16 May 2025
The International Council for Industrial Security, Safety and Management (ICISSM) hosted its 2nd Annual Seminar on 16 May 2025 at the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, on the theme – ‘Navigating the Evolving Threat Landscape and Climate Change.’ The event brought together national security leaders, industrial experts, and tech innovators for a day of in-depth discussion, critical analysis, and solution-driven collaboration.
The seminar commenced with ceremonial lamp lighting by Lt. Gen. Sudhir Sharma, Col. D.R. Semwal, Maj. Gen. Vikram Singh, Col. Sanjay Srivastava, and Capt. Manoj Kumar, followed by a welcome address from Maj. Gen. Vikram Singh, Chairman, ICISSM. He set the tone by emphasizing the urgency of industrial security transformation amidst climate change and geopolitical instability.
Delivering the Inaugural Address, Lt. Gen. Sudhir Sharma, Chairman, MitKat Advisory, explored the unsettling volatility of today’s geopolitical order. “Rules are chains for the weak, tools for the strong,” he declared, critiquing the collapsing global consensus and the rise of right-wing nationalism, resource competition, and technological warfare. He underscored the need for ‘strategic autonomy’ and industrial resilience through reliable supply chains and technology leadership.
The first Keynote Address by Saurabh Tolumbia, IPS, Security Advisor at GAIL, delved into the security of critical infrastructure. He highlighted that while external threats remain visible, internal vulnerabilities such as insider sabotage, cyber gaps, and undertrained personnel pose equal – if not greater – risks. “Security,” he said, “is like salt – only noticed when it’s missing.”
DigiSuraksha, a platinum sponsor, showcased a transformative facial authentication system designed to replace outdated ID-based security. “Your face is your identity,” said Co-creator Ram Kunchur, demonstrating how encrypted QR codes could enhance access control with zero server dependency.
Panel Discussion 1 on AI, Machine Learning & Deepfakes featured Dr. Alok Vijayant, Santosh Pathak, Avanish Pathak, and Roshan Baberwal. Discussions covered the misuse of generative AI in misinformation campaigns, vulnerabilities in unstructured datasets, and the urgent need for AI literacy across security forces.
Panel 2, moderated by Dr. (Prof.) Rajiv Mathur, focused on Cyber-Physical Threats in industrial environments. The panellists were Rekha Gairola (Adobe), Lt. Col. Sandeep Mohapatra (MMTC PAMP), Maj Ranjen Bhatia (PNB), and Ankit Sabharwal (Control Risks) – and they emphasized that cyber breaches are increasingly tied to human oversight and lax protocols. “Gone are the days when CSOs and CISOs worked in silos,” noted Maj. Ranjen Bhatia.
A fireside chat between Dr. Surabhi Pandey and Sumit Behl (Sparsh CCTV) unpacked how businesses must adapt to constant tech disruption. This was followed by Sparsh CCTV’s product presentation, emphasizing indigenous solutions for industrial surveillance.
Post-lunch, Panel 3 addressed ESG and the Changing Risk Landscape, moderated by Cdr. Sandeep Sinha. Experts like Gp. Capt. (Dr.) S. N. Mishra, Vishnu Chandra, and Col. Abhijit Singh stressed the integration of climate, social governance, and cyber frameworks into enterprise risk strategy. “Climate is no longer an environmental issue – it’s a security one,” observed Col. Singh.
The final Panel Discussion explored whether Drones are a Boon or Bane for industrial security. Moderated by Anil Dhawan, it featured insights from Col. S.A. Rodrigues (Idea Forge), Capt. Allroy Collaco (CAPSI), and Manan Batra (360PSA). The panel advocated for drone adoption in surveillance, response, and infrastructure monitoring – balanced by anti-drone measures and regulatory clarity.
Col. (Prof.) Sanjay Srivastava, in his keynote, urged security professionals to become proactive agents in climate resilience, disaster mitigation, and urban risk reduction. “Security teams must lead – not just respond,” he urged.
Another key highlight of the seminar was the signing of the MoU between ICISSM and Veena Gupta to jointly offer an Executive Protection training program.
Closing the day, Col. D.R. Semwal delivered the final keynote, sharing best practices in industrial security management. He reinforced the importance of convergence between physical and cyber strategies, continuous learning, and integrated crisis response frameworks.
The seminar concluded with Capt. Manoj Kumar’s vote of thanks, highlighting ICISSM’s commitment to evolving security landscapes with agility, collaboration, and purpose.
The event was supported by Platinum Sponsors – Sparsh CCTV & DigiSuraksha, Silver Sponsors – CISS & TechnoPurple, Event Partner – CROPC, Media Partners – SecurityLinkIndia & SECURITY TODAY, and Knowledge Partner – MIGS Consulting.
