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SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
Strengthening national digital infrastructure and resilience against emerging cyber threats.
As Ethiopia's digital footprint expands, cybersecurity is no longer a niche IT concern. It is a national resilience priority affecting government, finance, telecoms, education, and critical infrastructure.
KGRI researches threat landscapes, institutional preparedness, incident response capacity, and the policy frameworks needed to protect citizens, organisations, and the state in an increasingly connected environment.
Division Head, Cybersecurity
Professor at Bay Atlantic University and a seasoned cybersecurity expert with a PhD in Cybersecurity. Dr. Tsige Tessema has extensive experience defending mission-critical infrastructures and advancing cybersecurity education and research. She is the Founder of Raeye Children Aid (RCA) and CyberEdge Innovation Hub.
Division Head, Cryptography
Dr. Rodas Tadese is an Ethiopian scholar, theologian, astronomer, educator, and award-winning author whose interdisciplinary work spans theology, biblical studies, astronomy, linguistics, philosophy, history, and sacred cryptographic traditions. His research explores the intersection of language, numerical systems, symbolic encoding, and Geʽez Gematria, with particular focus on the cryptographic dimensions of ancient Ethiopian manuscripts and biblical texts. Through his Kemere Geʽez program, he teaches methods for interpreting symbolic, numerical, and encoded structures preserved within the Geʽez literary tradition.
Division Head, Digital Resilience
Seyoum Damtew is Vice President of Information Systems Security at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), one of Africa’s largest financial institutions. A seasoned cybersecurity leader with experience in both telecommunications and banking, he specializes in cyber resilience, AI-driven security, fraud management, SOC operations, and information security governance. He holds CISM and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Implementer certifications and is a frequent speaker at regional cybersecurity forums.
Researcher, Cybersecurity
Dagmawi Adugna is a business and technology executive with a strong foundation in cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving strategic growth, innovation, and organizational transformation. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in Spring 2026. As the Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) at G2G IT Solutions, Dagmawi leads the company’s business expansion strategy, strategic partnerships, market development, and technology commercialization initiatives. He works at the intersection of executive leadership and emerging technologies, aligning cybersecurity, digital transformation, and enterprise IT solutions with long-term business objectives to create sustainable competitive advantage. With a unique ability to bridge technical expertise and executive decision-making, Dagmawi translates complex cybersecurity concepts—including network security, firewall architecture, threat mitigation, and enterprise risk management—into scalable business strategies that strengthen organizational resilience and accelerate growth. His leadership focuses on identifying new market opportunities, forging high-impact partnerships, and delivering innovative technology solutions that address evolving business and security challenges. Prior to his current role, Dagmawi managed a firewall-focused cybersecurity project during an Amazon externship, where he coordinated security implementation planning, cross-functional stakeholder engagement, and project execution. He also gained valuable executive operations experience at Keller Williams Boston Metro, supporting senior leadership and contributing to strategic business initiatives. These experiences have shaped a multidisciplinary leadership approach that combines technical excellence, strategic vision, operational execution, and a commitment to innovation. Today, Dagmawi is recognized for his ability to unite business strategy with cybersecurity expertise, helping organizations navigate digital transformation while building secure, scalable, and future-ready technology ecosystems.
Researcher, Cybersecurity
Kelkias Sisay is a cybersecurity professional with nearly five years of experience in the banking sector, specializing in security operations, threat detection, incident response, and security monitoring. As a SOC Analyst at Awash Bank, he monitors and investigates security events using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) technologies, performs multi-source log analysis to identify indicators of compromise, and collaborates with IT and security engineering teams to strengthen the organization's security posture. His professional background spans digital banking operations, IT service management, and front-line cybersecurity, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of both financial technology environments and enterprise security operations. Through his work, he is committed to enhancing cyber resilience, improving incident response capabilities, and protecting critical banking infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.
