Alongside his role at Wilton Park, Rob is a Professor of Systems and Software Security at the University of Manchester where his interests are focused on the nexus of cyber, intelligence, information operations and warfighting, the legality of cyber operations and the role of influence and deception in cyber. He is also a senior advisor at the International Information Integrity Institute (i-4), the world’s longest running peer-to-peer trust group and community for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and cyber security leaders of global corporations. He is also the Director of the Global Institute of Cyber Deception, exploring innovative and proactive measures to disrupt cyber threat actors and support’s the development of RUSI’s Cyber Effects Network across academia, industry and government.
He is also Director of the UK Cyber Leaders Challenge, a university student competition focused on building the next generation of cyber security leaders competent in strategy, policy and technology and empowering them with leadership skills and developing their competencies to act effectively in this novel and complex operating environment.
He was formerly a Lecturer in Information Activities at Cranfield University at the UK Defence Academy where he lead modules on the Ministry of Defence’s Cyberspace Operations MSc and helps educate senior military leaders about Warfare in the Information Age. He was also the Deputy Director of the UK’s National Cyber Deception Laboratory and he previously worked for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) developing cyber capabilities and supported delivery of cyber operations. He previously was a policy analyst in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) helping MoD and wider government in coercion, deterrence and resilience related programmes.
He was awarded the UK Cyber Citizen of the Year in 2024 for being an “incredibly passionate cyber citizen in the UK and well respected by so many within the community, especially when advocating for the next generation of cyber security professionals coming through. Rob is a great example of high-impact leadership and role modelling with vision and impact.”
Rob studied Law and a Masters in International Peace and Security (International Law and International Relations) at Kings College London.