2025-09-05 –, Village 1
Curious about how industrial control systems (ICS) operate, and what happens when things go wrong? OT specialists will show you mini tabletop exercises, how to tackle ICS-themed CTF challenges, or see hardware in action.
Industrial control systems (ICS) play a key role in sectors like energy, water, and manufacturing, and they face unique challenges when it comes to cybersecurity. At the ICS / OT Village, attendees can explore these systems through hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to show how they work, how they can go wrong, and what makes securing them so complex.
Whether you’re new to ICS or already working in the field, these activities aim to provide a low-pressure, engaging way to explore the world of industrial cyber security.
Dr Joe Gardiner is co-founder and co-director of Hacktonics Ltd, a start-up providing hands-on training in security of industrial control systems and operational technology security. He is also a lecturer in cyber physical systems security as part of the Bristol Cyber Security Group at the University of Bristol. His research focusses on the security of industrial control system (ICS). He has been involved in cyber security teaching and research for more than 10 years.
Sam Maesschalck is the Lead OT Cyber Security Engineer at Immersive, where he develops practical, hands-on, and strategic-level training in operational technology. He previously worked in the space sector, focusing on cybersecurity, and holds a PhD in honeypots for industrial control systems (ICS) security.
Dr Vijay Kumar is the Cyber Security Lead at the Cyber Innovation Hub, based at Cardiff University, where he oversees the development of cyber-physical testbeds and training programmes focused on Operational Technology (OT) and critical infrastructure.
Vijay holds a PhD in Smart Cities and the Internet of Things from the University of Bristol. His work bridges research, engineering, and education designing hands-on environments that bring realism to OT cybersecurity training. He is working towards collaborations with national infrastructure providers, law enforcement, and defence partners to create scenario-based learning that simulates real-world attacks and cascading system failures.
With a background that spans both technical implementation and strategic leadership, Vijay is passionate about building the UK’s OT cyber capability and making cybersecurity education more practical, inclusive, and future-ready.