Two women on stage at an event holding an award statue.

Like many others of my generation, I fell into cyber by chance as much as anything else. At the time, I was teaching IT at a Further Education College, and we had just agreed to run a franchised Foundation Degree in Information Security from the nearby University. I was asked if I would take the role of Programme Leader, so I drew on my love for learning and spent the summer doing an online Network Security course and getting myself up to speed on the course content. After several successful years delivering the course I moved to the University as a lecturer, soon taking on the Head of Subject role, where I was responsible for all courses offered by the cyber security team, all the time developing my understanding and knowledge by taking online courses and reading books, journal articles and news reports on the subject.

Whilst at the University my interests began to extend beyond just course delivery. I got involved in outreach, taking cyber security activities to local schools and colleges, and developing a relationship with the CyberFirst programme at the National Cyber Security Centre. I also began to engage more with industry, and it was through these things that I realised there was a huge gender divide in the sector. This led me to set up the Women in Cyber network, and is what attracted me to join the Outreach and Diversity working group when the then new UK Cyber Security Council was being formed.

I have enjoyed everything my career has offered me, but if I had to pick a few highlights they would be hosting the Women in Cyber networking breakfasts at CyberUK, which came about when I cheekily asked someone at the NCSC whether they’d let me run an event alongside CyberUK when it came to Wales; and the Women in Cyber Conference I ran for the first time this year. Seeing women get together in large numbers, talking about a subject they love, showcasing incredible talent, and giving them an opportunity to connect with each other feels like a really tangible and valuable outcome of the activities I do.

It’s also been a very memorable year for me, as I was invited to Buckingham Palace in May for the King’s Garden Party for my services to the sector, and opening the email telling me that the UK Cyber Security Council had nominated me for their National Cyber Award was of course, an absolutely brilliant moment. I must have read and re-read the email a dozen times! Winning was the icing on the cake, and I have felt a huge range of emotions, from feeling very humble and privileged, through to feeling incredibly proud.

The event itself was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues, and to meet new people connected to the sector. Celebrating the achievements of so many different people, all contributing to cyber security in their own way contributed to a real buzz at the event. The community is a close knit one, as we all have the same end goal – to protect our nation from cyber threats – and I think this is something that naturally brings us together. I particularly enjoyed conversations with Bryan Lillie and Debi McCormack, who I was sitting with, Emma Philpott, who I admire greatly, and the infamous and very lovely Joe Wells, who’s TryHackMe journey has been a feature of most peoples’ day for the past year! It was also a great privilege to meet Dr Claudia Natanson MBE, who presented the award to me.

I could not have predicted how my career would turn out when I was younger. Cyber security wasn’t a ‘thing’ back then, but my love for technology, for solving problems and an unending desire to learn and understand things are why it is such a good fit for me. I also think that my music degree has helped bring a more creative angle to my work. I have technical skills, having studied programming part time along the way, but I probably approach problems in a different way to a purely technical person.

One of the key takeaways I have is that I have taken opportunities when they have arisen. So when I’ve been asked to do something different, whether that has been to teach a new course in an area I don’t know well, join industry round tables, or speak at an event, I’m always keen to be involved. This has helped grow my own network and continue to develop my knowledge. I’d encourage anyone thinking of joining the sector to broaden their knowledge by connecting with others on social media, by continuing their learning and by always being open to opportunities. It is an exciting, fast-paced and welcoming industry, and I feel very lucky to be involved in it.

You can get involved with the Women in Cyber network by signing up for our newsletter. We are based in Wales but have reach across the UK.