Sarah Armstrong-Smith

Sarah Armstrong-Smith is a leading authority on cyber resilience and crisis management. As Microsoft’s Chief Security Advisor for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, she advises governments and global enterprises on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from serious cyber incidents. Her work focuses on embedding resilience into digital transformation and helping organizations navigate the complex intersection of risk, regulation and innovation.

With over 25 years of experience, Armstrong-Smith has held senior positions in both the private and public sectors. At Fujitsu, she led Continuity and Resilience, while at the London Stock Exchange Group she was Head of Business Resilience and Crisis Management. She began her career addressing large-scale events such as the Millennium Bug, laying the foundation for her expertise in managing disruption at scale.

Armstrong-Smith is the bestselling author of "Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset" (2024) and "Effective Crisis Management" (2022), and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Female Cybersecurity Leaders by SC Media in 2024, she is a vocal advocate for diversity in tech and a trusted voice in board-level cyber strategy.

Known for her clarity and accessibility, Armstrong-Smith translates technical risk into practical, actionable guidance. On stage, she combines real-world case studies with forward-looking insights into evolving threats such as AI, deepfakes and the future of cybercrime. She equips audiences with the tools to lead confidently through uncertainty and build cultures of resilience.