CYBERSECURITYÂ PANEL DISCUSSION
04 December 2018
The cyber domain has long transcended the discipline of information technology. Through its organic evolvement and generation of new challenges, it is now a multi-disciplinary domain combining computer science, mathematics, economics, law, psychology, criminology, and engineering. Thus it encompasses not only the networking of online devices together but how humans interact and are influenced by these devices. As such, the cyber domain impacts every facet of modern life from the electricity that powers millions of homes to the transportation network that moves millions of people daily. As the number and uses for connected devices grow, the complexity of cyberinfrastructure grows exponentially, as do the number of vulnerable devices (Dawson and Thomson, 2018). Hence researchers, policymakers, the state, and civil society have recognised the need for normative goals for cyber stability to be augmented with specific human skills and knowledge.
Against this backdrop, this panel session will address the range of socio-economic and political insecurities that have engaged the various cybercrime/security domains.
CONVENERS
PROF NIRMALA DEVI GOPAL
Prof. Nirmala Gopal is a criminologist in the Programme of Criminology and Forensic Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Among her foci of research is ‘hidden’ and vulnerable communities as victims of crime, social injustices and discrimination with the aim of promoting justice and fairness for unequal groups in society. She has completed research in school based violence in disadvantaged communities. Her current research study is on understanding how the biological, psychological and social domains of individuals’ lives interact to produce chronic illicit drug users or ‘addicts’. Prof. Gopal an NRF rated researcher has multiple publications in peer reviewed national and international journals. She has engaged in collaborative teaching with the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden between 2010 and 2015. She has presented her scientific results in many national and international conferences both as an invited speaker and as a conference delegate. Her latest research interest is cybercrime which she has showcased in a special peer reviewed journal that is due to be released in November 2018. She has 32 years of teaching experience across the basic and higher education sectors in South Africa. Between the period 2010 and 2018 she headed the ETDP Higher Education and Research chamber. Amongst the many committees that she is a member of is the university of KwaZulu Natal Council.
PROFÂ NDIVHUWO LURULI
Ndivhuwo Luruli is Acting Director of BRICS & Research at the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS); and South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT). She is also responsible for managing Information, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Institute. Ndivhuwo has worked for the Department of Higher Education and Training where she was responsible for managing a project on the subsidization of research outputs produced by researchers at South African public universities. She has also worked for the National Research Foundation (NRF) as a Programme Officer. She holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), as well as an MSc in Conservation Ecology from Stellenbosch University. Her research interest is primarily on research development and support, focusing on research funding and modes of knowledge production in the higher education sector.
GUEST OF HONOUR
Prof Nhlanhla Mkhize
Prof. Nhlanhla Mkhize, PhD, is currently the Deputy-Vice Chancellor of the College of Humanties at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Prof Mkhize also served as the former Head of the School of Psychology and former Dean and former Head of the School of Applied Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). He teaches modules on African Psychology & Ethics, with reference to African philosophical underpinnings to ethics and also touching on the interface between culture, health and illness. He has been invited to give keynote addresses nationally and internationally on the subject of indigenous knowledge systems, morality/ethics and the self. He has published journal articles and book chapters on cultural aspects of counseling, career counseling, African psychology, and ethics. He was a member of the International (African) Reference Group that participated in the revision of the International Code of Ethics for Occupational Health Therapists. Of late he has been interested in language and instruction and has been involved in isiZulu terminology development and translation for Psychology and other Social Sciences disciplines.
MODERATOR
Prof Rajendra Chetty
Rajendra Chetty is Professor of Language Education at the University of the Western Cape. He is a postcolonial scholar in the fields of race, class and marginalisation. He is a Fulbright Scholar (City University of New York 2015/6) and recent texts include Narrating the new nation (2018) and At the edge: The writings of Ronnie Govender (2017).
SPEAKERS
PROF. MANOJ MAHARAJ
Professor Maharaj is currently professor of Information Systems and Technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he started his academic career 30 years ago. Prof. Maharaj is also a non-executive director at the Moses Kotane Institute (MKI), where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee, and a non-executive director of the National Electronic Media Association of South Africa (NEMISA). The MKI and NEMISA are both state-owned entities dedicated to the STEM education and training.
Prof. Maharaj has been Head of Department of Information Systems and Technology at UDW, Executive Director (IS&T) at UDW, and then Head of School (IS&T) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research in information systems spans a wide range of interests from ICT in education, information security, cyber-security, ICT for development (ICT4D), ICT policies and procedures.
