Professor Chitra Balakrishna

Professional biography

Research interests

Her current research interests include aspects of security within the context of smart cities, eHealth and Internet of Things. She has a keen interest in the pedagogical aspects of cyber security, particularly in gamification of cyber security education.

Areas of Expertise

• IoT Security and Healthcare, 
• Smart Cities – Technologies and Applications, Internet of Things - Communication Systems, Architectures and Applications, Experimentation with Open source platforms and hardware.
• Cyber security education.

Authored Books

1.Khalid Al-Begain, Chitra Balakrishna, Luis Galindo, David Moro Fernandez: IMS- A Development and Deployment Perspective, John Wiley & Sons, publication date: October 2009. http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd0470740345.html [60% contribution, PhD thesis extended]

 2. C.Balakrishna, K.Al-Begain, Mobility and Quality Enabler for Multimedia Services on the next Generation IP Multimedia Subsystem Contribution to COST-290 Final Report, Chapter 4 on Mobility Support. November 2007. 

Articles in Refrereed Journals

1.  Andrews, G., Balakrishna, C., & Mikroyannidis, A. (2023, October). The need for game-based learning methods to address cyber threats. In Proceedings of the 17th European Conference on Game-Based Learning: ECGBL.  

2. Balakrishna, Chitra, and Patricia Charlton. "Using Game-based Learning Methods to Demystify Cyber Security Concepts for Adult Learners." ECGBL 2022 16th European Conference on Game-Based Learning. Academic Conferences and publishing limited, 2022.

2. S. Al-Jeshi, A. Tarfa, H. Al-Aswad, W. Elmedany and C. Balakrishna, "A Blockchain Enabled System for Enhancing Fintech Industry of the Core Banking Systems," 2022 International Conference on Innovation and Intelligence for Informatics, Computing, and Technologies (3ICT), Sakheer, Bahrain, 2022, pp. 209-213, doi: 10.1109/3ICT56508.2022.9990875.

3. H. Hasan, G. Ali, W. Elmedany and C. Balakrishna, "Lightweight Encryption Algorithms for Internet of Things: A Review on Security and Performance Aspects," 2022 International Conference on Innovation and Intelligence for Informatics, Computing, and Technologies (3ICT), Sakheer, Bahrain, 2022, pp. 239-244, doi: 10.1109/3ICT56508.2022.9990859.

4.     C Balakrishna (2021) ‘Design considerations for developing a Game-based learning resource in cyber security education’ 5th European Conference on Games Based Learning, 23 - 24 September 2021, Brighton, UK

6.     Balakrishna, C., Rendon-Morales, E., Aviles-Espinosa, R., Dore, H., & Luo, Z. (2019). Challenges of Wearable Health Monitors: A Case study of Foetal ECG Monitor. In 2019 Global IoT Summit (GIoTS) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.

7.     Garge, G. K., & Balakrishna, C. (2018). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as on-demand QoS enabler for Multimedia Applications in Smart Cities, International Conference on Innovation and Intelligence for Informatics, Computing, and Technologies (3ICT) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.

8.     H Hasan, G Ali, W Elmedany and C Balakrishna (2018) ‘A security and performance review of IoT encryption algorithms, Eighth International Conference on Innovative Computing Technology’ (INTECH 2018), University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK, August 15-17, 2018

9.     S Aljeshi, T Ahmed, A Hasan, E Wael and C Balakrishna (2018), ‘Distributed Ledger Transformations for Fintech Industry, Challenges, and Opportunities’, Eighth International Conference on Innovative Computing Technology (INTECH 2018), University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK, August 15-17, 2018

10.  H Aswad, W Elmedany and C Balakrishna ( 2018), ‘Blockchain as an enabler for the Social Health Insurance Program in the kingdom of Bahrain’, Eighth International Conference on Innovative Computing Technology (INTECH 2018) University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK, August 15-17, 2018

11.  S Alromaihi, W Elmedany, and C Balakrishna (2018), ‘Cyber Security Challenges of Deploying IoT in Smart Cities for Healthcare Applications’, FI Cloud 2018, The IEEE 6th International Conference on Future Internet of Things and Cloud, IEEE-CS TCI, 6-8 August 2018, Barcelona, Spain

12.  T K Damenu, C Balakrishna, (2015), Cloud Security Risk Management: A Critical Review, in Proc of Fourth International Workshop on Technologies and Applications for Smart Cities (I-TASC’15), 10th September 2015, Cambridge, U.K.

