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Following the success of the inaugural CyberFirst Empower Girls event last year, the Empower Girls event returned - bigger, bolder, and better than ever! The event hosted by CyberFirst in partnership with Aflac Northern Ireland saw an incredible turnout as 600 Year 8 girls (ages 11-12) from 22 schools across the country gathered at the ICC Belfast – to engage with a wide range of local companies and organisations involved in the fast-growing cyber security and wider technology sector. The event is part of the CyberFirst Schools and Colleges initiative , led by the Department for the Economy and supported by the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre on behalf of the UK National Cyber Security Centre.
The schools’ initiative is designed to inspire young girls to explore their passion for tech and introduce them to career opportunities within the fast-paced world of cyber security. Currently, women represented just 23% of the tech industry in Northern Ireland. Empower Girls seeks to address this imbalance by raising awareness of the variety of roles available in tech and cyber security through a high-energy, immersive experience.
The event garnered significant support, with 50 industry companies, academic institutions, charities, and government bodies participating including the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre. The collective efforts aims to successfully inspire more girls to explore careers in tech and cyber security, ensuring a more diverse and inclusive future for the industry.
The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre is committed to working with CyberFirstNI to promote cyber security as a sector and encourage more girls into the field.
The event was a huge success and provided an unforgettable experience that empowered and inspired attendees.