Daniel Cuthbert

Daniel Cuthbert is the Global Head of Cyber Security Research at Santander and one of the most respected figures in application security and penetration testing. With more than 20 years in the industry, he is widely recognised for shaping modern security testing standards and advancing secure development practices. As an original co-author of the ‘OWASP Testing Guide’ and co-author of the ‘OWASP Application Security Verification Standard’, Daniel is frequently hired as a speaker for his technical depth, strategic insight and ability to translate complex security research into clear, practical guidance for organisations.

Daniel began his career after completing a Master’s degree in Information Security at the University of Westminster, at a time when cyber security was still emerging as a defined discipline. In 2004, he joined ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as a Security Researcher within the global penetration testing team, gaining hands on experience in financial services security. He later moved to Corsaire as a Principal Consultant, working with major banking institutions, gambling organisations and FTSE 100 firms, while also developing training programmes focused on the secure development life cycle. His progression continued at SensePost, where he served first as Assessment Manager before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2012, overseeing complex security engagements and operational strategy.

Since 2017, Daniel has served as Global Head of Cyber Security Research at Banco Santander, where he leads the research direction for cyber security technology platforms across the organisation. His role involves driving innovation in defensive capability, assessing emerging threats and ensuring resilience at enterprise scale. Beyond his executive responsibilities, he sits on the Advisory Board of the Sentinel Foundation and, from 2025, became an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, reflecting his influence within both industry and policy communities.

Daniel is hired as a speaker because he combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership experience. Drawing on decades of frontline penetration testing, standards development and global financial sector research, he provides audiences with authoritative insight into application security, threat evolution and secure engineering best practice. His sessions are informed, credible and highly practical, making him an outstanding choice for organisations seeking clarity in an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape.