EmPowerCyber2023???

Here is the link to the EmPower Highlight reel : https://cynam.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-1633_-_cynam_-_empower_2023_-_highlight_reel_90s_16.9-Original.mp4

EmPowerCyber is an event unlike any other. Imagine a vibrant atmosphere where the enthusiasm of 1000 year 8 girls collide with the beats of pop music and the sparkle of glitter, all against the backdrop of immersive cyber security activities. EmPowerCyber is a carefully curated experience for the young women who attended, aimed at educating, and inspiring them on what a future career in cyber could look like.

Unveiling the World of Cyber

From mastering the art of lock picking to the world of hacking VAR, they embraced the hands-on experience, diving fearlessly into the core of security.

But the journey didn’t stop there. EmPowerCyber2023 went beyond the basics, confronting the real challenges faced in the digital landscape. Ransomware and phishing attacks became puzzles to solve, empowering these girls with the tools and knowledge to defend against these threats.

What truly set EmPowerCyber2023 apart was the presence of industry professionals. The South West CyberFirst Schools consortium including CyNam, Raytheon UK, TechSpark SW, and Graphic Science, along with 25+ industry members showcased the diverse opportunities within cybersecurity. Their presence brought to life the real-world applications, inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity trailblazers.

A special thanks to:

Gemba Advantage?QinetiQ?Raytheon UK?Rowden?Golden Valley?The Careers & Enterprise Company??NoID - Private, Secure Communication Gloucestershire College?National Cyber Security Centre?CyberWomen@UWE?AtkinsRéalis?Raytheon UK?CACI Ltd?NHS South, Central and West??Roke?Fortinet?Sopra Steria?University of Gloucestershire?Renishaw?Savient Limited CultureAI?BAE Systems Digital Intelligence?HBD?Golden Valley?Nexor?Origin8tive?InfoSec People Ltd?Babcock International Group??#CyberFirst?SW Regional Cyber Crime Unit?BT Group?Commercial Intuition?University of the West of England?Chartered Institute of Information Security CGI CybSafe Sage

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Beyond Boundaries: Fuelling Passion and Possibilities

EmPowerCyber2023 wasn’t just about learning; it was about igniting a fire within these girls. It’s about telling them that they can be the ones to change this field, breaking stereotypes and redefining the future. The event opened doors and showed the students that cybersecurity is thrilling, challenging, and brimming with opportunities for those willing to take the plunge.

Attendees heard from strong female role models, including Lara Vafiadis, a solo ocean rower with a background in cybersecurity. Lara kicked off the sessions with an inspirational talk, sharing how she used her cyber skills and problem-solving abilities outside of her work life to achieve remarkable accomplishments. Additionally, Della-Maria Marinova and Sophie Stokes, cyber security consultants from AtkinsRealis, shared their unique paths, highlighting that a STEM degree isn't the only pathway into the sector. Hearing from these strong female leaders shows the girl they can achieve anything as long as they believe in themselves!

The Power of Community and Collaboration

EmPowerCyber2023 was not a standalone event; it was a celebration of unity. Not to mention its presence across the UK, reaching over 5000 girls in the North, South and West of England since its inception in 2019. And we hope that this number keeps growing.?It brought together girls from diverse backgrounds and perspectives from the Gloucestershire region and highlighted to those schools attending that further support and collaboration is available to them through the variety of CyberFirst programmes.

To cap off the morning event, a very special guest closed the event - Anne Keast-Butler, Director GCHQ, the UK’s Intelligence, Cyber, and Security Agency. Having Anne join was monumental, signifying the importance of a female role model in the highest position in the cyber world.

Anne Keast-Butler's involvement was more than just a closing speech. She actively engaged with the girls, immersing herself in the various activities and workshops. Her hands-on participation demonstrated her genuine interest in fostering the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. By actively interacting with the attendees, she not only shared her knowledge but also inspired these young minds to dream bigger and aim higher.

Moreover, her involvement further emphasised Cheltenham's significance in the UK Cyber Ecosystem, underlining our role in supporting the growth of talent pipelines to enable the sector's expansion in the South West region and contribute to the UK's mission to become a science superpower.

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A massive shout-out to everyone involved—participants, sponsors, and supporters—for making EmPowerCyber23 an absolute rollercoaster of excitement and learning! Hear from some of our industry supporters and sponsors:

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"Spending time inspiring the next generation of girls in cyber security is so rewarding”?- James, our Exploration Manager. Steve, who designed our Escape Room couldn’t agree more, expressing how fulfilling it was for the students to experience?"engineering and technology coming together in an engaging and exciting way". – Gemba Advantage.

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“It was a pleasure getting glittered up again and joining the army of industry folk eager to inspire the next generation of women in cyber security at?#EmPowerCyber2023?Gloucestershire.” – Eleanor Hardman, Ecosystem Manager, Culture & CyberFirst Ambassador

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“A great opportunity for us to inspire the next generation of girls and non-binary into Cyber Security!” – Philippa Bradshaw from CyberWomen@UWE.

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“I just wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the invitation to the Empower Cyber event yesterday. The girls had an absolute blast and cherished every moment. This event stands out as one of the highlights of the year, contributing to the enrichment of our future minds and shaping the path for young girls. I had the opportunity to meet more brilliant, exciting, forward-thinking, and dedicated individuals, while also catching up with my closest associates. Once again, I gained further insight into this rapidly expanding industry and the forward-thinking approach behind innovative projects that are destined to become absolute game-changers. Thank you so much.?“ - Ant Samrai Head of Computer Science, All Saints Academy (a CyberFirst Gold School

What have we learnt?

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EmPowerCyber has highlighted to us as well as many other industry professionals that girls do want to enter the world of cyber security. Yet a critical question remains; how do we take the momentum from EmPowerCyber to address the barriers that prevent these willing young women from choosing cyber and STEM as a career destination.

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Gender isn't the sole gap within cybersecurity; there are others, often overlooked in the discourse. Bridging these gaps among various groups is a focal point of existing and future CyNam initiatives.

EmPowerCyber is the start of a new generation of cybersecurity leaders. Partnering with the CyberFirst programme, we remain committed to working with schools and companies located throughout the South West region, extending our reach beyond Gloucestershire. We want to encourage and foster more events like EmPowerCyber, creating platforms for all young minds to explore the thrilling realm of cybersecurity.

We can’t wait for EmPowerCyber2024!

Here is the link to the EmPower Highlight reel : https://cynam.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-1633_-_cynam_-_empower_2023_-_highlight_reel_90s_16.9-Original.mp4

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