Human Firewall Conference
November 4 & 5, 2025, Cologne
The Human Firewall conference is a European cyber security event designed to help security professionals transform their teams into the strongest line of defense. Join us for expert talks, immersive workshops, and a passionate community committed to putting people at the heart of cyber security.
Curious about
what to expect?
Join us as we unite industry professionals for an unforgettable event. Get ready to connect, learn, and lead in the world of cyber security!
1500+
attendees
3
stages
50+
speakers
10+
panels & masterclasses
Our values
Educate
Unlock
expert
knowledge
Join expert-led sessions on today’s top cyber security trends and developments – then leverage that knowledge to elevate your team’s skillset.
Exchange
Collect first-hand insights
from your peers
Don’t miss this unique collaborative event format: Engage in interactive panels with industry experts and SoSafe customers and networking sessions to exchange knowledge with your peers.
Empower
Get inspired with
innovative perspectives
Technology alone is not enough to build a strong security culture: Listen to how different disciplines can help you develop a holistic skillset and strengthen your first and last line of defense – your employees.
Meet the cyber heroes
speaking at HuFiCon25
Extra effort goes into curating a dynamic lineup of international experts from diverse fields. We are thrilled to bring together these brilliant minds to share their holistic perspectives on the critical role of the human factor in cyber security.
Ralf Schumacher
Former Formula 1 driver, Entrepreneur, TV Expert
Florence Gaub
Leading Military Strategist and Futurologist, Director of the Research Division at NATO Defence College
Alexis Conran
Actor, Writer, and TV Presenter
Dr. Anne Meckbach
Chief Compliance Officer, BESTSECRET
Dr. Niklas Hellemann
Co-founder and CEO, SoSafe
Marian Schneider
Vice President Information & Physical Security, BESTSECRET
Christian Metzler
Head of Global IT, Niedax
Shannon Jaritz
VP Customer Success, SoSafe
Ralf Schumacher
Former Formula 1 driver, Entrepreneur, TV Expert
Ralf Schumacher is one of Germany’s most iconic motorsport figures, known for shaping a golden era of Formula 1. With six Grand Prix victories and 27 podiums over an 11-year F1 career, he brought precision, resilience, and strategy to the world’s most elite racing teams, including Williams and Toyota. His journey began on his family’s karting track in Kerpen, where a passion for speed turned into a lifelong pursuit of performance.
Today, Schumacher brings that same drive to the future of motorsport—as a Sky Sports Germany pundit, team mentor, and entrepreneur. From pioneering hybrid technologies and sustainable fuels to exploring the role of artificial intelligence in racing, he is at the forefront of innovation where man and machine meet. His focus: translating the split-second decisions, data-driven precision, and relentless teamwork of Formula 1 into powerful lessons for business, leadership, and human potential.
Florence Gaub
Leading Military Strategist and Futurologist, Director of the Research Division at NATO Defence College
Dr. Florence Gaub is one of Europe’s foremost thinkers on future conflict, global security, and geopolitical transformation. As Director of Research at the NATO Defence College in Rome, she helps shape strategic foresight at the highest levels—advising governments and international bodies with scenario-based insights. A political scientist by training and former Deputy Director of the EU Institute for Security Studies, Gaub has served as a reserve officer in the French Army, analyzed post-war Middle East dynamics, and led the World Economic Forum’s Future Council on Frontier Risks. Her mission: to make tomorrow’s threats visible today.
Alexis Conran
Actor, Writer, and TV Presenter
Alexis Conran is a renowned TV presenter, actor, and expert in scams and social engineering, best known for uncovering the psychological tricks used by fraudsters. As the face of the BBC’s The Real Hustle and host on Times Radio, Alexis reveals how even the savviest individuals can be manipulated into risky behavior.
At HuFiCon, he brings a unique blend of storytelling, real-world examples, and deep insight into human behavior — helping security professionals better understand the tactics of deception and how to build stronger human defenses in the face of growing social engineering threats.
