Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Safety Guru, the Most Inspiring Girls in Cyber Awards goal to make clear the exceptional girls in our business. The next is a function on certainly one of 2026’s High 20 girls chosen by an esteemed panel of judges. Offered 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 position entail?
The position of Senior Director for Cyber Defence and Cyber Testing leads the organisation’s strategic posture towards refined and rising cyber threats. My remit spans safety operations, risk detection, incident response, and risk intelligence, making certain the enterprise maintains a proactive and resilient defence mannequin.
I additionally direct the organisation’s cyber testing and assurance programmes—together with penetration testing, pink teaming, and steady safety validation—offering a strong understanding of real-world publicity throughout vital techniques. By way of a mix of technical experience and strategic management, I drives enterprise-wide enhancements in safety maturity, operational readiness, and danger administration. I companion throughout know-how, enterprise, and governance groups to make sure safety capabilities are scalable, efficient, and aligned with organisational priorities.
How did you get into the cybersecurity business?
I used to be engaged on a army base for the UK MOD in 2014 when everybody was speaking about cyber warfare and cyber defence – principally within the army context. That piqued my curiosity and I received sponsorship to start a Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Defence and Data Assurance. On the similar time, I despatched my CV off to 2 orgs for 2 jobs which I in all probability wasn’t certified to do. A kind of orgs – Vodafone Group – took a bet, by providing me the position of cyber risk intelligence analyst which I took up in 2016, taking an enormous pay lower within the course of. Since then it has been onwards and upwards. I moved into the cybersecurity business with no cyber background, no IT background, no technical expertise or accreditations.
What is without doubt one of the largest challenges you could have confronted as a lady within the tech/cyber business and the way did you overcome it?
The most important problem that I proceed to face is being listened to and heard. If I’m the one girl within the bodily or digital room with an viewers that doesn’t know me, I’ve to work onerous to get my level throughout or to be given the respect I deserve. As an instance – I bear in mind just a few years in the past being given a demo of a platform while I used to be in a earlier position of World Head of Cyber Defence. After the demo, the gross sales rep requested me once we can be doing the demo with my boss and when “he” is perhaps accessible.
What are you doing to help different girls, and/or to extend variety, within the tech/cyber business?
I constructed and led a World Cyber Defence Incident Administration workforce for Vodafone Group. It was some of the numerous groups throughout the operate – not simply when it comes to gender however for ethnicity, faith, sexuality and neurodiversity. It’s one thing that I’m most happy with. My ardour is teaching and mentoring others. I’ve been a part of quite a few mentoring applications together with Profession Accelerator which offers actual world help to 13–16 year-old college students from numerous backgrounds similar to BAME and LGBTQ+. I helped mentees improve their future prospects within the Digital Sector by means of mild but sincere mentoring. I used to be additionally a part of Mission Embody which is a worldwide cross firm, cross-sector mentoring programme for the aim of making change and advancing variety and inclusion at senior ranges.
I’m an business decide for the Cyber Leaders’ Problem – a contest type initiative geared toward connecting tertiary college students with professionals within the cybersecurity subject, fostering expertise and networks important for future challenges within the cyber panorama. The problem focuses on recruiting numerous expertise and equipping contributors with the talents wanted to navigate an more and more complicated risk setting. It emphasises collaboration amongst authorities, business, and academia to help college students from all backgrounds in turning into the subsequent technology of cybersecurity leaders.
I give again to the younger expertise in Edinburgh and to Edinburgh Napier College (ENU) the place I used to be an undergraduate 1993-1997. I sit as a non-exec director for ENUs Board as its Digital Know-how material skilled. I additionally sit as a director for ENUs Pupil Affiliation. The Edinburgh Napier College students’ Affiliation (ENSA) is the scholar union for all college students at Edinburgh Napier College.
Who has impressed you in your life/profession?
In my profession – that’s a simple one – Emma Smith, Cyber Safety and Know-how Director
