A cyber security expert from Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ (Âéw¶¹´«Ã½) is joining Secretary of State Liz Kendall at a high-level event in London to hear about technology priorities.
Dr Ismini Vasileiou, Âéw¶¹´«Ã½’s Cyber Skills Lead, will join the Technology Secretary in a visit to Bloomberg, on Wednesday, where leaders from across the UK’s science, innovation and technology sectors will discuss priorities set by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The session marks the first anniversary of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to drive economic growth and build high-skilled jobs across the country.
The visit will be the first of two major engagements this week for Dr Vasileiou, who is also the founder of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster, the region’s hub for digital security insight and expertise.
On Thursday, Dr Vasileiou will take part in the Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) Network Summit 2026 at The Kia Oval.
The summit brings together government officials, policing representatives, and cyber specialists from across the UK to explore how the CRC Network can support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strengthening their cyber resilience.
On the expert panel, Dr Vasileiou will discuss how regional clusters like EMCSC can complement national initiatives, providing practical support and guidance to organisations navigating the evolving cyber threat landscape.
“Our work at EMCSC is about more than technology,” Dr Vasileiou says. “It’s about helping organisations build the skills, culture and partnerships they need to be resilient in the face of cyber challenges. These events are a valuable opportunity to bring regional expertise to national discussions, ensuring that policy meets the real-world needs of businesses and communities.”
Last year, Dr Vasileiou authored a white paper in which she highlighted the outdated training systems which are leaving the UK “dangerously exposed” to cyber-attacks.
This led to an invitation to a cyber security event at the Labour Party Conference and, in December, an invitation to be a founding member of the Women in Tech taskforce.
Led by Secretary of State Liz Kendall and Women in Tech Envoy Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, the taskforce brings together 15 senior industry figures to advise on how the government can better support diversity across the tech sector.
This first-of-its-kind initiative will advise the government on how to better support diversity in tech and ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth.
Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2026