We’re showcasing the cybersecurity experts who power our mission to protect the digital world. Get to know their stories, skills, and what drives them to keep raising the bar in cybersecurity. Mariia Gavriushenko holds a PhD in Information Technology from the University of Jyväskylä. She works as a Technical Project Manager at Binare in Finland.
• To begin, could you outline your professional journey and background?
My professional journey began in academia, where I earned a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Jyväskylä. My research focused on personalized learning environments, collective intelligence, and ethical AI. I later worked as a Research and Project Coordinator at the IT Faculty of the same university. In this role, I managed interdisciplinary AI-driven projects. I facilitated collaborations between academia and industry. Additionally, I secured funding from Business Finland. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for my transition into the tech industry. I currently serve as a Project Manager at Binare, a company focused on automating IoT firmware cybersecurity.
• What initially drew you to technical project management? How has your understanding of the role evolved throughout your career?
I’ve always been passionate about solving complex problems and uniting people with different areas of expertise around a common goal. Technical project management was a natural extension of my research coordination and AI background. Initially, I saw it primarily as task and timeline management. Over time, I’ve come to understand it as a leadership role. It’s about strategic alignment, risk management, and enabling innovation. This is achieved by building trust, navigating ambiguity, and maintaining cross-disciplinary communication.
• Your professional background encompasses academia, AI research, and technical project management. How have these diverse experiences shaped your approach to leading projects specifically at Binare?
My academic background has taught me to approach problems with analytical depth and scientific rigor. My AI research encourages me to think creatively and adaptively. From coordinating research initiatives, I’ve learned how to align diverse goals and ensure clear communication across different teams and interests. At Binare, I combine these strengths to lead projects that are both technologically advanced and aligned with market needs. I’m comfortable navigating both high-level strategy and technical detail, which helps me ensure smooth collaboration between developers, researchers, and clients.
• Can you describe your daily responsibilities? What are your key focus areas in your current role as Technical Project Manager at Binare?
My daily responsibilities include planning and tracking project milestones, coordinating teams, and ensuring the timely delivery of project outputs. I also manage communications with external partners from both industry and EU-funded consortiums. A significant part of my work involves aligning Binare’s internal development roadmap with project deliverables. I also oversee technical documentation. Furthermore, I contribute to dissemination and exploitation strategies for Horizon Europe projects.
• Operating at the intersection of IoT and cybersecurity. What specific aspects of your work at Binare do you find most intellectually stimulating? What parts are strategically complex?
What I find most interesting in my work at Binare is dealing with how fast cybersecurity threats are evolving. This is particularly challenging in the IoT world. We work with firmware, which means we often deal with older systems, hardware-level issues, and complex supply chains. It’s not just about finding technical solutions, but also making sure they meet strict security standards. One of the biggest challenges is explaining these technical risks clearly and understandably. We need to convey this information to people who don’t have a technical background. This way, they can make informed decisions.
• Continuous development is critical in such a rapidly evolving domain. What methods do you use to stay informed? What resources help maintain your expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and project management?
I stay updated through a combination of scientific journals, white papers, and active participation in research consortia. I follow cybersecurity news. I contribute to EU project workshops. I maintain a strong network of colleagues in both academia and industry. Additionally, I actively engage in mentoring. I participate in knowledge exchange sessions within Binare. These activities keep me grounded in both strategic trends and technical innovations.
• Looking ahead, what is your vision for Binare’s role in advancing global IoT security? How do you envision your contributions supporting this mission?
I envision Binare becoming a global leader in proactive, automated IoT firmware security. It will provide tools that not only detect vulnerabilities but also integrate seamlessly into secure development lifecycles. My goal is to scale our solutions through collaborative innovation. I will ensure successful project execution. I will also foster meaningful partnerships across the ecosystem. I aim to continue bridging research and product development. I will contribute to the strategic roadmap. I ensure that our solutions are both impactful and accessible.
About Binare:
Binare.io is a recent deep-tech cybersecurity spinoff from the University of Jyväskylä. Binare develops advanced automated solutions for (I)IoT cybersecurity. Binare’s flagship: IoT Firmware Analysis and Monitoring platform offers full automation and integration. It works with both DevOps/SecOps pipelines. This helps in improving (I)IoT device security throughout its lifecycle.
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