The UK’s cyber security community gathered in force to celebrate the innovators, leaders, and teams shaping the future of the industry at the 2026 UK Cyber OSPAs. Hosted at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Wednesday 29 April as part of The Safety and Security Series, the awards recognised the individuals and organisations delivering meaningful impact, driving innovation, and strengthening the nation’s cyber resilience.
Delivered in partnership with the National Cyber Security Show and International Cyber Expo, the event showcased the very best of the sector—highlighting those who go beyond expectations to raise standards, protect communities, and push the boundaries of what cyber security can achieve.
The winners of the 2026 UK Cyber OSPAs are:
Outstanding Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – sponsored by SASIG
Paul Colnan – NewDay
Paul has driven a major cybersecurity transformation at NewDay since September 2024, strengthening governance, resilience, culture, and alignment with business strategy. He delivered measurable risk reduction and sustainable organisational capability across certification, compliance, operations, and cloud modernisation. Judges praised his clear evidence of performance improvement, impactful leadership, and exemplary demonstration of what an effective CISO can achieve in a short period.
“I am genuinely proud of the recognition and what it represents: hard work, late nights, and a team that refuses to settle. It’s a brilliant feeling, and I’m grateful for the team, the trust, and the opportunity to do work that matters and inspires the next generation of cyber security professionals.”
Judges praised Paul Colnan for his exemplary ability to quantify performance improvements across multiple dimensions. He clearly demonstrates the core factors that enable a CISO to excel, while evidencing tangible impact on both the wider business and the Information Security team’s standing within the organisation. His tenure provides a well-structured example of a CISO driving meaningful organisational change within a relatively short period.
Outstanding Cyber Security Professional
Dr. Anitha Chinnaswamy – Aston University
Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy is a cyber security leader driving systemic change across governance, policing, innovation, and inclusion. She has strengthened investigative capability, resilience, and workforce diversity while advancing education and policy across the UK and Europe. Judges praised her exceptional, multi-domain impact and outstanding leadership in building a strong, diverse, and inclusive pipeline and cyber resilience ecosystem.
Judges commended Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy for her genuinely exceptional leadership across the cyber ecosystem. She has driven systemic change through multi-million-pound programmes, strategic integration across academia, industry, policy, and law enforcement, and measurable impact on cyber education, policing, and policy. An outstanding individual, she has built a strong, diverse, and inclusive pipeline into the profession while developing cyber resilience ecosystems that span education, innovation, and operational response.
Outstanding Cyber Security Team
NormCyber Focal Analysts Team
NormCyber’s Focal Analysts Team has redefined managed security by making cyber resilience measurable and accountable. Aligning live telemetry to the NCSC CAF, they deliver sustained resilience improvement, stronger governance, and reduced client exposure. Judges praised their evidence‑backed approach, strong technical capability, and proven ability to drive measurable, meaningful impact across multiple client environments.
Judges praised the NormCyber Focal Analysts Team for their outstanding accountability in driving measurable improvements in cyber resilience. The Team combines diverse skills to reduce exposure and demonstrate tangible results, supported by evidence from multiple client assignments. Their credible and technically capable approach delivers effective cybersecurity monitoring and response services within a managed security environment, making a real difference to their clients.
Outstanding Cyber Security Consultant
Charlotte Samuels – Royal Caribbean Group
Charlotte Samuels is a respected cyber security leader at Royal Caribbean Group, transforming complex cyber risk into practical, business‑aligned solutions across global operations. She has strengthened resilience, embedded security into ships and shoreside functions, and advanced cyber maturity. Judges praised her transformative advisory model, strategic leadership, and sustained global impact, recognising her as an innovator shaping maritime cybersecurity.
Judges commended Charlotte Samuels for building an impressive enterprise-wide cyber advisory model and for a range of other transformative achievements. A strategic thinker and empowering leader, she has integrated cybersecurity across ships and shoreside operations, enabling resilience and innovation while building trust and positioning cyber as a strategic partner. Her advisory model continues to scale across the fleet, with team empowerment ensuring sustainability. A transformational leader and innovator, she has delivered significant global operational impact in maritime industry cybersecurity.
“I am truly honoured and grateful to receive this recognition. Being recognised alongside such an incredible group of professionals means a great deal. Congratulations to all winners, finalists and nominees driving this industry forward. This moment reflects the support, belief and inspiration I’m fortunate to have from my family, team, colleagues and leaders — thank you all!”
Outstanding Cyber Security Training/Awareness Initiative
Integrated Cyber Pathway Programme for Young People – Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit
The Integrated Cyber Pathway Programme for Young People has transformed youth cyber‑crime prevention through innovative, multi‑layered initiatives that build skills, resilience, and safer online behaviours. By making cybersecurity engaging and community‑led, it creates a sustainable talent pipeline. Judges praised its outstanding, gamified approach, clear behavioural impact, and scalable ecosystem – spanning ambassadors, the Cyber Blue Line vehicle, and the Cyber Switch Up competition.
