As part of the Cyber Leaders Challenge 2025, my team and I competed in a high-stakes national competition focused on strategic cybersecurity planning. The core of the challenge was to develop a comprehensive cyber incident response plan for a simulated, sophisticated attack on the UK's Critical National Infrastructure.
Our work culminated in a presentation to a distinguished panel of judges, which included members of the Cabinet Office and prominent industry leaders. This provided a unique opportunity to articulate complex technical strategies to a high-level, non-technical audience.
Although we narrowly missed a top-three placement, the experience was invaluable. It provided deep insights into the entire incident lifecycle, from navigating complex threat intelligence and assessing vulnerabilities to formulating a coherent response and delivering executive-level briefings under pressure. This project significantly honed my skills in strategic thinking, crisis management, and cybersecurity policy.
