EC News DeskThe World CIO 200 Roadshow 2020 was off to a flying start on November 23, with an enthralling session that focused on Qatar. Organised by the Global CIO Forum, this year the roadshow will tour 26 countries and provide a platform for 100+ exhibitors and 250+ engaging sessions. More than 2500 CIOs and IT heads will be recognised.
It will unfold in a virtual convention that mimics features you would expect from a real convention centre. Participants can browse through sponsor booths, expo halls, networking lounges, hall of fame, visit the main auditorium where live sessions are hosted, or indulge in fun activities such as embarking on a treasure hunt or clicking their images at a photo booth.
About the Qatar edition
A unique addition to the World CIO 200 Roadshow 2020 is the Inspire 10 on 10 session, which will feature 10 path-breaking sector case studies. The Qatar edition saw Dr Erdal Ozkaya, Regional CISO, Standard Chartered Bank, talk about how Covid has dramatically altered the security landscape. Crowded world cup venues have given way to empty stands with cutouts of fans, handshakes have been replaced by elbow touches, while the way we shop has changed. “Unfortunately, the way we get hacked has also changed,” mused Dr Ozkaya, adding that recent studies show there are 10 billion hacked accounts out there.
Email remains the biggest entry point. The pandemic has resulted in more than three million Covid-related email threats and scams. We have also witnessed a dramatic jump in malware attacks and ransomware. Dr Ozkaya’s simple advice: Secure as necessary, not secure as possible.
He handed the stage over to Samir Chopra, Founder and CEO, RNS Technology Services, who focused on the critical topic of zero trust strategy and how it will play a critical role in our pandemic-influenced world. The industry loves buzzwords, and in the early 90s “virus” was the buzzword. In the 2000s that gave way to “next gen” and now the current hyped up word appears to be “zero trust”. But it is also a word with profound importance, since most modern attacks are inside out, with trusted systems bringing the attackers inside the security perimeter.
Cross-border panel
Another impressive addition to this year’s World CIO 200 Roadshow 2020 is the Cross-border initiative, which brings together a panel of technology decision-makers from different countries. Cross-border panel for Qatar included:
| Panellist | Organisation | Designation | Country |
| Nikhil Nigam | Amity Education Group | Associate Director – Technologies | India |
| Sadiq Rowther | LEVI STRAUSS Asia Pacific | CIO, Vice President IT | Singapore |
| Ujjal Kumar | Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P) Manila Inc | Global CIO | Philippines |
The panellists fielded a variety of questions. Nikhil Nigam noted it was time for dynamic and democratic leadership that is suited for the uncertain times we live in. Nothing is currently predictable, and leadership should come with mentorship. CIOs need to step out of their comfort zones and change their approach.
Sadiq Rowther mentioned that CIOs need to think about change on a day to day basis. In Asia, CIOs have gone through a survival mode where they were tested for how fast they could react. Leaders need the ability to lead in uncertain time, and be very agile while accelerating digital transformation.
Ujjal Kumar described how teams sitting in different countries, with different lockdown rules, have to function cohesively. Lot of the pandemic-related terminology itself is new to CIOs and the role of the CIO has become rather peculiar. Changing decades of culture overnight is almost impossible, as organisations deal with working from home. CIOs need to focus on data confidentiality, which has become another major challenge. Organisations will also increasingly look at investing in the cloud.
From physical to mental wellbeing
The next session was a bit out of the box, and was conducted by Ektaa Sibal, Gifted Energy Healer. She talked about leaders of the future, and dealing with uncertainties in the present and post pandemic world. Leadership can no longer be reactive, it has to become proactive. Working from home is here to stay and leaders need a proactive approach in dealing with the challenges this shift brings. Social wellbeing is an important area of concern, as also a feeling of belongingness. Leaders need to boost resilience and adversity quotient of their employees, and embark on mindset building. “Wellness culture is not a concept. It is something that should be imbibed by the organisation,” asserted Sibal.
And the winners are
The final highlight of the Qatar session was the CIO 200 Country Awards, given to CIOs who have been the catalyst in bringing about change in this challenging year. The winners this year were:
| Name | Organisation | Designation |
| Fayez Al Khatib | Al Qamra Holding | Group IT Director |
| Aladdin Saqer | McDonald’s Qatar | Head of Information Technology |
| Chander Raina | Wyndham Grand Regency | IT & Systems Manager |
| Pasantha Walpola | Fourpoints by Sheraton Doha | Manager IT |
| Millangoda Gedara Amila Gayan | Sealine Beach Resort | IT Manager |
| Anto Pius | Aster Dm Healthcare, Qatar | Manager Information Technology |
| KV Kumar | Qatar Insurance Company & Anoud Technologies | Executive Vice President (QIC) & Chief Executive Officer (Anoud Technologies) |
| Samir Pawaskar | Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) | Head – Cyber Security Policy and Standards |
| Mohammed Ishtiaq Hussain | Doha Bank | Head of IT Infrastructure and IT Security |
About CIO 200 Summit
Established in 2017, The CIO 200 Summit is a multi-country CIO felicitation ceremony that recognises achievements of digital leaders. The CIO 200 Awards are not a competition but a celebration of the amazing lives of CIOs and their game-changing careers.
The 2019 edition of the event toured 15 countries and gathered over 3000+ delegates over a span of three months. Key stakeholders tabled roadmaps for strategic decision making and identified yardsticks that are the key drivers of growth in the digital world. The World CIO 200 Summit 2019 concluded over December 09-10 with a gala event at the Double Tree Hilton in Ras Al Khaimah. The highlights from the 2019 edition can be seen here.
About Global CIO Forum
The role of a CIO is one of the most critical one in today’s business and industry. Today, CIOs hold the future of innovation, productivity and competitiveness in their hands. At the Global CIO Forum, we not only provide our members with an exchange forum for best IT leadership strategies and practices to enhance business results, but we are also developing a strong voice to ensure that CIOs are represented at key industry and government decision tables. In other words: Integrate. Influence. Impact.
The Global CIO Forum’s mission is to represents IT Executives and CIOs globally. Currently working in META region and with expansion plans globally, the Global CIO Forum is a non-profit community of CIOs and IT leaders whose mission is to facilitate networking, sharing of best practices and executive development, and to collaborate on issues faced by the CIOs and IT executives.