Dr. Anne Meckbach
Chief Compliance Officer, BESTSECRET
Dr. Anne Meckbach is the Chief Compliance Officer of BESTSECRET Group. She is responsible, among other things, for the group-wide management and strategic development of the areas of compliance, risk management, and sustainability for BESTSECRET. Previously, she served as Chief Compliance Officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Before transitioning into the compliance field, she worked both in-house and as a lawyer at an international law firm specializing in corporate law and M&A.
Dr. Niklas Hellemann
Co-founder and CEO, SoSafe
Niklas Hellemann is a studied psychologist, social engineering expert, and Co-founder & CEO at SoSafe. Before founding his own company, he worked as a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group for six years in the areas of People and Organization. Besides his Ph.D. in Business Administration, Niklas studied psychology – which led him to the human approach in the tech-savvy cyber security market. In 2018, Niklas founded SoSafe together with Lukas and Felix to strengthen digital self-defense worldwide. Today, Niklas is engaged as a speaker on various stages worldwide, including the OMR Festival, the Web Summit, and the RSA Conference, where he talks about the pressing challenges of social engineering and his learnings as the CEO of a B2B scale-up.
Marian Schneider
Vice President Information & Physical Security, BESTSECRET
Marian Schneider is a cybersecurity expert with a passion for building modern, user-focused security strategies. Since 2017, he has held a range of technical and leadership roles in multinational companies, including work as a penetration tester.
With deep experience in creating lean, forward-thinking security frameworks, Marian has been leading the Information and Physical Security teams at BESTSECRET since January 2022. There, he is driving the development of a highly automated, efficient in-house security department. His focus: leveraging cutting-edge technologies and smart processes to deliver sustainable, practical security solutions that empower users and protect organizations.
Christian Metzler
Head of Global IT, Niedax
As Head of Global IT at the Niedax Group since February 2022, Christian Metzler leads the transformation of the company’s global IT infrastructure and oversees its entire cybersecurity strategy. Before joining Niedax, he served as Managing Director at IBS Technology, where he and his team delivered large-scale digitalization projects for companies in the construction supply industry. With extensive experience in IT and digital transformation — both from the service provider side and within corporate environments — Christian brings a deep, well-rounded understanding of the diverse perspectives needed to shape a globally oriented security strategy.
Shannon Jaritz
VP Customer Success, SoSafe
Shannon Jaritz is Vice President of Customer Success at SoSafe, where she leads the teams responsible for guiding customers from onboarding and integration through to long-term satisfaction and retention. Her entire career has been dedicated to putting customers first, and she brings a data-driven mindset to building strong, lasting relationships that drive value. Shannon firmly believes that customers are a company’s greatest asset – a principle she and her team champion every day at SoSafe. Beyond her role, Shannon has also been the wonderful moderator of HuFiCon for two editions, helping shape meaningful conversations and connect the community around people-centric cybersecurity.
From the HuFiCon universe:
Must-see moments
Missed our recent events? No worries. Dive into our curated collection of top talks from past HuFiCon editions.
HUFICON24Dr. Niklas Hellemann
Defending our digital future: Human resilience in uncertain times
HUFICON24Aya Jaff
Rewriting the code: Intersectional diversity & digital mastery in tech
HUFICON24Julius van de Laar
Disinformation: A transatlantic view
Join host Niklas Hellemann, psychologist and founder & CEO of SoSafe, as we chat with top industry experts, leading CISOs, and visionary figures from the realms of politics and business. Together, we navigate the intricacies of artificial intelligence, global cyber policies, and the nexus of business and security. Tune in and become part of the ‘human firewall’ journey.
What people love about
#HuFiCon
“It was really a great range of speakers and super interesting topics.”
Julia Servaty, Xella International GmbH
“I liked everything about the event – from the location to the organisation to the keynotes. The speakers and the content were really top-class.”
Benjamin Petersen, Raumedic AG
“Especially the impact of the geopolitical situation on cyber and the predictions, what could happen in the future, have been really interesting. It is a great help for our company.”
Mathias Beck, Aktion Mensch e.V.
Our sponsors
Exciting partnerships in progress for #HuFiCon25. More coming soon.
Join us at #HuFiCon25
Fill out the form to apply for one of our limited seats at the leading cyber security conference focused on the human factor live in Cologne.
