Uma Chandrashekhar

Uma Chandrashekhar joined Alcon R&D in 2018. As the Global Product Security Officer for Alcon, she oversees integrating security into Alcon’s medical devices from their inception to end-of-life, as well as providing strategic guidance and creating innovative solutions. She launched the Product Security Program, which allows Alcon to integrate security by design into next generation connected devices to achieve regulatory and commercial success.

Uma has led prominent medical device manufacturers in establishing a culture focused on security across the business value chain. She delivered a TEDx talk on digital data security and privacy, highlighting how Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning grants patients and consumers better control over their data. This patented AI/ML-driven system is one of her key passions.

Before joining Alcon, she served as the Head of Global Information Security at Edwards Lifesciences and Vice-President of Global Quality, Reliability, Eco-sustainability, and Product Security, including digital solutions at Bell Labs. Uma has pioneered the development and implementation of global industry standards and practices across all product lines in global Fortune 250 companies.

Uma has represented the U.S. delegation in the ISO 27000 Information Security Standards and was a co-editor for ISO/IEC 27003 and ITU standards, as well as a guest editor for Bell Labs Technical Journal. She was also a council member of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC).

She holds patents in security, privacy, network operations, and reliability. Uma is a distinguished fellow of the Ponemon Institute and has industry certifications in security. She has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.