Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Abstract
Welcome to NANOG 96! Join us as we officially kick-off three days of great programming and networking events.
Jonathan Black:
As NANOG’s Executive Director, Jonathan oversees the organization’s operations and collaborates with the NANOG Board to enhance and implement its mission and strategic plan.
Prior to joining NANOG in May 2024, Jonathan was the Executive Director of CanWISP, where he played a key role in advocating for and supporting the interests of rural Internet Service Providers in Canada. Additionally, he served as an advisor to ISPs through KURO Partners, providing financial and strategic guidance and support.
In the late 1990s, he experienced the high-growth period of the Internet bubble as part of the Venture Capital sector and then learned critical lessons from the challenges that followed when the bubble burst, working inside an internet startup during that tumultuous time.
Jonathan has an MBA from Ivey Business School at Western University, a Graduate Diploma from Regent College and a B.Math (Applied Math / Comp Sci) from the University of Waterloo.
Bob Gilbert:
With a career spanning over 25 years in the heart of Silicon Valley, I have become a recognized leader in transforming security and networking architecture to meet the demands of today’s dynamic digital landscape. My expertise lies in SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), Zero Trust, and AI Security—three pillars crucial for modern enterprise security.
As a prolific speaker and product demonstrator, I’ve engaged live audiences across 70+ countries, sharing insights that drive innovation and action. Teaching is another passion of mine; I’ve had the privilege of lecturing on cybersecurity at ESADE’s International Business School and guest lecturing at numerous universities globally, influencing the next generation of cyber leaders.
Before joining Netskope, I served as Chief Evangelist at Riverbed, where I played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a small start-up of a handful of employees into a global market leader in WAN optimization, with more than 3,000 employees and over $1 billion in annual revenue.
My journey into cybersecurity began as a teenager in the 1980s, running a popular Bulletin Board System (BBS) from my parent’s living room and developing my first security tool to thwart hackers. This early fascination with protecting digital environments laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong mission: to secure the digital world.
Adair Thaxton:
Adair Thaxton is a Cyberinfrastructure Security Engineer for Internet2. She has her Master's degree in Information Science from UNC Chapel Hill, and worked there for thirteen years as a network engineer. She has presented at EDUCAUSE and multiple Internet2 conferences on routing security topics. She has her CISSP, is a fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, and has a wonderful husband and son.
nanog.org/events/nanog-96/content/5636
Abstract
Welcome to NANOG 96! Join us as we officially kick-off three days of great programming and networking events.
Jonathan Black:
As NANOG’s Executive Director, Jonathan oversees the organization’s operations and collaborates with the NANOG Board to enhance and implement its mission and strategic plan.
Prior to joining NANOG in May 2024, Jonathan was the Executive Director of CanWISP, where he played a key role in advocating for and supporting the interests of rural Internet Service Providers in Canada. Additionally, he served as an advisor to ISPs through KURO Partners, providing financial and strategic guidance and support.
In the late 1990s, he experienced the high-growth period of the Internet bubble as part of the Venture Capital sector and then learned critical lessons from the challenges that followed when the bubble burst, working inside an internet startup during that tumultuous time.
Jonathan has an MBA from Ivey Business School at Western University, a Graduate Diploma from Regent College and a B.Math (Applied Math / Comp Sci) from the University of Waterloo.
Bob Gilbert:
With a career spanning over 25 years in the heart of Silicon Valley, I have become a recognized leader in transforming security and networking architecture to meet the demands of today’s dynamic digital landscape. My expertise lies in SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), Zero Trust, and AI Security—three pillars crucial for modern enterprise security.
As a prolific speaker and product demonstrator, I’ve engaged live audiences across 70+ countries, sharing insights that drive innovation and action. Teaching is another passion of mine; I’ve had the privilege of lecturing on cybersecurity at ESADE’s International Business School and guest lecturing at numerous universities globally, influencing the next generation of cyber leaders.
Before joining Netskope, I served as Chief Evangelist at Riverbed, where I played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a small start-up of a handful of employees into a global market leader in WAN optimization, with more than 3,000 employees and over $1 billion in annual revenue.
My journey into cybersecurity began as a teenager in the 1980s, running a popular Bulletin Board System (BBS) from my parent’s living room and developing my first security tool to thwart hackers. This early fascination with protecting digital environments laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong mission: to secure the digital world.
Adair Thaxton:
Adair Thaxton is a Cyberinfrastructure Security Engineer for Internet2. She has her Master's degree in Information Science from UNC Chapel Hill, and worked there for thirteen years as a network engineer. She has presented at EDUCAUSE and multiple Internet2 conferences on routing security topics. She has her CISSP, is a fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, and has a wonderful husband and son.
nanog.org/events/nanog-96/content/5636
