ISC2 Announces 2023 Global Achievement Awards Recipients

Program celebrates outstanding honorees whose excellence, leadership and philanthropy have shaped the cybersecurity field

Alexandria, Va., August 29, 2023– ISC2 – the world’s leading nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals – today announced recipients of its 2023 ISC2 Global Achievement Awards, recognizing and celebrating individuals who have made monumental contributions to the cybersecurity field, furthering ISC2’s vision of a safe and secure cyber world.

“Much of cybersecurity happens behind closed doors – as professionals work tirelessly and discretely to mitigate threats and protect critical information and systems,” said ISC2 CEO Clar Rosso, CC. “ISC2’s Global Achievement Awards celebrate and recognize these individuals who are shaping the future of our profession. These unsung heroes will continue to play a critical role in safeguarding our tomorrow, so today, we recognize their invaluable and commendable contributions.”

The awards fall into several categories, including Professional, Special Recognition, Chapter and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education.

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
The Professional Awards recognize the achievements and contributions of cybersecurity professionals during different stages of their careers.

The ISC2 Senior Professional Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the cybersecurity workforce by demonstrating a leadership role in their profession. This award is given to a senior professional with at least 10 years of work experience directly related to cybersecurity.

Americas: Brian Gorenc, CISSP, CSSLP, VP of Threat Research at Trend Micro, for his decade-long leadership of the Zero Day Initiative, which has led to the disclosure of 11,000 vulnerabilities.

Asia-Pacific: Raul Paolo Miranda, CISSP, Certified Instructor and Associate Trainer at NTUC LearningHub, for his exemplary leadership, unwavering commitment and significant contributions to advancing the local cybersecurity community through his role as an ISC2 Singapore Chapter ExCo Leader and Vice President.

EMEA: Andreas Constantinides, CISSP, Manager of Professional Services at Odyssey Cybersecurity, for his unwavering commitment to sharing cybersecurity knowledge through social media, Udemy courses that receive top ratings, as well as providing impactful contributions to his company's product portfolio.

The ISC2 Mid-Career Award recognizes an individual at the mid-career stage and has demonstrated commitment and achievement in their profession.

Americas: Isaac "Jay" James, CISSP, Cyber Security Operations Lead at Auburn University, for his commitment to higher education, diversity, advocacy and nurturing industry newcomers, evident through his exceptional mentorship within the cybersecurity team and Security Operations Center, leaving a profound impact on Auburn University, the Auburn-Opelika community and countless students.

Asia-Pacific: Ming-Chang “Bright” Wu, Executive Director at Aon Taiwan, for his role as an external reviewer for new cybersecurity standards for Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and for his innovative approach to integrating cybersecurity into governance by instructing board members as requested by the Taiwan Corporate Governance Association in 2019.

The ISC2 Rising Star Professional Award recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of an up-and-coming professional who has made a significant impact in the information security industry early in their career.

Americas: Christopher Villas, CISSP, Program Manager at CISA, for his leadership and management of the Protective DHS Resolver Service project, significantly enhancing CISA's impact on the federal government’s expansive enterprise system. His exemplary guidance on the Protective DNS service, amid swift adoption by U.S. government agencies, sets a valuable roadmap for future cybersecurity solutions.

Asia-Pacific: Yi Zhe “Ethan” Seow, TEDx and Black Hat Asia Speaker, educator, culture hacker and entrepreneur, for his contributions to Singapore’s cybersecurity ecosystem, making the industry more accessible to everyone.

EMEA: Kwadjo Nyante, CISSP, CISO at Aignostics GmbH, for giving back to the community by educating, delivering pro bono conference presentations and conducting notable research in blockchain and cryptography. He also motivates and mentors young individuals to pursue careers in information security.

The ISC2 Government Professional Award recognizes government information security leaders whose initiatives in technology improvement, process and policy improvement and workforce improvement have led to significant developments in the security posture of a department, agency or the entire government.

