Skill Shortages in Cybersecurity: Implications and opportunities for SMEs

As part of British Science Week and Middlesex University STEM Festival, we invite you to join us for an engaging evening exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity, and the critical implications for SMEs.

While there are clear threats for businesses, there are also opportunities available that may not be obvious. The evening will focus on a number of issues around security and AI, including opportunities for upskilling though apprenticeships and CPD, and the support that is available from your local university.

The evening will be hosted by the Faculty of Science and Technology and will feature the following speakers:

Prof Balbir Barn: UK Industrial Strategy: Enabling Technologies, Their Regulation, Values and the Art of the Impossible.

This talk will outline the recently published the Industrial Strategy Green paper outlining three critical opportunities, eight growth areas and candidate enabling technologies. It will draw out the implications for SMEs with respect to skills shortages, product and workforce development, and how the regulatory landscape may impact on growth and operational needs. Examples will be drawn from AI, Cybersecurity and Computational Modelling to illustrate value concerns such as AI democratisation and safety, dual use, export control and privacy/security tradeoffs.

Dr Mahdi Aiash: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Friend or Foe?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the cybersecurity landscape, offering both ground-breaking opportunities and unprecedented threats. While AI strengthens cyber defence through advanced threat detection, automation, and predictive analytics, cybercriminals are also leveraging it for sophisticated attacks, from deepfake scams to AI-powered malware. At Middlesex University, we are driving innovation in AI cybersecurity through research, industry partnerships, and hands-on training. This talk will explore AI’s dual role in cybersecurity, emerging threats, and strategies to stay ahead in an AI-powered landscape.

Following the talks, a panel discussion chaired by Prof. Sally Priest will provide an opportunity for deeper exploration of these issues, with audience Q&A.

Attendees of this session are welcome to explore the STEM Festival’s interactive demonstrations and exhibits after the discussion.

Speaker profiles

Dr. Mahdi Aiash

Dr. Mahdi Aiash is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Middlesex University, where he leads the Cybersecurity Research Group. He also serves as a Director of CATS², spearheading research and policy development at the intersection of cybersecurity, technology safety, and societal impact. His expertise spans AI-driven cybersecurity, exploitation research, and emerging threats. With extensive industry experience, Mahdi actively collaborates with businesses to bridge the gap between academia and real-world cybersecurity challenges. He also sits on multiple advisory panels in cybersecurity, contributing to policy discussions and shaping best practices. His work has been featured in national media as a leading expert in AI and cybersecurity.

Professor Balbir Barn

Prof Balbir Barn is Professor of Software Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Middlesex University. Balbir has extensive product related research experience working in research centres at Texas Instruments and Sterling Software as well as leading on academic funded research. Throughout his career, Balbir has focused on inter-disciplinary research and has collaborated with social scientists, criminologists, and philosophers. His current research sits broadly in the field of Model Driven Software Engineering applied to problem specific contexts that include: Methodologies for defining Digital Twins; Socio-technical digital twins; Languages and Modelling for Agent-based Adaptive Systems; and Value sensitive design.

Professor Sally Priest

Prof Sally Priest is both Deputy Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the Faculty of Science and Technology and Head of the Flood Hazard Research Centre. She has over 20 years’ experience researching the socio-economic aspects of flood risk, utilising both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Her applied research sits at the interface of flood risk research and the allied fields of risk management and practice, working on developing solutions for creating safer and more sustainable communities. Sally frequently undertakes research for government organisations the outputs of which are utilised to inform public policy and practice.