Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security - Northern Ireland - Autumn

September - November 2026

Apply Online Here

Supporting Organisations

Partners

Summary

This is a unique, cross-sector, leadership program for women in cyber security and resilience, delivered by Empowering You and in association with techUK, NI Cyber, the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre. The aim is to build a collaborative and powerful community of women leaders in cyber security and InfoSec roles across the UK.

Delivered over 3 months from September - November 2026 Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security is designed to enable the transition of aspirational and early to mid-career professionals, team leaders and managers into more confident, capable and energised leaders.

Key Learning Points

Accelerate personal leadership skills and adaptability
Understand and develop your own personal and authentic leadership style and skills
Build confidence and influencing skills to lead change
Leverage the combined expertise of peers to progress individual and collective growth

Program Modules

Segmented into four workshop modules, individual 1-1 coaching and a team community challenge, Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security engages participants in a personal journey to realise your leadership potential.

Each module includes a senior guest speaker from diverse industries and sectors sharing their own personal leadership journey.

Self-awareness, strengths and what holds you back

How neuroscience can inform your values, beliefs and behaviours

Vital coaching skills and different leadership styles

Energising your career and optimising your impact

Program Experience

Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security immerses participants in a multi-layered development journey designed to ensure maximum individual impact.

This programme is delivered in a face-to-face and highly experiential format, with group activities and action learning sets.

Our expert leadership facilitators ensure we maintain high levels of personal engagement and diverse perspectives.

2x 2-day in-person workshops in cohort of 15-20 participants
Guest industry speakers sharing personal leadership stories
1-1 coaching sessions with a professional leadership coach
A team collaboration challenge
A graduation event with team presentations to an audience of industry peers and certificate awards

Program Timetable

Our timetable is designed to develop, practise and reinforce skills to create sustainable personal leadership capability. All modules must be completed fully to graduate and there is no option for virtual or partial attendance.

Activity	Format	Date
Self-assessment	Self-directed	1 week before workshop
1st 2-day workshop	In-person	16th - 17th September
Team challenge kick-off	Self-directed, virtual	ASAP after workshop
Individual coaching	1-1 with coach, virtual	1 session scheduled with coach
2nd 2-day workshop	In-person	20th - 21st October
Individual coaching	1-1 with coach, virtual	1 session scheduled with coach
Graduation event and team challenge presentations	In-person	24th November

Pricing & Enrolment

This is a free but selective program. Participants will be selected by a cross-industry panel after applying.

Participants are expected to attend all workshops and the graduation event to complete the programme and graduate.

Apply Online Here

Closing Date For Applications: 14 Aug 2026

Venue: Central Belfast (Venue TBC)

Pricing: Free (not including travel expenses)

Max Participants: 20

Workshop Date Information:

1st 2-day workshop

Wednesday 16th September, 2026 - 10:00 to 18:00

Thursday 17th September, 2026 - 09:00 to 16:30

2nd 2-day workshop

Tuesday 20th October, 2026 - 10:00 to 18:00

Wednesday 21st October, 2026 - 09:00 to 16:30

It is expected that participants will stay overnight close to the venue on the middle evening of each 2-day workshop and join the planned networking social and group preparation work. Exceptional circumstances (eg. childcare arrangements) will be considered of course.

What Our Alumni Say

“The coaching took me on a deeper level to review both my professional and personal objectives and I truly valued this opportunity and experience.”

Nuala Kilmartin | Innovation Lead, UKRI

“I liked the “experiential” part of the program – it was very interactive and there was a lot of discussion and reflection.”

Nadia Vidinova | Content Designer/User Centred Design, Social Security Scotland

“To be part of a network of inspiring, empowered women that I can tap into, and give back to, for support, ideas, mentoring and to simply share successes with, is truly a blessing.”

Michelle Baillie | Team Leader, Forensic Computer Analyst, Police Scotland

“Essentially, this program forced me to take time and space and reflect on who I am and what I want in my career and life – both as a leader and as a person.”

Narelle Gibbons | Product Manager, STV Group

“I absolutely loved the program! For me personally, it was so much more than I was expecting and the outcomes will shape who I am moving forward to lead in Cyber Security.”

Irene Coyle | Chief Operating Officer, OSP Cyber Academy

“The entire program has been a very positive, immersive experience that has left me feeling empowered and ready to take on future challenges.”

Ieva Kaleinikovaite | Adarma