Mr. Younes Bousnah | Software Awards | Best Academic Researcher Award
Mr. Younes Bousnah | Chouaib Doukkali University | Morocco
A highly accomplished cybersecurity and IT infrastructure leader with over two decades of international experience, this professional has successfully delivered large-scale digital transformation, cybersecurity governance, and infrastructure modernization projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Trilingual in Arabic, English, and French, they possess an extensive understanding of telecommunications, insurance, services, and retail industries. Leveraging a rare combination of technical depth and strategic leadership, they have consistently guided organizations in strengthening cyber resilience, optimizing enterprise systems, and leading multi-country programs that bridge business objectives with advanced technology solutions.
Professional Profile
ORCID
Summary of Suitability
The candidate is an accomplished technology and cybersecurity professional with experience across telecommunications, insurance, services, and retail sectors, combined with a strong academic foundation and an exceptional track record of certifications, leadership, and research contributions. With an ongoing Ph.D. in Cybersecurity and advanced qualifications in cloud security, ethical hacking, network defense, and risk management, the candidate demonstrates a unique blend of academic excellence, research capability, and practical expertise, making them highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award.
Education
With an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning, the nominee is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cybersecurity, focusing on enterprise risk modeling, security automation, and digital resilience strategies. They have completed a Cybersecurity Professional Program from UM6P and EC-Council, advancing expertise in ethical hacking, EDR, and enterprise threat management. Holding an MBA with Merit from Warwick Business School, UK, they possess strong business acumen and strategic leadership capabilities. Their academic foundation is further reinforced by a Master’s in Mobile Networks and Services from Telecom Bretagne, France, and an Engineering degree in Computer Science from ENSIAS, Morocco, establishing a robust blend of managerial insight and technical proficiency.
Experience
Mr. Younes Bousnah has demonstrated exceptional leadership in cybersecurity, IT governance, and infrastructure transformation. Currently serving as Technical Manager at Sentrix, Morocco, they lead cybersecurity strategies, governance frameworks, and outsourced CISO services for major organizations, including Marjane Holding, ICUBE (Groupe Castel), and Attainable Inc., USA. They provide executive-level cybersecurity assessments, maturity audits, and advanced professional training, ensuring enterprise-level security alignment.
Previously, as a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Project Manager, they successfully directed the deployment of advanced EDR solutions across 22 subsidiaries of Groupe Castel, securing more than 13,000 workstations and 2,700 servers. At Marjane Holding, they redefined IT security frameworks by implementing SIEM platforms, PAM solutions, enterprise-class firewalls, and XDR technologies, significantly enhancing the group’s digital security posture. As Infrastructure Director at Groupe LabelVie, they led a team of 40 professionals to modernize IT systems across 40 locations and established a robust Disaster Recovery Plan to safeguard critical retail operations.
Their earlier leadership at ICUBE (Groupe Castel) involved managing infrastructure compliance, developing group-wide technical standards, and migrating subsidiaries to secure private cloud environments, resulting in improved operational efficiency. Their international career also includes impactful roles at Allianz Maroc, Maroc Telecom, and Nokia Networks, where they managed multi-country deployments, optimized telecom performance, and drove technology adoption across high-pressure environments. This global exposure highlights their proven ability to manage multicultural teams and deliver results in complex organizational ecosystems.
Research Interests
Their current research focuses on enterprise cybersecurity risk management, advanced threat detection models, and cloud-native security frameworks. Areas of particular interest include AI-driven incident response, red team simulation strategies, and automated governance mechanisms for multi-cloud environments. They aim to bridge academic research with real-world enterprise challenges, ensuring practical frameworks that strengthen organizational resilience against evolving cyber threats.
Awards
Mr. Younes Bousnah has received notable recognition for technical excellence and leadership impact. Among their achievements are the prestigious Nokia Kuwait Quality Award and a Recognition Award from Zain Kuwait for successfully managing large-scale telecom transformation programs. These accolades underscore their ability to lead mission-critical initiatives, deliver operational efficiency, and innovate within complex technological environments.
Publication Top Notes
Artificial Intelligence In Software-Defined Networks Security
Conclusion
With an exceptional career spanning over two decades, this nominee combines strategic vision, technical mastery, and global exposure to drive enterprise-wide transformation and cybersecurity excellence. Their extensive leadership across multi-country projects, coupled with cutting-edge research in digital resilience, demonstrates their ability to bridge innovation and operational execution. Backed by an impressive portfolio of certifications, significant contributions to industry knowledge, and proven results in strengthening digital ecosystems, they stand as an outstanding candidate deserving of recognition through this award.