GWDC Board of Directors
Chapter Board Positions
The ISACA® Greater Washington D.C. (GWDC) Chapter Board of Directors is comprised of Officers and Directors and supported by Associate Directors and volunteers. The Chapter Board positions and responsibilities are outlined in the Chapter Bylaws.
- Officers: Officer positions are established by the Chapter Bylaws and are elected every two years by the Chapter Membership. Officers provide strategic direction of oversight of chapter operations and finances. Officers are voting members of the Chapter Board.
- Directors: Directors oversee the operation and strategic direction of their committee. Article VIII of the Chapter Bylaws describes Chapter Committees and Director Responsibilities. Directors are appointed by the Chapter Board. Directors are voting members of the Chapter Board.
- Associate Directors: Associate Directors oversee and manage specific areas of operation within a Committee. Associate Directors are appointed by their Committee Director.
- Volunteers: Volunteers assist the Chapter Board and its Committees. Volunteers are assigned to a specific committee for specific tasks based on their interests and availability. Assignments are overseen by the Membership Director and the Volunteer Associate Director. Members that would like to volunteer should visit the Volunteer page for additional information.
The Chapter Officers are elected by the GWDC Membership and serve a two-year term. Elections are held prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Officers are installed at the AGM. Directors are appointed by the President and approved by the Board. Elections occur in even numbered years.
Chapter Officers
The Chapter Officers are elected by the GWDC Membership and serve a two-year term. Elections are held prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Officers are installed at the AGM. Elections occur in even numbered years.
Sushila Nair
President
CISSP, GIAC GSTRT, GSNA GDSA, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CDPSE, CCSK, CCAK
Sushila Nair is the CEO of Cybernetic LLC and former Vice President of Capgemini’s North American Cybersecurity practice, where she played a crucial role in driving secure digital transformation on a global scale. With over 30 years of experience in computing infrastructure, business, and security risk analysis, Sushila has established herself as a leading authority in the cybersecurity domain. Her career highlights include serving as Vice President responsible for global security offers at NTT DATA Services, a decade of leading her own IT and cybersecurity company across major UK cities, and serving as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and trusted advisor to boards, where she honed her expertise in protecting organizations from evolving digital threats. Recognized through the top cybersecurity leader award by Security Magazine, Sushila’s influence in the industry is undeniable.
An esteemed thought leader, Sushila has shared her insights on prestigious platforms such as RSA Conference and ISACA’s global events. Her active participation in ISACA’s global emerging trends working group and her leadership as President of ISACA’s Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter underscore her dedication to advancing the field of cybersecurity. In 2024, her commitment to nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and promoting diversity in the industry was honored with the prestigious ISACA Technology for Humanity Award.
Katherine Scott
Vice President
Having been an ISACA GWDC member since 2007, Katherine Scott began her work with the Board as scribe in 2014. Katherine served as chapter Secretary from July 2020 through June 2024, recorded Board meeting minutes and maintained chapter compliance and records. Katherine participated in ten chapter strategy sessions.
Katherine served as Director of Membership from July 2016 to June 2000. She focused on the retention and growth of chapter membership, coordinated social events, and organized volunteers for the chapter.
Katherine supports the Board and other directorates. She co-hosted the Women in Technology conference for two years, helped at Academics events, supported CPE issuance, and wrote newsletter articles. She wrote a chapter roles and responsibilities document, reviewed Board SOPs, and led the chapter bylaw review. She has attended ISACA’s Global Leadership Conference four times, served on a task force with ISACA Global to define the role that ISACA plays in helping students get into IT, and participated in ISACA’s Day on the Hill in 2023.
Magali Velazquez has been an ISACA member since 2005 and has been actively involved with the ISACA Greater Washington DC (GWDC) Chapter since 2012. Throughout her time with ISACA, she has contributed to a variety of chapter initiatives, including Programs, Certifications, Membership, and CPE Certificates. In her roles, she has efficiently managed communications with chapter members, ensuring timely and accurate responses to Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requests, thereby enhancing member satisfaction and engagement. Additionally, Magali has played a key role in organizing and supporting both live and remote events, coordinating tasks such as event registrations, speaker coordination, and logistical planning. She has also volunteered onsite at multiple events, ensuring smooth operations and a high level of participant engagement. Currently, she serves as the Secretary on the Board, where her leadership and dedication continue to support ISACA’s mission.
