Leaders unite to tackle cybersecurity gender gap

Cybersecurity leaders gathered for the second annual Women in Cyber Security Summit at Australian Parliament House on 12 March, bringing together senior figures from government, industry, education and advocacy to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: improving diversity in the cyber workforce.

Women currently represent just 17% of Australia’s cybersecurity workforce, despite growing demand for skilled professionals to protect businesses, governments and communities from increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats.

Organised by the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) and partners, the summit brought together influential leaders to examine practical solutions to build stronger talent pipelines, create more inclusive career pathways and strengthen Australia’s cyber capability.

Scarlett McDermott, Board Director at AISA, said improving diversity in cybersecurity is essential to strengthening Australia’s national cyber resilience.

“Cybersecurity is one of the most critical capabilities for Australia’s future, and we simply cannot afford to overlook half the talent pool,” she said. “Diverse teams bring different ways of thinking, different problem-solving approaches and different life experiences. In cybersecurity that diversity of thinking is a genuine operational advantage.

“Events like the Women in Cyber Security Summit help bring leaders together to focus on practical steps that can expand the workforce and create clearer pathways for women entering the field.”

International cybersecurity leader and speaker at today’s Summit Dr Renée Burton, Vice President of Threat Intel at Infoblox, said strengthening diversity in the sector must be treated as a strategic priority.

“Having more women in cybersecurity must be a strategic imperative across the industry. Cybercrime in the Asia–Pacific region is only going to get more difficult to tackle, driven in part by constantly evolving AI threats,” she said. “Given the road ahead, events like the Women in Cybersecurity Summit are critical.

“I’m proud to be involved in an event that both advocates for women in the industry and connects influential leaders to address the glaring need for diversity in the cybersecurity workforce.”

Alongside the summit, AISA also announced the recipients of the 2026 AISA Cyber Security Scholarships, which support emerging cyber professionals as they begin careers in the sector.

AISA General Manager Megan Spielvogel said the scholarships are an important part of building the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

“We are incredibly proud to support these outstanding scholarship recipients as they begin their careers in cybersecurity,” Spielvogel said. “Developing the next generation of cyber professionals is critical to Australia’s digital future, and these scholarships are designed to help talented individuals access the opportunities and networks that will support their success.”

Applications for the next round of the AISA Cyber Security Scholarships are now open.

Image: Supplied