13.  Maketo, L., & Balakrishna, C. (2015, September). Is Rural Botswana Stuck to the" Chalkboard Only" Era while Others Make Strides in Mobile Learning? In Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies, 2015 9th International Conference on (pp. 382-387). IEEE.

14.  Lake, D., & Balakrishna, C. (2015, September). Using Value Added Services to Realise the Benefits of Enterprise Small Cell Deployments: Discussion and Prototype. In Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies, 2015 9th International Conference on (pp. 399-404). IEEE.

15.  P Shuttleworth, C Balakrishna (2015), ‘Cloud and Energy Management - Issues and Concerns’ in Proc of Fourth International Workshop on Technologies and Applications for Smart Cities (I-TASC’15), 10th September 2015, Cambridge, U.K. 

16.  C Balakrishna, Multimedia Service Delivery in Next-Generation Networks - The Need for Adaptation and Inter-Mediation, in Proc. of International Conference on Internet Computing and Information Communications Chennai, India, 2013

17.  C Balakrishna, Enabling Technologies for Smart Cities, in Proc. Of the Sixth International Conference on Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies, NGMAST 2012, Paris, France, September 2012

18.  C.Balakrishna, IMS Experience Centre – A Real-life Test Network for IMS services, In Proceedings of IEEETRIDENTCOM 2009, Washington DC, April 6th -8th 2009,

19.  Kuwadekar, C. Balakrishna, K. Al-Begain, GenXfon: Design and Implementation of and Ubiquitous SIP Video Client, In Proceedings of 2nd IEEE Conference on Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies (NGMAST 2008), IEEE Computer Press, Cardiff, UK 16th-19th September 2008.

20.  C.Balakrishna, K.Al-Begain, A Reality Check on SIP-based Streaming Applications on the Next Generation Mobile Test Network IEEE COMSWARE 2007, Jan 2008, Bangalore India

21.  C.Balakrishna, K.Al-Begain, Towards a User-Centric and Quality-Aware Multimedia Service Delivery Implementation on IP Multimedia Subsystem, in Proc. Of the First International Conference on Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies, NGMAST 2007, Cardiff, UK, October 2007.

22.  C.Balakrishna, K.Al-Begain, Implementing Next-Generation Multimedia Service Enablers over an experimental IMS Test Network, First Research Workshop, Faculty of Advanced Technology, University of Glamorgan, UK, February 2007. (ISBN: 978-1-84054-156-4)

23.  C.Balakrishna, K.Al-Begain, A Cross Layer Approach for Adaptive Multi-level QoS Mobile Multimedia Multicast in Next Generation Wireless Internets, 15th IST mobile summit, Greece, June, 2006.

Scholarship / Pedagogical publications

1. C Balakrishna (2020), Tackling the Cyber security Skills Gap in a Post-COVID World – A Need for Innovation, UK/Kuwait Cybersecurity Education & Research Conference [Virtual]

2.     C Balakrishna (2019), ‘Gamification of Cyber Security Education – A Pilot Study’, Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, Kingston University, July, 2019.

3.     C Balakrishna (2017), ‘Think Like a Hacker – Gamified Information Gathering Exercise’, SOLSTICE eLearning Conference 2017, Edge Hill University, UK. 


4.     C Balakrishna (2016), CyberGaTE: A Gamified Virtual Training Environment for Cyber- Security SOLSTICE eLearning Conference 2016, Edge Hill University, UK. 


5.     C Balakrishna(2016), Gamified Virtual Training Environment for Attacker-centric Cyber-security Skills Development, National Teaching and Learning Conference on Cyber-Security 2016, Paper presentation.

