PRELIMINARY CONGRESS AGENDA ANNOUNCED

The Organizing Committee are delighted to announce the preliminary Congress Agenda and guide to the 2026 World Border Security Congress in Vienna on 14th-16th April.
With a great range of hot topics and leading line up of international experts speakers, the World Border Security Congress is the premier multi-jurisdictional global platform where the border protection policy-makers, management and practitioners together with security industry professionals, convene annually to discuss the international challenges faced in protecting borders.
Download your Preliminary Congress Agenda guide and discover the range of topics and discussions of this years programme, as well as planning your participation to the conference, workshop and great networking opportunities available.

Download Preliminary Congress Guide
PRELIMINARY CONGRESS AGENDA ANNOUNCED

About the Congress

Austria’s border security faces a complex set of challenges, largely stemming from its geographical location and its participation in the Schengen Area. A primary concern is managing irregular migration flows, which fluctuate significantly due to geopolitical instability in various regions. This puts pressure on Austria’s capacity to effectively screen and process asylum seekers. The inherent […]

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Great reasons for you to attend

The World Border Security Congress is a high level 3 day event for senior border officials to discuss and debate current and future policies, implementation issues and challenges as well as new and developing technologies that contribute towards safe and secure border and migration management.

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75
Speakers
450
Participants
35
Exhibitors
60
Countries

2026 Speakers Include:

Dr Solon Mias
Team Leader of the Border Security Solutions project European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Dragica Vucinic
Border Management Officer, TNTD/BSMU OSCE
Rocco Messina
Head of Border Security and Management Unit United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Margherita Natali
Programme Officer, Border Security and Management Unit United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Maurizio Gazzola
Head of Technology, Countering Terrorist Travel Programme United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT)
Manu Niinioja
Law Enforcement Expert Amadeus
Pawel Sliwinski
Head of International Cooperation Unit a.i. European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex
Oksana Kurysheva
Associate Programme Officer Border Security and Management Unit, Transnational Threats Department, OSCE
Simon Deignan
Programme Management Officer UNOCT – Countering Terrorist Travel Programme - CTTP

Congress Agenda

Am excellent programme for the international border security, protection and management community.
8:30 am - 12:30 pm

For further details see Site Visits page.

9:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

In a rapidly digitizing world, borders are no longer just physical checkpoints—they are digital gateways. Yet, as governments and institutions invest in biometrics, e-visas, surveillance, and smart border systems, a critical question arises: Are we building border systems that serve people, or systems that simply process them? This young people-led congress will explore how technology […]

The Paradox of Progress: Why Smart Borders Aren’t Easing Travel for the Bona Fide Traveller

Paul Igbinere Executive Director
African Young People Support Centre
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

Shaping the future requirements for traveller verification at European borders Tuesday 25th March 10.30am – 12.30pm The European Association of Airport & Seaport Police (EAASP) is one of the parties involved in the EU-funded project SafeTravellers which started January 2024 and will last for three years, and is leading this workshop. The project aims to […]

Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Opening Keynotes and Welcome Messages to the 2025 World Border Security Congress

Ambassador Alena Kupchyna Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats
OSCE
Bob Van den Berghe Deputy Head, Passenger and Cargo Control Programme
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Gerald Tatzgern Head of Department, Fight against Human Trafficking and Smuggling
Criminal Intelligence Service, Austria
Malin Frankenhaeuser Director of Policy, Research and Strategy
International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
Marian Benbow Pfisterer Chief of Mission
IOM Austria
Seweryn Stopa Head of Migrant Smuggling Centre
European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS), EUROPOL
Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Combatting transnational crime requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses international cooperation, robust legal frameworks, and the use of advanced technology. Transnational crime, which includes Drug Trafficking, Small Arms, Trafficking Illicit Goods, SOC, THB (Trafficking for Organ Harvesting), transcends national borders, making it imperative for countries to work together. Effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies, intelligence […]

Implemented Measures by General Directorate “Border Police” in Order to Tackle Irregular Migration and Cross-border Crime

Anton Zlatanov Chief Commissioner
General Directorate Border Police

Illicit Trade and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Economy: The Hidden Threat

Babatunde Olomu Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG)
Nigeria Customs Service, Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Headquarters
Brigadier General Francisco Rodriguez Lorenzo Border and Customs Police Commander
Guardia Civil, Spain
Brigadier General Goncalo Carvalho Deputy Secretary-General
Internal Security System, Portugal

Project Turnstone: Enhancing Online Investigations with Traffic Jam and the Sexual Identification Matrix

Colin Ward Head of Global Engagement
Marinus Analytics, UK

Strengthening the border governance in the Great Lake region

Gedeon Nibitanga Project Assistant/Immigration and Border Governance
International Organization for Migration-IOM, Burundi

