Progress towards achieving equal representation in tech is headed in the right direction. The representation of women in the Australian tech industry increased slightly, rising from 29% in 2021 to 31% in 2022. Additionally, the gender pay gap in the sector is half that of other highly paid sectors, such as finance or professional services. While this progress is a step in the right direction, there remains one area in tech where adequate representation is lacking – cybersecurity.

Australian women make up only 17% of the cybersecurity workforce. Research suggests that, in part, this is attributable to the highly technical nature of cybersecurity, with most roles in the industry typically demanding specialised skills acquired through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. However, given that females constitute only 37% of university STEM course enrolments, it is unsurprisingly that men outnumber women in cybersecurity jobs.

Must STEM really be the barrier that prevents women from pursuing a career in cybersecurity? Certainly not if you are looking to be a CISO.

Read more at: https://itbrief.com.au/story/female-representation-in-cybersecurity-leadership-roles-matters