A major milestone in 2025:

This year, Women4Cyber’s Declaration gained significant political support, being presented at a
High-Level Roundtable under the patronage of MEP Lina Gálvez, member of the Committee on
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. This marks a significant step forward in translating our
mission into tangible policy action.
The event marking this milestone brought together a wide range of high-level stakeholders.
Among the prominent figures in attendance were:

• Ms Despina Spanou, Principal Adviser on Cybersecurity, European Commission.

• Ms Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Acting Director for Digital Society, Trust and
Cybersecurity (CNECT.H), European Commission.

• Ms Barbara Kluge, Deputy Head of Directorate General CI, Cyber and Information Security,
German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community.

• Ms Liliana Musetan, Head of Unit, Council of the European Union.

• Mr Henk Dujardin, CEO, Belgian Cyber Security Coalition.

Representatives from 13 Women4Cyber National Chapters also joined the event, alongside key
industry voices from CEN and CENELEC, Gen Digital, Crowdstrike, Google, S2Grupo, and many
others from both the public and private sectors

Key Highlights from the event:

• An inclusive workforce strategy is a business imperative.
Companies with low gender diversity are 66% less likely to outperform, according to
“Diversity matters even more” report (McKinsey’s 2023). As emphasised during the event,
inclusion is not just a matter of equity; it’s a strategic advantage. Cybersecurity must
embrace this reality to remain resilient and effective.

• Women’s perspectives are essential to ethical cybersecurity.
With the rise of unethical actors, including women, it’s vital to ensure ethical, skilled
women are part of cybersecurity teams. Their insights strengthen our collective defense.

• Europe must lead by example.
Europe has a unique opportunity to set a global benchmark for gender equity in
cybersecurity through inclusive workforce strategies.

• Men are essential allies.
Many women in cybersecurity have advanced thanks to the support of male colleagues.
Their continued advocacy is crucial to closing the talent gap and achieving systemic
change.

• Education is the foundation of inclusion.
Accessible, high-quality cybersecurity education is key to enabling more women to enter
and thrive in the field.

• Cybersecurity is open to all.
Many testified that having a non-STEM background didn’t prevent them from building a
successful cybersecurity career. These stories matter. They show that inclusive
workforce strategies must embrace diverse educational paths and lived experiences.

To date, we are proud to have gathered over 150 signatories, including companies and individuals,
in support of our Declaration. But this is just the beginning.
Our goal is to build momentum with EU policy makers, to turn our Declaration into tangible actions
that will shape the future of cybersecurity in Europe through a truly inclusive workforce strategy.
Join the mission today by signing the Declaration and supporting the Women4Cyber Foundation.