2025 Cyber Excellence Awards
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
The 2025 Cyber Excellence Awards are more than just accolades, they’re a celebration of the people behind the screens, defending our digital future with unwavering passion, grit, and expertise. In 2025, we continue to champion the individuals and teams who make up the heart of New Zealand’s cybersecurity community, the quiet achievers, the relentless defenders, and the innovators pushing our industry forward.
We invite you to submit your nominations and help shine the light on someone you believe deserves recognition for their hard work and commitment to the cybersecurity! Make your nominations and see the award categories below.
The Cyber Excellence Awards are held during the evening of CybersecCon, NZ’s largest cybersecurity event!
Check out the CybersecCon event and register here.
By supporting the Cyber Excellence Awards, you’re helping shine a light on the everyday heroes who work tirelessly to keep our digital world safe. Their dedication forms the foundation of our collective cyber resilience. Nominate those who inspire you. Celebrate those who lead with integrity. And above all, join us in recognizing the incredible contribution of our cybersecurity peers! Nominations for the awards are now open for the following categories: CISO of the Year, CyberSec Woman of the Year, SOC Analyst of the Year, SOC Team of the Year and for the first time, the 2025 Cybersecurity project of the year award! Check out the atmosphere of the awards by seeing the 2024 awards recap here. We’d like to thank Mimecast for helping make this year’s awards possible!
2025 Cyber Excellence Awards
Categories
CISO of the Year
Shining the light on outstanding leadership in cybersecurity, this award showcases the vital role CISOs play in protecting organizations from digital threats. This award highlights innovative strategies and excellence, inspiring other professionals to strive for high standards in the field. Celebrating a top CISO emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in maintaining organizational resilience and attracting top talent. Ultimately, the award supports a more secure digital future by acknowledging those who excel in safeguarding data and infrastructure.
CyberSec Woman of the Year
As more women turn to careers in cybersecurity, it is important to celebrate the contributions and achievements of exceptional pioneering women in the cybersecurity field. This award brings the spotlight on often modest role models who inspired as they paved the way. Recognizing the unique perspectives and innovations women bring to the field strengthens the industry as a whole and supports the ongoing effort to enhance cybersecurity for organizations and society. Ultimately, this award champions women's progress and excellence in the cybersecurity profession.
SOC Analyst of the Year
As the eyes and ears of an organization’s security posture, SOC analysts are on the frontlines — identifying, analyzing, and responding to threats. Their ability to detect anomalies, manage incidents under pressure, and provide swift, strategic responses is critical to good defense.By recognizing outstanding SOC analysts, this award shines a spotlight on their technical expertise, relentless vigilance, and unwavering dedication to protecting sensitive systems, data, and people from cyber harm. Their work often goes unnoticed, but without them, cybersecurity operations simply wouldn’t function.
CyberSec Team of the Year
Recognizing top cybersecurity teams emphasizes the value of teamwork, collaboration and specialized knowledge in protecting organizations from cyber threats. By showcasing exceptional teams, the award celebrates those who worked collaboratively to strengthen defenses against digital threats. The award promotes heightened safety and security in the digital realm in thanks to team work!
CyberSec Project of the Year
This award recognizes a standout initiative that has significantly elevated an organization’s cybersecurity posture. It celebrates projects that go beyond business as usual — from complex system overhauls and technology deployments to creative awareness campaigns and strategic process improvements.Cybersecurity projects often involve cross-functional collaboration, tight deadlines, and high stakes. This category highlights the teams and leaders who rise to that challenge — aligning business and security goals, overcoming obstacles, and delivering solutions that truly make a difference.
2024 Winners
2024 CISO of the Year
Andrew Choat – MTF Finance
2024 CyberSec Woman of the Year
Catherine Cooper – Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora
2024 SOC Analyst of the Year
Subhathra Paramasivam, Datacom
2024 CyberSec Team of the Year
Securecom
2023 Winners
2023 CISO of the Year
Tony Allwood, Silver Fern Farms
2023 CyberSec Woman of the Year
Nancy Taneja, Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora
2023 SOC Analyst of the Year
Fraser Dawson, Mainfreight
Meet the 2025 Judges
More judges TBA!
Andrew Choat
MFT Finance
CISO
Catherine Cooper
Health NZ - Te Whatu Ora
Crisis Manager
Pierro Liebenberg
Chillisoft
Tech Director & Solutions Architect
Lizelle Hughes
Mimecast
Director of ANZ Channel
CYBER EXCELLENCE AWARDS SPONSOR
Thank you to Mimecast for sponsoring the 2025 Cyber Excellence Awards.
2025 CYBER EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINATION
CONTACT
New Zealand
Ph: +64 9 309 3281
Address: Level 1, 162 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland 1010.
Postal: PO Box 7429 Victoria Street West,
Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Australia
Phone: +61 3 8682 9963
Address: Level 6, 100 Walker Street,
North Sydney, 2060
UPDATES
Sign up to our mailing list to receive info on major cybersecurity updates and events.
SUPPORT
Please click the ‘Get Support’ button to access remote support instructions and software.
CONNECT
© Chillisoft.ltd
