Dispatches from the 9th Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards

This Wednesday, the Eskenzi PR team and their friends from across the cybersecurity industry gathered a stone’s throw from the iconic 140 year old Smithfields Market for one of the highlights of the Eskenzi calendar: The Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards.  These awards, which the Eskenzi team began working on over 9 years ago, is a chance for the cybersecurity to celebrate those who work to keep us safe and secure, but often do so from the shadows: Away from industry speaking slots, glitzy conferences and coveted slots on podcasts, there are thousands of cyber professionals working diligently, and without complaint or reward, for our industry. The Unsung Heroes is about them, and here’s the full list of winners! 

• Cyber Writer:

Geoff White, author of multiple books on cybercrime and the murky world of the Dark Web  High commended: Mollie Chard, head of cyber defence at OVO

• Best Educator

Carolyn Yates, Lead tutor and head of wellbeing at CAPSLOCK 

• Data Guardian

Harry Wilson, Head of Information Security at Williams Racing 

• CISO Supremo 

Dr. Mary Haigh, CISO at BAE Systems

• Diversity Champion

Emma Mallett, lead ambassador Exeter for WiTCH

• Security Leader/Mentor

Jennifer Cox, Director for Ireland at WiCyS UK & Ireland

• Rising Star 

Rhiannon Fairweather, branch manager at CyberWomen Groups CIC

• Cybersecurity Wellbeing Advocate

Cyber House Party team 

• Best Security Awareness Campaign

The SWEBOTS, Girl Guiding South West England

• Security Avengers

OVO Energy Attack Surface Management Team 

• Best Ethical Hacker/Pentester 

Josh Hickling, principal consultant at Pentest People

• Godmother of Security 

Jessica Figueras, CEO at Pionen  Perhaps the most exciting thing about these results, beside the fact that they represent a huge endorsement for the vitality and dynamism within our industry, is the demographics they reflect.  In an industry which has historically been overwhelmingly male, 7 of our 12 winners trophies – almost 60% – were awarded to women. This represents a sea-change for the cybersecurity industry from a diversity perspective, and shows that a workforce which reflects the diversity of cyber talent is not on the way, but is already here!  To top the night off, the annual NSPCC raffle at the Awards show successfully raised £350!  For more information about the Security Serious Unsung Heroes awards, and how you can support, either with sponsorship or nominations in the future, see here