Equality Committee & Information Security Panel: Busting Cyber Stereotypes

The Equality Committee and Information Security Panel invite you to their joint Event: Busting Cyber Stereotypes on Wednesday 12 June, beginning at 5.30pm at the Information Technologists' Hall.

We would like to encourage all members to join us and invite colleagues to this EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) event with a view to expanding WCIT membership in a more diverse way.

Building on the International Women’s Day theme in March 2024 of “Inspiring Inclusion”, this event which is the next in the Busting Stereotypes series, will give the floor to a wide range of Cyber Security voices, who have grappled with this challenge in their careers and lives, on how we can make the Cyber industry truly accessible, from schools and colleges to the workplace and beyond.

The event will aim to draw up key recommendations on how we can overcome myths and bust stereotypes in the industry, and how we can ensure that a variety of voices, perspectives, experience, and skills are given full and equal weight across the sector. We believe that addressing this for all participants is only part of the effort needed to truly “Inspire Inclusion”.

The Cyber Security industry needs to reflect its audience and clientele as well as those they are fighting against therefore the need to be diverse has never been more important in order to understand different viewpoints in all its forms, than it is today.

Did you know:

• Women comprised only 17% of Fortune 500 CISOs positions in 2021, according to a report from the Accenture Cybersecurity Forum Women’s Council ?

• Overall, over a fifth (22%) of the Cyber industry say in 2021 they have experienced discrimination in the last year, up from one in six (16%) in 2020 according to the NCSC / KPMG report ‘Decrypting Diversity’?

• The same report found that out of 1,252 surveyed cyber professionals, only 15% identified as part of a minority ethnic group, mirroring the broader UK demographics. Additionally, 23% of Black respondents reported experiencing discrimination incidents.

The statistics above are just a snapshot of the challenge across the Cyber Security industry and wider technology sector. We look forward to welcoming you at this event which will provide the opportunity to discuss the issues around stereotyping.

Cost £20 (inc vat). Refreshments will be provided.

Host or Publisher The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists