New director appointed at East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster

Rob Kneller has recently been appointed as the third director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster (EMCSC), joining Dr Ismini Vasielou and David Nicholls in steering the Community Interest Company. EMCSC aims to support regional economic growth by aiding organisations in safeguarding their digital assets from cyber threats.

With over 15 years of experience in the cyber security industry, Kneller currently serves as the director of KIT365, a cyber security managed service provider and consultancy. He shared his enthusiasm about his new role: “My approach is to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences and businesses looking to improve their cyber security posture. Getting involved with EMCSC is a great way to raise awareness of cyber security across the East Midlands and the UK. In meeting new people from diverse fields – both in and out of the cyber security sector – I will be looking to share insights and ideas, offer advice to both the private and public sectors, and widen my own understanding of how cyber security contributes to the improvement of people’s lives.”

EMCSC was founded in 2023 by Dr Ismini Vasielou, associate professor in Information Systems at De Montfort University. The organization is dedicated to fostering networking, knowledge exchange, and the sharing of best practices. David Nicholls, managing director and founder of the Leicestershire-based IT company Better-IT, is another key member of the leadership team.

Dr Vasielou expressed her satisfaction with Kneller’s appointment: “It’s fantastic that someone of Rob’s experience has joined Dave and I and we are really pleased to have him on board for some of the big plans we have in the pipeline for the next 12 months.”

The cluster collaborates with various sectors including public, private, and academia, promoting cyber resilience and careers in cyber security. It maintains partnerships with significant networks like the national UKC3 cyber cluster network and the Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands.

Image source: EMCSC