Organized by Eskenzi PR in collaboration with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards are designed to highlight the extraordinary contributions of women in the cybersecurity industry. This event is not simply a recognition ceremony but a crucial platform that aims to illuminate the invaluable work being done by women in a field that is traditionally male-dominated. Among the honorees of 2026, Dr. Catherine Knibbs has been distinguished as one of the Top 20 women by a respected panel of judges. The following feature presents her insights in a question-and-answer format, offering an intimate glimpse into her career and the challenges she has faced.
In 2026, the awards enjoyed sponsorship from a range of influential organizations including BT, Bridewell, Plexal, and Fidelity International. In addition, community partners such as the WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, the Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH), and Seidea contributed to the event’s success, underscoring the collaborative spirit in fostering diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity.
Understanding Her Role in Cybersecurity
Dr. Knibbs operates at the intersection of various critical fields—cyber trauma, safety, technology, child protection, and safeguarding. She emphasizes that these facets are often treated in isolation, yet they are deeply interconnected. In her view, understanding the complexities of child online safety, online harms, and broader cybersecurity challenges requires a holistic approach. This multidisciplinary framework allows her to address the pressing issues that children face in the digital realm, drawing attention to the emotional and psychological risks that often go unnoticed by adults.
Pathway into Cybersecurity
The journey into the cybersecurity industry can be multifaceted, and Dr. Knibbs’s experience illustrates this complexity. According to her, the digital environment is anything but neutral for children; it is fraught with dangers that are often invisible. Throughout her career, she has sought to develop the language and frameworks necessary to articulate these concerns. Being recognized within the cybersecurity community highlights the rather significant progress being made in acknowledging and addressing these issues, which have traditionally been overlooked.
She notes that human behavior, much like the evolution of species, evolves in response to advancements in technology. This perspective reshapes the conversations taking place within the industry, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of psychological impacts, especially concerning children.
Challenges Faced as a Woman in Cybersecurity
Dr. Knibbs recounts that one of the greatest challenges she has faced as a woman in the tech and cybersecurity realm is the tendency in certain sectors to treat child safety as a lesser concern. Throughout her career, she has fought persistently against this dismissive perspective. The same cybersecurity systems that protect businesses also serve as the battleground where children navigate daily—often without adequate understanding or support.
She advocates for a shift in focus from merely asking whether a system was breached to considering the experiences of those on the other side of that breach. For children, the urgency of these questions cannot be overstated. Dr. Knibbs has devoted her career to ensuring that such inquiries are made, bringing light to the often ignored emotional aspects of cybersecurity breaches.
Advocacy for Diversity and Support
As the cybersecurity landscape becomes increasingly complex, Dr. Knibbs acknowledges the urgent need for diverse perspectives within the field. She believes that those who bring depth, specialization, and humanity are essential not only for addressing current challenges but also for shaping the future of the industry. Having had the privilege to be in a room with 200 outstanding women nominees, she felt buoyed by the wealth of talent and commitment present in the cybersecurity community. This recognition signifies a readiness to engage in important conversations about trauma, children, and online safety.
Personal Inspirations and Drivers
Dr. Knibbs’s journey has been shaped significantly by her background. As the first woman to complete her trade training in the Army, she developed a systemic focus on technology. Raising her children in an environment rich with home technology, she endeavored to create a secure “castle” for them. However, she soon realized that this protective bubble did not account for the dangers they might encounter in other environments, such as schools. This personal struggle deepened her commitment to developing effective support pathways for those affected by cyber trauma, integrating insights from human development, trauma literature, and actor-network theory.
Through her work and advocacy, Dr. Knibbs continues to inspire and drive change in the cybersecurity landscape, ensuring that the conversation around online safety, trauma, and child protection is front and center. This commitment not only enhances the discourse within the community but also serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of keeping the most vulnerable safe in an increasingly digital world.
The features and insights presented in this article illustrate Dr. Knibbs’s dedication to her mission, reflecting a broader movement within the cybersecurity industry to recognize and elevate the voices and contributions of women.
For further information, the article is available on IT Security Guru.