CYBER WRITER

This award will go to the IT security writer who is completely on the ball and understands cybersecurity, demonstrating this through thought-provoking, well- written articles and interviews that help educate and inform his/her audience. 

• Michael Hill – UK Editor, CSO Online
• Olivia Powell – Editor-in-Chief, Cyber Security Hub
• Craig Fretwell – Blogger and YouTuber
• Kevin Poireault – News Reporter, Infosecurity Magazine
• Anastasios Arampatzis – Cybersecurity Content Writer, Bora
• Eleanor Dallaway – Editor, Assured Intelligence
• Kate O’Flaherty – Freelance Cybersecurity Writer

GODFATHER/ GODMOTHER OF SECURITY

This award will go to someone who has been around the block and back and contributed greatly to the IT Security industry for more than 25 years. 

• Tarnveer Singh – Director & CISO, Cyber Wisdom Ltd
• Ian Glover – former president of CREST
• Nikki Webb – Global Channel Manager, Custodian360
• Mike Gillespie – MD, Advent IM
• Dominic Grunden – Co-Founder, Co-CEO and CSO, SecurME.AI
• Adam McElroy – Group Head of Cyber Risk, Bank of Ireland
• Shan Lee – CISO, DocPlanner
• Alan Calder – Founder and Executive Chairman, IT Governance Ltd

DATA GUARDIAN

Data has quickly become one of the most sought-after commodities. This award goes to the person who is always looking out for the interests of the everyday individual; making sure that customer and employee data are protected from prying eyes and their privacy is preserved. 

• Tarnveer Singh – Director & CISO, Cyber Wisdom Ltd
• Anne Hinchcliffe – Compliance and Information Security Consultant
• Alex Shelley – Cyber Technology Manager, OWASP
• Ayan Mohamed – Founder, Digitech Oasis
• Sarah Clarke – Founder, Infospectives

CISO SUPREMO

CISOs play an important role in securing all aspects of the business and implementing programmes that increase the security posture of an organisation. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it – this award will recognise the best. 

• Tarnveer Singh – Director & CISO, Cyber Wisdom Ltd
• Heather Lowrie – CISO, University of Manchester
• Dominic Grunden – Co-Founder, Co-CEO and CSO, SecurME.AI
• Adam McElroy – Group Head of Cyber Risk, Bank of Ireland
• Shan Lee – CISO, DocPlanner
• Rob Bainbridge – CISO, Woolworths SA
• Jon France – CISO, ISC2
• Ian Brown – CISO, Spectris

SECURITY AVENGERS

Security is not a one person job, this award will recognise the best IT security team and how they averted a security disaster or persevere in the fight to keep their organisations safe from cyber threats. 

• SOC Team, DigitalXRAID
• Salt Communications team
• PureCyber Team
• National Crime Agency

BEST EDUCATOR

This award will go to a professor, lecturer or teacher who leads by example to inspire and motivate the next generation of cyber security professionals. 

• Natasha Harley – Founder, Cyber Talent Partners
• Bennett Arron – Writer, Comedian and Speaker
• Prof. Alison Wakefield – University of West London
• Prof. Madeline Carr – UCL
• James Bore – Director, Bores Group and Tutor at CAPSLOCK
• Prof. Daniel Dresner – University of Manchester

BEST ETHICAL HACKER/PEN TESTER

This award will go to the person who understands and knows how to look for weaknesses in security systems and uses the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner. 

• Niall Buckley – Penetration Tester, DigitalXRAID
• Ben Edwards – Penetrations Tester, DigitalXRAID
• Matt Lorentzen – Principal Consultant, Cyberis

SECURITY LEADER/

MENTOR

The winner of this award will be someone in industry who leads a team or mentors individuals, taking the time to show them the ropes and ensure those coming through the ranks are prepared for the future. 

• Tarnveer Singh – Director & CISO, Cyber Wisdom Ltd
• Nikki Webb – Global Channel Manager, Custodian360
• Dominic Grunden – Co-Founder, Co-CEO and CSO, SecurME.AI
• Adam McElroy – Group Head of Cyber Risk, Bank of Ireland
• Alex Shelley – Cyber Technology Manager, OWASP
• Lisa Ventura – Founder, Cyber Security Unity
• Callum Bryant – Head of Security Testing, DigitalXRAID
• Joe Boyle – CEO Salt Communications
• Martin Price – Cyber Lead, NHS
• Lianne Potter – Head of Security Operations, Asda
• Stuart Coulson – Cybersecurity Ecosystem Project Manager, University of Manchester
• Damon Rands – Founder and CEO at PureCyber
• Lemuel Valdez – Manager, KPMG

CYBERSECURITY WELLBEING ADVOCATE

Cybersecurity can be a stressful industry to work in. In fact, as many as 45% of senior cybersecurity professionals have considered quitting as a result. This award goes to the individual who makes every effort to look after the mental health and general wellbeing of their peers/colleagues.  

• Nikki Webb – Global Channel Manager, Custodian360
• Alex Shelley – Cyber Technology Manager, OWASP
• Andra Zaharia – Creator, Cyber Empathy Podcast
• Qasim Armstrong – Senior Penetration Tester, PureCyber
• Zoe Rose – Regional Information Security Team Lead, Canon Europe

BEST SECURITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In order to increase education on cyber threats and digital behaviours within the workplace, Security Awareness campaigns are often a vital part of getting the message out. This award will honour the campaign and the individuals who organised the campaign. 

• Bank of Ireland
• CyberGuardian
• Spectris
• SenseOn and BooHoo

DIVERSITY CHAMPION

This award will recognise an individual who is pushing for greater diversity and inclusion within the industry – whether they’re advocating for change in recruitment/HR policies, mentoring others, serving as a role model etc. 

• Lisa Ventura – Founder, Cyber Security Unity
• Nikki Webb – Global Channel Manager, Custodian360
• Andra Zaharia – Creator, Cyber Empathy Podcast
• Rebecca Taylor – Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager for the Counter Threat Unit, Secureworks
• Sophie Powell – Co-Founder, CyberWomen Groups
• Alice Conibere – Junior Security Researcher, Secure Impact
• Eleanor Dallaway – Founder, Assured Intelligence

APPRENTICE/

RISING STAR

Our future cyber welfare depends largely on these rising stars.  Whether in formal education, under employment or doing extraordinary research of their own, the winner of this category will show great promise with his/her technical or practical ability. 

• Kieran Baumann – Penetration Tester, DigitalXRAID
• Elise Ghent – President of CyberWomen@Warwick
• Hedvig Mareng – President of CyberWomen@Coventry
• Ruta Baltiejute – DevSecOps Lead, Asda
• Ross Mitchell – Consultant, Cyberis
• Alice Conibere – Junior Security Researcher, Secure Impact
• Zöe Langmead-Jones – Communications and Engagement Coordinator for Digital Futures, University of Manchester
• Ayan Mohamed – Founder, Digitech Oasis