Speaker details

Biography

Thomas has built a career of over two decades of diplomatic service and a decade within the intelligence agencies. He now serves as the Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine. Previously, Thomas served as Cyber Security Advisor to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of Asia, Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean in the Foreign Service. Thomas has also been a partner and head of the cyber risk practice at Macro Advisory Partners, a global geopolitical advisory firm advising some of the world’s largest corporates on geopolitical challenges and opportunities. In 2021, he stepped down as Head of the Danish Government’s Centre for Cyber Security, which he led since its foundation in 2012, developing a reputation as one of Europe’s leading cyber security professionals. Prior to this, Thomas held senior roles including Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010-2012), Ambassador and Special Envoy of the Danish Government to Benghazi, Libya (2011), Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (2007-2010), Head of the Department for International Trade and Political Advisory (2005-2007) and Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister of Denmark (1996-2000). He was also posted to Paris (1992-1994) and Berlin (2000-2005, Deputy Chief of Mission). During his long tenure in government and intelligence, Thomas gained extensive experience in national security in the cyber domain and critical telecommunication infrastructure. He has extensive experience in government affairs, advising international corporates on market risks and opportunities, crisis management, hostile environments, international trade and European affairs. In 2006, he was responsible for the organisation, coordination and execution of the successful evacuation of 6,000 Danish citizens from Lebanon during the summer war. From 2007 to 2010, he was the first Danish resident ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In early spring 2011, he worked out of Benghazi, Libya, as the special envoy of the Danish Government to the rebellion leadership TNC. Thomas has been Chairman of the public-private National Cyber Security Council, a member of the Management Board of the European Cyber Security Agency (ENISA) and on Advisory Boards at the Danish Technical University (DTU) and Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Executive, where he continues to teach Boards of Directors and Executives about managing cyber risk. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Southern Denmark and was a non-executive director at Improsec A/S. Thomas holds a Master of Economics (Cand.Polit) from the University of Copenhagen, a CEP from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA – promotion Saint-Exupéry).