JAMES
LYNE
The genie is out of the bottle; the future will only have more technology and opportunity for attackers. Cyber security and the practitioners that make us safe is my unrelenting focus — James ©
James Lyne is a cyber security expert on a mission to bring through the next generation of security practitioners.
Overview
James Lyne is a globally recognised cyber security leader and self-proclaimed massive geek driven to make the digital world safer. A trusted voice to governments, enterprises and global audiences, he translates complex threats into clear insight and decisive action. With more than two decades at the forefront of cyber defence and innovation, he has advised on strategy, resilience and crisis response at the highest levels. Through powerful storytelling and live demonstrations, he challenges assumptions, sparks curiosity and inspires people to rethink how we secure our future—and build the capability to defend it.
Enquiries ↗
Follow ↗
Mission
Nurturing the next generation of cyber defenders, making the world a safer place and making life harder for cyber criminals
SANS
James Lyne is the CEO of the SANS Institute, leading one of the world's most respected cyber security training, certification and research organisations. SANS empowers current and future practitioners with practical, hands-on skills and knowledge through expert-led courses, industry-recognised certifications and community-driven resources. With more than two decades of frontline experience, James champions SANS' mission to strengthen global cyber capability and help individuals and organisations stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats.
Hackable Badges
Created to turn passive conference attendance into active exploration, these hackable event badges redefine hands-on learning at scale. Fully programmable, interactive hardware platforms—built with embedded microcontrollers, expandable interfaces and intentionally discoverable challenges—invite attendees to explore firmware, hardware and wireless security in a safe, gamified environment. Deployed at flagship events such as SANS CyberThreat, the badges extend learning beyond the lecture theatre, sparking collaboration, live problem-solving and real-world experimentation that reinforces core conference themes and leaves participants with practical, lasting skills.
CyberStart
CyberStart was created to ignite curiosity and open doors into cyber security for the next generation. This project reimagined cyber education through immersive, gamified learning—making real-world skills accessible, engaging and scalable. Through 200+ hands-on challenges spanning cryptography, forensics and ethical hacking, the programme reached more than 400,000 students globally, helping them build practical capability and confidence. Led and shaped by James' vision, CyberStart ran for nine years, partnering with schools, governments and industry to tackle the cyber skills gap at scale. Now closed, it leaves a lasting legacy in transforming how young people discover and enter the cyber security profession.
Speaking
An energetic, passionate and charmingly nerdy world-class speaker on cyber security.
Email bookings@jameslyne.com if you'd like James to talk at your event.
James was GREAT! Very high energy and entertaining — everyone enjoyed him and the topic.
Keith Lambert, Lambert Speakers Alliance LLC