Cybersecurity has always needed to be a forward-thinking industry, given the fast-paced nature of the job and rapidly evolving threats.

So why has the industry struggled for so long to shake off its reputation of being an impenetrable boy’s club? Misconceptions (such as the lingering caricatured image of men coding in hoodies) have alienated a huge segment of the population from even considering a career move into the field – notably women.

In 2022, a KnowBe4-sponsored report found that women only make up 25% of the cybersecurity workforce, up a staggering 15% on 2013. Clearly work is being done to break down the barriers of entry into cybersecurity but more needs to be done. Now is the time to pick up momentum.

One of the crucial elements of making cybersecurity appeal to women is to show them the possibilities, by highlighting role models for them to aspire to. Specifically, role models who have had demonstrable success in the sector or are driving the changes necessary to redress the current imbalance. This is why we’ve created the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards.

We can’t be what we can’t see.

We ask the public to nominate candidates from around the globe, with the final Top 20 Women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. A profile on each of these Top 20 Women is then published with our media partner, the IT Security Guru, which receives over 45,000 views every month.

Now in its 5th year, the awards are set to take place on the 26th of February at the spectacular BT Tower, thanks to BT’s continued support of the event.

During the awards ceremony, panel discussions take place featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. These conversations stretch far further than gender. It’s also a chance for up-and-coming talent to ask questions and network.

All nominees are invited, and they are welcome to bring a plus one – someone the nominee believes would benefit from a networking event such as this (e.g. a mentee, colleague etc.). In the past, we have also live-streamed the event for those who are unable to attend in person.

This event is uplifting, well respected, and valued by the community. It aims to recognise women in the industry not just for being women in cybersecurity but for being genuine trailblazers who are changing the face of the industry and inspiring a new generation.

Sponsored By

In partnership with

2025 Winners

Dr. Stav Elbar

Software Engineer at Google

Lennig Pedron

CEO of Trust Valley

Anmol Agarwal

Senior Security Researcher at Nokia

Indu Sajeev

CISO of ASOS

Nkiruka Joy Aimienoho

CISO at Standard Chartered Bank

Evin McMullen

CISO and Co-Founder of Billions Network

Nicole Bucala

CEO of DataBee; General Manager & VP2 at Comcast Corp

Motunrayo Fransisca Ogundipe

Cyber SOC Analyst at TikTok

Dr. Valerie Lyons

COO of BH Consulting

Meera Tamboli

Digital Forensics and Incident Response Analyst at Aveva

Moona Ederveen-Schneider

Founder and CEO of Resilia Connect

Harriet Farlow

Founder and CEO of Mileva Security Labs

Funke Omolere

Senior Technology Compliance Product Owner at Adobe

Kerlyn Manyi

Penetration Tester and Founder of CyberFoundHer Initiative

Dr. Chi Opara

Lecturer in Computer Science at Teesside University

Charlotte Wilson

Head of Enterprise Business UK&I at Check Point Software

Sonia Kumar

Senior Director of Cyber Security at Analog Devices

Laura Price

Outreach and Skills Partnerships at BT

Catherine Knibbs

Cybertrauma Specialist, Author and CEO of Children & Technology

Adenike Ajayi-Iweka

Security Consultant at Accenture

Laura Kaung

Information Security Manager & Group DPO at Next Generation Security

ONES TO WATCH

Yasmeen Bey

IT Cybersecurity Apprentice at Volkswagen Group UK Ltd

Gizem Acar Tekin

CEO and Co-Founder of Photarix

Amelia Hewitt

Co-Founder and Director of Cyber Consulting at Principle Defence

Amelia Javed

Chair and Founder of Manchester Intelligence Society

Rebecca Lindley

Senior Cyber Consultant at Deloitte Ireland

2025 Winners

Dr. Eirini Anthi

Senior Cybersecurity Security Leader at Cardiff University

Jennifer Odogwu

Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact at Mimecast

Marine Ruhamanya

Consulting Cyber Security Senior Manager at Accenture

Michelle Corrigan

Director at Digital Care Hub

Vladlena Benson

Professor, Aston Centre, Aston University

Annabel Turner

Founder of CyberSafe Scotland

Jess Matthews

Compliance Governance Officer at Acacium Group Ltd.

Lisa Landau

CEO of ThreatLight

Rafah Knight

CEO and Founder of SecureAI

Katie Beecroft

Associate Director of Risk and Security, Cyber and Infosec at Fidelity International

Helen Oluyemi,

Information Security Manager at Pollinate International Limited

Eva Benn

Chief of Staff, Strategy – Microsoft Red Team

Danu Sivapalan

Senior Product Manager, Identity & Access Management, at Sainsbury’s

Anastasiia Ostravska

Co-Founder & CEO Women’s Leadership and Strategic Initiatives Foundation (WLSIF), Co-Founder Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum, Communications Advisor National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCSCC) under The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine

Esther Edonkumoh

Senior Special Risk Analyst at Bank of England

Didar Gelici

Security Leader at SHe CISO Exec

Tammi Robson

Director of Information Security and Technology at The Labour Party

Dr. Mamoona Asghar

Lecturer at the University of Galway

Sophia McCall

Strategic Threat Intelligence Lead at NCC Group

Stephanie Itimi

Chair of Seidea

ONES TO WATCH

Katie McGuire and Kirsti Price

The Cyber Helpline volunteers

Kiranjit Kaur Shergill

Graduate Technology Developer at Barclays

Sochima Okoye

Cyber Security Consultant at CSA Cyber

Caroline Kamper

Strategic Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at SecAlliance

2026 Virtual Event