NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY CONFERENCE '25 (XIII Edition)

Nominees should have delivered groundbreaking work that has advanced the profession — from pioneering new security methodologies to leading initiatives that strengthened industry-wide resilience.

The award recognizes those who have influenced national or global cybersecurity strategies, contributed thought leadership through publications and conferences, mentored emerging leaders, and shaped the growth of the cybersecurity ecosystem. These leaders are celebrated for both protecting their organizations and leaving a lasting impact on the wider cyber community.

Eligible nominees, with 10+ years of leadership experience, should be in positions such as CISO, CIO, VP, or Director, with proven authority to influence business-critical decisions.

The award celebrates leaders who have embedded security into organizational culture, driven strategic cybersecurity investments, and influenced executive-level policies to align security with business objectives. Recognition is given to those who have guided their organizations through evolving threats, built high-performing security teams, and served as trusted advisors to peers and industry networks.

Including the strategic application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in security operations. Nominees should be recognized as subject matter experts capable of designing, implementing, and optimizing complex security architectures, tools, and processes.

Eligible leaders will have personally contributed to technical projects such as AI-driven threat detection systems, secure cloud and network designs, application and infrastructure hardening, and large-scale incident response operations. The award values individuals who remain actively engaged in technical innovation, mentor specialized security teams, and lead advancements in areas such as SOC automation, application security, cloud security, endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and AI-powered security analytics — making them both strategic leaders and technical pioneers.

Nominees may have developed groundbreaking academic programs, designed widely adopted training frameworks, or produced influential research addressing current and emerging threats.

Recognition is also given for building sustainable collaborations between academia, industry, and government, as well as initiatives that raise public cyber awareness. The award values contributions that go beyond traditional education — including policy advocacy, global research partnerships, and community outreach that strengthen cybersecurity literacy and capacity worldwide.