Published: 1st May 2026
Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, Irish Management Institute and Cyber Ireland have marked the completion of the latest Leading in Cybersecurity programme, with participants attending the capstone event and reflecting on how cyber professionals can lead with greater confidence, influence and impact.
As cyber risk becomes more complex, organisations need professionals who can communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, lead teams, influence decision-making and connect cybersecurity priorities to wider business goals.
That leadership requirement was at the centre of the recent Leading in Cybersecurity capstone event (23rd April), which brought together the programme’s most recent cohort for a final peer-to-peer learning session.
Facilitated by Kevin Quigley, Programme Director at Irish Management Institute, the capstone event marked the final stage of the programme and provided a space for participants to network with their peers, reflect on their journey through the course and showcase the practical ways they have implemented their learnings to solve key business challenges.
The latest cohort included 22 cybersecurity, technology, risk and resilience professionals working across sectors including healthcare, telecoms, financial services, professional services, national infrastructure and cybersecurity consulting. Participants included senior leaders, security managers, advisory specialists, architects, analysts and team leads, reflecting the range of leadership capability now needed across Ireland’s cyber ecosystem.
Why Cyber Security Leadership Matters for Ireland
Ireland has a strong and growing cybersecurity sector, but continued progress will depend on the development of both technical and leadership capability.
Cyber Ireland’s All-Island Cyber Security Sector Report 2025 highlights the strength of the all-island cyber sector and the opportunity to improve cyber resilience and drive economic growth through coordinated ecosystem development. The research identifies 632 firms offering cybersecurity products, services or research and development across the island of Ireland, while also pointing to the need to support talent development across the sector.
For organisations, that means the cyber skills conversation cannot stop at technical expertise. As cybersecurity becomes more central to business resilience, employers need professionals who can translate risk, build trust, influence senior decision-makers and help teams act with confidence.
Organisations need cyber professionals who can lead with confidence, communicate clearly and help teams respond to an increasingly complex threat landscape. This programme is about supporting professionals to take that next step, from technical capability to leadership impact.
Susan Kelly
Network Director, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet
From Cyber Expertise to Organisational Influence
The Leading in Cybersecurity programme is delivered by Irish Management Institute, supported by Cyber Ireland and subsidised by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet. The seven-session course is designed to help cybersecurity professionals strengthen the leadership capability required to lead teams, influence stakeholders and apply strategic thinking within their organisations.
Rather than treating leadership as a separate layer from technical cyber capability, the programme helps participants connect both. This practical focus is central to the design of the course, and the result is a stronger pathway for cyber professionals who want to move from specialist expertise into broader organisational influence.
Speaking about the capstone event Kevin Quigley, Programme Director at Irish Management Institute, said: “The capstone event is a powerful part of the programme as it brings learning back into the real world of work. Participants are not just reflecting on theory. They are applying new behaviours, insights and approaches to the challenges they face in their own organisations.”
Speaking about the Leading in Cybersecurity programme, Susan Kelly (Network Director for Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet) stated: “Organisations need cyber professionals who can lead with confidence, communicate clearly and help teams respond to an increasingly complex threat landscape. This programme is about supporting professionals to take that next step, from technical capability to leadership impact.“
Eoin Byrne, Cluster Manager at Cyber Ireland, added: “Ireland’s cybersecurity sector has strong potential, but in an age of AI its future growth depends on people. Alongside technical expertise, we need cyber professionals who can lead teams, influence business decisions and strengthen cyber resilience across organisations.“
Applications Now Open for September 2026 Leading in Cybersecurity Intake
Applications are now open for the next intake of Leading in Cybersecurity, starting in September 2026. The programme is designed for cybersecurity professionals, technology leaders, risk professionals and others with responsibility for cyber resilience who want to build the leadership capability needed to influence strategy, lead teams and drive organisational change.
Secure your place on the Leading in Cybersecurity programme