With over 20 years of professional experience, Magali has worked across diverse and international environments in sectors such as banking, biotechnology, transportation, and government. Currently, she serves as the Vice President, Technology – Cyber & Infrastructure Audit Manager at Citibank, where she supports cybersecurity audit plans, risk assessments, and business monitoring, while also acting as a subject matter expert on various cybersecurity issues. Prior to this, she held senior roles at organizations like WMATA, BFSFCU – World Bank – IMF Credit Union, and AstraZeneca Inc., overseeing key cyber audit and risk functions in global settings.
Her broad international experience, combined with her expertise in IT auditing, cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance, makes her a valuable asset not only to ISACA but to the global cybersecurity community.
Mickey is the current Chapter Treasurer. Mickey is a longtime member of the GWDC and has served two terms as Treasurer. As Treasurer, Mickey has been instrumental in improving chapter financial operations, including improvements to processes for budgeting and payment processing.
Jermaine Stanley
Past President
Jermaine is the current Chapter Past President. He previously served as President, Vice President, and Outreach Director.
Jermaine is a Cybersecurity, Information Technology (IT), and Risk Advisory leader with more than 25 years of experience working with Financial Services, Technology, Insurance, Non-Profit, and Government organizations. He is a thought leader in the industry, having advised clients on complex IT Audit and Cybersecurity matters.
Jermaine is also a Board member for ISACA Global’s ISACA Foundation whose mission is to provide opportunity for under-represented individuals to enter security professions and support the advancement of untapped talent into leadership positions.
Jermaine is a sought after speaker for various national and international conferences. He also is a frequent speaker during the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s visits to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) as part of their ‘HBCU See Yourself in Cyber Career Program’.
He played a key role in our Chapter establishing the ISACA GWDC Scholarship Award Program which provides college students in our region with financial assistance towards their studies in digital trust, cyber security, and other emerging technologies.
Over the years, as a Board member of ISACA GWDC, Jermaine has represented our Chapter during ISACA Global’s Annual ‘Capitol Hill Day’. This event allows various ISACA Chapters the opportunity to meet with members of Congress and the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss key topics such as the cybersecurity workforce shortage and various cybersecurity matters.
Jermaine holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering, a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering, as well as the CISA and CDPSE certifications.
Jermaine is the Founder of Stanley Consulting Group whose mission is to “ensure that the business leaders and employees we serve have the tools and insights to help them build diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace environments.”
Directors
Directors are appointed by the President and approved by the Board. They serve the same two-year term as Chapter Officers
Ruchi Shewaramani is a cyber security executive with 18+ years of experience in Information Technology Security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) across healthcare, education and financial sector. She is currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer for Washington Health Benefit Exchange and as a Board member for ISACA Greater Washington DC Chapter.
In the last decade, she has led the security program for various healthcare agencies in District of Columbia (DC) prior to joining Washington state exchange. She specializes in establishing and transforming cyber security program for healthcare agencies to attain compliance with state and federal partners, safeguard customer data and build digital trust for the citizens served.
Anthony Avens
Audit
Bio to be posted soon.
Clifton Persaud
Training
Bio to be posted soon.
Steffany Hurtarte
Communications
Bios to be posted soon
Avneet Sabharwal
Virtual Conferences
Bio to be posted soon.
Mike Howard
Information Technology
Mike has served the GWDC for over 20 years overseeing the Chapter’s website, event registration, and other technologies. He was served as the Internet Director, Communications Director, and Analytics Director. In recent years, Mike has taught seminars for the GWDC on how to use PowerShell in performing audits.
