Cybersecurity summit set for Oct. 7 in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Cybersecurity experts with backgrounds at Microsoft, Starbucks, Oracle, the U.S. Air Force and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will speak Oct. 7 at a free cybersecurity summit at Big Bend Community College.

The 2026 North Central Washington Cybersecurity Summit + Tech Trailblazers will address artificial intelligence, cyberattacks, enterprise security, online fraud and community cybersecurity efforts. The event is hosted by NCW Tech Alliance in partnership with the North Central Educational Service District and Apple STEM Network.

The summit begins at 10 a.m. with Raj Thiagarajan, who spent more than 15 years at Microsoft in growth, partnerships and security leadership. He most recently served as a senior strategist within Microsoft's customer trust and security Office of the CISO organization.

Thiagarajan will discuss how cybersecurity practices used by large enterprises can be applied by organizations of different sizes.

Dr. Joseph Williams, director of cybersecurity programs and associate professor of computer science at Western Washington University, will deliver the lunch keynote. Williams' career has included work in academia, national security, research and industry, including roles with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Infosys Consulting.

His presentation will focus on how advances in artificial intelligence are affecting the workforce, communities, policy and the economy, as well as decisions organizations face as the technology develops.

Joanna Wiggum, founder and principal investigator of Countervail, will discuss how cyberattacks develop and how digital footprints, trusted relationships and human behavior can contribute to fraud and social engineering.

Wiggum previously held cybersecurity leadership positions at Starbucks, Oracle and Microsoft and is a 12-year U.S. Air Force veteran. She built Starbucks' first red team and led Oracle's cloud red team and anti-abuse program.

Wiggum will also join Ian Fitzgerald, chief technology officer at Chelan PUD, for a discussion examining a cyberattack from reconnaissance through action and how defenders can respond.

Ash Kunz will present "Information Literacy in the Age of AI," focusing on evaluating information in an online environment increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.

Jennifer Walker, technology programs manager at NCW Tech Alliance, will moderate a discussion with several Digital Access Commitment Makers about cybersecurity education, safer digital habits and helping community members navigate technology.

Organizers said the program is intended for technology professionals and the general public, including businesses, educators, nonprofits, public agencies, students and community members.

A Tech Trailblazers Reception will follow the summit from 4:45 to 6 p.m. and recognize this year's Digital Access Commitment Makers and organizations involved in digital access and inclusion efforts in North Central Washington.

The summit is free, but registration is required. Educators may earn 6.5 professional clock hours by attending, with separate registration required for the clock hours.

More information: ncwtech.org/cybersecurity-summit.