Black Hat MEA 2023 - The Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Conference in the World
An exclusive interview with Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf, on organizing the fastest-growing cybersecurity exhibition and conference in the world for the second year in a row.
I didn’t know what to expect. I’ll be honest. I’ve attended a few cybersecurity events before, but this one was different. I don’t think I was ready for the sheer size of the conference. I knew it was going to be big, but I genuinely didn’t think it would be that big.
And when an exhibition is large, I’m worried about getting lost in the sea of people. But that didn’t happen this time.Maybe it was the conference. Maybe it was the speakers and attendees. Maybe it was the Saudi Arabian culture. All I know is I felt at home.
If there is a three-day conference, I’ll usually attend one day at most, and that’s enough for me. My energy depletes fast. I never expected to attend all three days. But that’s what I did forBlack Hat Middle East & Africa (MEA).
And I can’t even believe I’m writing this, but I had fun.
Here’s an overview of the event:
40,000+attendees
A completely sold-out exhibition venue with 350+ brands
300+ speakers from over 50 countries
80+ CISO speakers from top-tier brands
1,500+competitors in the CTF and Bug Bounty
A startup competition with three winners and cash prizes
I caught up with Annabelle on Day 2 to learn more about the event and its role in Saudi Arabia’s growth.
Black Hat MEA Has Full Support From the Saudi Arabian Government
Mander on the support from the Saudi Arabian government
“I’m a huge fan of what’s been happening here. The last four years, where I've been working significantly in Saudi Arabia full time, I've never felt more supported or empowered. The reason this event has accelerated so much is because it's in Saudi Arabia, it's a huge market, a huge economy, and the investment in cybersecurity is huge.”
The Black Hat brand is a strong international brand
“Because the Black Hat brand is so strong, the brand has been going for25 years, and the relationship with the government partners, those three elements together have really allowed this event to thrive, and that's what we're expecting in other sectors as well. The brand will continue to thrive.”
The Secrets to Throwing a World-Class Event
Great speakers
“We really prioritize amazing content and amazing speakers. We even brought on speakers like Camille Vasquez who played a lead role in the Johnny Depp defamation trial. We’re always looking for fun and new ways to bring excitement to these conferences.”
Gender diversity and country participation
“We take a deep look at the sectors we're covering, the gender diversity we're covering, the country participation, and we look for all of these key ingredients to make sure it is world-class, that it is generally a global event that's providing top quality content.”
The experience matters
“Beyond the content itself would be the event experience, the amount of things you're able to do and experience on-site. We've got capture the flag, the bug bounty team, and the drone experience.”
World-Class Standards: A Commitment to Excellence
Tahaluf’s mandate is to bring top-tier events to Saudi Arabia. A mission they are successfully accomplishing.
Personal goals and future aspirations
“‘World-class’ isn't just a term—it's a benchmark. We ensure that each event is a global experience with the highest quality. When I joined, it was just a small team of people. Now, we're scaling to a team of 85 by year's end and planning to hire 150 more next year."
On moving the headquarters to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
“So maybe elsewhere in the world, they aren't aware of the incredible opportunities here and all the amazing experiences we get to have. For me, personally, it's been incredible, and I'm seeing that for the team that we're bringing over, we're moving people from the London office, the Singapore office, the Dubai office, the Bahrain office, all to relocate and work from theRiyadh office. We're invested in that, and that's exciting for us.”
On the growth of Tahaluf
“We started with technology events, and now we’re expanding into strategic markets like real estate, health, tourism and pharmaceuticals, to name a few. Our ambitious plans include introducing more sectors under the umbrella.”
Saudi Arabia's Untapped Potential
Annabelle Mander’s journey with Tahaluf illustrates Saudi Arabia's untapped potential in the events sector.
Her leadership and Tahaluf’s strategic approach are setting new standards, showcasing the kingdom's growing influence in the global events industry.
Thank you, Annabelle, for taking time out of your crazy schedule at Black Hat MEA to speak with me.
I also wanted to give a massive shot out to Candice Luicien of Action Global Communications for making this interview happen. For a conference as big as this, her and the entire team handled everything perfectly.