Former GCHQ chief underlines Manchester’s importance to national security

A former GCHG boss will explain why Manchester is an integral part of the government’s security agency’s ongoing effort to protect Britain and its citizens.

Gaven Smith, former director of technology at GCHQ, speaks on DTX at Manchester Central on Thursday (May 23).

DTX is billed as the largest enterprise IT event in the North, featuring technology leaders from all sectors over two days on 22-23 May and the anchor event of Manchester Tech Week.

Gaven is an internationally recognized engineering leader with over 30 years experience in the UK national security community.

Until late 2023, he was Director General for Technology and Chief Technology Officer at GCHQ.

The government’s security agency opened its first office in Manchester in 2019, and in an exclusive preview to TheBusinessDesk.com ahead of his speech, Gaven highlighted Manchester’s growing importance to the UK security agency.

“We live in an increasingly complex and volatile world. From the war in Ukraine, through the current crisis in the Middle East, to the ever-present threat of terrorism, the real-world threats around us have never felt closer to home.

“And as we all live more and more of our lives online, the impact of cybercrime and online harm has never been greater.

“The keyboard is now the weapon of choice for many who want to do us harm.

“GCHQ – Government Communications Headquarters – the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency – is at the heart of the nation’s response to all these threats. Increasingly, this work is happening right here in Manchester and the wider North West.

“As a former Chief Technology Officer for GCHQ, I know first-hand how important it is to bring the best possible team together to solve problems. That can’t just happen in London or GCHQ’s iconic donut-shaped building in Cheltenham.

“And it can’t just happen in GCHQ. The business of national security must come out of the shadows and become increasingly a partnership with industry, with academia, and with all of us.”

He added: “Five years ago GCHQ established a new base in Manchester. The agency employs many intelligence officers who play a key role in keeping the UK safe. GCHQ teams work with partners across the North West of the UK and around the world in its shared mission to keep the UK safe, resilient and prosperous in the digital age.

“Manchester has been selected as the location for GCHQ as part of a mission to promote greater openness in UK national security. Understandably, many of the agency’s operations are still classified, but today GCHQ collaborates more frequently with the private sector and universities, understanding the value they provide to UK intelligence and security.

“Manchester boasts some of the UK’s top universities and the infamous Mancunian ‘can-do’ attitude has been recognized as a major asset. GCHQ understood that in order to defend against the ever-evolving cyber techniques used by foreign adversaries, it would benefit from the diverse talent pool prevalent in the region.

“At this year’s DTX Manchester, I will be hosting a kick-off session on ‘Why Manchester – and the North West – is giving us a new vanguard in UK National Security’?

“In my session I will discuss why organizations including GCHQ are turning to Manchester in the fight against cyber and other national security threats. I’ll be talking about Manchester’s exciting innovation and talent pool, its world-leading universities and how it’s vital that organizations look at all regions of the UK to help strengthen their resilience against digital threats.

“Cyber ​​attacks are not region specific, so our defenses cannot be either.

“Manchester is not only a fantastic city, but also where some of the brightest digital minds live and work tirelessly every day to keep the UK safe and successful in our increasingly hostile digital world.”