Dr. Paul Kariuki | Internet of Things | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Paul Kariuki | Internet of Things | Best Researcher Award 

Senior Lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Dr. Paul Kariuki is an accomplished scholar and practitioner in public governance and development studies. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration (School of IT, Management & Governance, UKZN), a Master’s in Development Studies (Development Economics, UKZN), a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Airlangga (Indonesia), and additional postgraduate qualifications in Monitoring & Evaluation, Human Rights, and Non-Profit Leadership from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. He has extensive experience in coalition governance, participatory democracy, monitoring & evaluation, local economic development, migration, social cohesion, e-governance and cybersecurity. Dr. Paul Kariuki has supervised and examined numerous postgraduate theses in public management and governance across South African and regional universities. He has co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, published 20+ books/monographs on municipal governance, democracy and policy responses, and presented at major international conferences. His work has informed public-sector reforms, inclusive city strategies, and evidence-based policymaking in South Africa.

Profile: GOOGLE SCHOLAR | SCOPUS

Featured Publications

  • P. Kariuki & P. Reddy — Operationalizing an effective monitoring and evaluation system for local government: Considerations for best practice — African Evaluation Journal 5(2):1-8, 2017 — Cited by 64

  • P. Kariuki & L.O. Ofusori — WhatsApp-operated stokvels promoting youth entrepreneurship in Durban, South Africa: Experiences of young entrepreneurs — Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Theory and Practice…, 2017 — Cited by 26

  • P. Kariuki, L.O. Ofusori & P.R. Subramaniam — Cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities experienced by small-scale African migrant traders in Southern Africa — Security Journal, 2023 — Cited by 18

  • P. Kariuki, L.O. Ofusori, P.R. Subramaniam et al. — Challenges in contact tracing by mining mobile phone location data for COVID-19: Implications for public governance in South Africa — Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge and Management 16:101-124, 2021 — Cited by 9

  • P. Kariuki, J.A. Adeleke & L.O. Ofusori — The role of open data in enabling fiscal transparency and accountability in municipalities in Africa: South Africa and Nigeria case studies — Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Theory and Practice…, 2020 — Cited by 8

Conclusion

Dr. Paul Kariuki’s extensive and diverse body of work demonstrates a consistent commitment to advancing public governance, digital innovation, and inclusive development across Africa. His research contributions, which span monitoring and evaluation systems, e-governance, cybersecurity, migration, and social cohesion, have informed both academic scholarship and practical policy implementation. With numerous peer-reviewed publications, collaborative projects, and impactful case studies, Dr. Kariuki exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking scholar and practitioner whose work drives meaningful change in communities. These achievements position him as an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Daemin Shin | Computer Science | Academic Luminary Achievement Award

Dr. Daemin Shin | Computer Science | Academic Luminary Achievement Award

Manager at Financial Security Institute (FSI), South Korea

Daemin Shin is a Manager at the Financial Security Institute, where he has been actively involved in advancing financial security measures since April 2015. With expertise in cloud security, Zero Trust security models, and data security, he has played a significant role in shaping secure financial infrastructures. Before his current role, he was a Senior Researcher at the Financial Security Research Institute from July 2012 to April 2015. His contributions to financial cybersecurity research have been instrumental in addressing security threats and enhancing the resilience of financial institutions. Shin continues to lead innovative research and development in financial security.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Daemin Shin earned his Master of Science in Engineering from the Graduate School of Information Security at Korea University, South Korea, in February 2009. He further pursued his Ph.D. in Engineering at the Department of Information Security, Soonchunhyang University, South Korea, which he successfully completed in February 2020. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in cybersecurity, particularly focusing on financial security, cloud computing, and data protection. Throughout his education, he has been deeply engaged in research on securing financial transactions and developing security frameworks for modern digital finance ecosystems.

Experience

Shin has over a decade of experience in the field of financial security, with a strong emphasis on cloud security, data protection, and Zero Trust architectures. He started his career as a Senior Researcher at the Financial Security Research Institute, where he contributed to innovative research projects on financial cybersecurity from 2012 to 2015. Since April 2015, he has been serving as a Manager at the Financial Security Institute, where he continues to work on financial security infrastructure, cybersecurity policies, and security compliance strategies. His professional experience has significantly contributed to the development of robust security measures for the financial sector.

Research Interests

Shin’s research interests primarily focus on cloud security, financial security, and Zero Trust security models. He has conducted extensive research on securing cloud-based financial infrastructures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and mitigating security threats in digital finance. His recent works include studies on security considerations for DevSecOps software supply chains and Zero Trust evaluation frameworks tailored for financial institutions. His expertise in these domains has positioned him as a thought leader in enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the financial industry.

Awards and Recognitions

Shin has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to financial security and cybersecurity research. He has been nominated for the Best Researcher Award in recognition of his groundbreaking research on cloud security and financial security frameworks. His efforts in improving security compliance policies and implementing Zero Trust methodologies in financial institutions have gained widespread recognition. Shin’s work has had a substantial impact on the cybersecurity domain, making financial transactions and data storage more secure against emerging threats.

Publications

D. Shin, V. Sharma, J. Kim, S. Kwon, and I. You (2017). “Secure and Efficient Protocol for Route Optimization in PMIPv6-Based Smart Home IoT Networks,” IEEE Access, vol. 5, pp. 11100-11117, DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2710379. Cited by 200+ articles.

D. Shin, K. Yun, J. Kim, P. V. Astillo, J.-N. Kim, and I. You (2019). “A Security Protocol for Route Optimization in DMM-Based Smart Home IoT Networks,” IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 142531-142550, DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2943929. Cited by 150+ articles.

Shin, Daemin, Kim, Jiyoon, & You, Ilsun (2023). “국내 금융구득 클라우드 전환 동형 및 보안,” REVIEW OF KIISC, 33(5), 57-68. Cited by 50+ articles.

Shin, Daemin, You, Ilsun, and Kim, Jiyoon (2024). “국내 금융구득 클라우드 보안 위험 및 보안 요구사항에 관한 연구,” Journal of Next-Generation Computing, 20(4), 77-96, DOI: 10.23019/kingpc.20.4.202408.007. Cited by 30+ articles.

Daemin Shin, Jiyoon Kim, I Wayan Adi Juliawan Pawana, Ilsun You (2025). “Enhancing Cloud-Native DevSecOps: A Zero Trust Approach for the Financial Sector,” Computer Standards & Interfaces, DOI: 10.1016/j.csi.2025.103975. Cited by 20+ articles.

Conclusion

Daemin Shin’s dedication to advancing financial security and cybersecurity has been instrumental in shaping modern security frameworks for financial institutions. His research on cloud security, Zero Trust models, and DevSecOps methodologies continues to drive innovation in securing financial infrastructures. With a strong academic and professional background, he remains committed to developing secure financial ecosystems and mitigating cybersecurity risks in an ever-evolving digital landscape. His contributions have earned him significant recognition, making him a leading figure in financial security research.