João Pedro Figueiredo

At my current PhD tenure in Information Security at Instituto Superior Técnico, I'm researching innovative AI techniques to bolster cybersecurity defenses against emerging threats. My research is mostly focused on LLMs and LSTMs applied to and against traditional security systems.

As a Manager at KPMG Portugal's Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Services team, I led diverse projects focused on safeguarding critical data assets and ensuring compliance with global cybersecurity regulations. I collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, clients, and stakeholders to design and implement robust cybersecurity architectures and data protection strategies. In charge of several cybersecurity transformations programmes.

At Unicre I was entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the bank's digital assets and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer data, overseeing the development and implementation of comprehensive information security policies, procedures, and controls. Collaborating with IT, operations, and senior management, I ensured that all technological initiatives were aligned with the Unicre's security standards and regulatory requirements. My role encompassed a broad spectrum of tasks, from conducting regular risk assessments, designing and auditing security architectures to coordinating incident response activities in the event of security breaches. I was the responsible for the security designs at Unicre's digital transformation initiative. Under my work, Unicre successfully obtained for the 1st time the PCI-DSS certification for the acquiring line of business, which resulted in also being the 1st national acquiring company in doing so. Additionally, Unicre navigated numerous external and internal audits, consistently demonstrating adherence to industry best practices and regulatory mandates.

At BNP Paribas Securities Services, as a Software Engineer, I developed and optimized critical banking applications, ensuring their robustness, security, and scalability. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I played a pivotal role in translating business requirements into efficient software solutions, enhancing the bank's digital capabilities and customer experience. My responsibilities spanned the full software development lifecycle, from initial design and architecture to testing, deployment, and post-launch support.