Staff Profile
Steve Kennett
Steve Kennett served 23 years in the Royal Air Force from 1978 to 2001 as a telecommunications engineer. He specialised in Data communications, Cryptography & Data protection (cyber and Information security).
On Leaving the RAF Steve held senior positions at Kingston Communications, Centrica, and Ofcom. On Leaving the RAF Steve held senior positions at Kingston Communications and Centrica where he had responsibilities for the Data & IP networks as well as the One Tel ISP, he was responsible for all aspects of IP and ISP operations, design & strategic management.
Steve Joined Ofcom in June 2005 as the Head of Spectrum Services he was responsible for all aspects of Enforcement & Interference policy, business governance and due diligence. He introduced major Legislation & Policy changes into Ofcom the new WT Act 2006, R&TTE Act 2005 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. During his time at Ofcom, he was Chair of the Satellite Monitoring MOU committee within CEPT of the European communications office. He left Ofcom on a high after being part of the successful Ofcom Olympics Spectrum Delivery team responsible for keeping the Spectrum for the London 2012 Games free from Interference Steve then joined Jisc in Jan 2013 as the Head of Operational Services and Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and until recently Steve was the Security Director and SIRO responsible for Jisc’s response to the increasing cyber security threat, providing leadership for the development of the cyber security strategy and policy and the delivery of an extensive programme of enhanced cyber security services.
Steve is currently the Chief Information Security Officer & Senior Information Risk Owner for Jisc and as such Steve leads the Jisc Technologies directorate, his current role is to work as part of the senior leadership team to provide strategic leadership to the organisation and to directly lead the einfrastructure directorate as an integrated part of Jisc so that appropriate, attractive, and highly regarded services are provided to the Jisc customer base. Ensuring that the long-term delivery of technology services meets the evolving needs of the education and research customer base Steve is a highly accomplished senior executive, with 20 years’ extensive operational experience operating at C level in a variety of senior roles within several complex organisations. He has a strong Cyber and Information security background with extensive experience of shaping and delivering large scale organisational change including complex cultural and technical strategies. In his role as CISO Steve also manages top-level relationships with law enforcement and major security organisations including government security services to provide increased benefit to Jisc’s members.