Judges commended the Integrated Cyber Pathway Programme for Young People as a truly outstanding initiative. The programme clearly identifies the need for cybersecurity awareness and delivers innovative training through gamification and engaging methods that embed learning. The Cyber Security Ambassador programme, together with the Cyber Blue Line vehicle and Cyber Switch Up competition, creates a sustainable, multi-layered ecosystem for developing cyber talent and delivering lasting improvements in cybersecurity.
“This recognition celebrates our Integrated Cyber Pathway Programme for Young People delivered across the Yorkshire & Humber region – bringing together initiatives such as Cyber Blue Line, the Cyber Switch Up competition, and the Young Cyber Security Ambassador programme. Each of these plays a vital role in inspiring, educating, and empowering the next generation of cyber talent.”
Outstanding Young Cyber Security Professional
Yasmeen Bey – Volkswagen Group
Yasmeen Bey is an award‑winning cyber security professional shaping digital resilience at Volkswagen Group UK. She has strengthened awareness, improved vulnerability management, and delivered measurable strategic impact. Judges praised her exceptional technical capability, strong communication, and national recognition, highlighting her outstanding advocacy for women and neurodiverse individuals and her role as a remarkable emerging leader in secure, software‑defined mobility.
Judges praised Yasmeen Bey for her outstanding advocacy in broadening the representation of women and neurodiverse individuals in the cybersecurity industry. A truly exceptional young professional, she has delivered measurable strategic and financial impact at Volkswagen Group UK. Her technical rigour, executive communication skills, national award recognition, and commitment to neurodiversity representation combine to make this entry genuinely remarkable.
Outstanding New Cyber Security Product
WRAITH Continuous Adversary Emulation – OmniCyber Security
WRAITH Continuous Adversary Emulation by OmniCyber Security replaces periodic testing with continuous, realistic attacker simulation, enabling proactive risk mitigation and stronger incident response readiness. By delivering live visibility and measurable resilience improvement, it provides actionable assurance for boards. Judges praised its in‑house innovation, technical originality, practical usability, and tangible operational impact, recognising it as a market‑defining capability in continuous cyber defence.
Judges commended OmniCyber Security for its highly innovative approach to proactive cyber defence. Built entirely in-house, the platform shifts organisations from periodic testing to continuous adversary emulation, translating frontline offensive security expertise into a structured, repeatable capability. Its three integrated pillars, live client visibility, and alignment with real-world threat intelligence deliver measurable improvements in threat detection, security controls validation, and incident response readiness. Combining technical originality, practical usability, and tangible operational impact, WRAITH provides clear value to clients and sets a new standard in continuous cyber defence.
“Winning ‘Outstanding New Cyber Security Product’ at the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) 2026 genuinely means a lot to us. From the start, we set out to change the way organisations approach offensive security, and WRAITH is the result of a huge amount of time, effort and real-world experience from the team. To see that recognised is something we are all incredibly proud of. It feels like a real milestone for us, and it gives us even more motivation to keep pushing forward and helping organisations take a more realistic, continuous approach to cyber defence.”
Outstanding Overseas Cyber Security Initiative
Her CyberTracks – ITU & GIZ
Her CyberTracks aims at promoting the equal, full, and meaningful representation of women in cybersecurity for a more resilient cyberspace for all. Women seeking to enter and/or advance in the field of cybersecurity will get access to a complementary and one-stop holistic training curriculum that integrates capacity building, mentoring, employment opportunities, and networking. Her CyberTracks is implemented in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe regions. Funded by the FFO of Germany and the EU Commission with contribution from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy , it is co-implemented by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Lifetime Achievement
Martin Smith MBE
Martin Smith has dedicated 50 years to shaping the information and cybersecurity profession through influential leadership, industry frameworks, and tireless public engagement. He has fostered cross‑sector collaboration, advanced ethics, governance, and diversity, and mentored generations of leaders. Judges praised his extraordinary career, highlighting his transformative impact on the UK cyber community, his championing of professionalisation, and his immeasurable contributions – from founding SASIG to sustaining and strengthening the community through the pandemic.
Judges praised Martin Smith for an extraordinary 50-year career that has profoundly shaped the cybersecurity profession. A champion of professionalisation, policy influence, governance, and industry frameworks, he has built strong cross-sector relationships and strengthened collaboration between public and private entities. Martin has advanced cybersecurity ethics, governance, and diversity while mentoring the next generation of leaders. From founding SASIG to sustaining the community through the pandemic, his drive, passion, and immeasurable contributions make him entirely deserving of lifetime recognition.
Event organisers would like to extend thanks to all supporting associations, judges, sponsors, and participants whose dedication helped make the UK Cyber OSPAs a success.
