Sophie Powell will share practical advice on how businesses can avoid falling victim to cyber attacks as she speaks at the East Midlands Cyber Summit. 

Sophie, co-founder and director of CyberWomen Groups CIC, will speak at the inaugural event at De Montfort University next month – and her insights are designed with SMEs in mind.

She will share practical advice on how organisations can strengthen their cyber resilience, drawing on her frontline experience working with businesses and future cyber professionals to focus on what leaders can realistically do now to reduce risk and build a more secure digital environment.

With attacks on businesses continuing to rise, Sophie’s session is a timely opportunity for leaders to gain fresh perspective, connect with experts, and leave with concrete next steps to strengthen their organisation’s defences.

Alongside her work with CyberWomen Groups CIC, Sophie is the talent manager for Cyber PATH – an elite national talent pipeline developed by the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group in partnership with regional Cyber Resilience Centres across England and Wales. 

Cyber PATH connects specialist university students with small and medium-sized businesses, delivering affordable, high-quality cyber resilience services under the supervision of senior security practitioners and police officers.

As a former Cyber PATH student who now leads talent development for the programme, Sophie brings a rare end-to-end view of the skills, services, and partnerships that work for businesses on the ground. 

She collaborates closely with community and industry partners to create real-world projects and opportunities that help students support organisations with genuine cyber challenges.

For businesses attending the East Midlands Cyber Summit, Sophie’s session offers:

• Actionable guidance on reducing the likelihood and impact of cyber attacks
• Insight into how to access trusted, cost-effective cyber support through initiatives like Cyber PATH
• A clearer understanding of how to tap into emerging talent and build longer-term cyber capability.

Dr Ismini Vasileiou, founder of EMCSC, Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester, and lead for the regional Cyber Growth programme, said Sophie is  a valuable addition to the summit line-up, noting that her work sits at the intersection of academic innovation, real-world business needs, and national cyber resilience priorities.

“Sophie has a strong background in cyber security and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing both students and businesses in this space,” said Dr Vasileiou.

“Her journey from being a Cyber PATH student to now leading the programme as talent manager is incredibly inspiring. 

“It demonstrates the programme’s success in nurturing the next generation of cyber professionals and highlights the real-world impact of structured talent development in our industry.

“Sophie’s experience in working directly with university students and SMEs gives her a unique perspective on how to build sustainable cyber resilience through collaboration, mentorship, and skills development.

“I’m confident her contribution will resonate strongly with attendees who are passionate about developing future talent and strengthening our regional cyber ecosystem.”

The East Midlands Cyber Summit will combine expert talks, hands-on workshops, and networking to give delegates a clear view of how cyber attacks unfold and the steps they can take to protect their organisations. 

Sophie will be joined by other guest speakers including:

• Jon O’Grady, information security expert at De Montfort University
• Professor Phil Legg, from UWE Bristol
• Jill Broom, who leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme
• Simon Plummer, Director of Information Security at cyber security partner Collective Security.

Further speakers will be announced over coming weeks.​

The East Midlands Cyber Summit is an opportunity to understand how and why cyber attacks happen to SMEs and discover proven ways to boost your business’s resilience through speaking to experts.

The Summit takes place on 12 February 2026 from 9am to 4pm at The Venue, Western Boulevard, Leicester. Registration is free for East Midlands businesses – but only a handful of places remain available. Move fast to reserve yours here.