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From Concept to Classroom: Behind the Winter School. Instructor Perspective from Omar Ramadan

Following the reflections from participants of the EU CyberNet Winter School 2026, we turn spotlight to people behind designing and delivering this iteration. From curriculum development to practical exercises and real-world case studies, instructors and co-organiser played a central role with the EU CyberNet team in shaping this learning expertise.

We discussed with them the reasons behind their involvement and what challenges cybersecurity professionals face today and how trainings like this help to become more resilient. After meeting Aleksi Rantaniemi from Traficomwe’ll turn to instructor Omar Ramadan from ObsidianCorps. 

About

Omar Ramadan whose senior experience is spanning counter-terrorism cybercrime policing, private sector CISO leadership and cyber-crisis simulation, currently serving as Exercise Director at Room#42 and co-founder of ObsidianCorps, specialising in crisis communication, human behaviour and decision-making under pressure. 

Please tell us why did you decide to teach in the Winter School, what spoke to you the most and how do you hope trainees take from this training and make use in their daily work?  

I decided to teach at the Winter School because I wanted to share the unique experience I’ve gained through the years of working in cyber crisis communication, law enforcement and crisis response teams. What spoke to me most was the opportunity to support experts who operate in high-pressure environments and often represent the EU CyberNet in the field.

My goal is to help them develop the communication tools and skill sets needed to clearly express their expertise and to promote a more unified approach to communication, both in times of peace and during crises. I hope trainees leave the training feeling more confident in how they communicate, better aligned as a community and able to apply these skills directly in their daily operational work. 

What do you think are the current challenges in cybersecurity? What are the most pressing issues in your daily line of work? 

As the world continues to move towards an increasingly digital environment, cybersecurity challenges are no longer limited to protecting company data. They now affect everyday life. Cyber incidents touch everything from critical infrastructure to personal privacy.  

One of the most pressing issues I see is the growing gap in human communication. As we rely more on IT and digital communication, traditional ‘soft skills’ are becoming more important than ever. In my daily work, I see how ineffective communication can escalate crises, while clear, empathetic and strategic communication can significantly reduce their impact. 

From your perspective as an instructor, what do you expect EU CyberNet to provide or facilitate?  

I expect EU CyberNet to continue bringing together brilliant minds and diverse experiences from across the world to work collaboratively. Its role in advancing knowledge, educating stakeholders, companies and regulators about emerging cyber trends is essential. 

I also see great value in EUCN serving as a central hub for best practices and the latest advancements, making expertise available when it’s most needed. Most importantly, I hope it continues to foster an environment where we learn from one another and continuously improve as professionals and as a community.  

What’s one thing that’s stuck with you from this year’s Winter School?  

Despite being in the cold climate of Finland, what truly stood out to me was the warmth of the people. The experts and the EU CyberNet community are passionate, caring and clearly share the same values. That sense of connection and mutual respect made the Winter School feel genuinely welcoming and inspiring.  

 

The EU CyberNet Winter School took place from 14 to 16 January 2026 in Helsinki, Finland and was organised by the EU CyberNet, a EU-funded project implemented by the Estonian Information System Authority and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency TRAFICOM. The first EU CyberNet Winter School welcomed more than 25 participants from 16 countries from Europe, North America, South America, the Caribbean and Africa from variety of backgrounds within the cybersecurity domain and expertise in dealing with cyber crisis management from public and private sectors and academia. 

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eucybernet/albums/72177720331319836/ 



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