Cyber Security Leader of the Year.

A team is only as steady as the person setting its direction at 3am. This category honours the people who carry that standard, and the panel scores them on the team they build, not the title they hold.

Quick answer

What does the Cyber Security Leader of the Year honour?

The Cyber Security Leader of the Year category recognises the person who sets the standard and direction for an organisation’s defence. It is judged on leadership that shows in outcomes: a team that performs under pressure, a strategy that survives contact with a real incident, and a culture that keeps good people in the field. The panel looks for evidence the nominee changed how their organisation defends itself, mapped to the published criteria, not for seniority or job title alone. Introduced in the 2026 restructure of the programme, the category sits among five individual honours alongside Rising Star, Professional, Influencer and Advocate. Like every category, it cannot be bought. The current holder is Fene Osakwe, recognised in 2026.

Who holds it

The 2026 Leader of the Year

Winner 2026

Fene Osakwe

Cyber Security Leader · 2026

Fene Osakwe was named Cyber Security Leader of the Year in 2026, recognised for building resilient security strategy across financial institutions, telecoms and governments. A Forbes Technology Council member, he was earlier honoured by the programme as Personality of the Year in 2025, the kind of repeat recognition the Hall of Fame is built to record.

A decade of winners sits in the Hall of Fame.

What a winning record looks like

Strong nominations in this category share a shape. They show a before and an after. The team responded faster, or held together through an incident that would once have scattered it, or kept the people it could easily have lost. The leader’s fingerprints are on that change, and the evidence is checkable.

Weak nominations list responsibilities. A budget managed, a headcount grown, a framework adopted. The panel reads past the org chart and looks for the decisions only this person made, and what those decisions produced.

How it is judged

The criteria the panel scores against

The Cyber Security Leader of the Year award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership within the cybersecurity industry. It celebrates leaders who have delivered measurable achievements, contributed to the growth and advancement of the industry, and inspired others through mentorship and professional development — those who not only drive innovation and strategy but also serve as role models, shaping the future of cybersecurity.

01Leadership: Evidence of exceptional leadership qualities, including the ability to inspire, motivate, and engage teams, stakeholders, and board members, and to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
02Contribution to the Industry: Evidence of contributions to the cybersecurity industry through thought leadership, innovation, collaboration with peers, or active participation in industry initiatives.
03Achievement: Evidence of significant achievements and recognition within the cybersecurity industry, including awards, publications, speaking engagements, or other measurable milestones.
04Developing Others: Evidence of efforts to mentor and develop others in the cybersecurity industry, including the creation of training programmes, mentorship initiatives, or other educational activities.