GÉANT CSM23 Webinar – Exploring the impact of neurodiversity on cybersecurity practice and risk management – 19 October 2023

19 October 2023 – 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | Speaker: Holly Foxcroft, Head of Neurodiversity in Cyber Research and Consulting, Stott and May Consulting

Exploring the impact of neurodiversity on cybersecurity practice and risk management: A cyber psychological perspective

The neurodiversity spectrum is wide, ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome, to autism and bi-polarity. But common characteristics of neurodivergent individuals – including pattern-spotting, creative insights and visual-spatial thinking – are being realised in the cybersecurity sector.

According to Holly Foxcroft, who is neurodivergent herself, neurodivergent individuals have “spiky profiles and these visual representations highlight the strengths and areas needed for development or support. “Neurodivergent profiles show that individuals perform highly in areas where neurotypicals have a consistent and moderate line”.  The areas in which neurodivergent individuals have “exceeded skill” include high-level problem-solving, creative “out-the-box” thinking, hyper-focusing, and pattern spotting: “These are much-needed attributes and skills in cybersecurity”.

Mainly aimed at: Decision makers (CISOs, CIOs, etc.), cybersecurity professionals, recruiters and HR professionals.

Thanks to our collaboration with RedCLARA, live interpretation services will be available for all our CSM webinars also this year in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese).

About Holly Foxcroft

Holly is an award winning, international speaker and thought leader in neurodiversity in cyber. Holly champions neuroinclusion within the cybersecurity industry, promoting best practice and furthering research in to understanding neurodiversity and the critical role it plays in cyber security. Holly started her career in defence and holds a first-class degree in Criminology and Cybercrime, she carved her career in specialising in neurodiversity and cyber. Holly supports organisations on how to understand neurodiversity through training and awareness and ultimately become more neuroinclusive. Holly also leads the Portsmouth Digital Drive Team in cyber, supporting the city and it’s schools in cybersecurity awareness and showcasing how to build relationships with digital technology.

Holly is currently researching how neurodiversity impacts cybersecurity and risk management with the outcome to support overall cyber security posture. Holly works tirelessly to ensure the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in cyber, promoting the importance of mental wellbeing and reducing burnout.

Also this year GÉANT joins the European Cyber Security Month, with the campaign ‘Become A Cyber Hero‘. Read articles from cyber security experts within our community and download resources from our awareness package on connect.geant.org/csm23