Challenges and Strategies in Securing Nigeria's Borders Against Drug & Human Trafficking

George-Okoli Francisco Chidi Director of Programs
West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Nigeria

Project Turnstone: Enhancing Online Investigations with Traffic Jam and the Sexual Identification Matrix

Helen Gordos Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Training and Development Specialist
National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), UK

Illicit Trade and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Economy: The Hidden Threat

Sadiq Misbau Murtala Chief Superintendent of Customs
Nigeria Customs Service
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Welcome Reception (Invitation Only)

9:00 am - 10:30 am Main Plenary Room

Maritime borders present some of the most difficult and challenging environments facing agencies at the border worldwide. Archipelago nations like Indonesia and the Philippines have vast maritime territories with thousands of islands to surveil and patrol with limited resources and changing weather conditions. And maritime borders don’t stop at the coast. Multi-national river systems like […]

Maritime Safety And Security – India’s Regional Perspective

ADG Anand Prakash Badola Additional Director General
Indian Coast Guard

Maritime, port and coastal border security: How can we best guard the coast and major ports from international organised criminal activities, including human trafficking and drug smuggling?

Dan Blanchford Director Defence and National Security
Prevail Partners, UK

Maritime Security and AI Integration: Enhancing Border Protection in the Arabian Gulf

Hasan Al-Sulaiti Director of Operations
General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, Ministry of Interior, Qatar

Maritime and Big Rivers: Bangladesh Perspective

Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque Director General
Bangladesh Coast Guard
9:00 am - 10:30 am Workshops Room

Overview of the latest technologies and solutions for border management, security and protection

BorderForce: Innovation in Border Surveillance with Advanced Technologies

Andreas Kriechbaum-Zabini Lead of Visual Sensing, Thematic Coordinator
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology

Countering border threats, new technical synergy

Dmitrii Egorov Business Development Director
Sens-Őr Solutions Kft, Hungary

Transforming Customs Enforcement with Modern Spectroscopy

Jeremy Van Auker Field Forensic Application Scientist
908 Devices, USA

Austria's journey to EES: Deploying a large scale border control project – lessons learned and future developments

Johanna Sperling Consultant for biometrics systems and applications
secunet Security Networks AG, Division Homeland Security

BorderForce: Innovation in Border Surveillance with Advanced Technologies

Jozef Kubinec Innovation project advisor and procurement specialist
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak republic

Strengthening the Eastern Shield: Baltic Drone Wall against hostile drones

Kirill Amelin Research Engineer
Defsecintel Solutions, Estonia

Smart Borders: Shaping the Future of Seamless Travel for Law Enforcement

Manu Niinioja Law Enforcement Expert
Amadeus

From Where’s Waldo to Who’s Waldo: Completing the Identity Picture with Biographic Intelligence

Rich Williams Senior Account Executive
Babel Street
Rocco Messina Head of Border Security and Management Unit
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am - 12:30 pm Main Plenary Room

AI is increasingly playing a pivotal role in enhancing border security systems, utilizing advanced technologies to improve surveillance, threat detection, and data analysis. Currently, AI-driven solutions such as facial recognition, predictive analytics, and autonomous drones are employed to monitor borders efficiently and accurately. These systems can analyse vast amounts of data in real-time, enabling authorities […]

Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) with sensor-based border security frameworks and artificial intelligence

Andrey Seleznev Head of UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

AI and frontier technologies in the context of counter terrorism: threats, opportunities, and human rights considerations

Arianna Lepore Coordinator, Next-Generation Terrorism and Strategic Responses Portfolio, Terrorism Prevention Branch
UNODC, Austria
Cyril Gout Executive Director Police Services pro tempore
INTERPOL, France

AI and frontier technologies in the context of counter terrorism: threats, opportunities, and human rights considerations

Dr. Wendy O’Brien Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer
UNODC, Austria

The Realism of AI in Border Management - The Question Is Not How to Use AI, but Why

Michael Barrie CEO
BIM e-Solutions, Luxembourg

Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities

Otabek Rashidov Programme Officer, Action Against Terrorism Unit
Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
11:15 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

It is widely acknowledged that interagency cooperation is the key to the effective border management, facilitating the movement of goods and people whilst simultaneously preventing bad actors from travelling and interdicting the movement of illicit goods. But what can be in practical terms on the ground to increase communication, share actionable intelligence and best practise.

