Celebrating Excellence: A Review of the National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo 2025
We’re delighted to share this exclusive review from our Head of Communications Lisa Ventura MBE FCIIS, who attended both the National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo, two flagship events that showcase the very best of our industry.
Her firsthand account offers an honest, engaging perspective on the state of the UK cyber security community and the opportunities these events provide for learning, networking, and recognition. We hope you find her reflections as informative and inspiring as we did.
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I’ve just returned from two of the most important events in the UK cyber security calendar, and I wanted to share my reflections on both the National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo, which took place in London last week.
The National Cyber Awards 2024: A Night to Remember
The National Cyber Awards, held at the Novotel London on 23rd September, was an absolute highlight of my year. Now in its sixth year, this prestigious event has truly established itself as the benchmark for recognising excellence across our industry, and I was deeply honoured to be shortlisted as a finalist in the “Cyber Citizen of the Year” category.
An Ethical Awards Programme That Gets It Right
What sets the National Cyber Awards apart from so many other industry accolades is their unwavering commitment to ethical judging and transparency. They’ve deliberately avoided the pay-to-play model that plagues so many awards programmes, and this makes every nomination genuinely meaningful. With headline sponsorship from BAE Systems and support from organisations including IBM, Fortinet, Qualys, the UK Cyber Security Council, and the Chartered Institute of Information Security, the awards had real weight and credibility.
The fact that entry is completely free and every finalist receives a complimentary ticket to the ceremony demonstrates their genuine commitment to accessibility and inclusion. This isn’t about who can afford the biggest table booking – it’s about celebrating real achievement and contribution to our sector.
The Atmosphere and Community Spirit
With over 500 cyber security professionals from government, public, and private sectors in attendance, the evening was buzzing with energy and camaraderie. It’s rare to have so many influential figures from across the entire cyber ecosystem gathered in one room, and the networking opportunities were exceptional. I had brilliant conversations with fellow finalists, judges, and industry leaders throughout the evening.
The awards were hosted by Gordon Corera, the BBC Security Analyst and host of “The Rest is Classified” podcast, whose knowledge and wit made for engaging compère work. It was particularly moving to hear Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s message acknowledging that these awards “are a wonderful way to reward, celebrate and showcase the work of those who are committed to keeping us safe.”
Recognition Across the Sector
The breadth of categories was impressive, spanning everything from “Cyber Student of the Year” and “Cyber Policing Team of the Year” through to “The Prime Minister’s Award for Cyber.” What struck me most was how the awards recognised not just technical excellence, but also the human elements of cyber security – advocacy, education, diversity, and community building. These are the areas I’m most passionate about, so seeing them given equal prominence alongside technical achievements was genuinely heartening.
Whilst I was a finalist in the “Cyber Citizen of the Year” category rather than taking home the top prize (I haven’t exactly been visible this year, so I knew I wouldn’t win it), being recognised amongst such exceptional company was an honour in itself. The calibre of the other finalists was outstanding, and it reminded me why I love this industry so much – we’re all working towards the same goal of keeping people safe in an increasingly digital world.
The Challenges We Face
The awards came at a crucial time for our industry. With the UK Government’s new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on the horizon and cyber-attacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, events like this serve as an important reminder of why our work matters. The recognition isn’t just about celebrating past achievements – it’s about inspiring the next generation of cyber security professionals and demonstrating that this is a career path worth pursuing.
International Cyber Expo 2025: Where The Community Comes Together
The following day, I attended the International Cyber Expo at Olympia London, which ran across 30 September and 1 October. After the formal elegance of the awards ceremony, ICE offered something quite different but equally valuable – a bustling, energetic marketplace of ideas, solutions, and connections.
Built By the Community, For the Community
This ethos was evident throughout the event. International Cyber Expo has positioned itself as more than just a trade show – it’s genuinely attempting to be the go-to meeting place for industry collaboration. From vetted senior cyber security buyers and government officials to software developers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, the diversity of attendees created a rich environment for meaningful exchanges.
The Exhibition Floor and Innovation Showcase
Walking the exhibition floor was like taking a tour through the current state of cyber security innovation. Over 170 exhibitors from established major players to cutting-edge start-ups showcased their solutions, and I was impressed by the calibre of vendors present. The event organisers, Nineteen Group, deserve credit for curating such a strong line-up of exhibitors who represented the breadth of our industry.
