EMCSC founder, Dr Ismini Vasileiou, has been named an Honorary Fellow of the UK’s Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security.

The recognition from RISCS marks Dr Vasileiou’s commitment to building inclusive, collaborative approaches to cyber resilience that bridge academia, business, and policy.

Through her leadership, EMCSC has become a growing regional community supporting organisations of all sizes to strengthen their cyber capabilities and share knowledge openly. 

Her work continues to ensure that the East Midlands plays a central role in shaping how the UK approaches cyber growth and resilience.

RISCS awards honorary fellowships to individuals who have made a significant contribution to connecting research with real‑world impact. Dr Vasileiou’s dedication to applied collaboration and her advocacy for human‑centred approaches to cyber security have consistently exemplified that mission.

Recent achievements include her appointment to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce, where she is helping shape national action to improve participation and progression for women across the tech sector. 

Dr Vasileiou also led the organisation and hosting of the first East Midlands Cyber Security Summit, bringing businesses, educators and policymakers together to focus on practical steps to strengthen regional cyber resilience.

Dr Vasileiou, who is also an associate professor at De Montfort University, said: “I’m honoured to receive this fellowship from RISCS and be recognised by an NCSC research institute. Cyber security is ultimately a shared responsibility – it’s about people, trust, and learning together.

“Through EMCSC, we’ve built a strong platform for collaboration across our region, helping businesses, educators and policymakers work towards shared goals. This recognition is really a reflection of what we’ve achieved together as a community.”

Dr Vasileiou’s fellowship underlines the importance of regional collaboration in supporting national resilience. As EMCSC continues to grow, this achievement highlights how the East Midlands is helping set the standard for connected, human‑focused approaches to cyber security across the UK.

The RISCS is funded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and hosted at the University of Bristol. RISCS is the UK’s first academic research institute to focus on understanding the overall cyber security of organisations, including their constituent technologies, people, and processes.