Ten of the Women Leaders Driving Financial Services Cyber Security

According to Cybercrime Magazine, the proportion of women in the cyber security industry has risen in recent years and is approaching 20%. Whilst this figure is far short of the 50% target it needs to reach, it’s encouraging that the number is increasing and it’s significantly better than the figures for the investment industry or other tech sectors.

As part of the extensive cyber security research we have undertaken at FinTech Global on behalf of our global network of financial institutions, we can see that numerous women leaders are responsible for shaping the future of the information security industry, driving financial services companies to enhanced levels of cyber protection and compliance, and leading the way in new areas of technology innovation.

We’ve put together a list of ten women leaders who are helping to define the future of cyber security and who are playing a critical role in ensuring the security of the global financial services industry. All of these women are highly respected experts, thought-leaders and role models. Most already have senior stature and influence in the industry, whilst others are destined to be next generation leaders.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order:

Caroline Baylon, Information Security Research Lead, AXA

Caroline serves as Research Lead in AXA’s Security Strategy, Research and Threat Horizon team looking at current and future trends in cyber security, AI and technology more broadly. Her research includes such topics as: the use of AI by cybercriminals, both now and in the future; cyber security vulnerabilities in connected and driverless cars; and the digital cities of the future. She also co-leads the team’s biannual cyber security foresight publication.

Previously Caroline was the lead on cyber security at Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs), where her work centered on cyber security threats to critical infrastructure such as nuclear facilities and satellites. She has also served as an independent contractor for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, carrying out research projects on the activities of cyber proxy groups and on prospects for curbing the proliferation of cyber weapons.

Alix Brunet, Vice President, Citi Ventures

Alix is a VP at Citi Ventures, a unit of Citi which explores emerging trends in finance and technology and invests in cutting-edge solutions. She is responsible for sourcing and executing venture investments in Europe. Alix identifies solutions that enhance the delivery of financial services and client experience, and supports entrepreneurs in building new market-leading companies and becoming strategic partners.

Alix previosuly worked at: Finch Capital, a FinTech-focused venture firm; at Citi, as a senior analyst providing financial and M&A advisory services to corporate, private equity and financial clients across EMEA; and as an investor in FinTech, agriculture and energy companies at the Acumen Fund in Ghana. Before that she was with Schroders in London, Integro Insurance Brokers in New York and Marsh in Paris, where she worked as an analyst and junior insurance broker.

Kirsten Connell, Managing Director, CyLon

Kirsten is Managing Director at CyLon, an organisation which manages a global platform to invest in, and help grow, cyber security businesses. CyLon is one of the world’s most active investors in the cyber sector and has, to date, supported over 80 companies that have created innovative cyber security products.

Since 2015, Kirsten has built up CyLon’s world-leading programs and has substantially grown CyLon’s network of mentors and investors, as well as helping CyLon startups raise follow-on investment. Kirsten has over a decade of experience working with early stage startups, and prior to joining CyLon she was General Manager for Seedcamp, helping them grow from 39 investments to 200 over a period of 5 years. Kirsten held a board seat for Capital for Enterprise supporting SMEs across the UK and volunteered for the Cherie Blair Foundation supporting female entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies.

Elizabeth Kleinveld, Partner Success Lead, FinTech & Cyber Security Program, Startupbootcamp

Elizabeth works at the dynamic, early-stage end of the cyber security industry, helping innovative new companies scale their businesses. She plays an essential role as an ecosystem builder who links various parties in the financial services value chain, from startups and scale-ups to regulators, investors and large corporates.

She is responsible for advising corporate partners and supports their investment and partnership strategies by helping them to to scout new companies and collaborate with startups on a worldwide basis.

Emma Leith, Chief Information Security Officer, Santander UK

Emma is responsible for information security at one of the UK’s largest banks, Santander UK, which employs around 20,000 staff, serves 14 million active customers and operates over 800 branches and 64 corporate business centres. She oversees the delivery of security and privacy services across the bank and ensures the protection of Santander’s systems, information and customers.

Emma has over 13 years’ experience in leading cyber security and privacy agendas across a variety of industry sectors including financial services, oil and gas, telecoms and government. She joined from Barclays International where she was Director of Cyber Strategy and Programs. Prior to this, Emma was the CISO for the Corporate Functions and Commodity Trading Division at BP Oil International and was a key member of the global digital security team at BP Group.