Americas: Jared P. Quinn, CISSP, CC, Senior Leader in Cybersecurity Operations at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for his work introducing the Bureau's first Enterprise Cybersecurity External Support policy, reducing single-point-of-failure concerns. Additionally, he established the Bureau's inaugural Joint Cybersecurity Operations program, facilitating mission-critical cyber threat intelligence sharing across the public and private sectors more effectively.

Asia-Pacific: Henry Tan, CISSP, Deputy Director at Cybersecurity Engineering Centre, for his commitment to bolstering national cybersecurity, particularly within government systems. His efforts extend to positioning Singapore on the global stage through various cybersecurity testing and certification endeavors, contributing to a safer digital world for all.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
The Special Recognition Awards recognize outstanding contributions and achievements in cybersecurity throughout a career.

The ISC2 CEO Award celebrates exceptional individuals who impacted the cybersecurity community through their dedicated and outstanding volunteer contributions to ISC2. They are the trailblazers and true change-makers whose intentions and actions have shaped enduring effects within the industry, leaving a legacy that extends for years to come.

Dr. Kevin Charest, CISSP, Executive VP and CTO at HITRUST, for his visionary insight that sparked the creation of the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification, effectively addressing the workforce and skills gap at scale. His idea has shaped the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and demonstrated the transformative power of a single concept.

Karen Rosser-Newbold, IT specialist at the University of Maryland and valued member of WiCyS, for her pioneering spirit as she quickly completed the CC course within the first weekend of the launch and continued her engagement with ISC2 as a student mentor.

Confidence Staveley, Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, for her work increasing accessibility of cybersecurity careers among African women through her CyberGirls training program.

The ISC2 Inclusion Impact Award (formerly Diversity Award) recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to driving a more diverse workforce in the global cybersecurity community by initiating and leading actions to remove barriers and positively impact the cyber profession's diversity, equity and inclusion. ISC2 recognizes three regional and one global award recipient demonstrating a significant commitment and passion for increasing diversity, equity and inclusion across the global cybersecurity ecosystem.

Americas and Global: Larry Whiteside Jr. CISO at RegScale and Co-founder and President of Cyversity, for his unwavering commitment and decades-long contributions to driving a more diverse workforce in the global cybersecurity community by initiating and leading actions such as co-founding Cyversity whose mission is to achieve the consistent representation of women, underrepresented minorities, and all veterans in the cybersecurity industry through programs designed to diversify, educate and empower by providing scholarship opportunities, diverse workforce development, innovative outreach and mentoring programs to remove barriers and positively impact the cyber profession.

EMEA: Iretioluwa Akerele, Cyblack Co-founder, for championing diversity education, forging partnerships and advocating for marginalized groups, has left an indelible mark that will continue to shape the industry for years.

Latin America: Braian Alejandro Arroyo, CC, Senior Information Security Analyst (Cyber Intelligence) at Telefonica Argentina, for driving cybersecurity awareness and online child protection initiatives. His leadership promotes diversity and inclusion across diverse sectors, including education, law enforcement, sports and the broader community.

The Harold F. Tipton Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest tribute in cybersecurity. Named after Harold F. Tipton, CISSP, known as the “George Washington of information security,” the award recognizes members for their lifelong contributions to the advancement of information security and the profession by serving, over the long term, with sustained excellence and distinction throughout their entire cybersecurity career.

Joye Purser, CISSP, Global Lead for Field Cybersecurity at Veritas Technologies, for her tenure at DHS/CISA, as she was the inaugural senior executive for U.S. Region 4, successfully integrating physical security and cybersecurity field staff operations. Her cybersecurity impact extends through various roles, including an IT program audit leader for the Secretary of Defense, program examiner for the Department of Defense's $93 billion research budget, and management consultant for enterprise risk management. An advocate for Cyversity, YearUp and WiCys, she demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the cybersecurity community, securing a corporate donation for Cyversity's apprenticeship program and showcasing her capacity for impactful change.

