The shortlist for the 2026 UK Cyber OSPAs, organised in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Show and International Cyber Expo, has been unveiled, recognising companies, teams, individuals, products and initiatives across the cyber security sector.
The awards are founded on strong ethical principles and are actively supported by numerous key industry bodies and special interest groups around the world. These global organisations nominate judges to represent them, including: SASIG, ACS – Australian Computer Society, AI and Cyber Security Association, ANSSI – Asociatia Nationala Pentru Securitatea Sistemelor Informatice, CREST, CyAN – Cybersecurity Advisors Network, CyberSafe Foundation, FIRST, GSG Consultancy, IAP – The Institution of Analysts and Programmers, ISACA – Midland Chapter, Mental Health in Cyber Security Foundation, North East Business Resilience Centre, RAISA – Asociatia Romana pentru Asigurarea Securitatii Informatiei, Security Industry Federation, TechUK, The Security Institute, UK Cyber Security Council, UKC3 and WCIT Information Security Panel.
The 2026 ceremony will take place on 29 April 2026 at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel. Held alongside The Safety and Security Series, the evening will bring together leaders and practitioners from across the cyber safety community to celebrate the sector’s achievements and reveal this year’s winners.
2026 finalists
Outstanding Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – sponsored by SASIG
John Bruce – Quorum Cyber
Paul Colnan – NewDay
Neil Glasson – Cornwall Council
(Oscar) Siu Keung O – Cymar Computer
Tarnveer Singh – The Exeter
Outstanding Cyber Security Professional
Dr. Anitha Chinnaswamy – Aston University
Mark Gallacher – Police Scotland
Kam Karaji – National Football League (NFL)
James McGoldrick – Systal Technology Solutions
Vishvas Nayi – CyberQ Group
Jummy Olaiya – National Grid
Dr Fene Osakwe – EC-Council
Shanita Sojan – Darktrace
Kavitha Srinivasulu – TCS
Outstanding Cyber Security Team
Aston University & Forensic Pathways CyberDIVA Team
e2e-assure Team
Evalian Cyber Team
Net-Defence Team
NormCyber Focal Analysts Team
OmniCyber Offensive Security Team
ProtekCyber Team
Virgin Media O2 Content Development Team
Virgin Media O2 Security Services Team
Outstanding Cyber Security Consultant
Mark Gallacher – Police Scotland
Alex Henderson – Hampden Consultancy Group
Dr. John McCarthy – Oxford Systems
Adam Miller – Virgin Media O2
Hazel McPherson – 4FOX Security
Mike Oke – Cornwall Council
Charlotte Samuels – Royal Caribbean Group
Business Information Security Team – Virgin Media O2
Outstanding Cyber Security Training/Awareness Initiative
InnovaCyBridge Consortium – Aston University & Partners
CySPAG for Installers – British Security Industry Association
CREST CAMP – CREST International
Marie Jeffrey – Peabody Housing Association
Dynamic Threat, Risk Assessment and Security: Early Years Education – Daniel Pike & Jacqueline Pike
Police Scotland Cyber Resilience Programme – Mark Gallacher – Police Scotland
Cyber Marathon – Basil Manoussos – Strathclyde Forensics
Security Awareness and Engagement Programme – Mark Nutter – Virgin Media O2
Integrated Cyber Pathway Programme for Young People – Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit
Outstanding Young Cyber Security Professional
Yasmeen Bey – Volkswagen Group
Shannon Jones – Virgin Media O2
Pratyush Nagarad – Databox 360
Shanita Sojan – Darktrace
Outstanding New Cyber Security Product
ThirdWatch – Blackwired
DefendDomain
WRAITH Continuous Adversary Emulation – OmniCyber Security
Outstanding Overseas Cyber Security Initiative
AI Security Update – Anmol-Agarwal
Global AI Scraping Misappropriation Defence Initiative – Areejit Banerjee
InnovaCyBridge Consortium – Aston University & Partners
Human-Centered Cyber Resilience Initiative – Avinash Reddy Pothu
CREST CAMP – CREST International
POSSE – Cyber Empowerment App – CyberGuardian
Her CyberTracks – ITU & GIZ
Global Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) – Karthikeyan Ramdass – Salesforce
Vehicle Cyber Resilience Enhancement – Sreenikethana KV
X-PHY Solid State Drive (SSD) – Camellia Chan – X-PHY Inc
Lifetime Achievement
To be announced on the day
Tickets to attend the UK Cyber OSPAs are now on sale. Buy your tickets online at https://www.thecyberospas.com/attend/ before they sell out.