Academic Tutorials

Tutorial as part of IEEE NGMAST 2010, Aman, titled Next-Generation Service Delivery Platforms

Tutorial as part of the IEEE NGMAST 2009, titled IMS – A Service Centric View http://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/NGMAST09/NGMAST09_programme_final.htm 

Editorials

Co-editor of Proceedings of the IEEE co-sponsored conference on Next-Generation Mobile Applications Services and Technology [NGMAST] 2008 -2015 

Research/ Scholarship Projects

1.    Source: Institute of Coding ;  Project Title: Nominet ; Duration: 18 months (starting 1^st November 2023); Investigator(s): Andrew Smith, C Balakrishna, Jane Dickinson; Total Value: £800K

2.    Source: Innovate UK, Cyber ASAP Program – Phase 2 ; Project Title: Gamified Intelligent Cyber Aptitude and   Skills Training (GICAST – Proof of Concept Development; Duration: 11 months (starting 1^st March 2020) Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna Total Value: £87K 

3.    Source: EPSRC DTP.  Project Title: Impact of game-based learning methods on cyber security behavior of adult Population; Duration: 3 years (Starting October 2021); Investigator: Dr. C Balakrishna; Total Value: £35K

4.    Source: Nesta CareerTech Challenge Fund; Project Title: Gamified Intelligent Cyber Aptitude and Skills Training (GICAST); Duration: 12 months (starting 1^st May 2020); Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna and Dr P.Charlton; Total Value: £240K

5.    Source: Cyber ASAP Program, Innovate UK; Project Title: A Gamified Intelligent Environment for Training and Assessing Cyber Security Behaviour; Duration: 4 months (starting 1^st April 2019) Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna and Dr P.Charlton, Prof. Shailey Manukha; Total Value: £28K                                                                       

6. Source: Joint Academic Development Centres Grant Department of Business Energy And Industrial Strategy; Project Title: Cyber Security for IoT Based Healthcare Applications (UK-Gulf Partnership); Duration: 12 months (starting 1^st March 2018); Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna (Edge Hill University) and Dr. Wael El-madany (University of Bahrain); Total Value: £40K

7.    Source: Higher Education Academy; Project Title: CyberGaTE: A Gamified Virtual Training Environment for Cyber Security; Duration: 18 months (starting 1^st November 2015) Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna, Prof. Romano and Dr. James Coleman;  Total Value: £80K 

8.    Source: Orange, France-Telecom; Project Title: IP Multimedia Systems(IMS) Testbed; Duration: 18 months (starting 1^st August 2006); Investigator(s):  Dr. C Balakrishna, Prof. Al-Begain; Total Value: £50,000 (£50K)

  Grants as Co-Investigaton

    1. Source: eFutures Sandpit Award, EPSRC; Project Title: Maternal IoT Garment for     Home-based Foetal Electrocardiogram; Duration: 6 months (starting 1^st February 2018)  ;  Investigator(s):  Dr. Luo, Dr. C Balakrishna and Dr. Aviles-espinos; Total Value: £10,000 (£10K)                                                                                                                                                2.    Source: European Resource Development Fund (ERDF); Project Title: Centre of excellence for Mobile Applications and Services; Duration: 5 Years (starting 1^st April 2010); Investigator(s): Prof. Al-Begain, Prof. Hammoudeh, Dr. C Balakrishna; Total Value: £1 Million 

3.    Source: FP7, European Funding; Project Title: ICEWish; Duration: 3 Years (starting Jan 2011); Investigator(s): Prof. Al-Begain, Dr. C Balakrishna (17 European Partners); Total Value: £400K (out of the total project cost of £20 Million)

Teaching interests

• Ethical Hacking
• Implementing Secure Systems
• Network Security
• Cloud Applications Security
• Wireless and Mobile Security

National and International Impact - Innovation in Cyber Security Education​

I have made two key contributions to cyber security pedagogical practices namely, the effective use of problem-based learning (PBL), game-based learning (GBL), Adaptive learning methods in cyber security education. The two projects funded by HEA have employed these methods and has had international impact. Resources produced as part of these projects are maintained at (https://cyberedge.uk/ ) and have been used at the Open University, Warwick University (MSc Cyber security Managed), Liverpool John Moore’s (BSc(Hons) Computer security and MSc Cyber security), Asia Pacific Institute of Technology (Malaysia), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (India) and others as evidenced by the registrations on the website.

