Cyber defense and artificial intelligence represent real challenges for all of us, impacting us both as citizens and in our professional lives! We are all concerned, sometimes without realizing it. The Cyber Excellence Hub is committed to several key areas: educating non-specialist populations to raise awareness of risks and opportunities, promoting diversity in lesser-known fields with significant employment potential, and fostering creativity by reducing stereotypes and associated biases.

Our two specific targets are, on the one hand, women who are underrepresented in the digital field, especially in cybersecurity, and on the other, neurodivergent individuals whose largely untapped potential could address many unmet needs in the sector.

One day of ECW is dedicated to these two themes, with additional events on the training day to showcase the work done throughout the year through various initiatives, as well as to share the experiences of committed members and partners of the Cyber Excellence Hub.

This year’s program has been developed in collaboration with renowned personalities and committed partners, each bringing valuable expertise and insights:

•           Sophie Cluzel, Secretary of State for People with Disabilities from 2017 to 2022, and founder of several associations promoting inclusion for people with disabilities, will introduce the day with a keynote: Diversity is a Wealth!

•           Véronique Torner, entrepreneur and president of Numeum, will present the Cyber4tomorrow initiative launched in partnership with Cyber Campus. Véronique is also honored to be the sponsor of the 2024-2025 class of Cyber Cadets.

•           Sabrina Mesnaria, speaker and author, founder of Singularity, an agency specializing in neurodiversity and unique talents, will lead a masterclass to provide some keys to including neurodivergent profiles in organizations.

•           Karl Neuberger, AI specialist and Vice President of the X-Artificial Intelligence Group, heads a newly created AI working group within PEC and will lead a panel discussion on What Ethics for Today’s AI?

•           Impact AI, a think tank and action group with a diverse ecosystem of actors promoting the adoption of responsible AI, has developed a training on gender bias in partnership with the Cercle InterL. This training will be held on Wednesday, with the goal of broader deployment within interested organizations (schools, companies, etc.).

•           The Marie-Thérèse Solacroup Institute (IMTS), committed to neurodiversity and social innovation, provides training and employment support for individuals starting from 16 years old. IMTS will host the panel discussion Successfully Integrating Neurodivergent Individuals is Possible!

The ongoing challenge of strengthening the professional community remains highly relevant, with a focus on attracting talent to the field, particularly women, who are still underrepresented. Hélène Chinal, a Capgemini leader dedicated to diversity and Vice President of “societal issues” for PEC, will lead a panel of inspiring professionals in the field of cybersecurity and defense. We hope that sharing their success and fulfillment will encourage others to join these fields.

In this same spirit, we will launch the 4th class of Cyber Cadets.

Previous classes of Cyber Cadets will serve as highly active ambassadors throughout European Cyber Week, contributing to the appeal of cybersecurity careers and promoting female representation among young audiences:

•           Co-hosting a hacking and coding workshop for ages 13–15

•           Leading two panel discussions on training day

•           Participating in the “AI Café: Your Intelligence is Also in Your Smartphone” event

•           Participating in the panel Cyber Careers Are Also for Women

•           Recording the podcast The Matrix Glitched

We continue to promote the Inclusion Manifesto launched in 2022, aiming to expand its list of signatories, as well as the Inclusion Guide released in 2023, which seeks to achieve concrete outcomes in increasing employment for neurodivergent individuals.