Deputy Chief Information Officer
Austin
Dr. Brian Gardner is a seasoned leader with over a decade of experience in shaping and securing the digital landscapes of various sectors, including Healthcare, Telecom, Nonprofit, and Government. A natural communicator and technology translator, Dr. Gardner excels at bridging the gap between technical teams and executive leadership, ensuring that strategic goals are met through effective and secure technology solutions. His ability to navigate and lead diverse project initiatives makes him a strong asset in any organization aiming to advance its digital and security posture. Dr. Brian Gardner is a seasoned leader with over a decade of experience in shaping and securing the digital landscapes of various sectors, including Healthcare, Telecom, Nonprofit, and Government. As a Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer, Dr. Gardner has consistently driven innovation in cybersecurity architecture, ensuring robust protection and compliance across complex environments. His recent tenure at the City of Dallas highlights his expertise in managing IT Operations, Infrastructure, and Applications Support, where he has led transformative initiatives to enhance the city’s technological capabilities.
Dr. Brian’s cybersecurity industry experience extends from global financial services, national healthcare services, and Big Four consulting before entering public service. Dr. Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Accounting, a Master’s in Information Security Management, and a PhD in Information Technology, Security and Assurance. As well as research and publication on Disaster Recovery, Dr. Brian holds certifications in Cloud Security and Privacy.
He is a founding member of the Coalition of City CISOs. The group is dedicated to bringing municipal leaders and cybersecurity professionals together to advance municipal cybersecurity.
Dr. Brian and his family reside in the DFW area with their seven children. He and his wife actively foster children from the region in hopes to provide them a better start. Over the past seven years they have fostered over 20 kids of all ages from infant to teenagers. In addition, Dr. Brian helps with the Dallas ISD P-TECH program and actively assists with guidance for students around the IT Security field.
Cyber attacks are going strong and the recent water systems cyber events in 3 small towns in Texas are making sure the state, as well as the rest of the country, remain on high alert. We will examine the tangible and intangible costs of cyber breaches and potential risk-mitigation strategies that municipalities can implement.
As cyber threats mount across the public finance industry, our panel of experts will discuss the severity of what the industry faces, what kinds of best practices for guarding against them exist – or should exist – and why all players in the industry need to coalesce around common goals.
From what to disclose and how to insure against threats, all parties – issuers, bankers, advisors, investors and trustees – need to better prepare for the expected onslaught of threats.