1. CSKE – Cyber security Knowledge Exchange Model addresses the lack of skilled Cyber security (CS) professionals and inadequate information security practices particularly within SMEs using ‘problem-based learning’ (PBL) methodology. Eight PBL scenarios were co-created with the employers, academic experts and students as partners. This innovative pedagogical practice resulted in students gaining real-world experience by working on the problems defined by the SME making them highly employable and the SMEs benefitted from an improved information security practice. PBL particularly addresses the pedagogical challenge in cyber security education, which is lack of experiential learning.  PBL is motivational, promotes critical thinking, and self-regulated learning attributes that are regarded as important for students in Higher Education, particularly distance learning.  In PBL, students identify what they need to learn, thus it does not depend on assumptions by the tutor. This ensures that the learning is relevant to everyone, and it starts from students’ current knowledge base.

2. Gamified Virtual Training Environment - CyberGaTE’ is a HEA funded project that uses innovative pedagogical practice namely the game-based learning (GBL) to build a self-directed immersive cyber security training environment to train employable cyber-security graduates. The learning resources were two cyber games, co-created by the students, industry and academic experts. These resources were hosted on the cloud using an innovative concept of ‘Classroom as a Service’.

3.      Adaptive/Personalised Learning – Gamified Intelligent Cyber Aptitude and Skills Training (GICAST) [1] is funded by nesta and Department for Education (DfE) and uses a novel blend of learner behavior analytics and gamification, coupled with problem-based learning methodology to break the entry barrier for adult learners currently in low-paid and low-skilled jobs to retrain in the burgeoning cyber security sector. It is intended to enhance learner motivation, and engagement; ensuring learners complete the course and achieve their digital badge which can be shared with potential employers, enhancing learner’s confidence to navigate the changing job landscape. The course has been accessed by over 100K learners with over 10K learners enrolled since launching in January 2023 and over 2000 learners completed the course. GICAST will direct learners through OpenLearn to other BOC and Open University courses to continue their learning journey, building their confidence in learning, while gaining the skills needed to be adaptable in the workplace.  The project was commended by the funders Nesta and Department for Education (DfE) for excellent the impact on the target beneficiaries as evidenced. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BxLMTeNYoY)

4.     Internet of Things Training using Arduino and Raspberry Pi

In collaboration with Sensor city, Liverpool, and Liverpool John Moore’s University, a Series of workshops on Internet of Things were conducted to freelancers, SMEs, post-secondary and university students. https://www.digiotouch.com/ieee-iiot-workshop-liverpool-2019

5.     “Dirty rotten Scammers” BBC-OU co-production

Being the lead academic consultant on the BBC- OU co-production “Dirty Rotten scammers enabled to amplify the reach and impact of my work as a cyber security educator and a researcher. The viewers from the program are directed to bite-size content on cyber security on the OU website and links to our portfolio of cyber security qualifications and micro-credentials leading to enhanced financial sustainability of the University. I contributed to the content and accurate representation of cyber security information and facts. https://connect.open.ac.uk/science-technology-engineering-and-maths/dirty-rotten-scammers/

The program was very well received on BBC with unprecedented viewership for day time television program on BBC.

