Main stage
Talks & panels
9:00 – 9:30
Registration and breakfast
9:30 – 9:45
Welcome from WiTCH
9:45 – 10:15
Keynote
Jo Dalton
10:15 – 10:45
Bringing philosophy into cyber
Maria Grigore
Maria is a doctoral researcher at the Bristol and Bath Centre for Doctoral Training. She will share her perspective on bringing philosophy into open-source intelligence (OSINT), and the challenges she has faced.
10:45 – 11:00
Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00
Women with many hats
Toni-Ann Grant · Talk followed by a panel discussion
Panellists: Rosie Anderson, Andreea Mihai, Ivy Milian
A Chartered Security Architect and Distinguished Engineer, Toni-Ann leads the design and delivery of future-ready cyber security for Protect BT Group. In this extended session, she will not only be talking about her career journey and her work on inclusion and diversity, but also leading a panel discussion on the same topic!
12:00 – 12:30
A new Purview: how I stepped into Microsoft Security & Compliance
Jodie Lawrance
Jodie will speak about her journey to become a Microsoft Purview consultant over the last five years, and the learnings and exams she has taken.
12:30 – 13:00
Lunch
13:00 – 14:30
What's it like to be transgender and how can I support those who are?
Katie Neeves
Are you supportive of trans people, but worry that you might offend a trans person by saying the wrong thing? If so, this session is for you. If you really don't understand transgender people at all, this talk is also for you. Katie Neeves will not only tell her incredible story along with explanations about all things trans, but she will give you her top tips for being a trans ally and she will answer ANY questions — no holds barred!
14:40 – 15:30
Drop the dead weight: a pressure reset for women in tech and cyber
Colinda Latour
Through guided Love Actions and relatable workplace scenarios, you'll uncover your own pressure patterns, discover where some of the weight you're carrying can be put down, and try out new ways to respond when you feel the urge to over-perform, overthink or simply push through.
15:30 – 16:00
Burnout and mental health panel discussion
Lucy Smith
Panellists: Kelly Friend, Andreea Mihai, Ella Dennison
16:00 – 16:30
Finding my place in cybersecurity: from psychology to the human side of security
Ananya Saha
Ananya will reflect on her journey into PhD research, the doubts and setbacks involved in pursuing a new direction, and the experience of navigating the early stages of academia. She will also explore how her longstanding interest in social behaviour, workplace demands, and organisational dynamics connect to her research on technostress and secure behaviour.
16:30 – 17:00
From AI in the built environment to cybersecurity: my research journey
Barirah Irfan
Going into a multidisciplinary Cybersecurity PhD after graduating from a Computer Science degree, Barirah will share insights from her research and personal development journey.
17:00
Close
New Bailey 08.15 · Connect Room
Workshops
16:00 – 16:30
Handling the horrors: decision making under pressure
Jemma Davis
An interactive crisis sim for handling touchy conversations when the pressure is on, answering the question of “how do you make decisions without getting stuck in overthinking?”
16:30 – 17:00
Trick or speak: turn stage fright into stage presence
Illyana Mullins
Got something to say but your nerves keep getting in the way? Learn practical techniques to manage speaking anxiety, communicate with confidence, and make your voice heard, whether that's on stage, in meetings, or when pitching your next big idea.