Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Safety Guru, the Most Inspiring Ladies in Cyber Awards intention to make clear the exceptional girls in our business. 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 had been sponsored by BT, Bridewell, Plexal and Constancy Worldwide. Group companions included WiCyS UK & Eire Affiliate, Ladies in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH) and Seidea.
What does your job function entail?
The function of Senior Director for Cyber Defence and Cyber Testing leads the organisation’s strategic posture in opposition to subtle and rising cyber threats. My remit spans safety operations, menace detection, incident response, and menace intelligence, guaranteeing 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 sturdy understanding of real-world publicity throughout crucial methods. By a mix of technical experience and strategic management, I drives enterprise-wide enhancements in safety maturity, operational readiness, and danger administration. I accomplice 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 gained sponsorship to start a Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Defence and Info 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 type of orgs – Vodafone Group – took a bet, by providing me the function of cyber menace intelligence analyst which I took up in 2016, taking an enormous pay minimize 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 abilities or accreditations.
What is among the greatest challenges you may have confronted as a girl 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 lady within the bodily or digital room with an viewers that doesn’t know me, I’ve to work exhausting to get my level throughout or to be given the respect I deserve. For instance – I bear in mind a couple of years in the past being given a demo of a platform while I used to be in a earlier function of International Head of Cyber Defence. After the demo, the gross sales rep requested me once we could be doing the demo with my boss and when “he” is likely to be accessible.
What are you doing to assist different girls, and/or to extend variety, within the tech/cyber business?
I constructed and led a International Cyber Defence Incident Administration workforce for Vodafone Group. It was one of the crucial various 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 pleased with. My ardour is teaching and mentoring others. I’ve been a part of quite a few mentoring packages together with Profession Accelerator which gives actual world assist to 13–16 year-old college students from various backgrounds equivalent to BAME and LGBTQ+. I helped mentees improve their future prospects within the Digital Sector via mild but sincere mentoring. I used to be additionally a part of Mission Embody which is a world 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 fashion initiative geared toward connecting tertiary college students with professionals within the cybersecurity area, fostering abilities and networks important for future challenges within the cyber panorama. The problem focuses on recruiting various expertise and equipping individuals with the talents wanted to navigate an more and more complicated menace setting. It emphasises collaboration amongst authorities, business, and academia to assist college students from all backgrounds in changing 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 professional. I additionally sit as a director for ENUs Scholar 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