Cameron Walter Head of Heritage Crime Task Force and Programme to Combat Trafficking of Cultural Property
OSCE
Christine Bradley Chief, Countering Terrorist Travel Section, Head of Programme Office
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Jorge Comas Director, Counter Network Division, National Targeting Center
US Customs & Border Protection
Pawel Sliwinski Head of International Cooperation Unit a.i.
European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex

Enhancing information-sharing mechanisms to secure borders, counter terrorism and prevent crime through the application of privacy and data protection safeguards following a rule-of-law based approach

Suzanne Vatov Legal Officer, Terrorism Prevention Branch
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Expo Hall

Delegate Lunch and Networking Break

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Developing cooperation and understanding between customs officers and border agencies is vital for effective border management and security. Agencies need to exchange intelligence regarding potential threats, smuggling activities, and other suspicious behaviours. This includes sharing data on cargo, travellers, and vehicles. Joint training, operations and inspections will improve effectiveness and working together on risk assessments, […]

Ambassador Alena Kupchyna Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats
OSCE

Efficient and Effective way to fight against Counterfeit and Piracy at Borders

Dr. Ashraf Samsudeen Senior Deputy Director of Customs
Sri Lanka Customs
Dragica Vucinic Border Management Officer, TNTD/BSMU
OSCE

Strengthening operational cooperation between the customs administrations in European seaports and smaller river ports

Jeroen Engelberts EUCAB Maritime Unit Leader
Customs Administration of The Netherlands

From Cooperation to Integration: The EUCAB Perspective on Strengthening EU External Border Security

Martin Reuter Head
EUCAB

Closing the Gaps: Enhancing Strategic Awareness and Managing Blind Spots in Customs Operations and Border Security

Tasiu Sanusi Saulawa Deputy Comptroller of Customs
Nigeria Customs Service

Cooperation and coordination between Border Management stakeholders: Joint operations in West Africa

Tony Mihaitoaia Senior Adviser, Border Management and Security
ICMPD, Romania
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Workshops Room

Overview of the latest technologies and solutions for border management, security and protection

Every Traveler Has a Risk Score: How Dynamic Risk Intelligence Is Transforming Border Security

Anthony Nwachukwu Executive Director
Newworks Solution and Investment Limited, Nigeria

Threats from the third demension

Christoph Suess Sales & Partner Manager Special Security Solutions
Securiton Germany

Land, Waterway and Coastal Border Surveillance Using Fiber-Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)

David Hill Chief Technology Officer
Sintela, UK

Integrated Solutions for Mobile Surveillance, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS

Dr. David Simpson Senior Director for International Business Development
Teledyne Flir Defense, USA

Integrated Solutions for Mobile Surveillance, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS

Eddy Butler Senior Director, Technology Strategy
Teledyne Flir

Digital Travel Credentials and the Biometric Border Corridor: From Vision to Scalable Reality

Frank Schmalz Business Development and Portfolio Director
Veridos

Supporting SIDs - Smart Solutions to Strengthen Seas and Borders

Ian Clarke Director, Business Development
Sirius Insight, UK

The Importance of Rapid Mobile Biometric and Biometric Binding for Modern Border Security

Jesus Aragon CEO & Co-Founder
Identy Inc., USA
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Any organisation, whatever is field of operation, is only as good as its staff. And investment in that human capital is one of the most valuable activities that any organisation can participate in. Training promotes the ethics and ideals of the organisation as well as well as improving the skills and knowledge to develop sound […]

Dynamic, interoperable borders – the need for more flexible borders to respond to evolving and dynamic threats

Andy Smith Director, Industry & Innovation
SITA, UK

Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP)

Bob Van den Berghe Deputy Head, Passenger and Cargo Control Programme
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

From Fortresses to Gateways: A New Border Paradigm

Col (Ret.) Adnane Kaab Senior Consultant
STRATEGUS NK, Morocco
Dr Solon Mias Team Leader of the Border Security Solutions project
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Development of Frontex own Canine Capability

Katalin Mausolf Pokornyi Senior Capability Officer
Frontex – European Border and Coast Guard Agency
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Workshops Room

In the spirit of interagency cooperation this workshop will facilitate the sharing of on the ground experience, real life case studies and share actionable intelligence on the movement of drugs, illicit goods, illegal waste, heritage goods, wildlife trafficking and modus operandi used to enable these trades.

Brigadier General Daniel Lichtenegger Head of the Sub-Department for Combating Drug-Related Crime, Criminal Intelligence Service
Ministry of Interior, Austria
Cameron Walter Head of Heritage Crime Task Force and Programme to Combat Trafficking of Cultural Property
OSCE
Siri Bjune Chief, Border Management Branch
Division for Operations, UNODC
Willem Mudde Vice President - Aviation
European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Expo Hall

Networking Reception sponsored by SITA

9:00 am - 10:30 am Main Plenary Room

Border management challenges are increasingly influenced by irregular migration trends driven by economic instability, armed conflict, environmental changes, and social unrest. Conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Central America have led to persistent refugee crises, prompting many individuals to seek asylum in neighbouring countries or distant nations. Additionally, the […]

Migration Flows Across Central America - Threats and Challenges

Alejandro Solano Ortiz Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Government of Costa Rica

Cyber-Enabled Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking in the CARICOM Region

