Securing the Intelligent Enterprise:
Where Cyber Resilience Meets Leadership
05th to 07th June, 2026 | Pondicherry
Partners
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Asset Intelligence & Control Partner
Agentic AppSec Platform Partner
Cyber Security Partner
Overview
EmergeSec is an intentional initiative by The Mainstream, born from the recognition that security leadership today operates under constant complexity and consequence. As organisations grow more intelligent and interconnected, security has become integral to enterprise decision-making, trust, and resilience.
EmergeSec 2026 is designed as a three-day, invitation-only residential summit—creating space for senior security and privacy leaders to step back, reflect with peers, and engage in conversations that demand depth, trust, and perspective.
Eminent Leaders
Khushbu Soni
Co-Founder & CEO
The Mainstream
Ramesh Kumar R
CISO
Biocon Group of Companies
Subhash Singh
CISO & Head Enterprise Architecture
Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation Limited
S Srikanth
CISO
Tata Electronics
Ninad Varadkar
Group CISO
Edelweiss Financial Services
Krishna Kant Mishra
CISO
Edelweiss Life Insurance
Naseem Halder
Group CISO
Navi
Satyavrat Mishra
Head - Corporate IT & Group CISO
Godrej Industries Group
Rajesh S. Dongre
SVP & CISO
HDFC ERGO General Insurance
Yudhisthira Sahoo
CISO
Apollo Pharmacy
Sunil Nishankar
CISO
Future Generali India Life Insurance
Dr. Priyank Sheth
CISO
Anand Rathi Group
Jagannath Sahoo
Group CISO & DPO
Gujarat Fluorochemicals
Tanin Chakraborty
Global DPO
Biocon Biologics
Sanjay Kumar Tiwari
Head IT (CISO)
ICICI Direct
Vivek Shankar
CITSO & VP
Axis Max Life Insurance
Ravi Bhushan
CISO
PayU
Deepak Rana
Global CISO
Evalueserve
Nantha Ram R
Director and Leader – Cybersecurity, GCC
Albertsons
Companies India
Utkarsh Sawant
Global Head of Cyber Strategy
Diageo
Prakash Kumar Ranjan
CISO & DPO
Samman Capital Limited (Formerly Indiabulls)
Amit Sharma
SVP & CISO
Info Edge India
Vijayakumar C
CISO
NSE Clearing Limited
Abhishek Jha
Global CISO
Tata Technologies
Abhik Basak
Global Security Director
LKQ Corporation
Himanshu Nayal
Director IT-IS & CISO
Hughes Communications
Tarovar Verma
Head of Enterprise Security
PhysicsWallah
Hilal Ahmad Lone
CISO & VP
Liminal Custody
Harshal Harbak
CISO
Fedbank Financial Services
Usman Kathi
CISO
Sun Pharma
Avinash Tiwari
Global CISO
Pidilite Industries
Krantikumar Sherkhane
CISO
HDFC Mutual Fund
Sumeet Khokhani
CISO
WNS Global Services
Dr. Bijender Mishra
CISO
Alkem Laboratories
Jitendra Jadhwani
SVP & CISO
Tata Capital
Akhilesh Mishra
CISO
Digit Insurance
Sandip Banerjee
SVP & CISO
Bandhan Bank
Makarand Kadave
CISO & DVP - Risk Management
ICICI Lombard
Nitin Nimbalkar
CISO
HDFC Credila Financial Services Limited
Akanksha Garg
Data Protection Officer & Head Digital Products PMO
HDFC Securities
Why a Residential Summit?
Security decisions require clarity, context, and trust. The residential format enables deeper dialogue, peer learning, and decision-centric conversations.
Who’s Leading the Room?
Invitation-Only | Curated Participation
Senior Security & Privacy Leaders Including:
- Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
- Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
- Heads of Cyber Risk, GRC, Privacy & Trust
These are leaders who influence enterprise risk posture, regulatory alignment, technology investment, and boardroom decisions.
