The next generation of
cybersecurity specialists at St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen have been encouraged to raise their
aspirations in the technology field following an inspirational guest speaker
talk from the CEO of Cyber and Fraud Centre - Scotland.
Jude McCorry spoke to
students about the fascinating field of cybersecurity and the need to improve
the diversity landscape in the industry following recent statistics that show
women make up just 17% of cybersecurity roles.
With over 20 years of experience in the technology sector, Jude McCorry
started her career with Dell and held the position of director of business development at The Data Lab before being appointed as chief executive of Cyber
and Fraud Centre - Scotland in 2020.
During the talk, Jude discussed the importance of seizing opportunities
and how schools should think about how they can use their network to encourage
more girls to get involved in tech.
She also shared some examples of training
received by ethical hacking students at Abertay University’s cyberQuarter,
which Cyber and Fraud Centre - Scotland is a founding partner of, and touched
on various data science roles across many industries, from finance to
healthcare.
Jude
McCorry, CEO of Cyber and Fraud Centre - Scotland, said: “One
of the best ways to inspire young women to pursue STEM fields is to give them
role models, and the more women in STEM, the more role models there will be.
"When I began my career there were very few female role models in the field of
technology and I hope that by talking to students about my experiences, and
encouraging them to take every opportunity, I can encourage them to challenge
stereotypes and break the glass ceiling in the field of tech and cyber.
“Everyone
within the cyber industry has their day jobs, but we can all make time and look
for opportunities to inspire girls directly.
"I like to get involved in as many
initiatives that champion diversity in the sector as I can and will be
supporting the upcoming CyberFirst Girls Competition which aims to inspire
girls interested in technology to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
"I would
like to see more schools and businesses working together to raise aspirations
for job prospects, which will build a strong talent pipeline and develop future
leaders.”
Lucinda
Arthur, head of computing science, St Margaret’s School for Girls, said: “It
was a pleasure to host Jude as our guest speaker and hear her journey to
becoming a leader in Scotland’s efforts to tackle cybercrime.
"When my female
computer science students attend university they are often struck by the fact
that university computer science courses are still notably male dominated. If
this disparity persists, the sector will continue to feel less inclusive for
female pupils, potentially discouraging them from pursuing computer science at
a higher education level.
“Teaching
at an all-girls school gives me the opportunity to dispel stereotypes. Having
professionals like Jude talk to our students about the diverse career
opportunities in technology, can inspire our students by showcasing real-world
applications and the broad spectrum of specialisations, encouraging them to aim
high and thrive in their careers.”