Confidence Staveley named Cybersecurity Woman of the World 2023

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Cybersecurity space globally, founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, Confidence Staveley, has been awarded the Cybersecurity Woman of the World, 2023.

The award, which spotlights the extraordinary work of women groundbreaking the ground in the field, aims to encourage more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

The Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition is a collaborative initiative of the United Cybersecurity Alliance, OSP Cyber Academy and Cyber News Global, which strives to bring together global experts, organisations and individuals to build the strongest defense against cybercriminals.
Staveley emerged winner from a pool of around 160 different women in cyber associations from all around the world with past winners of the Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Awards amongst nominees.

According to the founder of the annual Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Awards at Black Hat and the Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition, Carmen Marsh, the field of cybersecurity is becoming increasingly critical as the world becomes more interconnected and dependent on technology, and women have emerged as influential leaders, innovators and change-makers, contributing invaluable expertise and perspectives.

“The expansion of the Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Award to the Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition signifies the growing importance of gender diversity and inclusivity in the cybersecurity industry. I acknowledge that honouring women’s accomplishments is not only a matter of equality but also a strategic imperative. By bringing attention to the exceptional work of women in cybersecurity, this initiative aims to inspire and encourage more women to pursue careers in the field, addressing the gender gap and fostering innovation and creativity.

“The award comes as a huge recognition for Staveley who is Africa’s most celebrated female Cybersecurity Leader. She is also a talent developer, a global speaker and an inclusion Advocate. She has achieved numerous professional certifications and industry recognitions. Staveley is an official member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. She has been recognised as Cybersecurity Woman of the Year in 2021 and 2022, International Security Journal Influencer in 2023, LinkedIn’s Top Voice for Gender Inclusion, a part of the Top 50 women in Cybersecurity Africa, among many others,” Marsh said.

She added that Staveley’s award serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring professionals and challenges existing stereotypes. “It recognises excellence in cybersecurity and highlights the significant impact women have in defending our digital landscape,” she stressed.

In response, Staveley said: “I feel emboldened, yet humbled to have been chosen from such an incredible group of talented women. Considering that cybersecurity is a global practice, I’m inspired to keep living in purpose, maintaining world-class excellence in all I do and serving as a showcase of all the possibilities that passion and hard work can deliver for women.”