Summit Pillars
Conversations Shaping Security Leadership in 2026
From functional guardians to enterprise leaders
- Redefining security leadership for the next decade
- CISO–DPO alignment as a unified trust function
- Influence without authority
- Decision fatigue, burnout, and leadership resilience
From experimentation to enterprise control
- AI in SecOps: from detection to decision support
- Governing GenAI risk—policies, accountability, and controls
- Model risk, data leakage, and ethical challenges
- Aligning AI innovation with security and privacy
What works—and what breaks—at scale
- Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR)
- Zero Trust fatigue and simplification strategies
- Privileged access and insider risk
Lessons from real-world deployments
From regulation to resilience
- Privacy-by-design in digital products
- Data visibility across cloud and SaaS environments
- DSPM and modern data governance
- DPO leadership in the age of AI
Risk, ROI & boardroom influence
- Crisis decision-making under pressure
- OT, IIoT, and supply-chain blind spots
- Metrics that change decisions—not dashboards
- Making resilience investable
What to Expect
Candid Leadership Conversations
No vendor pitches—only real-world experiences
Boardroom Dialogues & Panels
Structured sessions focused on decisions and outcomes
Peer Learning at Scale
Learn how other leaders balance risk, innovation, and control
Cross-Industry Perspective
Understand how security challenges differ—and overlap—across sectors
Curated Networking
Meaningful conversations with leaders navigating similar pressures
An Immersive Leadership Environment
Designed for reflection, clarity, and trust
The Summit at a Glance
Day 1
June 05th, 2026
Context, Risk & Leadership Intent
As leaders arrive, conversations set the tone, framing today’s risk landscape, evolving responsibilities, and the decisions that define security leadership. The evening brings together participants in a relaxed environment designed for connection and trust-building.
AI, Identity, Privacy & Resilience
The core day of the summit dives into governing AI risk, identity at scale, privacy operations, and resilience that stands up under pressure. Closed-door discussions and curated roundtables are complemented by cultural experiences that offer perspective beyond the boardroom.
Day 2
June 06th, 2026
Day 3
June 07th, 2026
Reflection, Alignment & Departure
The final day unfolds at a gentler pace—unhurried conversations, personal reflection, and meaningful connections. The summit concludes with clarity, alignment, and a shared sense of direction.
From a Partner's Standpoint
What you unlock as a strategic partner?
Integrated Thought Leadership
Your brand becomes part of the leadership narrative.
Candid Leadership Conversations
No vendor pitches—only real-world experiences
High-Trust Engagement
Participate in closed-door, impactful conversations
Actionable Market Insight
Understand how enterprises are approaching AI risk, privacy, and resilience
Visibility Beyond the Summit
Extended editorial and content amplification through The Mainstream
Why Pondicherry?
Some conversations need room to breathe.
Pondicherry’s calm, clarity, and understated elegance create the ideal setting for discussions around risk, trust, and long-term decision-making. Removed from the predictability of hotel ballrooms and high-pressure schedules, the environment naturally supports openness and thoughtful dialogue.
EmergeSec 2026 is designed with intention.
Pondicherry simply makes that intention possible.
Contact Us
For Speaking Opportunities
Himani Saroha
+91 99589 86792
himani.saroha@mercadeo.co.in
For Sponsorship Opportunities
Sunny Bathija
+91 80975 52059
sunny.bathija@mercadeo.co.in
Abhishek Mohite
+91 98210 14576
abhishek.mohite@mercadeo.co.in
Aishwarya Shah
+91 99202 74089
aishwarya.shah@mercadeo.co.in
What started as CIO News in June 2020 grew rapidly into a trusted resource for CIOs, CISOs, and tech leaders, focusing on cybersecurity and emerging technologies. With 70,000+ subscribers and 500+ podcasts, the platform recognized tech’s expanding role across all industries. In November 2024, it rebranded to The Mainstream to reflect the wider influence of technology. Now, with a global reach across the Middle East, ASEAN, USA, and UK, The Mainstream continues to provide insightful content that keeps professionals ahead of the curve.