MONDAY · 14 SEPTEMBER
END OF HARDEN BOOTCAMP
Hardening with Purpose: Reducing Risk Without Breaking the Environment
Kuleni Shewakena
10–15 minute conversation
Back to the 2026 archive
SCHEDULE.
The published 2026 program: three preparation bootcamps followed by four competition days, talks, and conversations.
01 / PROGRAM OVERVIEWSEVEN DAYS.
PREPARATION, COMPETITION, CONVERSATION
SEVEN DAYS.
ONE CONNECTED PROGRAM.
The schedule protects competition time. Talks are positioned at openings, track transitions, and after scoring closes, when competitors can give the conversation their attention.
This was the preliminary program published before the event. Some speakers and exact times were not specified in that version.
02 / VIRTUAL BOOTCAMPSPREPARE BEFORE
PREPARE BEFORE
THE COMPETITION.
Each two-hour virtual bootcamp closes with a short practitioner conversation connected to that day’s topic.
TUESDAY · 15 SEPTEMBER
END OF PENTEST BOOTCAMP
How Production Systems Really Break: A Builder’s View of Attack Surface
Temkin “Chapi” Mengistu
15 minute talk
WEDNESDAY · 16 SEPTEMBER
END OF BLUE TEAM / IR BOOTCAMP
From Signals to an Incident: How Defenders Think
Not specified in the published program
10–15 minute conversation
03 / COMPETITION DAYSHARDEN. HACK.
HARDEN. HACK.
HUNT.
Four days of competition include an opening conversation, short sessions at natural transition points, a closing panel, and awards.
THURSDAY · 17 SEPTEMBER
OFFICIAL CYBERSHIELD OPENING
Building Cybersecurity Talent Through Hands-On Experience
Mathilda Giovanni Grisenti
15–20 minute opening conversation
END OF HARDEN
Operational Security: Securing Systems That Still Have to Run
Abraham
20 minute fireside conversation
FRIDAY · 18 SEPTEMBER
START OF HACK
Think Like an Attacker, Understand Like a Builder
Temkin “Chapi” Mengistu
10–15 minute talk
SATURDAY · 19 SEPTEMBER
END OF HACK
From CTF Skills to Real-World Technology Careers
Abel Shiferaw
20–25 minute fireside conversation
SUNDAY · 20 SEPTEMBER
START OF HUNT
Follow the Evidence: The Defender’s Mindset
Kuleni Shewakena
10–15 minute talk
AFTER HUNT · SCORES LOCKED
From CTF to Career: Building Ethiopia’s Next Generation of Cybersecurity Talent
Panelists were not listed in this version
40–45 minute panel
AFTER THE PANEL
Awards
Top teams recognized
Archived as originally planned. Session titles and durations are not a verified post-event attendance record.
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