InfoCons Consumer Protection for Cybersecurity – Sorin Mierlea , President of InfoCons , Attends the Official Opening of Bucharest Cybersecurity Conference 2026 – BCC 2026

Sorin Mierlea, President of InfoCons, attends the Bucharest Cybersecurity Conference 2026 – BCC2026, an international event dedicated to cybersecurity and cyber resilience, taking place between 20 and 22 October 2026 at HALO Events Center in Bucharest.

The President of InfoCons is attending the official opening of the conference on 20 October 2026, as well as the activities taking place throughout the three-day event.

Bucharest Cybersecurity Conference 2026 is organised by the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate – DNSC, together with Bitdefender as Presenting Partner, and with the support of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity – ENISA, the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre – ECCC, the National Coordination Centre – NCC-RO, and the National Association for Information Systems Security – ANSSI.

The conference brings together representatives of public authorities, European and international institutions, industry leaders, cybersecurity experts and members of the academic community, providing a high-level framework for dialogue on the current challenges facing the digital environment.

Main Stage Agenda – Day 1, 20 October 2026

Theme of the day: “Defining the Stakes – Geopolitics, Governance and the Architecture of Digital Security”

13:00–14:00 – Registration and welcome coffee

14:00–14:30 – Official Opening

High-level officials open the conference by presenting their vision for a more secure digital Europe and world.

Speakers:

• Nicușor Daniel Dan – President of Romania;
• Luminița Odobescu – State Advisor for Foreign Policy and Security.

14:30–14:45 – Opening Remarks

Opening remarks by Inge Bryan, Independent Advisor and Chair of Datenna, setting the scene for the conversations taking place at BCC2026.

14:45–15:05 – Fireside 1: “Trusted Power: AI, Geopolitics and the Leaders Who Will Define the Next Decade”

The session explores the international race for artificial intelligence, the use of AI systems to launch and scale cyberattacks, the responsibility of the companies developing these technologies and the importance of building the digital future on trusted solutions.

15:05–15:50 – Panel 1: “Geopolitical Competition in Cyberspace: Strategy, Sovereignty and the Race for Digital Power”

The panel addresses the use of digital infrastructure in geopolitical competition, the fragmentation of technology standards and the implications of digital sovereignty for governments and international alliances.

Speakers:

• Len Khodorkovsky – Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue;
• Colin Mahony – CEO, Recorded Future;
• Philip Stupak – Senior Director of Advocacy, ISC2;
• Cristina Cileacu – Journalist, DIGI24.

15:50–16:10 – Coffee Break

16:10–16:25 – Keynote 1: “All Quiet on the Eastern Front”

A pragmatic perspective on hybrid warfare, digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and Europe’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence.

Speaker:

• Andrei Florescu – President and General Manager, Bitdefender.

16:25–16:45 – Fireside 2: “When Cyberattacks Become National Security Threats: Defending Europe’s Digital Sovereignty”

The session examines how attacks targeting critical infrastructure, supply chains and essential public services can become national security threats. The discussion focuses on European digital sovereignty, cooperation between private companies, authorities and NATO allies, and the strengthening of resilience against cyber conflict.

Speaker:

• Andrei Ioniță – Head of Government Affairs, Bitdefender.

16:45–17:30 – Panel 2: “Rules for the Real World: Can Europe’s Cybersecurity Legislation Deliver What It Promises?”

The panel analyses the implementation of the European cybersecurity legislative framework, including NIS2, DORA, the Cyber Resilience Act and the Cyber Solidarity Act. Discussions cover regulatory harmonisation across Member States, the impact on SMEs and critical-sector operators, and the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms.

Speakers:

• Ricardo Ferreira – Field CISO EMEA, Fortinet;
• Hans De Vries – Chief Cybersecurity and Operational Officer, ENISA;
• Matthias Sachs – Cybersecurity Policy Lead Europe, Google;
• Zoja Antuchevič – Chair of CREST’s Europe Council;
• Jillian Rucker – Deputy Branch Chief for Government Partnerships, CISA Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative.

17:30–17:40 – Peek Preview 1: “Securing AI in the Agentic Enterprise”

The session presents the risks associated with AI agents capable of independently planning and executing actions across corporate networks, as well as an identity-first protection model based on Zero Trust principles.

Speaker:

• Mo Shell – Head of AI Security GTM, EMEA, Palo Alto Networks.

17:40–17:50 – Day 1 Conclusions

Closing remarks by:

• Irina Macovei – Head of Intellectual Property & Technology Practice, DLA Piper Romania.

18:00–21:00 – “Secret Field Trip”

An activity organised by invitation only, with the location and details shared directly with invited participants.

18:00–23:00 – ECCC x BCC2026 Social Evening

An informal networking event open to all participants, hosted in the HALO Lounge together with the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre.

The participation of Sorin Mierlea, President of InfoCons, in the official opening of Bucharest Cybersecurity Conference 2026 is part of the organisation’s efforts to support institutional dialogue, national and international cooperation, and the development of a safe and responsible digital environment.

For consumers, cybersecurity means protecting personal data, using digital services safely, preventing fraud, and having access to transparent and trustworthy technologies.

Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection for Cybersecurity Department