Vladimer Svanadze is a pre-eminent Georgian cybersecurity expert, founder, and chairman of the Internet Development Initiative (IDI). Affiliated Professor at the Business and Technology University (BTU), and Associated Professor at the Caucasian University (CU). As a Managing Partner, he established the Cyber Security Academy (CSA) and the “Georgian Information Security Association (GISA)”. Mr. Vladimer is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Global Foundation for Cyber Studies and Research (GFCSR). For the first time in Georgia, he created a new training module "Internet Governance and Cyber Diplomacy". He is an Invited Lecturer at the "Georgian Institute of Public Affairs" and at the University of Georgia. In the scope of official cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, Mr. Vladimer was a Consultant of the “LEPL Cyber Security Bureau” in 2014 – 2016. He was involved in the preparation of the final version of the 2017 – 2018 and 2021 - 2024 National Cybersecurity Strategies and Action Plans of Georgia. Additionally, he was involved in the working process related to new legislation regarding Information Security.
Mr. Vladimer holds the position of Chairperson in the committee of “Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity” established in the scope of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Georgia. He is an organizer of the annual International Festival of Cyber Security (IFCS) as well as an Initiator and organizer of the initial Georgian Internet Governance Forum (GeoIGF) held in 2016; Vladimer was invited as a national expert and consultant in the IFES/USAID project to assess the critical infrastructure and cyber security resilience of the Central Election System of Georgia. According to the recommendations, about 3 million dollars worth of necessary equipment was purchased, and training and special training courses were conducted. He was also a national expert in another USAID project to assess the cybersecurity resilience of Georgia's Internet infrastructure and financial and educational sectors. According to the recommendations, USAID has planned certain activities in this direction to support the financial and education sectors of Georgia.
Vladimer was a national expert/consultant in the "Save the Children" project in terms of cyber security. Within the framework of the project, an awareness - raising process was carried out for the regions and future trainers were prepared. The project was implemented at the initiative of the European Union Commission.
Vladimer was the first in Georgia to create a training module in cyber security for public schools, which was introduced by the school lyceum "IB Mtiebi". Since 2019, he has been a USAID expert. He has also participated in many other regional and international projects. In 2018, he was invited as a consultant in terms of cyber security policy and strategy by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
He is a three - time fellow of ICANN and RIPE NCC. Former member of Security and Stability Adviser Committee at the ICANN. On his initiative, the organization "Georgian Information Security Association" was created, where leading experts and specialists of the country are united. On his initiative and organization, the first international cyber security winter camp and "school of digital culture" were held, as well as the online magazine CyberStellar was created.
Vladimer holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration, and his doctoral thesis is on cybersecurity policy and management strategy. Vladimir holds a master's degree in political science in the direction of international security and international development. He is the author of numerous academic articles and work papers, including the first Georgian book on Cyber Security "Cyber Defence: Main Players of Cyberspace. Police, Strategy and new Challenges of Cybersecurity, 2016". Furthermore, in 2022, the second Georgian-language book "New Challenges of Cyberspace and Georgia" was published by his authorship. He is often invited to international and regional conferences and forums, where he shares Georgia's experience and talks about cyberspace challenges.