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CyberUK24 Plenary Future Tech, Future Threat, Future Ready | NCSC, UK | Matthew Griffin | Cyber Keynote Speaker

In this plenary session with the UK's National Security community and partners Futurist and Cyber Expert Matthew Griffin discusses the emergent threats facing nations worldwide, emergent cyber solutions, and shares his unique views on China's rise.

By Matthew GriffinPublished 27 February 2025Updated 28 February 20252 min read

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Griffin, M. (2025) 'CyberUK24 Plenary Future Tech, Future Threat, Future Ready | NCSC, UK | Matthew Griffin | Cyber Keynote Speaker', 311 Institute, 27 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/cyberuk24-plenary-future-tech-future-threat-future-ready-ncsc-uk-matthew-griffin-cyber-keynote-speaker/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).

Firstly, thank you to Ollie Whitehouse, CTO of the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), part of GCHQ, for asking me to take part CyberUK24’s plenary panel in Birmingham to discuss the “Future tech, future threat, future ready” theme of this years premier cyber and security summit. With thousands of professionals from around the world, including the Director of GCHQ, the Director of CISA, and cyber liaison for the White House Harry Coker, as well as the directors of India and Japans national security agencies the NCS and NISC, it was an honour to be in such esteemed company.

During our plenary session, which I shared with Sir Philip Knight, Head of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Strategy, Dame Angela McLean, and the director of NCS, I was asked to expand on my views of the future biological, chemical, and cyber threat landscapes, and expand on future Horizon 2 and 3 threat vectors, and give an overview on China’s progress and emerging technology strategy as it strives for technology independence and superiority in the coming decades.

CyberUK24 Plenary Session, Cyber Keynote Matthew Griffin

When it comes to future threats the simple fact of the matter is that they’re everywhere, whether it’s the ability to wipeout selective portions of Humanity using $100 CRISPR kits, deceive and destroy the AI’s we’re busily embedding into our companies and products, or just simply use AI to design 40,000 new chemical weapons or so. All of which is before we get onto the topic of “System of Systems” autonomous AI agents … and many other things.

And then, when it comes to China, well, I think I did well to cover everything in the five minutes I had, but suffice to say they’re already ahead in 38 out of 44 key emerging technology fields and they’re accelerating – in part thanks to their $1.4 Trillion emerging technology funding package, and in part due to the sheer determination of the country’s leadership to push the boundaries of N+2 to N+4 emerging technologies. Technologies that include everything from Quantum Communications and Nil Communications, all the way through to the development of new advanced computer chips, novel unhackable metamaterials, and much more …

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Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute

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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.

An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.

Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.

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Sources and further reading

National Cyber Security Center ncsc.gov.uk
GCHQ gchq.gov.uk

Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 27 February 2025. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2025). CyberUK24 Plenary Future Tech, Future Threat, Future Ready | NCSC, UK | Matthew Griffin | Cyber Keynote Speake. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/cyberuk24-plenary-future-tech-future-threat-future-ready-ncsc-uk-matthew-griffin-cyber-keynote-speaker/

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