Theresa Payton

Biography

Theresa Payton is a a leading authority on cybersecurity, AI and digital privacy. The first woman to serve as White House Chief Information Officer, she oversaw all technology operations for the Executive Office during a time of unprecedented digital transformation combined with a rapidly growing cyber threat. Responsible for safeguarding vast volumes of highly sensitive and personal data transmitted by and to the President and over 3,000 staff, she played a critical role in defending US national infrastructure.

Previously a senior technology executive at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Theresa brings a rare combination of private-sector innovation and public-sector responsibility. She returned to the private world as CEO of Fortalice Solutions, a risk and security consulting firm advising Fortune 500 boards, government agencies and fast-scaling businesses on how to outpace digital adversaries, navigate AI disruption and futureproof against emerging cyber threats.

Theresa’s insights span online crime, fraud mitigation, data protection and the human dimensions of digital risk. With clear, non-technical language, she explains how even seemingly innocuous information can be exploited and shows how organisations can defend against infrastructure-crippling cyberattacks. She has been named one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in Security by Security Magazine, is a regular commentator in US media, and appeared as the Deputy Commander of Intelligence on CBS’s Hunted series.

With practical, up-to-date advice, real-world examples and live demonstrations, Thereas explores the promise and perils of AI, secure digital transformation, and leadership from the White House and the boardroom. She is the author of Privacy in the Age of Big Data and Protecting Your Internet Identity, sharing her ideas and lessons to audiences well beyond the technology and security communities, as well as Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth, in which she explores a new type of threat to nation states around misinformation, AI generated imagery and an array of malign actors.