[1] https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/gamified-intelligent-cyber-aptitude-and-skills-training-gicast/content-section-overview

Keynotes and Engagement with Wider Community

1. October 2025, Serious Games for Serious Threats – Building the next generation cyber workforce, UK/Kuwait Cybersecurity Education & Research Conference, Kuwait. https://cerc.kw/
2. Cyber Scotland Week March 2023 – “ Demystifying cyber security skills and training for adult population” - https://events.cyberscotlandweek.com/event/demystifying-cyber-security-using-game-based-interventions/
3.     September 2022, National Enrichment Programme –Wales, “Demystifying cyber security through game-based interventions” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W1LDFZEbe4
4.     March 2022, The Cyber security Summit, “Human Layer Security - Improving security awareness, culture, behaviour and skills across the organisation” - https://cybersecurityconference.co.uk/speakers/
5.     January 2022, National Sahodaya Conference “Games are the new Books- Power of Game-based learning”  https://mobile.twitter.com/27nscgwalior/status/1482998513382608896/photo/1
6.   October 2021, Soapbox Science Festival, “Are Games the new books?” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed4DVlAw8o8&t=110s   https://twitter.com/SoapboxSciMK/status/1449363719625093131
7.     October 2021, Indian Institute of Technology, “Games and Learning – A Natural fit” - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-chitra-balakrishna-6065985_cheveningscholarship-gamebasedlearning-cybersecuritygames-activity-6845748690875904002-evph/
8.    September 2021,Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG),“Understanding cyber security behaviour using gamification and behavioural analytics”, https://www.thesasig.com/calendar/event/21-09-03-awareness/
9.        September 2021, Chevening Fellowship Program, Cranfield University, “Gamification - for a balanced offense-defense cyber security training” - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-chitra-balakrishna-6065985_cheveningscholarship-gamebasedlearning-cybersecuritygames-activity-6845748690875904002-evph/
10.   June 2021, Women in IT Summit, Panel Discussion “Cyber security mesh” - https://womeninitawards.com/london/speakers-london/
11.     March 2021, British Science Week, Public Lecture, “Changing the way we teach cyber security” [Virtual] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8rFEiVzPaM
12.     December 2020 “Introduction to cyber security career: Next steps?” supported by Cisco and Amazon. - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introduction-to-a-career-in-cyber-security-next-steps-tickets-130582055443#
13.      November 2020, Tackling the Cyber security Skills Gap in a Post-COVID World – A Need    for Innovation, UK/Kuwait Cybersecurity Education & Research Conference [Virtual] - https://cerc2020.exposim.io/speakers
14.    November 2020, “Ask the expert: Cyber security” talk at OU STEM Faculty [Virtual] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOVJT1Xe0_Q
15.     March 2020, Panel member, Regional Workshop; ‘Working Towards Cyber Resilience in the GCC: Opportunities and Challenges, Muscat, Oman’
16.     November 2019, Cyber Resilience Workshop, The Information Assurance Advisory Council (IAAC), Manchester, UK
17.     June 2019, Chair and host, Workshop on IoT in Healthcare: Technologies, Applications and Security, Aarhus, Denmark
18.    March 2019, Tackling the UK’s cyber skills capability gap- education, training and professionalization, Westminster eForum policy conference: The UK’s cyber security capabilities.
19.  C Balakrishna (2019), Shaping the future of Cybersecurity Training and Education, IoC workshop with stakeholders. May 2019
20. C Balakrishna (2019), ‘Gamification of Cyber Security Education – A Pilot Study’, Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, Kingston University, July, 2019.
21. .  November 2018, 'Shaping the future of Cyber Security Education, Cyber Security Professionals’, 2018, York, United Kingdom.
22. .     November 2018, ‘Cyber Security Education and Research - Opportunities and Challenges', 3ICT Conference, Bahrain 
23. .     November 2018, Panel chair “ IoT Security Challenges’ 3ICT Conference, Bahrain
24.     September 2017, 'Cyber Security Challenges in Connected Healthcare', UK-GCC, Science Collaboration Symposium, Manchester, United Kingdom 

25.   . C Balakrishna (2017), ' IoT in Healthcare- A Reality Check', World IoT Forum, Rabat Morocco.
26.   . November 2017, Panel member, “Security challenges in IoT Healthcare”, World IoT Forum, Rabat, Morocco.
27.  C Balakrishna (2017), ‘Think Like a Hacker – Gamified Information Gathering Exercise’, SOLSTICE eLearning Conference 2017, Edge Hill University, UK. 

