OUR BOARD
​
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands has a range of organisations joining us at Board level to provide governance, direction and progress oversight.
If you are interested in joining our board, please contact us.
FRANCISCO ABARCA
National Express
Francisco is the Group CISO for National Express. He has oversight of cyber security across the Divisions of the Group, leading a virtual global team that protects our different business from cyber threats. He has over 22 years of experience in IT and over 16 years of experience in IT security, that jointly with several certifications makes him a well rounded IT Security professional.
Within his tenure at National Express, Francisco has developed and implemented a cyber security strategy that addresses key risks in a pragmatic manner aligned to cyber kill chains.
EMMA DANIELL
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire
​
I am passionate about serving communities to make a positive difference. I worked in a variety of roles as a police officer for 17 years before moving to be the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner of Warwickshire Police. This role enables me to bring together my operational experience to drive strategic changes to ensure that the community receives value for money, effective policing. The board roles I have within Oversley Ltd provide me with the commercial acumen to support the vision of the companies.
I am tenacious in my approach and am always seeking to implement learning across policing and partners to improve approaches within my team, and across communities and partner agencies. I believe wholeheartedly in prevention and am pleased to have been invited to sit on the board of the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre. Cybercrime is the biggest threat to our communities security and I look forward to increasing the reach of the centre so we can educate and secure more businesses in the region against criminals.
JAYNE MEIR
West Midlands Police
​
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Jayne Meir started her policing career within the Metropolitan Police in 1996. During her time there, she was involved in numerous operations, including supporting the response to the July 7 2005 terrorist attacks and coordinating Counter Terrorism policing for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
​
After 20 years’ service within the Metropolitan Police, ACC Meir transferred to West Midlands Police in 2016 to become the local policing commander for Wolverhampton. She then became Director of Intelligence in 2018, before being appointed as an ACC in May 2019.
​
ACC Meir currently holds responsibility for the crime portfolio, and is married with two children. She is also currently training to complete a half marathon.
GARY THOMAS
Children and Young People (CYP) Services Director for the South
at The Children's Society
​
Director of Children and Family Services at NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service)
Gary brings with him over 20 years’ experience working in the public and third sector at both Director and senior manager level. Gary has extensive experience leading and managing programmes, activities and issues involving young people as well as leading change in the fight against childhood poverty, harm, and neglect.
​
He has worked in partnership with statutory and non-statutory agencies and commissioners at a national, regional, and local level within the children and young people, disability, social care, supported housing and health field. He appreciates the need for all organisations in all sectors to have strong cyber security governance in place to protect their data and assets.
MARTIN NASH
Director of CDS Defence and Security
​
CDS Defence and Security are an outstanding organisation, trusted with some of the most important cyber security measures across the nation. Martin's experience and sector knowledge will help the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre grow across the region and go from strength to strength.
​
CDS Defence and Security is a highly respected company with connections across the nation. Their professionalism and progressive approach in helping the nation in becoming cyber safer is an excellent partnership for the Centre.
CENTRI VAULT
​
Founded in 2019 and now part of the Vault UK Group, CentriVault offers a comprehensive range of cyber security and connected services. In 2021, they achieved Certification Body status and linked with Cyber Essentials, developing cyber security investment modelling tools with several academic cyber clusters. Today, they service customers with collectively over 20,000 employees in just the UK alone.
Additionally, they have taken over the Cyber Advisory Services - a free to use service for any of their Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) customers - as a unique offering providing organisations who have suffered a cyber-attack with dedicated online support.