Subsequent month, the annual Most Inspiring Ladies in Cyber Awards will happen at The BT Tower, London, celebrating a number of the {industry}’s most inspirational – and oftentimes unsung – ladies.
Sponsored by Constancy Worldwide, BT, Plexal and Bridewell, and proudly supported by industry-leading range teams WiTCH, WiCyS UK&I and Seidea, the 2026 occasion is ready to be greater than ever. To verify everybody has had the prospect to appoint, we’ve prolonged the nomination deadline till the sixteenth January 2026, 5pm GMT.
For now, it’s time to introduce our 2026 judges, who’ve the exceptionally arduous process of choosing this 12 months’s high 20 and 5 ones to observe…
- Yasemin Mustafa, Director of the Cyber Safety Portfolio at BT
- Adam Haylock, Head of International Cyber and Data Safety Division at Constancy Worldwide
- Rebecca Taylor, Co-Creator of Co-Creator of Securely Yours: An Agony Aunts’ Information To Surviving Cyber, and Menace Intelligence Data Supervisor and Researcher at Sophos
- Adaora Uche, GRC Lead at THG (representing Seidea)
- Joanne Elieli, Cyber Lead and Litigation Associate at Stephenson Harwood LLP
- Diane Gilbert, Senior Lead for Programmes at Plexal
- Yvonne Eskenzi, Co-Founding father of Eskenzi PR and Founding father of The Most Inspiring Ladies in Cyber Awards
- Jennifer Cox, Director of Options Engineering, EMEA and APAC, at Tines (representing WiCyS UK&I)
- Hannah Arnold, London Ambassador for WiTCH – Ladies in Tech & Cyber Hub
The Gurus spoke to a few of our judges in regards to the 2026 awards and what they’re searching for in utility.
Adaora Uche, GRC Lead at THG
Why are initiatives like this so necessary?
Initiatives like this matter as a result of visibility modifications chance. Cybersecurity remains to be an {industry} the place many ladies don’t see themselves mirrored in management, technical authority, or decision-making roles. By deliberately spotlighting ladies who’re doing impactful work, we problem outdated perceptions of who belongs in cyber and what success seems like.
Past recognition, these initiatives create position fashions, momentum, and neighborhood. They validate the work ladies are already doing – usually quietly and behind the scenes, and assist open doorways for others who’re earlier of their journeys. Illustration is not only symbolic, it’s a highly effective driver for inclusion, retention, and long-term change in our {industry}.
Why ought to folks nominate?
Individuals ought to nominate as a result of inspiration usually goes unrecognised until somebody speaks up. A lot impactful work in cybersecurity occurs behind the scenes. Significantly in governance, threat, privateness, and safety management, the place success usually seems like issues prevented, dangers mitigated, or the suitable questions being requested early. This sort of impression doesn’t at all times entice consideration, however it’s crucial.
A nomination is greater than an accolade; it’s an act of recognition and encouragement. It tells somebody that their work issues, that they’re seen, and that their journey can encourage others. Nominating additionally helps broaden the narrative of cybersecurity by showcasing various paths, backgrounds, and contributions that may in any other case go unnoticed.
What makes an ‘inspiring lady’ in cyber in your eyes?
At the start, I consider each lady in cybersecurity is inspiring. Merely displaying up every day to assist make the digital world safer, usually in advanced, high-pressure environments, is really heroic.
An inspiring lady in cyber creates impression whereas lifting others as she progresses. She could also be a technical knowledgeable, a strategist, a frontrunner, or an educator, however what units her aside is function, resilience, and a dedication to creating the area higher than she discovered it. She doesn’t simply reply to challenges, she anticipates them, questions the established order, and contributes to safer, extra moral, and extra inclusive digital environments.
She doesn’t have to dominate the room to guide. Her credibility comes from consistency, thoughtfulness, and sound judgement. It additionally stems from her unwavering dedication to constructing techniques and groups which might be safe, resilient, and future-ready. Importantly, she makes use of her voice, whether or not in boardrooms, school rooms, or communities to share information, mentor others, and make cybersecurity extra accessible and human.
Adam Haylock, Head of International Cyber and Data Safety Division at Constancy Worldwide
Why are initiatives like this so necessary?
I usually discover myself in conferences counting the variety of male versus feminine attendees. Too usually, there are just one or two ladies within the room, surrounded by many extra males.
In cyber, many males take without any consideration that they don’t have to beat that preliminary sense of standing out earlier than even contributing to the dialogue or holding their floor. Whereas we’re making some progress in addressing the gender imbalance, initiatives like this are very important in protecting the highlight on a problem that also issues deeply. They assist encourage extra ladies to place themselves ahead, notably the place they might beforehand have hesitated, and to really feel recognised and valued for the excellent work they do, inspiring others alongside the best way.
Why ought to folks nominate?
Nominations reinforce the worth that feminine expertise brings to our area. Range of thought, strategy and communication is crucial in cyber, a self-discipline that’s as a lot about tradition and behavior as it’s about expertise.
Recognising and celebrating feminine expertise strengthens that worth proposition, particularly when nominations come from male colleagues who see first-hand, and depend on, the experience and impression that ladies deliver to our groups.
What makes an ‘inspiring lady’ in cyber in your eyes?
