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By Lisa Ventura MBE FCIIS
I’ve just got back from London after attending two events that sit right at the heart of everything Cyber Security Unity stands for – celebrating our community’s achievements and building the connections that make us stronger together. The National Cyber Awards on 23rd September and International Cyber Expo on 30th September and 1st October gave me so much hope for our industry’s future, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you all.
The National Cyber Awards: Celebrating What Makes Us Proud
Being shortlisted as a finalist for “Cyber Citizen of the Year” at the National Cyber Awards was genuinely one of the highlights of my career. Now in its sixth year, this event has become the gold standard for recognising excellence in UK cyber security, and what makes it special is how they’ve got the ethics absolutely spot on.
Why These Awards Matter
Here’s the thing – there are loads of industry awards out there, but so many of them operate on a pay-to-play model that honestly diminishes what awards should be about. The National Cyber Awards deliberately rejected that approach. Entry is completely free, every finalist gets a complimentary ticket, and the judging is transparent and ethical. This isn’t about who can afford the biggest table booking or the flashiest sponsorship package – it’s about genuine achievement and contribution to keeping people safe.
With headline sponsorship from BAE Systems and support from IBM, Fortinet, Qualys, the UK Cyber Security Council, and the Chartered Institute of Information Security, these awards carry real weight. When you’re recognised here, it means something.
A Community Coming Together
Walking into the Novotel London and seeing over 500 cyber security professionals from across government, public, and private sectors was incredible. The energy in that room was something special ☺️ It’s rare to have so many influential people from every corner of our ecosystem gathered together, and the networking opportunities were exceptional. I had brilliant conversations throughout the evening with fellow finalists, judges, and industry leaders.
Gordon Corera from the BBC – you’ll know him as the Security Analyst and host of “The Rest is Classified” podcast – was our host for the evening, and his knowledge and wit made the whole event engaging and enjoyable. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sent a message acknowledging that these awards “are a wonderful way to reward, celebrate and showcase the work of those who are committed to keeping us safe.” That recognition from the top matters.
Beyond the Technical: Celebrating the Human Side
What really struck me about the awards was the breadth of categories. Yes, technical excellence was celebrated, but so were advocacy, education, diversity, and community building – the areas I’m most passionate about. Seeing categories like “Cyber Student of the Year,” “Cyber Policing Team of the Year,” and “The Prime Minister’s Award for Cyber” alongside more technical categories shows we’re finally recognising that cyber security is about people as much as it is about technology.
Was I disappointed not to win “Cyber Citizen of the Year”? Honestly, no. I haven’t exactly been visible this year, so I knew it was unlikely. But being recognised amongst such exceptional company was an honour in itself. The calibre of the other finalists was outstanding, and it reminded me why I love this industry – we’re all working towards the same goal of keeping people safe in an increasingly digital world.
The Bigger Picture
These awards came at a crucial time. With the UK Government’s new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on the horizon and cyber-attacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, events like this remind us why our work matters. It’s not just about celebrating past achievements – it’s about inspiring the next generation and demonstrating that cyber security is a career path worth pursuing.
International Cyber Expo: Where Ideas and Solutions Collide
The following day, I headed to Olympia London for International Cyber Expo, which ran across 30th September and 1st October. After the formal elegance of the awards ceremony, ICE offered something completely different but equally valuable – a buzzing marketplace of ideas, solutions, and connections.
Built by the Community, For the Community
This ethos ran through everything at ICE. It’s positioned itself as more than just a trade show – it’s genuinely trying to be the meeting place for industry collaboration, which aligns perfectly with Cyber Security Unity’s mission. The diversity of attendees was impressive: vetted senior cyber security buyers, government officials, software developers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists all mingling and exchanging ideas.
Innovation on Display
Walking the exhibition floor felt like touring the current state of cyber security innovation. Over 170 exhibitors, from established major players to cutting-edge start-ups, showcased their solutions. The event organisers, Nineteen Group, deserve credit for curating such a strong line-up that truly represented the breadth of our industry.
I particularly enjoyed exploring the international and industry pavilions. The ADS and TechUK Pavilion was well-attended and provided an excellent focal point for UK cyber businesses to showcase their capabilities – exactly the kind of visibility our sector needs.
Learning and Growing Together
The three content stages – the Global Cyber Summit Stage, the Tech Hub Stage, and the Diversity and Skills Stage – offered continuous programming throughout both days. The quality of speakers was generally high, covering both technical deep-dives and broader strategic discussions.
