CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the world’s largest independent IT and business consulting services firms, has partnered with the Chief Executives’ Forum (CEF) to deliver a senior leadership briefing focused on strengthening cyber resilience across Northern Ireland’s public services.
The Cyber Security – Back to Basics event offered a practical, interactive session designed to build confidence and capability at board and executive level. While cyber security is often viewed as a technical issue, the briefing reinforced a clear message: accountability for organisational resilience sits with senior leadership.
The session took place against the backdrop of continued cyber-attacks targeting public services, both locally and across the UK and Ireland. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reports handling around four nationally significant incidents each week. In Northern Ireland, recent incidents such as the attack on the Education Authority, temporarily disrupting access to digital services across every grant-aided school ahead of exam revision, highlight the real-world impact cyber incidents can have on essential services.
Delivering the keynote address, Gary Fildes, Cyber Security Senior Consultant at CGI, said:
“Cyber-attacks disrupt public services not because organisations lack technology, but because the basics of planning, governance and assurance haven’t been applied consistently. Cyber risk needs to be treated as a core operational risk at board level, with clear accountability for the decisions that reduce exposure and improve recovery. I’m pleased to bring CGI’s experience in supporting public services to leaders across Northern Ireland, and to share practical steps that can be taken now to strengthen resilience. Leaders don’t need to be cyber specialists, but they do need the confidence to prioritise resilience, ask the right questions and act decisively when it matters.”
The briefing combined an overview of emerging cyber threats with practical steps organisations can take to strengthen resilience, alongside a simulated incident exercise to test decision making. Contributions from Hugh Tohill (Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre) and Keith McDevitt (Cyber Scotland) reinforced board level responsibility for cyber risk and the leadership lessons that shape effective response and recovery.
Judith Gillespie, CBE, Chair of the Chief Executives’ Forum (CEF), added:
“Cyber resilience is now a core leadership responsibility for every organisation. This briefing was designed to help senior leaders focus on the governance, decisions and preparedness that make the difference when an incident happens. Through the Chief Executives’ Forum, we aim to provide our members with a trusted space to share experience, learn from peers and strengthen leadership capability on issues that cut across the public sector. By learning directly from organisations that have been through cyber incidents, leaders can strengthen readiness and improve recovery for the services people rely on.”
The briefing forms part of CGI’s ongoing commitment to supporting public sector organisations across Northern Ireland and the UK to strengthen cyber resilience, manage risk effectively, and protect the continuity of essential public services.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 94,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2025 reported revenue is CA$15.91 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.
For more information:
Ramiya Sivakumaran
VP Corporate Services, Marketing & Communications, UK
ramiya.sivakumaran@cgi.com
