Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards aim to shed light on the remarkable women in our industry. The following is a feature on one of 2026’s Top 20 women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. Presented in a Q&A format, the nominee’s answers are written in their own words.
In 2026, the awards were sponsored by BT, Bridewell, Plexal and Fidelity International. Community partners included WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH) and Seidea.
What does your job role entail?
In my role, I work in partnership with a wide range of external organisations to strengthen and diversify the talent pipeline coming into cyber and especially at entry level. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for people who may not have seen themselves in this industry before. Different perspectives make us stronger and more resilient as a sector, and the more voices we bring in, the better we become at tackling complex security challenges.
I also focus on championing BT’s reputation as a security employer. Not many people realise the scale of BT’s security capability, so I work to raise our profile, build meaningful relationships and show potential talent that BT is an exciting, inclusive place to grow a cyber career.
How did you get into the cybersecurity industry?
That’s quite a long story – I actually fell into cyber before we even called it cyber! Back then, everyone was still figuring out what the internet might mean for businesses and I was helping a customer with their marketing campaigns recruiting for information and digital security roles. Very quickly, I realised what a fascinating world it was: new roles were popping up all the time, threats getting smarter by the day and there was a buzz of an industry that was constantly reinventing itself. I loved the pace, the challenge and also the sense that the work really mattered.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in the tech/cyber industry and how did you overcome it?
One thing I will say straight away is this: it’s definitely not as tough as it was 20 years ago. The industry has matured, the culture has improved and there are far more women’s networks, allies and support systems than when I started. But that doesn’t mean the challenges have disappeared.
Like many women in cyber (and business generally, it’s not exclusive to tech! ), I’ve had my fair share of being talked over, underestimated, or having things explained to me that I absolutely already knew. Mansplaining is still alive and well – and yes, it’s still annoying! But over the years I’ve learned to pick my moments, hold my ground and let my work speak for itself.
I’m resilient, and I’ve built confidence through experience, but I’m also very aware that not everyone wants to fight those battles every day. And that’s why representation and creating inclusive environments matter so much. When you see women leading, shaping strategy and driving innovation, it shifts the culture for everyone coming behind them. That’s why I am really fortunate to work at BT, where soon, half of our executive leadership roles will be held by women. That’s something to celebrate!
So yes, the challenges are real, but they’re changing. And part of why I do the work I do now is to make sure the next generation doesn’t have to navigate the same barriers I did.
What are you doing to support other women, and/or to increase diversity, in the tech/cyber industry?
I’m really focused on making cyber feel open to everyone, because the industry is at its best when we’ve got a mix of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives. A lot of my work is about partnering with organisations who care about that just as much as I do. It’s been a great privilege to work with the NCSC’ s CyberFirst programme over the last few years, where we’re creating real career pathways and opportunities for young people who might never have imagined a future in cyber.
I’m also actively involved with community networks and organisations such as the brilliant student-led CyberWomen Groups CIC and the UK Cyber Leaders Challenge, that lift up women and under‑represented talent. These spaces matter, they give people confidence, connections and a sense of belonging, which is often the difference between someone stepping into the industry or stepping away from it. And of course we couldn’t do any of it without our allies cheering us on…
On the BT side, I’m constantly looking at how we show up as a security employer. People don’t always realise the scale or impact of our security work, so part of my role is making BT more visible and approachable to new talent. The more we can show that cyber has room for different voices, different strengths and different life stories, the more resilient we become as a sector.
Who has inspired you in your life/career?
As you can tell, I am really passionate about creating the opportunity for a career in cyber and one of the greatest privileges of my career has been knowing I helped bring some of the brightest talent into the sector. Watching their careers take off has been incredibly rewarding, it still gives me a real spark! When BT ran an internal re-skilling programme in cyber, partnering with CAPSLOCK it delivered some of the most life changing experiences for my colleagues and I couldn’t be more proud of what they have gone on to achieve. For me, it’s not about the seniority of your role or your job title that makes you inspiring. It’s about ordinary people, doing extraordinary things and showing up each and every day – sometimes in the most difficult of circumstances – that’s what I find inspiring!
