”In the name of God and with God’s blessings, we open this conference.” With these words, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II opened the international conference and exhibition that has been held in Jordan, titled, “Cybersecurity Advancement, Innovations, and Technology Conference.” The Crown Prince’s presence represented support and encouragement for all the Jordanian endeavors exerted over the past years, which placed Jordan on the advanced global map of the technological advancement in the face of digital challenges, as well as the protection of the security and safety of its citizens. Exorbitant praise is due to His Royal Highness Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah, the patron and promoter of youth initiatives. There is no better expression than that of the young Member of Parliament, Rand Al-Khzouz who spoke about His Royal Highness in Parliament a few days ago, when she said, “The Crown Prince… the young man is close to the aspirations of our generation and the architect of the future of the Jordanian youth.”
In his speech at the opening of the conference, National Cyber Security Centre Chairman Mohammad Al-Smadi said that this conference is viewed as “a global platform that brings together minds to shape a more secure and sustainable future in the digital space.” An outstanding aspect of this conference was the large turnout of international companies and local institutions, marked with the participation of cybersecurity managers from various sectors which reflects the importance of collaboration and the exchange of expertise among public and private sectors
The conference also hosted a distinguished group of speakers who highlighted the latest innovations in the digital world, and stressed the need to strengthen partnerships with leading countries and institutions in this field. The large attendance of Arab and foreign ambassadors underlines the importance of the event on the one hand and the significance of partnerships among countries on the other.
What drew my attention regarding the speakers on the first day of the conference was Ms. Theresa Payton, the first woman to head the White House Cybersecurity Department in Washington, D.C. during the presidency of George W. Bush. She praised Jordan's growing role in the field of cybersecurity and offered four pieces of advice, among which are not fearing the future and stressing the need for cooperation among different sectors. The second speaker who also impressed the attendees was Thiebaut Meyer, cybersecurity director/ Google.
Among the other distinguished speakers is the name of my friend, Professor Dr. Khaled Baqa’in, who stands out. He was one of the leading people in Jordanian universities to show interest in the development of computer science and its applications. From Mu'tah University, he left for Germany, then to Britain, before finally settling as the founder and president of Kuwait University of Science and Technology. It was an arduous trip between scientific research with practical applications. He is nowadays one of the world's leading university presidents, as evidenced by Oxford University's bestowing on him the Socrates Award in 2018, which named him as the best university president in the world. In a remark at the Dead Sea, he said, "My presence here today is to conduct a panel discussion on the ideal methods for training those responsible for cybersecurity and for interacting with cybersecurity breaches once they occur. This issue is akin to building the first line of defence for institutions and countries against cyber threats."
I was honored to accept the invitation and attend this conference, which takes place at a vital and crucial time for the entire humanity, as cybersecurity is an indispensable factor in protecting societies from digital threats. With the escalating challenges, Jordan's importance emerges in its capacity as a global platform for exchanging expertise, building strategic partnerships, and developing innovative solutions that guarantee a safer and a more sustainable future in the digital space. Greetings are conveyed to the National Cybersecurity Council, under the leadership of esteemed Ihab Al-Hannawi, and to the National Cybersecurity Center, under esteemed leadership of Engineer Mohammad Al-Smadi, and to all those working with them in this vital and important security facility. With the guidance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and with their assiduity, they have been able to present the world with the most noble and sublime messages from the vicinity of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. May God protect you, Jordan!
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