Ariel De Freitas Statistical Analyst
CARICOM IMPACS, Trinidad & Tobago

Advancing Secure and Inclusive Border Management through Biometric Border Passes: Field Insights from Mozambique-Malawi

Chiara Pettinelli Programme Officer – Immigration & Border Governance
IOM Mozambique
Col. Khulan Gerelt Border Protection Service of Mongolia
Institute for Border Studies, Mongolia

Balancing Border Security and Protection: A Route-Based Approach to Mixed Movements

Valerie Svobodova Chief of Asylum and Migration Section, Division of International Protection and Solutions
UNHCR
9:00 am - 10:30 am Workshops Room

Moderated by: Simon Deignan, Programme Management Officer / UNOCT – Countering Terrorist Travel Programme – CTTP – Complementarity of international obligations on passenger data and International Human Rights Law – Dr Arturo Laurent, Legal Officer, Terrorism Prevention Branch / UNODC – Supporting Member State with development of compliant structures, procedures and information handling – roles of UNOCT and UNODC/AIRCOP […]

Complementarity of international obligations on passenger data and International Human Rights Law

Dr Arturo Laurent Legal Officer, Terrorism Prevention Branch
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Goran Stojkovski Programme Management Officer
UNOCT – Countering Terrorist Travel Programme - CTTP
Maurizio Gazzola Head of Technology, Countering Terrorist Travel Programme
United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT)

EECA IWG as a model for regional cooperation and sharing of best practices

Oksana Kurysheva Associate Programme Officer
Border Security and Management Unit, Transnational Threats Department, OSCE
Simon Deignan Programme Management Officer
UNOCT – Countering Terrorist Travel Programme - CTTP
10:30 am - 11:15 am Expo Hall

Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am - 12:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Digital travel and the implementation of digital borders are revolutionizing the travel experience by streamlining processes and enhancing security for both travellers and border agencies. Initiatives such as trusted traveller programs allow pre-approved individuals to pass through border controls with minimal delays, thereby improving efficiency and convenience. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) is […]

Colleen Ryan Border Adviser
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

EES / ETIAS Update

Marc Sulon Head of Unit ‘Digital Schengen’
European Commission – DG Migration and Home Affairs

US Biometric Entry/Exit

Nael Samha Executive Director of Passenger Targeting, Vetting, and Biometrics Systems, TASDP
US Customs & Border Protection

In-vehicle, automated border control for land and sea

Nicolas Phan Marketing Director – Travel & Transport
IDEMIA Public Security, France
Paul Igbinere Executive Director
African Young People Support Centre
11:15 am - 12:30 pm Workshops Room

In the spirit of interagency cooperation this workshop will facilitate the sharing of on the ground experience, real life case studies and share actionable intelligence on the movement of trafficked human beings via planes , boats and vehicles and the various methods by which the traffickers enable this movement.

Movement, Methods and Networks: Human Smuggling Operations in Austria and the EU

Danijel Petkovic Senior Investigator Human Smuggling, Criminal Intelligence Service Department
Human Smuggling, THB and special Investigations, Austria

Trafficking at the Border: Operational Trends and Emerging Challenges for Border Management in the Asia–Pacific

Eun Jung Yi Border & Migration Management Programme Manager
RSO Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime
Heather Komenda Sr. Reg. Technical Specialist for Migrant Protection for Europe & Central Asia
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Expo Hall

Delegate Lunch and Networking Break

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Main Plenary Room

Addressing cross-border terrorism and the dangers posed by foreign terrorist fighters necessitates a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes international collaboration, intelligence sharing, and robust policy frameworks. Countries must join together to improve border security, fortify legal measures, and disrupt funding channels for terrorism. Through the exchange of intelligence and resources, nations can more effectively identify and […]

Update on Countering Terrorism

Cyril Gout Executive Director Police Services pro tempore
INTERPOL, France
Jorge Comas Director, Counter Network Division, National Targeting Center
US Customs & Border Protection
Margherita Natali Programme Officer, Border Security and Management Unit
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Sarah Prew Senior Aviation Security Consultant
Arup UK

Terrorism in the Sahel and the Risk of Spill over

Superintendent Ibrahim Imam Haafiz National Imam/ Dept Head Religious Affairs Unit
Ghana Immigration Service

Location

Trend Savoyen Vienna Hotel

Rennweg 16, Landstrasse, 1030 Vienna, Austria

Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen Vienna is a stylish 4‑star superior hotel located in Vienna’s Landstraße (3rd district), nestled in the elegant embassy district and immediately adjacent to the Belvedere Palace and Botanical Garden. Housed in the former k.u.k. Imperial state printing works, the architectural mash‑up of a heritage-protected Vienna façade and a bright, modern interior with a six‑storey atrium creates a welcoming and light‑filled atmosphere.

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