North Carolina AI and Cybersecurity Symposium 2026
Overview
Securing trust in a connected world.
The AI era has arrived - and North Carolina is charging ahead. As agencies unlock AI’s potential, they face a new reality: securing critical infrastructure, safeguarding data, and building public trust in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The North Carolina AI & Cybersecurity Symposium is your chance to join the action. From state and local government to higher ed and industry, leaders will dive into how AI and cybersecurity intersect to create smarter, safer, and more resilient public services. Expect fresh ideas, bold discussions, and real partnerships that will shape the future.
Speakers
Agenda
Tuesday, December 15 |
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8:00 am Eastern |
Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area |
9:00 am Eastern |
Welcome and Opening RemarksNate Denny, Secretary and Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina Bernice Russell-Bond, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina I-Sah Hsieh, Deputy Secretary of Policy & AI, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina Josh Stein, Governor, State of North Carolina (pre-recorded) |
9:15 am Eastern |
Keynote – Securing Your Agentic Workforce: From Blind Trust to Zero TrustWe have been calling AI a coworker, a teammate, a copilot — even a friend. That language is not just imprecise. It is a security failure. When you frame AI as a colleague, you issue it credentials like a colleague, extend it trust like a colleague, and audit it like furniture instead of governing it like the non-human identity it actually is. In this high-energy, provocative keynote, Noelle maps the contractor lifecycle directly to the three autonomy levels of responsible AI: Human in the Loop, Human on the Loop, and the governance trap most organizations fall into when they try to go fully autonomous. She introduces the concept of the Sponsor field as the accountability mechanism that never disappears, no matter how much autonomy an agent earns. Audiences leave with a five-step Agent Onboarding checklist, a maturity ladder they can place their organization immediately, and one insight that reframes everything: you can increase the autonomy. You cannot outsource responsibility.
Noelle Russell, Leading AI Innovator & Practitioner, Founder & Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute |
10:15 am Eastern |
General Session – Cyber Readiness Across North Carolina: From Strategy to ActionProtecting public services, data and communities takes more than technology. It depends on clear priorities, strong partnerships and practical steps organizations can sustain. This conversation will explore North Carolina’s cybersecurity priorities, how state and local organizations can work together, and ways to strengthen readiness with the people and resources available. Panelists will also discuss building cyber talent and turning statewide strategy into action.
Moderator: Nate Denny, Secretary and Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina Elizabeth Reilley, Vice President of Digital Transformation and Chief AI Officer, University of North Carolina System Bernice Russell-Bond, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Technology, State of North Carolina Mark Sorrells, President, Fayetteville Technical Community College |
10:45 am Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
11:15 am Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsAI Skills Lab: Writing Prompts That WorkMost public servants now have an AI assistant on their desktop, but few have been taught how to get reliable results from it. This working session walks attendees through prompt structure, giving the model context, checking outputs, and knowing when not to use AI at all. Bring a laptop: you will practice on real government tasks like summarizing a policy memo, drafting a constituent response and building a meeting brief.
The Threat Picture for North CarolinaAttackers are using AI to find and exploit weaknesses faster than most organizations can patch them. This session gives state, local and education leaders a clear view of the threats hitting North Carolina right now, what federal and state partners offer at no cost, and the three actions that most reduce risk this year.
Policy Meets Practice: Legislators on AINorth Carolina lawmakers are writing the rules that will shape how agencies buy, use and govern AI. Two members of the General Assembly who sit on the state's AI Leadership Council discuss where legislation is headed, what they want to hear from technology leaders, and how agencies can bring them working examples instead of hypotheticals.
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12:15 pm Eastern |
Lunch |
1:15 pm Eastern |
Bits and Bytes |
1:35 pm Eastern |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions.
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1:50 pm Eastern |
Concurrent SessionsBuilt in North Carolina: Inside the State AI AcceleratorIn March, attendees got a preview of the use cases moving through the state AI Accelerator. This session closes the loop: the agencies and employees who submitted ideas show what was built, how it is being used today, and what they learned taking a pilot into daily work.
Cyber Tabletop: The First 72 HoursA ransomware attack hits a county on a Friday afternoon. Working in small groups, attendees play out the first 72 hours: who gets called, what gets shut down, what the public hears and when the state steps in. Facilitators pause at each decision point to compare choices and share what real responders did.
Building an AI-Ready Public WorkforceAI is changing job descriptions faster than classification systems and training budgets can keep up. This session looks at how North Carolina is approaching AI literacy, reskilling and recruiting, and what every manager can do now to prepare their team.
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2:50 pm Eastern |
Networking Break in the Exhibit Area |
3:20 pm Eastern |
General Session – How Security Pros and Teams Win: Practical Ways to Strengthen Your ImpactWhat helps cybersecurity and technology professionals and their teams thrive? Drawing on years of experience as Michigan’s former CISO and as an enterprise-level CIO, CTO and CSO, Dan Lohrmann shares lessons from real-world challenges and award-winning government teams. Through engaging stories, he explores the habits, choices and conditions that help people and organizations succeed, from building skills and trust to strengthening leadership and making the most of available resources. Attendees will leave with seven practical ways to revitalize their role, energize their team and strengthen their professional outlook, with interactive table discussions to put the ideas into practice.
Dan Lohrmann, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government |
4:10 pm Eastern |
Networking Reception in the Exhibit AreaNetwork with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
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4:40 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.
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Raleigh Convention Center
500 S Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 996-8500
Raleigh Convention Center
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: December 15, 2026
Open to Public Sector only.
Registration - Free
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Sherri Tidwell
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1382
E-mail: stidwell@erepublic.com
Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:
Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com
Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!
Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com