The James R. Wade ISC2 Service Award recognizes volunteers who have provided sustained and valuable service to ISC2. Named in memory of James R. Wade, an esteemed, long-time contributor to ISC2, this award is ISC2’s privilege to honor his legacy.

Ken Fishkin, CISSP, CCSP, HCISPP, Senior Manager of Information Security at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, for his role as president of the ISC2 New Jersey Chapter, as he created a thriving security community and has engaged in many outreach and volunteer opportunities that positively impact and uplift the security community.

CENTER FOR CYBER SAFETY AWARD
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the charitable arm of ISC2, is committed to making the cyber world a safe place for everyone. The Center’s mission is to grow the cybersecurity profession and its positive impact on the world by raising awareness, building a diverse pipeline of cybersecurity professionals and activating a more secure digital world.

The Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the betterment of society and the cybersecurity community through the support of the Center. With a passion for the cybersecurity community and a desire to give back, this recipient is considered a go-to volunteer helping to make society safer while supporting various initiatives within the Center.

Panagiotis Soulos, CISSP, CCSP, Global Information Security Manager at Intrum, for his significant work in translating and presenting Safe and Secure Online, as well as inspiring a solid base of cybersecurity professionals to volunteer with public outreach efforts.

ISC2 CHAPTER RECOGNITION AWARDS
ISC2 Chapter Recognition Awards are presented to official chapters of ISC2 within a specific region that best promotes the vision of ISC2 by inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. The chapter must demonstrate a well-rounded offering of activities and services designed to benefit its members and affiliates while significantly contributing to the profession and local community through the ISC2 Chapter Program of Connect, Educate, Inspire and Secure.

This year’s regional award recipients are:

Asia-Pacific: Japan Chapter – Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, it has fostered a strong, growing, engaged cybersecurity community. They actively provide valuable content and resources to the broader local community, raising awareness and promoting cybersecurity best practices for all. Their noteworthy initiatives encompass seven working groups addressing specific security challenges and connecting members and non-members with experts. Moreover, the chapter has been instrumental in bridging the gender gap in cybersecurity through their Japan Women in Security working group, which hosts mentorship programs and provides networking opportunities for female talents.

EMEA: Nigeria Chapter – Through over 20 events organized in 2022, the Nigeria chapter has provided a diverse range of educational opportunities. The chapter's impact extends beyond its members as it hosted a national cybersecurity conference that brought together eminent security professionals and practitioners to address critical cybersecurity issues. Their dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is evident through initiatives like the Girl-Child in Cybersecurity Field session and the Women in Cybersecurity program, inspiring and empowering female talents in the industry. The chapter's engagement with educational institutions and community outreach to secondary schools have nurtured cybersecurity talents from a young age and created security ambassadors within the country.

North America: Alamo Chapter – The Alamo Chapter excelled in its commitment to career development through workshops on resume reviews and elevator pitches, as well as connecting members with technical recruiters to find meaningful career paths in cybersecurity. They host monthly presentations, seminars and workshops supporting professional growth and providing opportunities for Continuing Professional Education (CPEs). The chapter’s student mentoring program has established cyber education programs and inspired students for a future in cybersecurity. Additionally, their fundraising initiatives have made a meaningful impact, benefiting scholarships and educational opportunities for underprivileged students.

For more information on the Global Achievement Awards program, including descriptions of each award category and eligibility details, please visit: https://www.isc2.org/About/Award-Programs.

About ISC2
ISC2 is an international nonprofit membership association focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Best known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) certification, ISC2 offers a portfolio of credentials that are part of a holistic, pragmatic approach to security. Our association of candidates, associates and members, more than 500,000 strong, is made up of certified cyber, information, software and infrastructure security professionals who are making a difference and helping to advance the industry. Our vision is supported by our commitment to educate and reach the general public through our charitable foundation – The Center for Cyber Safety and Education™. For more information on ISC2, visit www.isc2.org, follow us on X or connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Media Contact:
Amanda Steinman
Senior PR Manager
ISC2
asteinman@isc2.org