DRÂ BRETT VAN NIEKERK
Brett van Niekerk is a senior lecturer in computer science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He serves as secretary for the International Federation of Information Processing Working Group on ICT in Peace and War, and the co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cyber Warfare and Terrorism. During the 2016-2018 ISACA South Africa Board Term, he was the Academic Relations Director. He has numerous years of information/cyber-security experience in both academia and industry, and has contributed to the ISO/IEC information security standards. In 2012 he graduated with his PhD focusing on information operations and critical infrastructure protection. He is also holds a masters in electronic engineering and is CISM certified.
MS VUYELWA KEMISO MAWENI
Ms Vuyelwa Kemiso Maweni is a PhD candidate in the Discipline of Criminology and Forensic Studies at UKZN, Lecturer and supervisor of Master’s students within the discipline of Criminology and Forensic Studies. Her research interests include police culture, African victimology and forensics criminology. Miss Maweni partakes in a variety of community engagement projects which are aimed at giving back mostly to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
SPEAKERS
Zola Chonco is a critical thinker, currently registered for her Masters, Humanitarian and aspiring academic. Ms. Chonco's current research focus area is Mental Health. She is also an active member in the different forums at the University of KwaZulu Natal and assisted many academics on their research projects.
Harold Patrick is a Forensic Investigation Specialist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His research interests include Information Security Incident Management, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime and Cyber Forensics. He received his MCom and PhD in Information Technology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner. He is a Kwa-Zulu Natal Regional committee member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, South African Chapter.
Captain Gounder is the commander of a unit in the South African Police Service (SAPS) that investigates cases relating to child pornography. He works throughout KZN. Captain Gounder has four people in his team which brought about a new unit in FCS (Family Violence, Child Abuse and Sexual offences) environment. The unit is called FCS:SECI (Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations).
SPEAKERS
MR. LEE SWALES
Lee is an admitted attorney and law lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus. Lee obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2007 summa cum laude and a Master of Laws degree in Regulatory Law from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2010. Lee completed his articles of clerkship at one of the largest law firms in Africa, Webber Wentzel at the end of 2008, and was duly admitted as an attorney in 2009. During this time, he also served a secondment at one of the largest listed entities in South Africa as a legal advisor. Currently, Lee practices as a consultant attorney at national law firm, Thomson Wilks Inc. Lee specialises in all aspects of cyber law, including commercial contract drafting, regulatory advice, policy work in the information communication and technology environment, and all aspects of information technology law.
In addition to lecturing cyber law and contract law at UKZN, Lee has also facilitated lectures for the South African Judicial Education Institute (aimed at Regional Court Magistrates) on cyber-crime and electronic evidence, and for the Law Society of South Africa (aimed at candidate attorneys) on practical aspects of contract drafting.
DR MONIQUE EMSER
Dr Monique Emser is a senior lecturer and researcher in the International and Public Affairs Cluster, School of Social Sciences, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her field of specialisation is complex crimes, with a particular focus on human trafficking. She was previously affiliated with the University of the Free State in the Department of Public Law as a research associate. Prior to this she worked as an independent research consultant and compiled the first human trafficking proxy indicator of its kind for South African and the African region for LexisNexis SA in 2013. She has an emerging publication record and has presented her research on various platforms.
Monique has been involved in counter-trafficking research and practice since 2009, and is an active member of the KwaZulu-Natal Human Trafficking, Harmful Traditional Practices, Prostitution, Pornography and Brothels Task Team. She is also affiliated with the National Freedom Network. She has trained members of law enforcement and criminal justice in KwaZulu-Natal on human trafficking and harmful traditional practices. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Open Door Crisis Care Centre, and also assists in the training of lay counsellors. She is a board member of the Advice Desk for the Abused, and has served on the board of Frauen Helfen Frauen (Heilbronn), a German NPO. Monique is involved in community outreach and awareness-raising programmes that address child pornography, internet safety, and human trafficking.
DR TRISHANA RAMLUCKAN
Trishana Ramluckan is an academic and researcher in the Information Technology and Governance field. She graduated with a Doctor of Administration degree in Information Systems &Technology and Public Administration in 2017 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is the Postgraduate Research Facilitator for the College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is a member of the IFIP working group on ICT Uses in Peace and War, is an Academic Advocate for ISACA, and is an Associate Editor for the International Journal for Information Security and Privacy.
TIME AND VENUE
04 December 2018
Tuesday : 08:30am - 15:00pm
Venue: University of KwaZulu Natal, Howard College, Unite Building (Enter via gate 8)
Kindly rsvp by 30 November 2018
COORDINATORÂ
JENELLE ABRAHAM
Jenelle Abraham is currently a research assistant. She has worked with Prof. Gopal and Prof. Maart on several projects. Some of the projects she worked on include South African Indian Identity, Race, space and the City, Critical time: Critical race and Cybercrime: The risks to South Africa.
GET IN TOUCH
