Eskenzi PR have announced that ThinkCyber and Plexal have joined BT as sponsors for this year’s Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards.
The event, held at the iconic BT Tower on the 27th February 2024, aims to celebrate trailblazers from across the cybersecurity industry. Previously announced media partners include the IT Security Guru, Assured Intelligence, and Women in Cybersecurity UK & Ireland Affiliate (WiCyS).
In a year when budgets are getting tighter and reports are suggesting that Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives are falling by the wayside, events like the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber are more vital than ever.
Without supporters, such events would be unable to happen. With so much appetite for such events, yet a reluctance to fund them, Eskenzi PR is excited to reveal this year’s panel discussion: Active Allyship: Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
The discussion aims to shape the conversation around accessibility for women in cybersecurity and creating an industry that works for all, not just some.
So far, speakers on the panel include:
– Stephanie Itimi, Founder and Chair at Seidea CIC
– Aurorah Cheney, Security Strategy and Growth Director at BT
– Lucy Finlay, Client Delivery Director, Secure Behaviour and Analytics, at ThinkCyber
– Diane Gilbert, Innovation Ecosystem Lead at Plexal
The panel will be chaired by Eskenzi PR’s Co-Founder, Yvonne Eskenzi.
Tim Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of ThinkCyber, says: “At ThinkCyber we have the pleasure of seeing first hand, in the more people centric side of cyber, the significant value of diversity in the industry.
“We have previously found ways to support WiCyS in their great work and now I’m genuinely excited to be part of this hugely important event celebrating women in cyber.
“The event creates a high-profile forum for women in cyber and their allies to come together and network. But even more importantly it offers us a chance to recognise and celebrate some incredible people and their inspiring achievements.”
Diane Gilbert, Innovation Ecosystem Lead at Plexal, says: “A key element of my role requires relationship building, closing the opportunity gap between founders from across the UK-wide cyber ecosystem for them to equitably make the right connections to achieve growth.
“Ensuring our talent pool is diverse is important to me personally and professionally and it’s a core focus through Cyber Runway, which we deliver on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“Therefore, I’m proud that a third of the more than 200 companies to join the programme have been female-led and I’m incredibly excited to extend our support to women in the cyber security space even further through the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards, an event that’s sure to be a celebration to remember.
“I look forward to talking all things allyship with my fellow panellists on the night and wish the nominees all the best!”
On the night, 20 inspiring women and 5 ones to watch will be honoured. A special award, The Paula Brici: Cyber Marketeer of the Year, will be given to an exceptional in-house cybersecurity marketeer, in honour of Eskenzi PR colleague, Paula Brici.
After the panel discussion and subsequent awards ceremony, guests will be invited up to the top of the BT Tower for networking and refreshments. Nominees are encouraged to bring someone with them who they feel may benefit from networking at such an esteemed event.