to the topic described in the agenda; for example, if you submit a topic geared toward Emerging Trends, Policy and Regulations, Solutions, Capacity Building and Government, attendees will verify that you satisfied that expectation.
- Speakers are selected, not companies. If you must withdraw from the program, the CoE-WG team reserves the right to replace the cancelled session with a comparable topic and speaker from the wait list.
- Each speaker will receive one complimentary conference registration. If one or more co-presenters qualify to participate, additional complimentary registrations may be offered.
- Travel arrangements and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the speaker(s).
Evaluation Guide
If selected to present at the Forum, attendees will evaluate your session using the following criteria, rating your content and performance on a five-point scale. To be considered for future events, you must receive a minimum overall rating equal to the average score for this year’s Forum.
- Content – Attendees select sessions based upon the description(s) you provided for the Forum proceedings materials. The items below verify that you delivered the content you described, had the expertise you claimed, and included specific, useful how-to information.
- Was the session content was what you thought it would be?
- Did the session provide useful information?
- Did the speaker display a strong knowledge of the subject?
- Can I apply what I learned to my current job/profession?
- Performance – The items below confirm that you knew your topic, were well prepared for your session, kept the attendees’ attention, and fulfilled your commitment to non-promotion.
- Did the speaker demonstrate a strong ability to communicate ideas?
- Did the speaker handle audience interactions and Q&A effectively?
- Do you recommend this speaker for future events?
- Did the speaker inappropriately promote their company’s products/services?