The international and industry pavilions were particularly interesting, offering insights into how different regions and sectors are approaching cyber security challenges. The ADS and TechUK Pavilion was well-attended and provided an excellent focal point for UK cyber businesses to showcase their capabilities.
Content and Learning Opportunities
The three content stages including the Global Cyber Summit Stage, the Tech Hub Stage, and the Diversity and Skills Stage offered continuous programming throughout both days. The quality of speakers was generally high, and I appreciated that the content covered both technical deep-dives and broader strategic discussions.
I was particularly pleased to see the Diversity and Skills Stage given such prominence. We desperately need more focus on attracting diverse talent into cyber security, and providing a dedicated platform for these conversations was the right call. The discussions around neurodiversity, women in cyber, and alternative pathways into the profession resonated strongly with my own advocacy work.
The SASIG Partnership and Practical Learning
The Security Awareness Special Interest Group’s partnership with ICE to offer webinars and roundtables was a smart addition. The Cyber Griffin Tabletop Exercise allowed teams to immerse themselves in simulated cyber-attack scenarios, providing practical, hands-on learning that complemented the more theoretical conference sessions. This blend of exhibition, education, and experiential learning is what makes ICE valuable for attendees at all levels.
Room for Improvement
Whilst ICE was undoubtedly worthwhile, it’s not without areas for development. At times, the sheer scale of the event, co-located with International Security Expo, could feel overwhelming. With so many exhibitors competing for attention and multiple stages running concurrent sessions, it required careful planning to make the most of the two days.
The balance between genuine education and vendor pitches wasn’t always perfect. Some sessions felt more like extended sales presentations than objective industry discussions, which is an ongoing challenge for any commercially driven expo. That said, this is a common issue across industry events, and the free admission model means you can’t expect purely academic content.
Networking and Connection
Despite the crowds, or perhaps because of them, the networking opportunities were excellent. The informal atmosphere made it easy to strike up conversations, and I had several valuable discussions with fellow attendees about everything from the practical challenges of implementing zero trust architectures to the softer skills needed for building cyber-aware cultures.
The networking drinks on the evening of 30th September hosted by Cyber House Party provided a more relaxed environment for continuing conversations started during the day, and this kind of social element is crucial for building the relationships that drive collaboration in our industry.
Reflections: Two Events, One Shared Purpose
Attending both events back-to-back provided an interesting contrast and complement. The National Cyber Awards gave us the opportunity to celebrate achievement, recognise excellence, and reflect on how far we’ve come as an industry. International Cyber Expo gave us the space to roll up our sleeves, explore solutions, and think about the practical challenges we face in the months and years ahead.
The Importance of Community
What struck me most across both events was the strength of the UK cyber security community. Despite the competitive nature of our industry, there’s a genuine spirit of collaboration and mutual support. We’re all facing the same adversaries and the same challenges, and events like these remind us that we’re stronger together.
Looking Forward
As I reflect on these two days, I’m filled with optimism about the future of our industry. Yes, the threats are growing more sophisticated, and yes, we face ongoing challenges around skills gaps, diversity, and awareness. But seeing so many talented, dedicated, passionate professionals all working towards the common goal of keeping people safe gives me hope.
The National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo serve complementary but equally important roles in our industry. One celebrates where we’ve been and what we’ve achieved; the other focuses on where we’re going and how we’ll get there. Both are essential, and I’d encourage anyone working in cyber security to attend both if possible.
If you’re wondering whether to attend either event, my answer is an unequivocal yes. If you’re early in your career, ICE offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the breadth of the industry and make connections that could shape your career trajectory. If you’re more established, the National Cyber Awards provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate colleagues’ achievements and raise the profile of excellent work that might otherwise go unrecognised.
For companies, both events offer different but valuable opportunities, ICE for showcasing solutions and connecting with buyers, and the National Cyber Awards for building brand reputation and demonstrating thought leadership through category sponsorship and involvement.
Final Thoughts
These events reminded me why I transitioned into cyber security back in 2009 and why I’ve remained passionate about this industry ever since. We’re not just implementing technical controls or managing risk registers. We’re protecting people, organisations, and critical national infrastructure from very real threats. The work we do matters, and having opportunities to come together as a community, to celebrate our successes and learn from each other, makes us all better at what we do.
I’m already looking forward to the National Cyber Awards and International Cyber Expo 2026, and I hope to see many of you there. In the meantime, there’s work to be done, threats to counter, and people to keep safe.
