A CYBER security expert from Malvern will be among leading figures in the war against computer crime taking part in an information security conference next month.

Dr Emma Philpott, founder of Malvern's Cyber Security Cluster and co-creator of the Wyche Innovation Centre, will be taking part in a Question Time-style event at the conference, at Coventry University on Friday, May 23.

Dr Philpott will be appearing alongside former GCHQ head of information risk management David Booth, and John Unsworth, head of intelligence at the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau within the City of London Police.

The conference will be opened by Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball. It will include workshops simulating real-time cyber security challenges.

Dr Philpott said: "There are a lot of cheap and simple things that small and medium-sized companies can do to protect themselves from computer crime.

The government this week launched the Cyber Essentials scheme, which promotes the IASME cyber security standard aimed at small and medium-sized businesses.

The IASME Consortium, which created the standard, is part of the Cyber Security Cluster and is based at the Wyche Innovation Centre.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Paley, from Warwickshire and West Mercia Police, said: “This will be a fast-moving and dynamic day working on real-time cyber challenges with industry specialists in some of the best training facilities in the Midlands.

“It’s a unique opportunity to network with leading experts in computer security and to ensure business and personal resilience in the face of the increasing threat of cybercrime. Our aim with this event is to develop people’s understanding and knowledge of risk, threat and opportunity in the field of internet-based crime.”