Technology

GISEC Global 2025, the Middle East and Africa's largest and most influential cybersecurity event, will return to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 6 to 8 May. The event will focus on promoting female leadership and inclusion in the cybersecurity sector.

As part of its broader agenda to address industry challenges and drive innovation, this year’s edition will spotlight the critical role of women in cybersecurity through its acclaimed Inspire Programme. The programme will feature an array of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by distinguished women leaders from the global cybersecurity community.

Hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council and supported by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC), Ministry of Interior, and Dubai Police, GISEC Global 2025 aims to create a platform that fosters diversity and inspires the next generation of female cybersecurity professionals. Despite significant technological advancements, women still make up only 24% of global security teams, underlining the urgency for inclusive strategies and representation.

Aarti Borkar, Corporate Vice President of Customer Success and Incident Response for Microsoft’s Security business, will be among the headline speakers. She will emphasize the importance of cognitive diversity in cybersecurity teams to enable broader perspectives and more effective threat mitigation. "Security today goes beyond warfare scenarios. It's about predictive models and proactive protection," said Borkar. She will also highlight the dual nature of AI in cybersecurity, noting its potential to strengthen defences and pose new threats.

Another prominent voice at GISEC Global 2025 will be Danni Brooke, co-founder of OSINT Group and former covert operative. Brooke, known for her expertise in intelligence and cybercrime, will discuss the increasing risk of AI-powered social engineering attacks and the enduring need for human insight in threat detection. "AI and automation are critical, but the human ability to interpret context and patterns remains irreplaceable," she remarked.

The three-day event will feature over 750 global cybersecurity brands, drawing more than 25,000 professionals from over 160 countries. Attendees can expect a comprehensive agenda with new additions such as an OT Security Pavilion and a National Security Programme, alongside hundreds of discussions aimed at shaping the future of digital defence.

GISEC Global 2025 will also showcase influential women including:

• H.E. Tigist Hamid Mohammed, Director General, INSA

• Dr. Bushra AlBlooshi, Director, DESC

• Francel Margareth Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines

• Pei Ling LEE, INTERPOL

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that diversity and innovation go hand in hand, especially as the cybersecurity landscape becomes more complex with the rise of AI, deepfakes, and behavioural analytics. Through initiatives like the Inspire Programme, GISEC Global is actively working to change industry perceptions and create inclusive career pathways in cybersecurity.

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