As the year comes to a close, we recap and celebrate the winners from our recent Global Achievement Awards, and encourage you to nominate deserving cybersecurity professionals for 2024.

CEO Awards

These awards, chosen by ISC2 CEO Clar Rosso, celebrate exceptional individuals who impacted the cybersecurity community through their dedicated and outstanding volunteer contributions to ISC2.

Dr. Kevin Charest, CISSP

Dr. Charest is an Executive VP and CTO at HITRUST, and we recognize his visionary insight that sparked the creation of the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification, effectively addressing the workforce and skills gap at scale. As a former member of our Board of Directors, including a two-time chair, his idea has helped grow the pipeline for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and demonstrated the transformative power of a single concept.

Karen Rosser-Newbold, CC

Karen is an IT specialist at the University of Maryland and she is a valued member of the Women in Cybersecurity organization, WiCyS. With this award we are celebrating her pioneering spirit as she quickly completed the Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) course within the first weekend of the launch and continued her engagement with ISC2 as a student mentor. Her dedication has not ended there as she has also volunteered with ISC2 by participating in an exam development workshop in May and reviewing scholarship applications in June. She’s been a valuable advocate for the CC credential and has already made a tremendous impact among others seeking the certification.

Confidence Staveley

Confidence is theFounder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation. We are honoring her for her work increasing accessibility of cybersecurity careers among African women through her CyberGirls training program. The success of CyberGirls underscores Confidence’s unwavering commitment to amplifying diversity and inclusion and increasing the accessibility of career opportunities within the cybersecurity field.

The Center Outstanding Volunteer Award

The Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the betterment of society and the cybersecurity community through the support of the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the charitable arm of ISC2. The Center’s mission is to grow the cybersecurity profession and its positive impact on the world by raising awareness, building a diverse pipeline of cybersecurity professionals and enabling a more secure digital world.

Panagiotis Soulos, CISSP, CCSP

Panagiotis is a Global Information Security Manager at Intrum. This year, he has contributed significant time and effort reviewing, translating and presenting Safe and Secure Online, as well as inspiring a solid base of cybersecurity professionals to volunteer with public outreach efforts. He has been leading public awareness activities for the Center for Cyber Safety and Education and serving in discussion panels and as a mentor for Women4Cyber Greece. Panagiotis is also an active leader in the ISC2 Hellenic Chapter and has been instrumental in the chapter’s success in receiving a recognition award in 2022.

ISC2 Chapter Recognition Awards

ISC2 Chapter Recognition Awards are presented to official chapters that best promote the vision of ISC2 by inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Chapters must demonstrate a well-rounded offering of activities and services designed to benefit members and affiliates, while significantly contributing to the profession and local community through the ISC2 Chapter Program of Connect, Educate, Inspire and Secure.

North America: ISC2 Alamo Chapter

The Alamo Chapter excelled in its commitment to career development through workshops on résumé reviews and elevator pitches, as well as connecting members with technical recruiters to find meaningful career paths in cybersecurity. They host monthly presentations, seminars and workshops supporting professional growth and providing opportunities for Continuing Professional Education. The Chapter’s student mentoring program has established cyber education programs and inspired students to build their future in cybersecurity. Additionally, their fundraising initiatives have made a meaningful impact, benefiting scholarships and educational opportunities for underprivileged students.

Asia-Pacific: ISC2 Japan Chapter

The Japan Chapter is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has fostered a strong, growing, engaged cybersecurity community. They actively provide valuable content and resources to their broader community, raising awareness and promoting cybersecurity best practices for all. Their noteworthy initiatives encompass seven working groups addressing specific security challenges and connecting members and non-members with experts. Moreover, the Chapter has been instrumental in bridging the gender gap in cybersecurity through their Japan Women in Security working group, which hosts mentorship programs and provides networking opportunities for female talents.

EMEA: ISC2 Nigeria Chapter

Through more than 20 events organized in 2022, the Nigeria Chapter has provided a diverse range of educational opportunities. The Chapter's impact extends beyond its members as it hosted a national cybersecurity conference that brought together eminent security professionals and practitioners to address critical cybersecurity issues. Their dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is evident through initiatives like the Girl-Child in Cybersecurity Field session and the Women in Cybersecurity program, inspiring and empowering female talents in the industry. The Chapter's engagement with educational institutions and community outreach to secondary schools has nurtured cybersecurity talents from a young age and created security ambassadors within the country.