There is still a significant gender disparity in the cyber security industry, and the statistics speak for themselves. Women hold just 17% of cyber security jobs nationally – this is on a stagnant decline (21% in 2022) and the number of female leaders in cyber security sits at just 12% nationally, with the figure in the North East estimated to be significantly lower.
With funding secured from Innovate UK we are delighted to officially launch a new trailblazing project which aims to address the imbalance by raising awareness of the variety of roles on offer for girls across the sector. The Influencing the Influencer campaign is the first of its kind in the North East and we are on a mission to inform, equip and empower careers advisors and computer science teachers with the resources and knowledge to support young girls and women to access a career in cyber security.
The transformative new project led by the CyberNorth team includes a signposting portal which is now live with case studies, study route information and essential employer details in the region. Attendees from educational institutions across the North East including Northumbria University, Sunderland University, Sunderland College and Gateshead College signed up to a series of webinars and events to get a first glimpse of the portal, alongside hearing inspiring panel discussions from female leaders in the field.
We are also delighted that the innovative campaign has received the backing of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness:
“I’m delighted to see the launch of this campaign; my vision for the North East is for it to be known as the home of real opportunity, and a region where everyone thrives.
Cyber security is a thriving sector in the region, and working closely with the education sector and schools is crucial. Visible female role models in the sector can inspire girls to enter the industry and send a clear message that the sector is open to them too, not just boys.
I want more people to see they can have successful careers in the North East, and projects like this are vital to highlight and showcase the opportunities for the next generation, especially in a sector where female representation is significantly lower.”
Our new campaign has the power to change perceptions of careers in cyber security for young girls and women in the region, and at the heart of this is profiling key role models from the sector. A significant challenge girls face is that there’s a shortage of visible female role models in the field, making it tough for girls to envision a future in the industry.
Despite the statistics around female representation in the industry, a volume of women are breaking barriers, thriving and achieving remarkable success. Prominent female leaders in the sector have pledged their support to the campaign including Parisa Akaber, Siemens, Sarah Hibbert, ITPS, Sophie Kelly, Accenture, Juliet Melia, Mott MacDonald, Meera Sarma, Cystel, Jennifer Dumbleton, Beyond Blue, Melissa Gurney, Punk Security and Mads Howard, Manager in the Office of the CISO at Sage, who has recently been given an MBE in the New Year’s UK Honours List for her outstanding contributions to cybersecurity along with her advocacy for gender diversity in technology.
Sarah Hibbert, SOC Manager, ITPS joined the panel for the launch and said: “I’m delighted to pledge my support to this campaign. I’ve always worked with some very supportive teams, but you don’t seem many of yourself in the field at times. Visibility early on is key and showing the opportunities that are in the sector for girls is of essence. Role models are key, there are so many more now, but there wasn’t many when I was younger. We need to get into schools earlier so girls can see what footsteps they can follow in.”
There are 15 pathways into cyber security, however knowledge of the industry amongst teachers is sporadic, with a report commissioned by the Sutton Trust 2022 identifying that 88% of teachers don’t believe their training offers them the information to provide good careers advice.
Danielle Phillips, CEO, CyberNorth said:
“Knowledge is key. There are thousands of STEM graduates in the region each year, but not all stay, the next generation need to know about the opportunities that are in our region and the pathways into the cyber security field, especially girls.
Diverse teams produce better results and lead to problem-solving and innovation, we all need to work together in collaboration to take action to close this gender discrepancy in a sector which is thriving and offers unlimited opportunities. Through this campaign we are determined to nurture and inspire the next generation of future female cyber security
leaders from the region.”
The portal is now live: https://influencer.cybernorth.biz