Phil Ross

Phil Ross is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at UpGuard, leveraging decades of experience in information security and enterprise architecture. He is responsible for driving enterprise-wide security initiatives and governance frameworks. While Phil’s technology career began in the 1990s in network engineering, he has a multidisciplinary background that includes scientific research and animatronic engineering, allowing him to apply a broader perspective to challenges in information technology and cybersecurity.

Outside of work, Phil and his family are avid sailors who spend as much time as possible on the water. They own a cruising catamaran named Muse, which they lived on for a year while exploring the South Pacific.

Fun fact: Phil once lived on a traditional narrowboat on England's Grand Union Canal while working as an animatronic engineer for the Harry Potter films.

Expertise

Phil’s expertise is centered on leading enterprise security strategy across IT and OT - Operational Technology. As UpGuard’s CISO,  he is accountable for enterprise IT in addition to the organization's overall security posture, encompassing compliance and vendor-related security risks.

Experience

Prior to his current role as UpGuard’s CISO, Phil worked for eight years in one of Australia’s largest energy utilities.  During this period as an enterprise architect, he held portfolios across network and communications, contact center, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity before being appointed Head of Security Strategy and Architecture. Prior to that, he worked extensively as a cybersecurity architect in the banking, finance, and insurance sectors.

Certifications

• CISSP - issued 2007
• SABSA SCP - Chartered Security Architect - issued 2011
• CISM - issued 2012
• Forrester Zero Trust Strategist - issued November 2020

Education

Phil attended Queen Mary College, University of London, completing a BSc with Honors, remaining there for an additional three years conducting research in electro-organic chemistry.