Mike Howard is an experienced IT auditor with over 29 years of IT auditing experience in the Federal Government. Mike is a technical auditor who has audited numerous technologies, including mainframes, Unix environments, Active Directory, databases, Cisco devices, and Windows computers. Mike embraces innovative technologies to accomplish his audits, most notably using PowerShell to write custom scripts. Over the 10+ years that he has been using PowerShell, he’s written over 300 PowerShell scripts.
Mike has a B.S. in Accounting from Old Dominion University and a Masters in Business Administration from George Mason University.
Vacant
Marketing
Melissa Fortson
Membership
Bio to be posted soon.
Nirali Chawla
External Relations
MBA, CISA, CISSP, CRISC, CAP, IAM, ITIL v3 Foundations, HBSS, Six Sigma Green Belt
Nirali Shah Chawla is a Managing Director and the Federal Technology Risk leader in KPMG’s Federal Advisory practice. She has more than 20 years of experience leading large-scale modernization and transformation projects to private and public sector clients including financial and information technology audit readiness services, information assurance and Cyber security services, Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) services, Governance, Risk & Compliance implementations and programs, Risk Management Framework/Financial Management Overlay services, Cloud Computing and transformation consulting services. Ms. Chawla currently leads some of the largest federal agencies at the brink of transformational change and growth, leveraging her knowledge of existing and emerging technologies to uncover IT opportunities for business process and internal controls improvements. Ms. Chawla is the co-author of NIST Special Publication 800-137, Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information Systems and Organizations.
Ms. Chawla sits on the ISACA GWDC Board of Directors, AFCEA Scholarships Education Committee Chair, Member of Cyber Council for INSA and is a member of the following organizations: ASMC, NAASA and Women in Technology (WIT). She was a finalist for the 2023 WIT Leadership Award within the Washington, DC Corporate Large-Market Sector.
Jim Wiggins
Public Relations and Media
CISSP, ISSEP, CISM, CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CGRC, CySA+, SCNA, SCNP, IAM, IEM, SSCP, CEH, ECSA, CHFI, LPT, TICSA, CIWSA, Security+, and MCSE: Security and FITSP-M
Jim has over 28 years of direct experience in the design, operation, management, and auditing of information technology systems, with the past 23 years focused on information systems security. He has an extensive background in technical education and specializes in security certification courses aimed at federal and government contracting clients.
Today, Jim is the Founder and Principal of Securible, LLC. Securible is an information security service provider offering cyber training programs to organizations of all sizes. At Securible, Jim has taught IT security certification courses such as CISSP, CISM, CISA, Ethical Hacking, RMF, Security+, and other courses requested by Securible’s clients. Currently, he provides education and training support for the National Risk Management Center (NRMC) at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More information on Securible can be found at: http://www.securible.com.
Jim is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal IT Security Institute (FITSI). FITSI is a 501(c)(6) non-profit certification body accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under ISO 17024:2012. FITSI offers a role-based IT security certification program targeted at the federal workforce. More information on FITSI can be found at: http://www.fitsi.org.
Additionally, Jim is the Founder and Executive Director of the FITSI Foundation. The FITSI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that focuses on cyber education and serves as the philanthropic sister organization of the Federal IT Security Institute. The FITSI Foundation operates the Wounded Warrior Cyber Combat Academy (W2CCA). More information on the FITSI Foundation can be found at: https://www.fitsifoundation.org.
In 2020, Jim launched a TV show on cybersecurity called “Cybersecurity Today,” which can be viewed in the Washington, DC area. Episodes can also be streamed online at the following website: http://www.cybersecuritytoday.org.
In 2019, FCW named Jim to the “Federal 100” for his tireless efforts to promote cybersecurity education across all branches of the federal government.
In 2011, the Federal Information Systems Security Educators’ Association (FISSEA) named him “Educator of the Year” for the impact he continues to make on the federal workforce.
Jim holds the following IA/IT security certifications: CISSP, ISSEP, CISM, CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CGRC, CySA+, SCNA, SCNP, IAM, IEM, SSCP, CEH, ECSA, CHFI, LPT, TICSA, CIWSA, Security+, and MCSE: Security and FITSP-M.
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