Richard Coates, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberspark Group Limited, is a seasoned cyber‑security leader and programme director with extensive experience building cross‑sector partnerships and delivering large‑scale skills initiatives across the UK and Ireland. He founded and organised Hack the Isles®, the region’s first five‑nation cyber CTF culminating in a live televised final, and has led consortiums of major universities, negotiated strategic industry collaborations, and secured government support for national upskilling and resilience programmes. Richard specialises in strategic negotiation, multi‑stakeholder engagement, and designing high‑impact talent and public‑facing cyber events.