Summit targets gender gap in Australia's cyber ranks

Cyber security leaders met at Australian Parliament House for the second annual Women in Cyber Security Summit, as the industry works to narrow a gender gap in a workforce under increasing pressure from escalating threats.

Women make up 17 per cent of Australia's cyber security workforce, according to figures cited at the event. Demand for staff continues to rise as organisations face more frequent and complex attacks across government, business and community services.

Organised by the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) and partners, the summit brought together senior representatives from government, industry, education and advocacy groups. Discussions focused on workforce diversity and clearer pathways for entry and progression into cyber roles.

Workforce challenge

Speakers described diversity as a driver of operational performance and resilience, arguing that teams with varied backgrounds approach investigations, risk assessments and response planning differently.

Scarlett McDermott, a board director at AISA, linked diversity to national readiness and urged leaders to treat it as a practical workforce issue rather than a secondary objective.

"Cyber security is one of the most critical capabilities for Australia's future, and we simply cannot afford to overlook half the talent pool," McDermott said.

She said mixed teams can improve analysis and decision-making during incidents, where speed and judgement can shape outcomes for affected organisations and their customers.

"Diverse teams bring different ways of thinking, different problem-solving approaches and different life experiences. In cyber security that diversity of thinking is a genuine operational advantage," she said.

Participants also discussed steps to strengthen career pathways and attract more entrants, including talent pipeline initiatives and measures to improve inclusion and retention.

"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," McDermott said.

Strategic priority

International speaker Dr Renée Burton, Vice President of Threat Intel at Infoblox, framed the gender imbalance as a strategic issue for a sector responding to increasingly persistent and well-resourced adversaries.

Burton said cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to become harder to tackle. She also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence on the threat landscape, as attackers and defenders adopt new tools and techniques.

"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," Burton said.

She said industry events can help connect decision-makers and build momentum for change across organisations competing for talent.

"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," she said.

Scholarship recipients

Alongside the summit, AISA announced the recipients of its 2026 Cyber Security Scholarships, a programme supporting emerging professionals at the start of their careers.

The recipients are Paige Crabtree, Jasmine Rizwan, Emily Zhang, Nicola Hall and Alice Kjar.

Megan Spielvogel, General Manager at AISA, said scholarship programmes are part of broader efforts to address workforce shortages by increasing the number of people entering cyber security roles.

"We are incredibly proud to support these outstanding scholarship recipients as they begin their careers in cyber security," Spielvogel said.

She added that access to professional networks and career opportunities can shape early career decisions, particularly in a market where competition for skills remains high across public and private employers.

"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," she said.

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