Gareth Ward, the UK Ambassador to Georgia, opened the Women in Cyber (WIC) last week, focusing on the necessity to increase women’s participation in cybersecurity and addressing the existing gender gap in the field, bringing together WIC members, partners, and beneficiaries to discuss the organization’s achievements over the past two years.
The conference opened with a session showcasing stories from WIC’s different initiatives, including sponsored training programs, internships, mentorship opportunities, and certification courses. Participants discussed their experiences of professional development within the program, which was followed by a panel discussion, presenting research findings on the representation of women in cybersecurity across Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, and Azerbaijan.
“We’ve seen firsthand how increased opportunities lead to real change in the industry,” a WIC representative noted. “Cybersecurity is a growing field, and ensuring women have equal access to education and professional development is essential.”
Over the past three years, Women in Cyber in Georgia, an initiative part of the UK-Georgia Cyber Partnership and funded by the UK Embassy’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF), has worked to create professional opportunities for women in cybersecurity.
