In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie-Mei and Anika are joined by Veronika Kolek Netolická, the co-founder of Women4Cyber Czechia and current cyber attachée for the Indo-Pacific at the National Cyber and Information Security Agency. The discussion takes place at the Czech Embassy in Canberra, looking at Veronika's extensive background in cybersecurity, her education, and her various roles and initiatives. The conversation explores the importance of diversity and inclusivity in cybersecurity, the foundation and growth of Women4Cyber Czechia, and the challenges of bringing more women and underrepresented groups into the fold. The episode also touches on the significance of public policy in cybersecurity and the need for greater public awareness. Veronika shares insights from her experience living in Canberra, her commitment to continuous learning, and the value of mentorship and constructive criticism. The podcast concludes with practical advice for those aspiring to a career in cybersecurity and diplomacy.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:44 Veronika's Background and Achievements

01:57 Women for Cyber Czechia

02:47 Diversity in Cybersecurity

09:37 Public Policy and Cybersecurity

11:37 Role of Cyber Attache

16:22 Global Cybersecurity Perspectives

22:05 Cultural Differences and Security Mindsets

27:45 Living in Canberra: A Unique Experience

28:20 Navigating Social Life in Canberra

30:11 Balancing Academia and Work

32:16 The Importance of Communication in Academia

34:42 Diverse Perspectives and Real-World Applications

38:24 Cybersecurity Conferences and Initiatives

41:58 Career Advice for Aspiring Professionals

45:39 The Role of Criticism and Mentorship

49:55 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Women4Cyber Czechia LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/women4cyber-czechia/

Women4Cyber Czechia Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/women4cyber.cz/

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In this episode, Harriet and Annie-Mei have a chat over wine and ice-cream sundaes from a hotel room in Sydney before heading to a Gracie Abrams concert. They explore Harriet's journey as the founder of Mileva Security Labs, an AI security company that addresses security risks to AI systems. Harriet shares insights into the challenges of starting and running a business, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated field. The discussion delves into issues of bias, gender, and ageism in the professional world, and the importance of resilience and adaptability. The conversation also touches on public speaking, the benefits of networking, and the need for social interactions. With anecdotes from their careers and personal lives, Harriet and Annie-Mei paint a vivid picture of the entrepreneurial landscape and the personal growth that comes with it.

Show links:

Mileva Security Labs: https://milev.ai

Harriet's AI Security podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BJiuvMBqVKKBW2XyID6Bz

00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:53 Excitement for Gracie Abrams Concert
01:19 Harriet's Company: Mileva Security Labs
03:26 Challenges of Being a Female Founder
07:10 Ageism and Bias in Professional Settings
10:43 The Reality of Running a Startup
14:02 Balancing Work and Personal Life
19:25 Frustrations with Traditional Work Culture
20:05 The Potential of AI in the Workforce
20:21 Struggles with Nine-to-Five Jobs
21:54 Public Sector Work Dynamics
23:53 Starting a Company in AI Security
25:41 Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
27:28 Building Confidence and Making Friends
31:46 The Importance of Networking
34:18 The Need for Face-to-Face Interaction
35:59 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie Mei and Anika are joined by Alaina Lawson, a Perth-based cybersecurity consultant. Alaina discusses her journey into cybersecurity, starting from her interest in IT during high school, influenced by her family background in IT. She shares how asking a simple question to a customer when she was working in a bakery changed her entire career trajectory. Alaina also shares her experiences navigating a male-dominated field, the encouragement she received from mentors, and her various roles in cloud engineering, technical writing, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). The conversation touches on the importance of encouraging women in STEM, the challenges in cybersecurity documentation, and the future complexities of GRC with advancing technology and data storage concerns.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:32 Alaina's Background and Early Career

02:09 High School Experiences in IT

04:58 University and Early Work Experience

12:41 Diverse Roles in Cybersecurity

14:20 The Importance of Technical Writing

22:28 The Importance of Learning Different Forms of Writing and Speaking

23:02 Introduction to Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

23:35 Misconceptions and Realities of GRC

25:09 Challenges in GRC Documentation and Compliance

27:13 The Role of Cybersecurity in GRC

36:33 The Future of GRC and Data Management

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In this episode of Lost In Cyberia, Bianca Puglisi and Kathy Sisson share their unconventional journeys into project management. Bianca shares her journey from hospitality and psychology to joining the Army at 30, becoming a corporate trainer in cyber, and currently serving as the Operations Manager at Solvyr. Kathy details her career path from being a photographer in the Air Force to working within New Zealand's government and defence sectors, and now tackling IT security projects in Australia. Together, they discuss their experiences and challenges in the cybersecurity field, share insights into effective project management, and emphasise the importance of strong communication and adaptability in tech roles.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions

01:52 Kathy's Journey from Photography to Cybersecurity

05:53 Bianca's Transition from Hospitality to the Army

13:36 Project Management in Cybersecurity

18:41 Skills and Training for Project Managers

24:50 Challenges and Best Practices in Project Management

34:15 Addressing Problems and Solutions

34:31 Importance of Project Scope

35:41 Challenges in Project Management

36:52 Managing Subject Matter Experts

38:31 Skills for Effective Project Management

39:53 Gender Dynamics in the Workplace

41:53 Resilience and Risk Management

44:00 Dealing with Difficult Situations

48:02 Navigating Gender Bias

55:52 Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution

56:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Prince 2:
https://www.prince2.com/aus

Project Management Professional (PMP):
https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, we’re joined by Hortense Rothery, the Relationship Manager at Volkis. Hortense shares her unique career journey from studying fashion design in New Zealand to transitioning into software development and eventually finding her calling in cybersecurity. She discusses the challenges of running a fashion business and moving back to New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hortense talks about why we need to stop saying ‘imposter syndrome’, the importance of work-life balance, and the role of mentors and managers in building confidence. She also reflects on her views regarding the impact of AI and the evolving landscape of technology. The conversation highlights how diverse experiences and resilience can lead to unexpected, yet fulfilling career paths in the tech industry.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:42 Hortense's Career Journey: From Fashion to Cybersecurity

05:17 The Impact of COVID-19 on Career Choices

05:54 Experiences in Software Development

07:19 Fashion Industry Insights and Sustainability

09:40 Thoughts on AI and Technology's Impact

12:15 Transition to Cybersecurity

12:50 Discovering Cybersecurity

14:09 From Fashion to Cybersecurity

15:14 The Rise and Fall of a Fashion Business

16:37 Balancing Work and Life

18:53 Not using the term ‘Imposter Syndrome’

24:51 Redefining Nerd Culture

26:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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This episode of Lost in Cyberia is what we (Annie-Mei and Anika) presented at CyberCon Canberra 2025.

We look at the evolution of nerd culture, from the dawn of the internet til now.

We also discuss:

• Why the “hacker in a hoodie” stereotype is doing more harm than good 👨‍💻
• The echo chamber of women-in-tech panels and why men need to be part of the convo 🧠
• Toxic work culture, burnout, and the pressure to play tough 💼🔥
• Cybercrime targeting women (deepfakes, harassment, etc.) and why it’s often overlooked 😡
• The contrast between Kevin Mitnick and Steve Wozniak 🤖
• Feminist crime theories, cyber policing, and redefining “penetration testing” (yep, we went there)

If you've ever felt like cybersecurity wasn’t built with you in mind, you're not alone. Let’s talk about changing the culture, one hoodie cliché at a time.

You can also watch this presentation on our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/NVYKIugo_jM?si=LXnvDAX5z94NMJk-

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and rate us 5-stars if you like the show ⭐

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

March nearly broke us, but it also kind of made us. In this episode, Annie-Mei and Anika unpack a chaotic month full of firsts: our first podcast guests (shoutout to Harry from Phronesis and Hortense from Volkis 💜), first guest spot on another podcast (AISA Cyber Voices, with David!), and Anika’s first-ever conference presentation (spoiler: improv background came in handy 🎭).

We chat about:

• CyberCon chaos 🧠
• Presenting at Volkis Day in Sydney (Chinese firewalls and Aussie cybercrime ft. pig butchering scams 🐷💔)
• Annie-Mei winning a Cyber Security Award and calling out a toxic ex-boss in her acceptance speech (iconic 🔥)
• Burnout, “The Devil Wears Prada” vibes, and the search for meaning
• Wanting to touch grass (or dive with sharks 🦈)
• Glittery suits, dead fashion brands, and the emotional damage of retail closures

Oh, and we hit 100 followers on Insta! Come hang out with us there and rate the pod if you’re feeling generous ⭐

SLA the Label was the fashion company labelled which unfortunately no longer exists. You can find Sarah Ashcroft on Instagram though!

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

Harry Smith (who also goes by Harrison, Hazza or H) is our very first guest on the podcast! Harry works at Phronesis Security in the application security space but has previously done pentesting on LLMs (large language models). We spoke to Harry when he was up in Canberra for CyberCon.

If you're looking to get into cybersecurity and want to know how you can practice hacking (ethically), then this is the episode for you. Harry discusses how doing capture the flag (CTF) competitions and Hack The Box challenges helped him get a foot in the industry.

We also discuss how to practice prompting AI and whether Harry's four years of customer service experience at Maccas helped him psychologically to bypass an LLM’s filters.

Harry's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonsmith1080/

Lakera's Gandelf:
https://gandalf.lakera.ai/baseline

Hack the Box:

https://www.hackthebox.com/

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals