A flagship international business forum has provided the launchpad for a brand-new cybersecurity event which is set to take place in Aberdeen later this year.

Held in association with the Greater Houston Partnership, this week’s eleventh annual Aberdeen-Houston Gateway at Norwood Hall Hotel saw the event return to its traditional in-person format for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. It also provided the springboard for the International Society for Automation (ISA) to unveil plans to host its first ever in-person event in the UK on May 31 and June 1 with Aberdeen, Scotland picked as the launch location for its Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity Summit.

The OT Cybersecurity Forum is an opportunity for operators, service companies, regulators, and equipment providers to meet face-to-face.  Participants will learn how to unpack what software is in their respective supply chains, and where the vulnerabilities lie.  This will be an exciting, dynamic show with brief, informal presentations encouraging questions and audience participation.  ISA has hand-picked a committee of subject matter experts from the US and UK to present real-world applications of these standards and help attendees better understand how to protect themselves and their customers.

The announcement was made during the Aberdeen-Houston Gateway centrepiece session which took the form of a half-day chaired by the Greater Houston Partnership’s Jeffrey Blair and featured more than a dozen contributors from both sides of the Atlantic. In addition, delegates visiting from the US also enjoyed a packed schedule of one-to-one meetings, facilitation and tours.

Commenting on plans for the forthcoming International Society for Automation event, Bill Furlow said: 
“There is a keen interest among energy end users, suppliers, contractors, and the regulatory community to better understand the cybersecurity risks inherent in the complex supply chains that support industrial operations. The ISA OT Cybersecurity Summit is an opportunity for these stakeholders to share knowledge, field experiences, and innovative solutions that help protect critical infrastructure.”
Reflecting on the success of the 2023 Aberdeen-Houston Gateway, event creator Brett Jackson said: “The ISA’s decision to announce their plans at the Gateway further underlines the strength of links which already exist between Scotland and the US and the ongoing desire to deepen them further.

“The Gateway’s founding principles are around knowledge sharing, education and networking and we are delighted that a return to an in-person event has allowed participants to connect and reconnect in ways which will unlock future benefits for all involved.”

Other presenters at this year’s Aberdeen-Houston Gateway included:

• Dr David Cameron (Lord Provost of Aberdeen)
• Jeffrey Blair (Greater Houston Partnership)
• Gil Staley (Woodlands Economic Development Partnership)
• Bill Furlow (International Society of Automation)
• Mary McIntyre (Merrimac International Headhunting & People)
• Mark Davey (Singapore Airlines)
• Donna McWilliams (Electra)
• Travis Middleton (Texas Global Consulting/Trademark Insurance)
• Justin Hoffman (cSolutions, SBN, Global Scot -Energy Transition in Action in Houston /Gulf of Mexico)
• Andy Grieve (G Tech Innovation Centre)
• Angie Thomason (Katy Economic Development Council)
• Gus Bourgeois (BoyarMiller) 
• Sang Shin (Jackson Walker LLP)
• Frank Landreneau (PKF Texas)
• Brett Jackson (Granite PR)

To find out more or to book a place at the forthcoming International Society for Automation event, click here.