Being within the minority in any surroundings can create invisible obstacles and perceptions which might be troublesome to beat. For me, an inspiring lady in cyber – a male-dominated area – is somebody keen to step exterior her consolation zone, strive new issues, take dangers, and study from setbacks.
Standing out in a male-dominated surroundings requires actual braveness, and that braveness is inspiring in itself. We want extra seen position fashions like this to draw extra ladies into cyber and to point out that it’s a area the place they will thrive, really feel valued, and construct rewarding careers.
Rebecca Taylor, Co-Creator of Securely Yours: An Agony Aunts’ Information To Surviving Cyber, and Menace Intelligence Data Supervisor and Researcher at Sophos
Why are initiatives like this so necessary?
Initiatives just like the ‘Most Inspiring Ladies in Cyber Awards 2026’ are so necessary as a result of they shine a light-weight on ladies who’re undertaking wonderful issues in an {industry} that’s nonetheless largely male-dominated. Recognising these achievements in an inclusive and protected manner helps guarantee ladies really feel seen, valued, and celebrated for his or her experience and impression.
Past particular person recognition, these initiatives additionally create seen position fashions. Seeing ladies celebrated for his or her achievements evokes others to enter the sector, keep within the {industry}, and intention greater. It helps problem outdated stereotypes, builds confidence, and fosters a stronger sense of neighborhood and belonging.
In the end, celebrating ladies in cyber isn’t nearly awards – It’s about altering tradition. It encourages fairness, boosts morale, and helps construct a extra various, inclusive, and resilient cybersecurity {industry} for everybody.
Why ought to folks nominate?
Individuals ought to nominate as a result of recognition issues! Nominating is a strong strategy to have fun ladies who’re undertaking wonderful issues and making an actual impression. Do not forget that a nomination (not to mention a win!) can increase confidence, open doorways to new alternatives, and remind somebody that their work actually issues. Get these entries in!
What makes an ‘inspiring lady’ in cyber in your eyes?
In my eyes, an ‘inspiring lady in cyber’ is somebody who brings others with them into the dialog. They elevate folks up, share information, and create area for others to study, develop, and really feel they belong. They wish to depart a constructive footprint, not simply by their work, however by the best way they assist and encourage these round them. They’re a task mannequin, somebody who reveals what’s attainable and evokes others to observe their very own path in cyber with confidence and function.
It isn’t about cash, job titles, or seniority. It’s about impression. An inspiring lady is prospering in what they do, and you may see that they genuinely love their work. That zeal is contagious and motivating to others.
Joanne Elieli, Cyber Lead and Litigation Associate at Stephenson Harwood LLP at Stephenson Harwood LLP
Why are initiatives like this so necessary?
Initiatives like this are instrumental in recognising and celebrating the achievements of ladies in cybersecurity, serving to to lift their visibility and encourage others. These initiatives encourage range, problem stereotypes, and may empower the ladies being recognised to remain and advance within the area. By offering networking alternatives and driving constructive {industry} change, initiatives like this may additionally assist to create a extra inclusive and revolutionary cyber sector.
Why ought to folks nominate?
Nominating ladies within the cyber {industry} is a significant strategy to recognise and have fun their experience, dedication, and achievements. Formal nominations assist to deliver the contributions of our distinctive ladies to gentle, guaranteeing they obtain the appreciation they deserve. This visibility can encourage different ladies and ladies to pursue careers in cybersecurity, which in flip fosters a extra various and inclusive {industry}.
What makes an ‘inspiring lady’ in cyber in your eyes?
An inspiring lady in cyber, in my eyes, is somebody who demonstrates distinctive ability and dedication to her work whereas additionally uplifting and supporting others within the {industry}. She is keen about fixing advanced issues and is raring to study and adapt in a quickly altering {industry}. Past her technical skills, she actively shares her information, mentors others, and advocates for range and inclusion. Her resilience in overcoming challenges and her willingness to interrupt new floor make her a task mannequin for each present and future generations in cybersecurity.
Jennifer Cox, Director of Options Engineering, EMEA/APAC, at Tines
Why are initiatives like this so necessary?
Ladies’s illustration in cybersecurity nonetheless has quite a lot of floor to cowl, and initiatives like this shine a light-weight on those that are making an impression each technically and culturally. Recognition not solely celebrates achievement but additionally helps change perceptions; it reveals the following era that there’s area for them right here, irrespective of their background or neurotype. After we platform various voices, we speed up innovation and make our {industry} stronger, extra inclusive, and extra human.
Why ought to folks nominate?
Nominating somebody is a straightforward however highly effective act of allyship and pleasure. Many good ladies in cyber are so centered on lifting others up or doing the arduous, usually invisible work that they hardly ever cease to have fun themselves. A nomination says, “I see you, I worth what you’re doing, and also you’re shaping this {industry}.” You by no means know who would possibly want that encouragement to maintain going or step into an excellent greater position, and for different ladies simply beginning their cybersecurity careers visibility of those trailblazers and their capabilities is essential.
What makes an ‘inspiring lady’ in cyber in your eyes?
For me, an inspiring lady in cyber is somebody who leads with each competence and compassion. She’s technically grounded, however she additionally makes use of her voice and place to create space for others; particularly these whose tales aren’t usually heard. She’s genuine, curious, resilient, and never afraid to problem the norm. Above all, she reveals that success in cybersecurity isn’t about becoming a mould; it’s about rewriting it so extra folks can belong.
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You possibly can nominate right here.