28. C Balakrishna (2016), CyberGaTE: A Gamified Virtual Training Environment for Cyber- Security SOLSTICE eLearning Conference 2016, Edge Hill University, UK. 

29. C Balakrishna (2016), Gamified Virtual Training Environment for Attacker-centric Cyber-security Skills Development, National Teaching and Learning Conference on Cyber-Security 2016, Paper presentation.
30. C Balakrishna (2012) ‘Technology enablers for Smart Applications on Smart Cities’, “Apps for Smart Cities Conference”, a World Smart Capital Initiative, Amsterdam, 29th March 2012.

Awards & Recognitions

• Member of Board of Trustees, UK Cyber Security Council,  https://www.ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-trustees
• Founder and Chairman of International Workshop on Technologies and Applications for Smart Cities. https://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/ngmast12/workshops.html, https://www.ngmast.com

• Founder and Chairman of IEEE-sponsored International Workshop on Next-Generation Networks: Open Platform and Services [NGNOPS] http://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/NGMAST10/ngnops/.

• Co-Chair of International IEEE conference for Next-Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technology [ NGMAST] http://www.ngmast.com

• Project Leader and Co-author of the book titled
  IP Multimedia Subsystem: A Development and Deployment Perspective Published by the John Wiley and Sons Publications Ltd, released in October 2009.

• Member of Technical Program Committee of various International conferences.

• Data Telecommunications Award, Funded by University of Salford, UK, 2003

External Appointments

• 2023- Present.            Member of Board of Trustees, We-Together Charity
• 2021-present              Member of Board of Trustees, UK Cyber security Council
• 2019-Present              National Cyber Security Centre, Accreditation Panel member
• 2015- Present             Expert Reviewer on Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Committee -  Canadian Innovation Fund Panel (https://www.innovation.ca/)  
• 2014-present              Member IEEE
• 2018-present              Committee member, IEEE Region 8, Women in Engineering

Visiting Appointments

(2017-2019) External Academic Supervisor for MSc Cyber Security Program in University of Bahrain

(2016 -2018), Visiting Professor, External examiner, The Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Malaysia

(2016-2019) Visiting Professor and External Academic Expert for PhD Examinations – Bharathiyar University, Tamilnadu, India  

External Examiner Appointments

2019-2024      Liverpool John Moore’s University, MSc Sensor, Data and Management, External Examiner.

2017                Liverpool John Moore’s University, Ph.D. examiner

2018                University of South Wales, Ph.D examiner

2016                Liverpool John Moore’s University, MPhil examiner.

2014-2016      Swansea Metropolitan University, External examiner, BSc Mobile Computing

2015-2019      University of Staffordshire, External Examiner, Multiple BSc programs.

2013-2014      Swansea Metropolitan University, Validation of BSc Mobile Computing,

2013-2014      RDI – Anglia Ruskin University, Validation of BSc Computer Networking

Editorial Appointments

2020- Ongoing   Associate editor, IET Software

2008 -2015    Co-editor of Proceedings of the IEEE co-sponsored conference    on Next Generation Mobile Applications Services and Technology [NGMAST]

Program Committees

2019-2020: Founder and Chairman of IEEE Workshop on IoT in Healthcare: Technologies, Applications and Security (HTAS), Co-located with Global IoT Summit. https://globaliotsummit.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GIoTS2020-CFP-IoT-in-Healthcare-HTAS20_v2.pdf

2010-2015: Founder and Chairman of International Workshop on Technologies and Applications for Smart Cities.

2009-2010: Founder and Chairman of IEEE-sponsored International Workshop on Next-Generation Networks: Open Platform and Services [NGNOPS] https://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings-article/ngmast/2008/3333z027/12OmNqNG3dt

2007- 2016: Co-Chair of International IEEE conference for Next-Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technology [ NGMAST] https://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings/1001782

Member of Technical Program Committee of various other international conferences.