Diana Moldovan, UK Insurance Cyber Operations Lead, Aviva

Diana leads cyber operations Aviva’s UK Insurance business. She leads teams in vulnerability management and incident response/threat hunting and is responsible for ensuring the company’s cyber defence capabilities protect over 30 million customers.

Diana previously worked with Deloitte advising clients on building and maintaining robust cyber resilience systems. She led engagements on a range of critical areas including incident response, memory forensic analysis, threat intelligence, vulnerability management and attack detection.

Diana is an active proponent of diversity and a key supporter of Aviva’s diversity strategy. She is also a highly-valued mentor for the next generation of professionals in the cyber security industry.

Becky Pinkard, Chief Information Security Officer, Aldermore Bank

Beck Pinkard is an information security leader, speaker and published author. She currently serves as the CISO of Aldermore, a specialist bank servicing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, homeowners, landlords, and individuals.

Becky is a highly-respected practitioner and commentator on the information security sector, having worked in information technology and security since 1996. As a security transformation expert, she has built and managed global information security teams, designed risk and compliance strategies, led security audits and assessments, and developed security awareness training in small and large environments.

Becky’s extensive experience covers: business case preparation and execution through to funding and implementation; strong vendor management and relationship-building capabilities; and in-depth capabilities around cyber security and data monitoring, vulnerability and risk assessment, web application security and policy development.

Debjani Roy Ryan, Director, Data Science, Analytics and AI- Financial Crime, Barclays

Debjani is an established technologist and entrepreneurial leader with over 20 years experience in financial services technology. She is recognised as one of the financial services industry’s most knowledgeable thought-leaders on the development of large scale technology platforms and has expertise in crypto, robotics, AI, cloud and blockchain.

Prior to Barclays, Debjani was Citi’s Head of Technology for robotics where she took the lead role in the development of robotics and AI at scale. Before that she was Chief Architect for the Liquidities business within Citi and helped launch Citi data as a service offering for asset managers.

Mehtap Numanoglu Tasiopoulos, Chief Risk Officer — Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg, London and Zurich)

Mehtap is the Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Executive Committee/Senior Vice President for Brown Brothers Harriman Luxembourg, London and Zurich. BBH is a 200-year old financial organization, which provides individuals and institutions with expertise in private banking, investment management and investor services in North America, Europe and Asia.

Mehtap has held senior risk positions in leading financial institutions for over 23 years. She is a highly qualified industry professional, leader, editor, speaker and lecturer in risk management, internal control and audit. She has built departments, processes and a strong risk culture including within matrix organisations.

Mehtap is also currently the Co-Chair of the ALFI Digital/Fintech Forum Cybersecurity Working Group. She is passionate about speaking in lectures and conferences about risk management, governance, internal audit and internal control and has trained more than 1,000 employees (around the world) in the financial sector.

Charlie Timblin, Head of Global Cyber Security Consulting, Royal Bank of Canada

Charlie is a senior director at Royal Bank of Canada and leads the Global Cyber Security consulting team, which engages predominantly on complex, high risk projects providing security consulting advice as part of technology change and organizational transformation.

She is responsible for RBC Security Consulting services, which provides cyber security services to an internal technology and business client base on a global basis across all business platforms. That involves managing the consultants that provide expert advice on payments security, network, infrastructure and critical applications including trading systems, as well as OMNI, Digital and Cloud initiatives.

Charlie is a highly respected industry leader who has held progressively senior positions in financial, private and government sectors providing leadership and oversight in cyber and technology risk and controls. She has a reputation for building high impact relationships with clients and stakeholders at all levels, and for being a trusted adviser on cyber risk to board directors. She is passionate about the need to apply organisational and business context to cyber and the need to have a continual learning, start-up mindset. Previously, Mehtap managed operational risk at Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.

Other Women Leaders

Of course, there are thousands of other extraordinarily talented women working in cyber security in financial services (as well as across other industries).

The ten women leaders on this list are amongst the most high profile of them and I’m delighted to say that all ten will be sharing their views and expertise as guest speakers at the Financial Services CyberTech Forum, which we are hosting in London on 24 September. If you’d like to hear their insights and engage with the inner circle of the financial services cyber industry, please do join us at the Forum.