CEO Bryan Palma to Deliver Keynote as Security Leaders from NIPPON EXPRESS HD, Golf Digest Online, Starbucks Coffee Japan, and ORIX Share Practical Insights on Building a Security Culture in the AI Era
KnowBe4, the global leader in digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans, today announced it will host the first Japan edition of its annual conference, KB4-CON, in Tokyo on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Held under the name "KB4-CON Japan 2026," the event will feature a keynote by KnowBe4 president & CEO Bryan Palma, alongside case studies and a panel discussion featuring security leaders from NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings Corporation, Golf Digest Online Inc., and Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd., representing a diverse range of industries.
Event Official Site
https://www.bs-event2.jp/kb4-con-japan-2026/
Registration: https://www.bs-event2.jp/kb4-con-japan-2026/registration/
Why "Security Culture" Matters in the AI Era
The rapid evolution of AI is opening new possibilities for business, while at the same time compounding the unpredictability of security risk. In an era of high uncertainty, what organizations need most is resilience — the ability to respond quickly and reliably even when the unexpected happens. That resilience is built on more than technology and rules alone; it depends on trust across people, AI, and data. Trust of this kind is earned only when the right behaviors are practiced and shared consistently across the entire organization, day after day. Security culture is the foundation that makes that trust possible.
Under the theme "AI-Powered, Grounded in Trust," KB4-CON Japan 2026 brings together security leaders on the front lines and forward-thinking companies across industries to share what they've learned in building that culture.
Why "Security Culture" Matters in the AI Era
- CEO Keynote: KnowBe4 president & CEO Bryan Palma will travel to Japan to deliver the keynote address at the first Japan edition of KB4-CON, underscoring the company's commitment to the Japanese market.
- Cross-Industry Case Studies: NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings Corporation, a leading logistics company, and Golf Digest Online Inc., a digital entertainment company, will each share practical insights on building a security culture from their own, very different industry perspectives.
- Cross-Industry Panel Discussion: Leaders from Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd., ORIX Corporation, and NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings Corporation will come together to discuss how organizations can move beyond "compliance-driven security" and build mechanisms that foster employees' intrinsic motivation
- The Next Generation of Security Training: Fran Roberts, who was named General Manager of KnowBe4 Studios this past June and now leads the company's AI-powered training content development, will present "Training That Meets the Moment," introducing the latest advances in security training production.
Event Overview:
Name: KB4-CON Japan 2026 — AI-Powered, Grounded in Trust
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 14:00 – 18:30 (Registration opens at 13:30)
Venue: TODA HALL & CONFERENCE TOKYO
TODA BUILDING 4F, Kyobashi 1-7-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Free of charge (Pre-registration required)
Target Audience: Executives and business leaders, IT and security decision-makers and practitioners
Host: KnowBe4 Japan GK
Registration: https://www.bs-event2.jp/kb4-con-japan-2026/registration/
*KnowBe4 reserves the right to decline registration from individuals representing competing organizations or those without a direct business relationship with the company.
Schedule:
| Time | Speakers | Content |
| 14:00-14:05 | Kazuhiro Riki , President and CEO, KnowBe4 Japan LLC | Opening |
| 14:05-14:25 | Bryan Palma, President & CEO of KnowBe4 |
Keynote speech |
| 14:25-14:55 | Fran Roberts, General Manager, KnowBe4 Studios |
Special Session: Training That Meets the Moment -Towards the Training Needed in This Era- |
| 14:55-15:20 | Break | |
| 15:20-15:50 | Takeshi Kuniya, Executive Officer, Head of IT Digital Solutions Division and Head of IT Strategy Department, NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings Co., Ltd. |
Case Study Session 1: Global Deployment of Security Awareness Improvement Measures – Concepts and Realities at the NX Group – |
| 15:50-16:20 | Mr. Shiro Kikuchi, Executive Officer, Golf Digest Online Co., Ltd. |
Case Study Session 2: GDO's Security Awareness and Training (tentative title) |
| 16:20-17:05 | Sachiko Hasumi, Head of Cybersecurity Department, Starbucks Coffee Japan, Inc. (Moderator) Hoshie Morita, Security Awareness Lead, Information Security Division , ORIX Corporation Megumi Nunokawa, Section Chief, IT Strategy Department, IT Digital Solutions Division, NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings, Inc. |
Panel Discussion: Breaking Free from Formalism! How to Overcome the Barrier of "One-Way Security Education"? ~Secrets to Building an Organization Where Employees Proactively Prepare for Risks~ |
| 17:15-18:30 | This is for users who have installed/are currently using or plan to install the KnowBe4 user networking service . *Pre-registration is required. | |
*Session titles, content, and speakers are subject to change without notice.
Media Invitation:
A separate media invitation will be distributed to press. For questions regarding media coverage, please contact the media-only inquiry line below.
Event Inquiries:
KB4-CON Japan 2026 Secretariat
Email: kb4-con-2026-japan@bs-event.jp
Media Inquiries:
KnowBe4 PR Office
Email: knowbe4-pr@kyodo-pr.co.jp