Program Committee

Gafurov Azam Anvarovich, born in 1985, holds a higher education degree. In 2008, he graduated from the Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications named after M.A. Bonch-Bruevich with Bachelor and Master Degree in direction “Protected Communication Systems Engineering”. A. Gafurov began his career in the field of information and cybersecurity in 2008 at the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information. Since 2017, he has served as the Head of the UZCERT Department at the State Unitary Enterprise “Cybersecurity center” (hereinafter referred to as the Center). In 2025, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Center. He has more than 17 years of experience in the field of information and cybersecurity.

Throughout his career, A. Gafurov has been actively involved in responding to, mitigating, and investigating cybersecurity incidents targeting the information systems and resources of government bodies and organizations. He has also played an active role in enhancing cooperation with law enforcement agencies and international CERT services.

At the same time, in order to further improve the cybersecurity sector and enhance the activities of the Center, the following initiatives have been implemented under the leadership of A. Gafurov:

• Within the framework of international cooperation, the Center achieved Full membership in the international organization FIRST and obtained the status of Board Member of OIC-CERT. In addition, partnerships have been established with 18 foreign specialized organizations and 10 domestic organizations in the field of cybersecurity. These collaborations aim to ensure the timely identification, effective response, and prevention of cybersecurity threats and incidents;
• “Threat Intelligence” system has been implemented at the Center. Through this system, up-to-date information on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities is regularly provided to government agencies and organizations;
• Significant work has been carried out to introduce and enhance systems such as FALCON, Honeypot, WAF, and MISP, which are designed for early warning and prevention of cyber threats, real-time mitigation of cyberattacks, and effective incident response. These measures have improved the effectiveness of detecting cybersecurity threats and responding promptly to cyberattacks against the information systems and resources of government agencies and organizations;
• He directly participated in the introduction of the “Cyber Intelligence” course and the “Digital Forensics” master’s program at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi;
• He also took part in the establishment of a Digital Forensics Laboratory at the Center, which is now operating effectively;
• He has been actively involved in developing and conducting cybersecurity training and cyber exercises for employees of law enforcement and security agencies;
• During 2023–2025, he actively participated in organizing the annual “Cyber Security Summit – Central Eurasia (CSS)” held in Uzbekistan. In particular, under the direct participation and coordination of A. Gafurov, “Blue Team” competitions among cybersecurity specialists were organized and successfully conducted.

Muminov Bekzod Bakhodirovich was born in 1985, Uzbekistan.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Tashkent State University of Economics in 2010 and obtained a Master’s degree from the Banking and Finance Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2023.

Since December 11, 2019, he has been serving as the Head of the International Department at the State Unitary Enterprise “Cybersecurity center” of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Mr. Bekzod played a key role in facilitating the Center’s accession as a full member of FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) and OIC-CERT (Organization of Islamic Cooperation – Computer Emergency Response Team), later contributing to OIC-CERT as a Board Member.

He also provides support in organizing the Cyber Security Summit – Central Eurasia (CSS), an annual event held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In 2025, the summit was held for the third time, bringing together regional and international experts to strengthen cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of cybersecurity.

He completed professional development courses at the German Academy of International Economics and the European School of Management and Technology. He participated in a number of international conferences and forums, including:

• OSCE Meeting of National Contact Points on ICT Security (Austria);
• FIRST & ITU-ARCC Regional Symposium for Africa and Arab Regions (Oman);
• CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia) NGO Forum on ICT Security (China).

His areas of professional interest include information and cybersecurity, various aspects of international security, the development and implementation of proposals for effective international cooperation in cybersecurity with foreign organizations, and applied analysis of international relations and global politics.

He is fluent in Uzbek, Russian, and English, and has basic proficiency in Japanese.

A highly accomplished cybersecurity professional with over 13 years of specialized experience in information security, incident response, and digital forensics. Currently serving as an ICT Security Specialist at the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT) since April 2020, he has established himself as a progressive contributor in the Caribbean cybersecurity landscape.

In his current position at TT-CSIRT, Rick demonstrates exceptional capabilities in cybersecurity operations, with particular expertise in incident response procedures and cyber law/diplomacy. His professional focus encompasses critical areas including incident response, digital forensics, vulnerability assessments, and cyber-related legal frameworks. He is committed to safeguarding critical infrastructure and fostering international collaboration in addressing evolving cyber threats.

Rick holds a Master of Science in Information Security and Digital Forensics with Distinction from the University of East London (2022-2024), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with First Class Honors from the University of Hertfordshire (2015-2016). He also completed a Diploma in Computing Information Systems from the University of London International Programmes (2008-2010).

Rick has maintained an impressive portfolio of industry certifications and specialized training, demonstrating his commitment to continuous professional development. His credentials include Fortinet Network Security Associate (NSE 2), OPSWAT Endpoint Compliance Associate Certificate, OPSWAT File Security Associate (OFSA), Microsoft Certified Professional, CompTIA A+ Certification, ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management, and numerous FEMA/DHS certifications in network assurance, digital forensics basics, and cyber incident analysis and response.

Rick has gained international recognition as a cybersecurity expert, presenting at prestigious industry conferences, including the FIRST Technical Colloquium. His presentation on "Operationalizing Threat Intelligence" at the Amsterdam 2024 FIRST Technical Colloquium demonstrates his expertise in threat intelligence operations and his ability to share knowledge with the global cybersecurity community. He also participated in LAC4, presenting on Digital Forensics Advancing Incident Investigation and AI in Cybersecurity, training programs at the 37th Annual FIRST Conference as a trainer on Ransomware, and Uruguay’s UTECH, presenting on Ethics and Cyber Law. His participation is also seen in global cyber defense training programs. His professional approach integrates technical prowess with policy and legal insight, advocating for robust defensive measures and international cooperation.

Tracy A. Bills is a Senior Cybersecurity Operations Researcher at the CERT® Division of Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI). She has over 25 years of combined experience in cybersecurity and intelligence analysis. Tracy has worked extensively to assist both public and private computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs) and security operations centers (SOCs) to develop, implement, and re-fine effective processes, and she has helped build and mature national-level cybersecuri-ty information sharing programs. Tracy also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST).