Sandra Connery

Job:

Information Assurance Lead

Company:

Atkins

I am now working as an Information Assurance Lead for a Global organisation. Previously I have worked in Cyber Security, in both Public and Private sectors. My aim is always to make cyber/information security part of the normal business process for organisations and individuals. Not just ‘an add on’.

I am...

Proactive

Optimistic

Resilient

The skills I use most in my job...

Leadership – drive projects forward and provide leadership to colleagues.

Ability to see the big picture – always looking at how any solution meets the business needs.

Problem solving – problems are just waiting for solutions to be found.

Collaboration – collaborating with different stakeholders from different areas of the business with different skills sets, helps to achieve the best results.

Proactivity – ability to take the initiative.

The most interesting thing I've worked on in my career so far...

Bringing together individuals from Government, Academia, and Industry to work together. Bringing together their diverse ways of thinking to solve Industry problems, bringing benefit to all.

What inspired me into digital and tech...

Two things. – my last year’s Degree project on ‘WIFI and the lack of security’, being told it was ‘a waste of time’, as there was no future in it!

My educational background is...

I left school with GCEs, age 16, and joined the Army in my late teens. In my 30’s I enrolled in the Open University and graduated with an IT and Computing BSc Hons, whilst working fulltime and having a child. I used my degree to started working in Information Security, continuing my studying to achieve my CISSP certification.

What advice I'd give to girls thinking about a career in digital and tech...

Do not be put off by other people. It is not just about tech! It is not just about sitting in a dark room coding! There are a wide variety of areas to work in, research and explore, be open-minded, and reach out to others to ask advice.