CyberRisk Alliance expands Women at InfoSec World for 2026

InfoSec World will expand its Women at InfoSec World program on Oct. 14 in Orlando with a half-day of leadership, career development and mentoring sessions. The event is open to all genders and career stages, and registration is included with every InfoSec World pass.

Why it matters: - Women at InfoSec World is meant to strengthen career pathways in cybersecurity by pairing leadership development with mentoring and peer connections. - The program is open to all genders and career stages, signaling that inclusion efforts depend on participation across the broader cybersecurity community. - The event is included with every InfoSec World pass, which broadens access for attendees already registered for the conference.

What happened: - InfoSec World announced an expanded Women at InfoSec World program for 2026. - The program takes place Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. - CyberRisk Alliance is building the program through Britt Erler Kvartuč, vice president of event content and strategy, in collaboration with Anne Saita, content lead for Women at InfoSec World. - Britt Erler Kvartuč said the program is designed to feel different from a traditional conference track and to create more moments that attendees can only get by being in the room together.

The details: - The 2026 format includes a half day focused on leadership, career development and community building. - The program uses first-person storytelling, candid conversations, interactive programming and structured mentoring. - The event is designed to address the challenges and opportunities professionals face while building and sustaining cybersecurity careers. - The agenda includes “From Practitioner to Leader: Stories That Changed the Field,” with confirmed speakers Melia Dukes of Farmers Insurance, Akhila Nama of Box Inc., Tamra Durfee of Fortified Health Security and Alicia Kelleher of Elastic. - “The CISO Path Is Yours to Design: Non-Linear Routes to the Top” will feature Heverin Joy Williams of McDonald’s Corporation and Candice Biamby of JPMorgan Chase & Co. - “Pressure, Boundaries & Burnout: A Real Conversation” will be an interactive workshop facilitated by Amy Gutman of ToughLoveMD. - “Build the Team You Wished You'd Had: Sponsorship, Allyship & Leading for Inclusion” will include Deidre Diamond of CyberSN, Mel Kolinski of Alliance of Channel Women, David Doyle of Malama Advisory and Donna Ross of Radian. - “The Sponsor Effect: Speed Mentoring & Community Connections” will connect attendees with experienced cybersecurity leaders for focused guidance and relationship-building. - Confirmed mentors include Deidre Diamond, Mel Kolinski, Candice Biamby and Akhila Nama. - InfoSec World said attendees can register with the code ISW26-SCRSVP. - The conference website is infosecworldusa.com. - CyberRisk Alliance’s website is www.cyberriskalliance.com.

Between the lines: - The expanded format blends conference content with networking and mentoring, suggesting CyberRisk Alliance is trying to make the event more actionable for attendees. - The focus on burnout, boundaries and non-linear careers reflects broader pressure in cybersecurity to retain talent while supporting advancement. - Opening the program to all genders points to a community-building approach rather than a narrow affinity event.

What's next: - Registration remains open for InfoSec World 2026. - Attendees can use the promo code ISW26-SCRSVP when registering. - Additional details are available through the InfoSec World event site.

The bottom line: - CyberRisk Alliance is using Women at InfoSec World to pair inclusion, leadership training and mentoring inside a broader cybersecurity conference.