Cyber Resilience…Are you ready?

Catch up on HiDN’s First Wednesday – November 2025 

“Cyber Resilience…Are you ready?”, with Loraine Phillips, Independent Board Advisor

This month’s HiDN First Wednesday was a fascinating discussion on the topic of Cyber Resilience led by Loraine Phillips, a former senior executive with one of the world's largest petrochemical companies. 

Loraine opened the discussion by outlining the escalating scale and frequency of cyber security events targeting commercial businesses and essential infrastructure, some driven by more than financial impact, deliberately aiming at creating national disruption. Whatever cyber security measures are in place today, organisations have to assume that they are likely to be impacted, directly or indirectly, as a result of some kind of major cyber-attack. 

In this context boards need to consider a number of issues:

• Responsibilities and governance 

• Communication strategy 

• Scenario planning 

• Business continuity during an event / full return to business-as-usual

• Testing and exercising contingency plans

• Critical supplier readiness

In the discussion that followed Loraine’s presentation, Members explored the importance of integrating cyber resilience into the overall risk management strategy, the need to define essential areas of the business that must be prioritised, as well as the role of the board in ensuring a level of preparedness that is commensurate with the overall threat and the potential impact to the future of the business.

A robust cyber security defence is essential but not sufficient. Resiliency is key.

A huge “thank you” to Loraine Phillips for leading a stimulating and insightful discussion!

Unfortunately, there was a technical issue in recording the first part of the discussion so the introduction and background to the topic is missing. Please feel free to reach out to Loraine who is happy to discuss further.

Watch the session recording below:

Introducing Loraine Phillips

Loraine is an independent advisor, guiding the board and senior leadership of mid-size industrials through risk management and strategic transformation. She has built muscle memory (as well as some scar tissue!) dealing with real crises and preparing to be ready for what potentially might happen next.

Loraine brings deep international experience in the Energy and Chemical industry, spending over 30  years at ExxonMobil and recently 2 years as COO of a mid-size trading and supply chain company.

She has held a range of leadership roles across different parts of the value chain and corporate functions around the world, passionate about releasing potential from the full diversity of talent.

Phillips