Kathmandu – Nepal’s leading cybersecurity organization, Information Security Response Team (NP-CERT), has elected a new executive committee to enhance the country’s cyber resilience. The 10th Annual General Meeting, held on Saturday, appointed Dr. Rajib Subba, an assistant professor at Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology and an IT security expert, as the new President.

New Leadership Team

The newly formed 13-member executive committee includes:

• Vice Presidents: Prof. Dr. Sudan Jha, Er. Tulsiram Shrestha, and Suman Kumar Sharma
• General Secretary: Dr. Suman Thapaliya
• Secretary: Krishna Prasad Pandey
• Treasurer: Prabin Khadka
• Executive Members: Regina Dangi, Er. Ruchi Pandey, Sudip Ghimire, Diksha Raut, Eng. Santosh Shrestha, and Ram Krishna Dahal

During the meeting, the annual financial report was reviewed and approved. Members also suggested improving NP-CERT’s branding, prioritizing data security, and making the organization’s role in cybersecurity more effective.

A Vision for Cyber Resilience

Outgoing President Chiranjivi Adhikari extended his best wishes to the new team, expressing confidence that NP-CERT will continue playing a pivotal role in Nepal’s cybersecurity. He emphasized the importance of strategic initiatives to mitigate cyber risks and strengthen national security.

Having previously served as an advisor to NP-CERT, Dr. Subba and his team have outlined a three-year strategic plan to elevate the organization’s impact. He highlighted key priorities such as:

• Raising public awareness about cybersecurity
• Promoting technological advancements
• Supporting policy development
• Strengthening international collaborations

Upcoming Initiatives

Under Dr. Subba’s leadership, NP-CERT aims to launch several initiatives, including:

• ✔ Cybersecurity conferences featuring international experts
  ✔ National and international awareness programs
  ✔ Cybersecurity training and capacity-building workshops
  ✔ Recognition for cybersecurity contributors
  ✔ Formation of a cybersecurity think tank
  ✔ Collaboration with global organizations
  ✔ Government policy support for cybersecurity
  ✔ Establishment of a Digital Forensics Lab and Security Operations Center

Dr. Subba emphasized the urgent need for cybersecurity in Nepal, stating,

“In today’s digital era, cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Cybercrime is rising in Nepal, and we will take maximum efforts to combat it. Our priority is to raise awareness and make Nepal a digitally secure nation.”

 Dr. Subba brings nearly 30 years of experience in ICT, disaster management, and cybersecurity. A former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police, he has worked with various UN agencies and international universities.

He earned a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences from the University of Hawaii, USA, and has long been involved in policy advisory roles for the Nepalese government in IT, cybersecurity, and disaster management. Dr. Subba has received several national and international honors, including the NAST Award, and has been actively engaged with organizations like CAN Federation and the Nepal Engineers’ Association.

NP-CERT: Nepal’s Cybersecurity Pillar

Established in 2016, NP-CERT is Nepal’s first cybersecurity response team, working to strengthen information security across the country. It serves as a single-point contact for reporting cybersecurity incidents and assists organizations and the computing community in prevention, detection, and recovery from cyber threats.

The organization collaborates with the Nepal Government, CAN Federation, internet and telecom service providers, Nepal Police, and private IT firms to enhance Nepal’s digital infrastructure security. Through continued innovation and strategic partnerships, NP-CERT is committed to making Nepal’s cyberspace more resilient and secure.