2025 Women in Cyber: Ask–Me–Anything & Workforce Development Panel

22 OCT 2025

2025 Women in Cyber: Ask-Me-Anything & Workforce Development Panel

Women in Cyber: Ask-Me-Anything
The cybersecurity industry continues to face talent shortage and a low female participation rate. We encourage more women and girls to consider cybersecurity as a career.

This year’s SICW Women in Cyber event featured an Ask Me Anything session, bringing together accomplished women from government and industry for an open, candid exchange with the audience.

Participants heard personal stories and gained first-hand insights from experts working across a variety of roles — from industry practitioners and leaders to policymakers. Speakers shared how they navigated challenges, built expertise, and earned trust in this traditionally male-dominated field.

This interactive format ensured attendees left with practical tips, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to chart their own path in cybersecurity.

Whether you are a student, early-career professional, or considering a mid-career switch, this session offered a unique opportunity to learn directly from those shaping the next chapter of the cyber landscape.

Speakers

  • Ms April Chin, Co-CEO Resaro, Singaproe
  • Ms Beatriz Silveira, Head of Global Security APAC, Novartis, Singapore
  • Ms Shamanee Tan, Chief Groth Officer, Sekuro, Singapore
  • Ms Loke Hui Yi, Vulnerability Management Head, TikTok, Singapore
  • Ms Helen Popp, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia

Moderator
Dr Anuradha Rao, Founder, CyberCognizanz, Singapore

Workforce Development Panel
Talent attraction and development are a key success factor for a country’s cybersecurity strategy. Many countries share the desire to develop high-quality cybersecurity workforces which are capable to defend against global cyber threats that are growing in scale and sophistication.

For the first time at SICW, we gathered a panel that featured government leaders from the International Coalition of Cyber Security Workforces (ICCSW) to share insights and strategies for developing world-class cybersecurity workforces.

The conversation cast a spotlight on the vital roles of governments, industry, training and certification bodies, and professionals in uplifting skills, strengthening professional standards, and keeping pace with fast-evolving threats. The panel also highlighted the importance of international collaboration and explore opportunities for cross-border talent development and mutual recognition of competencies.

Additionally, presentations on ongoing international cross-recognition efforts such as the UK-SG Body of Knowledge Mapping project and harmonisation of cybersecurity roles across jurisdictions will be conducted by representatives from academia and industry.

Whether you are an employer, service provider, policymaker, or cybersecurity professional, this session offers fresh perspectives, practical approaches, and opportunities to connect with peers committed to raising the quality of the cybersecurity workforce.

Speakers

  • Dr Bushra Al Blooshi, Director of Governance and Risk Management for Cybersecurity, Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai
  • Ms Laura Fifield, Supervisor of the Cyber Skills Development team, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, Canada
  • Mr Andrew Elliot, Deputy Director for Cyber Security Innovation and Skills, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), United Kingdom
  • Mr Wong Choon Bong, Director of Workforce and Strategic Partnership Division, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Singapore

Presenters

  • Dr Yulia Cherdantseva, Director, Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE), Cardiff University, United Kingdom
  • Professor Steven Wong, Director, Centre of Digital Enablement (CoDE) at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore
  • Mr Sebastian Madden, Chief Product Officer, CREST International, Middle East

Moderator
Mr Andre Shori, Asia Pacific Cybersecurity Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Schneider Electric, Singapore