Need for cybersecurity expertise will require organisations to widen their recruitment and retention pool, says global cybersecurity leader Lisa Tetrault.
Lisa Tetrault, Senior Vice President, Security Services at Arctic Wolf, will be speaking in Auckland this Friday about building the next generation of cyber talent.
Tetrault leads a global security services organisation that includes more than 1,100 security analysts. She will join New Zealand Network for Women in Security (NZNWS) Co-Chair Denise Carter Bennett on Friday 23 October for a discussion on leadership, mentorship, sponsorship and creating stronger pathways into cybersecurity.
Her visit comes as New Zealand organisations face increasing demand for specialist cyber capability, while women remain significantly under-represented across the technology and cybersecurity industry. According to data sourced by NZNWS, women make up around 18% of the local cyber security workforce, and data from NZTech shows women account for just 27% of IT degree-level enrolments in New Zealand.
“NZNWS wants better conditions and support so women in Aotearoa’s cybersecurity industry can thrive.”
“I’m excited to connect with New Zealand’s cybersecurity community and share some of my experiences and perspectives on how we can encourage more women into the industry. Cybersecurity needs talented people more than ever, and New Zealand is no exception. We can’t afford to overlook half the potential workforce when organisations are already competing for skilled cybersecurity professionals,” commented Carter Bennett.
Carter Bennett says Tetrault’s visit is timely, as the issue has implications beyond improving gender representation.
“New Zealand’s cyber security landscape is changing rapidly. The NCSC recorded an 11.5% increase of incidents of potential national significance in the past year, while AI is enabling cyber threats to operate at greater speed, scale and sophistication,” she said.
“That makes developing and retaining more diversity into the industry more important than ever. That’s why we’re excited to bring someone of Lisa’s calibre and international experience to New Zealand, to understand how issues we face locally are being tackled across the globe.”
Carter Bennett says New Zealand not only needs to attract more talent into the industry, but also improve how to remove barriers facing skilled female cyber professionals to improve retention.
According to NZNWS, research by ISC24 into female cybersecurity professionals found that 45% of women identified work-life balance and caregiving demands as a barrier to remaining and progressing in cybersecurity, while 34% identified inequity in pay or promotion and 35% cited limited leadership opportunities.
There is also a significant difference in how those barriers are perceived. 42% of male cybersecurity professionals surveyed said they were unaware of significant barriers facing women, compared with 17% of women.
“NZNWS wants better conditions and support so women in Aotearoa’s cybersecurity industry can thrive,” said Carter Bennett.
“An important part of that is creating opportunities for women to build strong professional networks, learn from others in the industry and have access to mentors and role models they might not otherwise encounter. Events like this help create a connected community of women working across cybersecurity both in New Zealand and beyond.”
According to Carter Bennett, NZWS seeks to encourage the advancement and capacity of women and minorities involved in all aspects of the New Zealand security industry and community, through the exchange of information and the cultivation of productive relationships.
The NZNWS community includes professionals working in cybersecurity, physical security, information security, business continuity management, data protection & privacy, and fraud investigation.
Tetrault has advocated internationally for cybersecurity organisations to recruit from more diverse and non-traditional backgrounds, while placing greater emphasis on mentorship, sponsorship and career development.
“Lisa’s perspective on developing emerging talent, widening pathways into cyber security and creating an environment where women can build long-term careers is incredibly relevant to the challenges and opportunities we’re seeing here in New Zealand,” said Carter Bennett.
The discussion will also explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the cyber workforce. ISC2’s latest research found 27% of women working in cybersecurity reported significant knowledge of AI and machine learning, compared with 17% of men.
Event Details:
Building the Future of Cybersecurity Through Leadership, Inclusion and Opportunity with Lisa Tetrault and Denise Carter-Bennett
- Date: Friday 23 October 2026
- Time: 11am-1pm
- Location: Park Hyatt Auckland, The Boathouse, 99 Halsey Street, Auckland 1010
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