From music to cyber security, this month’s spotlight is on a career driven by passion and inclusivity. From IT teaching to cyber security, she founded Women in Cyber to address the gender gap. Now 500+ strong, the network thrives alongside her role at ITSUS Consulting, industry awards, and advocacy for women in cyber.
Can you share an overview of your career journey and how you came into the field of cyber security?
Getting into the cyber security sector was accidental, as my initial studies were in music, but a passion for technology and keen interest in computing led me into teaching IT, firstly as a side-line, and later as a career. When an opportunity to lead a new information security programme at the college I was teaching at came up, I was encouraged to take it, and from there I gradually moved into a solely cyber security teaching role.
Images from the Resilient Futures: Women in Cyber Conference 2025
What motivated you to be involved with Cyber Wales and how did that lead into developing Women in Cyber?
I quickly became fascinated by cyber security, and took every opportunity to engage with the sector that I could. Being able to join the Cyber Wales meetings was a great opportunity to network, learn more about the variety of cyber security issues in the sector and develop my skills, and I attended regularly for some years. When I took on the role of Head of Cyber Security Education at the University of South Wales, I began to notice the lack of women at those meetings, and indeed at all the other meetings I was being invited to, and from there I set up the Women in Cyber network, not really expecting much interest, but it seemed to hit the mark, and our growth has been consistent ever since.
What does your career to date look like? Where did you start and what are your ambitions for the future?
In terms of ambitions for the future… who knows! If you’d have asked me 5 years ago where I would be today, I would never have guessed that I’d be running a network with over 500 members, putting conferences together and hosting an annual event at CyberUK. I’d like to see the network continue to grow – whether as Women in Cyber Unlimited or in any other format. The important thing is that the network is there, in whatever form that takes.
How do you prioritise tasks and manage the diverse challenges that come with running a not-for-profit?
I do have a paid day job at ITSUS Consulting, so that always comes first. That means I can slot in women in cyber activities if I have quiet times, but when we’re busy at work, or when I have a lot of activities on for the network, I ensure I do these in my own time. ITSUS are brilliantly supportive, but it’s very important to me that I don’t take advantage of that. It does mean I might reply to messages late at night or very early in the morning, but I do try and reply to everything!
Can you provide an example of a significant project or initiative you’ve led that had a substantial impact on your region’s ecosystem?
I think this would probably be the conference that I started in 2024.
Bringing together so many women in one room, where the theme is cyber security, and not focused on diversity alone, is something I’m very proud of. I’d like to see a day when such events aren’t needed, but sadly we are some way off that yet. And whilst the big events bring attention to the network, meaning more women are aware of us and will join, it’s very often the smaller events where meaningful relationships are built between individuals that are just as valuable and have just as much impact.
What skills or knowledge areas do you think are key to being such a fantastic ambassador for Women in Cyber?
Having taught and worked in a variety of cyber security areas, I have developed the confidence to discuss cyber security issues and I’d like to think I’m reasonably competent on the technical front. But I think the most important skill I have is the ability to network effectively. Whilst some people don’t like the term networking or its implications, I love chatting to people, and I really love connecting them. Being able to listen to someone’s issues – whether they are technical challenges or ones around career development or mentoring – and then being able to connect them to someone who can help is hugely gratifying. I like helping people I suppose, so that drives me to continue.
What’s one of your proudest achievements with Women in Cyber so far?
There are several things here for me. I’m very proud of bringing the networking breakfast to CyberUK. When I asked to run one of our meetings there a number of years ago, I really didn’t expect the NCSC to agree, but they did, and now it’s a regular feature at the event, attracting sponsorship – a real ‘pinch me’ feeling. I’m also very proud of winning the UK Cyber Security Council’s award for services to the Public Sector at the National Cyber Awards, and in the same year being invited to the King’s Garden Party. Both were a real honour for me.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced leading such a fast growing organisation? How did you overcome them?
Some of the biggest challenges are also the most mundane. For example, switching from emailing my newsletter to a proper mailing platform filled me with dread, but after my mail server blacklisted me for spamming people, and I had to try and send newsletters by staggering them in blocks of 30 people at a time, I got to a point where I needed a better solution. And things like managing the conference admin can be quite onerous, though not difficult. But the value I get from the outcomes of getting these things right makes the effort worthwhile.
How do you envision Women in Cyber Unlimited evolving in the next 3–5 years?
I’d really just like to see the network continue to grow and be useful to people. There are more and more networks popping up for women in the sector and women in STEM, and this is brilliant. Whilst I’d love Women in Cyber to continue to be one of those networks, the most important thing is that the networks exist, under any banner. If I’m still part of it then that will be a bonus.
