In the latest of our popular blogs from CyberNorth’s Lead for Cyber and FinTech, Jon Holden, Jon gives his thoughts on CyberFest and the future of cyber security for the region.
October is always a busy month in the cyber calendar. Across the UK, Cyber Security Awareness Month tends to fill inboxes and diaries in equal measure, however, here in the North East, it has become something much more than that. It has become a celebration of community, creativity and collaboration.
For us at CyberNorth, this October wasn’t just about awareness, it was about identity, about showing who we are as a region and as a community. It showed the country that the North East isn’t following the UK cyber story anymore, we are writing the next chapter ourselves.
A Region in Motion
Kicking off CyberFest (a fantastic student debate involving four local schools) to the final applause at the CyberNorth Awards, one thing was clear: this region is alive with energy, purpose and belief.
The numbers alone tell a powerful story. Over one thousand delegates attended twenty-one events featuring forty-two speakers across eleven venues. That is an entire ecosystem in motion, learning, sharing, debating and celebrating together.
What stood out most to me this year was the quality of conversation. People weren’t just talking about risk, compliance or regulation. They were talking about opportunity, innovation and inclusion. Cyber here isn’t seen as a profession alone, it’s a shared mission, one that brings together people who want to make a difference in their communities and across the region.
CyberFest: Collaboration in Full Flow
The flagship CyberFest event is the CyberFest Community Conference at Newcastle Civic Centre; a full day of ideas, energy and collaboration. The themes of the day were clear: ecosystem growth, innovation and skills.
What really made it special was the way it felt. Every panel, every workshop and every conversation carried a sense of purpose and pride. From start-ups and students to enterprise leaders and seasoned professionals, everyone contributed something meaningful.
Fringe sessions across Durham, Sunderland and Northumbria expanded that energy even further. These smaller workshops, student meet-ups and community events reached every corner of the region. They were open, welcoming and full of new connections.
It was a reminder that great things happen when barriers are removed and people are invited to collaborate. That spirit of openness is what defines CyberFest and, more importantly, what defines CyberNorth.
The People Who Made It Happen
CyberFest 2025 wasn’t designed for one audience. It was an open invitation to everyone shaping, securing or imagining the North East’s digital future.
We welcomed industry and business leaders who are using cyber resilience to drive innovation and growth. We heard from public sector innovators such as Phil Witcherley from the North East Combined Authority and Mo Chowdhury from Sunderland City Council, both of whom are helping us connect digital security with smarter, more inclusive communities.
National and global experts, including Jonathan Ellison from the National Cyber Security Centre, Google, Siemens, Pentest Partners and TechSkills, joined us to share their perspectives and align local ambition with national strategy.
Academics, CyberFirst ambassadors and students filled the room with ideas and optimism about the future. Legal and governance specialists from Womble Bond Dickinson reminded us of the importance of trust, transparency and compliance in everything we build.
And then there were the creative voices — people like Lucy Batley, Dr Martin Wilson, James Nicholson and Dionne Lee — who helped us reconnect cyber with people. They brought art, psychology, storytelling and humanity into the conversation.
That is what made this year so unique. It wasn’t about titles or roles. It was about people coming together, engineers beside artists, students beside CISOs, policymakers beside entrepreneurs, all united by a shared purpose.
The CyberNorth Team: Small but Mighty
Having worked in large organisations with big teams and even bigger budgets, I can honestly say that what we have at CyberNorth is something rare.
We are a small team, powered by belief, creativity and resilience. Every event, every speaker and every perfectly timed panel comes from people who truly care about the North East and what it represents.
Our team manages logistics, partnerships, marketing and last-minute curveballs — often all at once — and still find the time to support others and smile through the chaos. They do it because they care.
The truth is that CyberNorth’s strength comes not from its size but from its spirit. The work we do resonates nationally because it’s built on authenticity and passion, it’s proof that a small team, united by purpose, can achieve extraordinary things.
Transitions and Tributes
This year also carried a sense of reflection. It felt strange not having Phil Jackman, CyberNorth’s founder, with us at the conference. His energy, humour and belief that “the North East can and will lead in cyber” are still at the heart of everything we do.
Phil built the foundations that made all of this possible. His influence lives on in our culture, in our tone and in the way people at our events greet each other like old friends rather than colleagues.
As our current CEO, Danielle, prepares to take on a wider role at the North East Combined Authority, we also feel both pride and sadness. She has been a driving force, calm, creative and deeply committed to the mission. Her next role will give her an even greater platform to serve the region and that is something we are all proud of.
Phil and Daniel remind us that CyberNorth has never been about one person. It’s a living, evolving community, built by people who care deeply about this region and its future.
Celebrating the Best of the North East
Midway through October, we gathered for one of the highlights of the year, the CyberNorth Awards, hosted at Tyne Bank Brewery, it was a night of celebration, recognition and genuine pride.
Accenture’s Newcastle Security Team won Team of the Year. Aspire Technology Solutions took home the Innovation of the Year award. Kimberley Graham from Sage was named Outstanding Cyber Professional. Matthew Chambers received the Rising Star award and Dr Martin Wilson was named Community Champion.
Each winner represented something bigger than an award. They represented teamwork, belief, and community, the exact same qualities that make this region thrive.
The event itself felt less like a formal ceremony and more like a family celebration, it was professional, relaxed, and full of laughter, everything a community gathering should be.
Why It Keeps Getting Better
CyberNorth continues to grow every year, not because of marketing or scale but because of people. The volunteers, organisers, partners and supporters who give their time and energy are the reason this ecosystem works.
Each event builds on the last, the logistics improve, the discussions deepen and the audiences become more diverse. Behind all of it is a small, dedicated team constantly thinking about the next collaboration, the next student or the next opportunity to create something meaningful.
That is leadership in action, quiet, consistent and full of purpose.
What It Means for the Region
When you look at everything that happened in October, it becomes clear that this is about more than just events. It’s about the region finding its collective voice and showing that the North East is ready to lead.
It means we are creating real opportunities for young people through mentoring and skills development.
It means we are helping businesses build trust in digital innovation across banking, fintech, and beyond.
It means we are helping talent stay, grow, and succeed here in the North East.
And it means we are shaping a model of cyber leadership that’s built on inclusion, collaboration and care.
This is what regional resilience looks like, grounded, practical and deeply human.
A Personal Reflection
Most mornings, I start my day early, usually with the dogs at my feet and a cup of coffee in hand. Those quiet moments by the Tyne are when I think most clearly about purpose, value, and delivery, the three principles that guide everything I do.
Looking back at October, I’m reminded that leadership isn’t about titles or recognition. It’s about showing up, lifting others and making space for people to grow.
That’s what this month was truly about. We didn’t just organise events; we created moments of belonging, growth and connection.
That is the essence of CyberNorth. That is why this community continues to thrive.
Looking Ahead
The conversations we started this month will continue to evolve into new partnerships, projects, and possibilities.
Next year, we’ll see more young people discovering cyber through CyberFirst and local schools.
We’ll see deeper collaboration across sectors, from fintech and healthtech to renewables and manufacturing.
We’ll see greater links between cyber, space and defence, as we connect digital resilience to national capability.
And we’ll see continued investment and international recognition for the work being done here in the North East.
The future is bright, and we are ready for it.
To everyone who organised, spoke, mentored, volunteered, sponsored, or simply showed up — thank you.
To Phil — thank you for starting the story.
To Daniel — thank you for helping write one of its most important chapters.
And to the CyberNorth team — you are the heartbeat of it all.
This October reminded us why we do what we do. And as always, this is only the beginning.