Celebrating the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber – and the Power of Community
With International Women’s Day over the weekend, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on an evening that truly celebrated the incredible women shaping the cybersecurity industry.
On 26th February, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards 2026 brought together leaders, innovators and rising stars from across the global cyber community at the iconic BT Tower in London. The ceremony recognised 21 exceptional women and five ‘Ones to Watch’, highlighting their achievements, leadership and contributions to making the cyber industry more inclusive and impactful.
Organised by Eskenzi PR, and supported by sponsors Fidelity International, Plexal, Bridewell and BT, the awards showcased the remarkable breadth of talent in cybersecurity today.
But beyond the awards themselves, the evening was something more: a celebration of community, support and the collective drive to make cybersecurity a space where everyone can thrive.
A night to remember at the BT Tower
The event started with the awards ceremony in the BT Tower auditorium and recognised women working across the cybersecurity ecosystem, from CISOs and researchers to entrepreneurs, educators and consultants. The judging panel had the difficult task of selecting winners from more than 200 nominations, demonstrating just how much talent exists within the community.
Guests were then invited for drinks and food up at the top of the tower on the 34th floor following a short ride on the high-speed elevator. The views were spectacular, but as one attendee said, “I hardly took in the view as I was having so many good conversations!”
Women supporting women
One of the most memorable moments of the night came during the panel discussion chaired by Yvonne Eskenzi, Co-Founder of Eskenzi PR.
The panel featuring Janette Bonar Law, Dr. Valerie Lyons, Jess Matthews, Cheryl Martin and Lorna Armitage explored topics such as authentic leadership, knowing your value and navigating a career in cybersecurity.
One sentiment echoed strongly throughout the discussion:
“There’s nothing better than women supporting women.”
And that feeling could truly be felt throughout the room. The atmosphere was filled with encouragement, celebration and shared purpose; a real reminder that progress in cybersecurity is driven not only by innovation but by community.
Celebrating inspiring role models
The winners of this year’s awards represent a diverse and inspiring group of professionals who are shaping the future of cybersecurity.
Among those recognised were leaders such as Indu Sajeev (CISO at ASOS), Sonia Kumar (Senior Director of Cyber Security at Analog Devices), Charlotte Wilson (Check Point Software), and Dr. Valerie Lyons (BH Consulting), alongside innovators, founders and analysts working across the global cyber ecosystem.
Their stories highlight technical excellence as well as mentorship, advocacy and leadership within the industry.
As award winner Sonia Kumar said:
“Being recognised alongside so many incredible women is a reminder of how far our industry has come, and how much opportunity still lies ahead.”
Adenike Ajayi-Iweka, Security Consultant at Accenture, described the award as recognition of her journey and motivation to continue making an impact in cybersecurity.
Spotlighting the next generation
In addition to the Top 21 winners, the awards also highlighted five ‘Ones to Watch’, emerging professionals who are already making a significant mark on the industry. Bridewell very kindly provided us a “bursary” to be able to get all the ones to watch to the event as well as a stay at a local hotel.
Recognising early-career talent is vital for ensuring cybersecurity continues to grow as an inclusive and forward-thinking field. Initiatives like this help highlight role models for the next generation of cyber professionals.
Why keeping these awards going is crucial to progress
Cybersecurity protects the digital world we all rely on. But the industry is strongest when it benefits from diverse perspectives, experiences and ideas.
Awards such as the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber play an important role in:
- Celebrating achievements across the industry
- Highlighting role models and mentors
- Encouraging more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity
- Building a stronger, more inclusive community
As Yvonne Eskenzi reflected on the evening:
“I am continually blown away by the achievements of women in this industry and our ability to come together as a community to celebrate and empower one another.”
Looking ahead
International Women’s Day reminds us that while progress has been made, there is still work to be done to close the gender gap in cybersecurity.
Events like the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards demonstrate the power of recognition, mentorship and community in driving that change.
And if the atmosphere of this event is anything to go by, the future of cybersecurity is not only incredibly talented, it’s also collaborative, supportive and inspiring.
If you want to get involved next year, drop us a line and we’ll be happy to speak! We’ll also be looking for a new venue as it’s the last one before the BT Tower gets turned into a hotel – what a good run we had for four years!