Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Safety Guru, the Most Inspiring Girls in Cyber Awards goal to make clear the outstanding girls in our trade. The next is a function on one among 2026’s Prime 20 girls chosen by an esteemed panel of judges. Introduced in a Q&A format, the nominee’s solutions are written in their very own phrases.
In 2026, the awards have been sponsored by BT, Bridewell, Plexal and Constancy Worldwide. Group companions included WiCyS UK & Eire Affiliate, Girls in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH) and Seidea..
What does your job function entail?
My function as a lecturer in Laptop Science at Teesside is splendidly various, and that selection is likely one of the issues I get pleasure from most about it. No two days look the identical, and I get to contribute to the college in a number of alternative ways.
Instructing is probably the most seen a part of my work, and it’s a component I genuinely love. I presently educate throughout 5 modules, from basis 12 months by to grasp’s stage. I lead two of those: a closing 12 months module on Service Administration and Data Governance, and an MSc module on IT Ethics and Legislation. Main and instructing these modules means designing studying supplies, making ready and delivering periods, creating and marking assessments, and supporting college students as they develop their abilities and confidence.
Analysis is one other core a part of my function, particularly in cybersecurity and utilized AI. This includes figuring out fascinating questions, exploring them by investigation, and sharing the findings by publications. Alongside this, I’m concerned in actions that help the broader analysis group, together with reviewing papers, making use of for grants, presenting at conferences, and contributing to the event of others’ work.
There may be additionally a major aspect of educational management and administration. I handle my very own analysis tasks and budgets, supervise MSc pupil theses and PhD college students, and supply pastoral help to each undergraduate and postgraduate college students. These obligations permit me to mentor rising researchers and assist college students navigate their tutorial journeys.
Past instructing and analysis, I contribute to the broader lifetime of the college. I participate in outreach and advertising and marketing actions resembling open days and discovery days, and I serve on university-level committees, together with the ECR Analysis Discussion board and the Athena Swan group.
General, my function brings collectively instructing, analysis, management, and group engagement.
How did you get into the cybersecurity trade?
I usually say I dabbled my method into cybersecurity, and I feel that’s a well-known story for a lot of girls who grew up and studied in Nigeria within the early 2000s. After my GCSEs, it was apparent my strengths lay in arithmetic, physics, and chemistry, so engineering appeared just like the pure path. My older sibling was already finding out medication, however that was by no means going to be my route; you actually don’t wish to see me attempting to decorate even a small scratch.
Every thing modified when my dad, who I genuinely consider was forward of his time, introduced residence a pc with an enormous monitor. I used to be immediately captivated. I didn’t but know what a profession in computing might appear to be, however I knew it sparked one thing in me.
I went on to check Arithmetic and Laptop Science, and though cybersecurity wasn’t a significant a part of the curriculum, the curiosity was nonetheless there. I stored questioning what it meant to safe computer systems and what alternatives may exist in that area. That curiosity finally led me to pursue a grasp’s diploma in Community and Data Safety at Kingston College.
That diploma opened the door to the cybersecurity world for me. I later accomplished a PhD in Laptop Science, the place I constructed and utilized machine studying algorithms to detect phishing assaults. And that’s how I discovered myself absolutely immersed within the cybersecurity trade.
What is likely one of the greatest challenges you may have confronted as a girl within the tech/cyber trade and the way did you overcome it?
One of many greatest challenges I confronted early in my profession was the dearth of visibility and steering. I didn’t have many ladies, not to mention girls who seemed like me, who have been forward of me in cybersecurity. With out that illustration, I realized largely by trial and error, and I’m certain I missed alternatives I didn’t even know existed. For instance, I began my MSc satisfied that “community safety” was the trail, solely to grasp later that my strengths and pursuits aligned much more with information safety. With a mentor, I’d have made these selections earlier and extra strategically.
One other ongoing problem has been balancing household life with the calls for of staying seen and aggressive in tech. I’m a mum of three, and on the identical time, I’m anticipated to publish, lead tasks, and say sure to alternatives that preserve me progressing. Imposter syndrome nonetheless reveals up sometimes, particularly in areas that stay closely male-dominated.
What has helped me overcome these challenges is a mix of help and intentionality. I’m lucky to have a deeply supportive accomplice, and Teesside College’s versatile working tradition, wellbeing help, and dedication to gender equality have made it doable for me to develop with out burning out. Over time, I’ve additionally realized to anchor myself in outcomes, particularly specializing in delivering robust outputs with confidence.
What are you doing to help different girls, and/or to extend range, within the tech/cyber trade?
A giant a part of my work is ensuring the subsequent technology of cybersecurity professionals, particularly girls and folks from underrepresented backgrounds, can see themselves on this area and really feel supported as they develop. I mentor by Kingston College’s Past Limitations programme, working one-to-one with college students from underrepresented backgrounds to assist them construct confidence, recognise their strengths, perceive their ability gaps, and plan their tutorial and profession journeys. Many merely want somebody who believes in them and may help them navigate a system not initially designed with them in thoughts.
I additionally created CipherSeen, a self-nominated, searchable listing designed to extend visibility and fairness in cybersecurity. It highlights professionals from underrepresented teams to allow them to be simply discovered for recruitment, talking engagements, panels, collaborations, and recognition alternatives.
Who has impressed you in your life/profession?
I’ve been impressed by many individuals all through my life and profession, however the very first supply of inspiration was myself. I grew up decided to create a distinct mindset and trajectory from what I noticed round me, and I needed my youthful siblings, nieces, and cousins to see that fields like computing and cybersecurity have been completely open to them, too.
Alongside the best way, I’ve been formed by so many others, particularly girls in STEM, even outdoors my area. Seeing girls excel in areas like physics, biology and arithmetic confirmed me what was doable lengthy earlier than I had the language or confidence to say it for myself.
My dad and mom have additionally been highly effective influences. My mum went to school with a number of kids in tow and nonetheless excelled, displaying me what resilience and ambition appear to be in actual life. My dad, sensible and forward of his time, pursued larger schooling in Nigeria when it was far much less widespread, and he by no means stopped pushing us to consider in our personal potential.
And immediately, I’m deeply impressed by my husband, Kennedy. He educated as a civil engineer however had the braveness to pivot into a brand new business-focused profession whereas finding out for an MBA. His willingness to reinvent himself jogs my memory that development is all the time doable.
All these individuals, and the teachings they mannequin, proceed to form how I present up in my work and in my life.
