Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards aim to shed light on the remarkable women in our industry. The following is a feature on one of 2026’s Top 20 women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. Presented in a Q&A format, the nominee’s answers are written in their own words.
In 2026, the awards were sponsored by BT, Bridewell, Plexal and Fidelity International. Community partners included WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH) and Seidea.
What does your job role entail?
The role of Senior Director for Cyber Defence and Cyber Testing leads the organisation’s strategic posture against sophisticated and emerging cyber threats. My remit spans security operations, threat detection, incident response, and threat intelligence, ensuring the business maintains a proactive and resilient defence model.
I also direct the organisation’s cyber testing and assurance programmes—including penetration testing, red teaming, and continuous security validation—providing a robust understanding of real-world exposure across critical systems. Through a blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership, I drives enterprise-wide improvements in security maturity, operational readiness, and risk management. I partner across technology, business, and governance teams to ensure security capabilities are scalable, effective, and aligned with organisational priorities.
How did you get into the cybersecurity industry?
I was working on a military base for the UK MOD in 2014 when everyone was talking about cyber warfare and cyber defence – mostly in the military context. That piqued my interest and I won sponsorship to begin a Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Defence and Information Assurance. At the same time, I sent my CV off to two orgs for two jobs which I probably wasn’t qualified to do. One of those orgs – Vodafone Group – took a gamble, by offering me the role of cyber threat intelligence analyst which I took up in 2016, taking a huge pay cut in the process. Since then it has been onwards and upwards. I moved into the cybersecurity industry with no cyber background, no IT background, no technical skills or accreditations.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in the tech/cyber industry and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I continue to face is being listened to and heard. If I am the only woman in the physical or virtual room with an audience that doesn’t know me, I have to work hard to get my point across or to be given the respect I deserve. To illustrate – I remember a few years ago being given a demo of a platform whilst I was in a previous role of Global Head of Cyber Defence. After the demo, the sales rep asked me when we would be doing the demo with my boss and when “he” might be available.
What are you doing to support other women, and/or to increase diversity, in the tech/cyber industry?
I built and led a Global Cyber Defence Incident Management team for Vodafone Group. It was one of the most diverse teams across the function – not just in terms of gender but for ethnicity, religion, sexuality and neurodiversity. It is something that I am most proud of. My passion is coaching and mentoring others. I have been part of numerous mentoring programs including Career Accelerator which provides real world support to 13–16 year-old students from diverse backgrounds such as BAME and LGBTQ+. I helped mentees enhance their future prospects in the Digital Sector through gentle yet honest mentoring. I was also part of Mission Include which is a global cross company, cross-sector mentoring programme for the purpose of creating change and advancing diversity and inclusion at senior levels.
I am an industry judge for the Cyber Leaders’ Challenge – a competition style initiative aimed at connecting tertiary students with professionals in the cybersecurity field, fostering skills and networks essential for future challenges in the cyber landscape. The challenge focuses on recruiting diverse talent and equipping participants with the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex threat environment. It emphasises collaboration among government, industry, and academia to support students from all backgrounds in becoming the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
I give back to the young talent in Edinburgh and to Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) where I was an undergraduate 1993-1997. I sit as a non-exec director for ENUs Board as its Digital Technology subject matter expert. I also sit as a director for ENUs Student Association. The Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) is the student union for all students at Edinburgh Napier University.
Who has inspired you in your life/career?
In my career – that’s an easy one – Emma Smith, Cyber Security and Technology Director
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