I was particularly pleased to see the Diversity and Skills Stage given such prominence. Regular readers will know how passionate I am about attracting diverse talent into cyber security. We desperately need more focus on this, and providing a dedicated platform for conversations about neurodiversity, women in cyber, and alternative pathways into the profession was absolutely the right call.
Practical, Hands-On Learning
The Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG)’s partnership with ICE to offer webinars and roundtables was brilliant. The Cyber Griffin Tabletop Exercise allowed teams to immerse themselves in simulated cyber-attack scenarios – practical, hands-on learning that complemented the more theoretical conference sessions. This blend of exhibition, education, and experiential learning is what makes ICE valuable for attendees at all levels.
Being Honest: Room for Improvement
Look, I’m always honest with you all, so let me say this: whilst ICE was worthwhile, it’s not perfect. At times, the sheer scale – especially being co-located with International Security Expo – felt overwhelming. With so many exhibitors competing for attention and multiple stages running concurrent sessions, you really need to plan carefully to make the most of your time.
The balance between genuine education and vendor pitches wasn’t always perfect either. Some sessions felt more like extended sales presentations than objective industry discussions. But honestly, this is a common challenge for any commercially driven expo, and the free admission model means you can’t expect purely academic content. I’d rather have accessible content with some vendor bias than expensive, exclusive events that lock people out.
Where the Magic Happens
Despite (or perhaps because of) the crowds, the networking opportunities were excellent. The informal atmosphere made it easy to strike up conversations. I had several valuable discussions with fellow attendees about everything from the practical challenges of implementing zero trust architectures to the softer skills needed for building cyber-aware cultures – the kinds of conversations that drive real progress in our industry.
The networking drinks on the evening of 30th September, hosted by Cyber House Party, provided a more relaxed environment for continuing those conversations. This social element is crucial for building the relationships that drive collaboration, and it’s something we prioritize at Cyber Security Unity’s #InfosecLunchHour meetups too.
What Both Events Taught Me
Attending these events back-to-back provided an interesting contrast. The National Cyber Awards gave us space to celebrate achievement, recognise excellence, and reflect on how far we’ve come. International Cyber Expo gave us space to roll up our sleeves, explore solutions, and think about the practical challenges ahead.
The Power of Community
What struck me most across both events was the strength of the UK cyber security community. Despite the competitive nature of our industry, there’s a genuine spirit of collaboration and mutual support. We’re all facing the same adversaries and the same challenges, and these events reminded me that we’re stronger together – which is literally what Cyber Security Unity exists to promote.
Looking Forward with Optimism
As I sit here reflecting on these two days, I’m filled with optimism about our industry’s future. Yes, the threats are growing more sophisticated. Yes, we face ongoing challenges around skills gaps, diversity, and awareness. But seeing so many talented, dedicated, passionate professionals all working towards keeping people safe gives me genuine hope.
The National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo serve complementary but equally important roles. One celebrates where we’ve been and what we’ve achieved; the other focuses on where we’re going and how we’ll get there. Both are essential for building the kind of connected, collaborative community that can actually make a difference.
Should You Attend?
If you’re wondering whether to attend either event next year, my answer is an unequivocal yes – and here’s why:
If you’re early in your career: ICE offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the breadth of the industry and make connections that could shape your career trajectory. Don’t underestimate the value of face-to-face networking in an age of Zoom calls.
If you’re more established: The National Cyber Awards provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate colleagues’ achievements and raise the profile of excellent work that might otherwise go unrecognised. We need to shine a light on the people doing amazing things.
For companies: Both events offer different but valuable opportunities. ICE is perfect for showcasing solutions and connecting with buyers. The National Cyber Awards is excellent for building brand reputation and demonstrating thought leadership through category sponsorship and involvement.
Final Thoughts: Why This All Matters
These events reminded me why I transitioned into cyber security back in 2009 and why I’ve remained passionate about this industry ever since. We’re not just implementing technical controls or managing risk registers. We’re protecting people, organisations, and critical national infrastructure from very real threats.
The work we do matters. Having opportunities to come together as a community, to celebrate our successes and learn from each other, makes us all better at what we do.
I’m already looking forward to the National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo 2026, and I hope to see many of you there. In the meantime, there’s work to be done, threats to counter, and people to keep safe.
Remember: we’re stronger together.
Want to connect with other cyber security professionals? Join our monthly #InfosecLunchHour meetups or get in touch via lisa@csu.org.uk to learn more about Cyber Security Unity’s community initiatives.