Advancing the cyber security sector: Pathway to a diverse and inclusive cyber security workforce

The cybersecurity workforce in Australia is characterised by a significant under-representation of women, despite the sector’s rapid expansion and growing importance.

The 2023 Gender Dimensions of the Australian Cyber Security Sector Report (undertaken by RMIT University and the Australian Women in Security Network) provided the first comprehensive review of factors influencing the gender diversity of Australia’s cybersecurity workforce. It identified the stark under-representation of women in the sector – women represent only 17% of the workforce, predominantly in entry-level roles – and the impact of that under-representation on the sector’s ability to operate at its full potential.

In addition to providing an understanding of the factors that enable and impede women’s career participation and advancement in the cybersecurity sector, the Report offered a range of recommended actions across the sector to de-bias work cultures and adopt evidence-based approaches to enhance inclusivity and diversity in the sector’s broad systems and culture. One of the key themes explored by the Report relates to career and leadership development pathways that promote gender equity. The Report identifies women’s leadership programs and career mentoring as important initiatives to drive gender equity through the development and promotion of women. It revealed however, that at most, only 8-9% of female cybersecurity professionals have one of these initiatives available to them, suggesting this is a gap in the sector that invites additional investment.

This presentation will explore the role of gender diversity and female leaders within the cybersecurity sector and describe how tailoring leadership development for women in cybersecurity strengthens diversity, inclusivity and innovation at all levels, and positively impacts organisational culture, innovation outputs and profitability.

It will provide strategies and actions to progress gender equity and inclusion in the cybersecurity sector via the development and promotion of women and increasing gender representation in leadership. Practical solutions will be presented as an integrated suite of strategies to support the development of emerging and established female leaders, specifically from early- to mid-career. These solutions are informed by research and STEM industry best practice, and five years of tailored female leadership development for women in the STEM and security sectors that is backed by evaluation.