Dr. Connie McIntosh, Ericsson’s head of security, earned a 2025 Global Recognition Award for cybersecurity leadership and mentoring excellence across international markets, achieving perfect scores in multiple evaluation categories, including strategic vision, ethical decision-making, and talent development impact.
— The Global Recognition Awards have selected Dr. Connie McIntosh, head of security at Ericsson, for a 2025 Global Recognition Award, acknowledging her work in cybersecurity leadership and professional mentorship across international markets. The awards panel utilized the Rasch model evaluation system, which provides linear measurement scales for comparing applicants across different specialization areas. Dr. McIntosh received the highest scores of 5 in multiple assessment categories, including strategic vision implementation, motivational leadership, ethical decision-making, mentee diversity, career advancement facilitation, organizational talent development, and mentee satisfaction feedback.
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Connie McIntosh
The award recognizes Dr. McIntosh’s methodology of integrating various security disciplines into unified business strategy frameworks rather than maintaining them as separate technical functions. Her approach combines cybersecurity, information security, product security, operational security, and data privacy within organizational structures that support business objectives. This integration has influenced how organizations address threat mitigation while establishing security protocols, coordinating research initiatives, service delivery, and customer requirements.
International Security Management and Strategic Development
In her current role at Ericsson, Dr. McIntosh manages cybersecurity operations spanning more than 42 countries for the market area, implementing strategic approaches that have modified how organizations handle digital risk management. Her professional background includes critical positions within Australia’s national defense infrastructure, where she managed classified networks for the Department of Defence, Attorney General’s Department, and Ministerial Communication Network. Dr. McIntosh led advanced cyber defense capabilities including developing threat assessment protocols to assure national digital sovereignty for systems of national importance while creating new frameworks for government digital security infrastructure.
Her strategic approach has shifted cybersecurity from reactive incident response toward proactive organizational resilience and trust building. This transition has established different methodologies for how agencies and corporations address digital security challenges while maintaining operational capabilities. Her professional recognition includes selection among the Top 100 Women in cybersecurity by US Cyber Defense Magazine and receipt of the Black Unicorn Award at Black Hat 2020. These distinctions establish her standing as a practitioner whose knowledge encompasses technical competency and strategic organizational development.
Educational Initiatives and Professional Development
Dr. McIntosh’s work in developing cybersecurity professionals includes co-designing and implementing a master’s degree program at the University of the Sunshine Coast. This academic program provides advanced knowledge access while establishing sustainable career pathways for diverse professionals entering the field. The curriculum provides students with practical defense capabilities for current digital threat environments while creating comprehensive frameworks that connect theoretical knowledge with operational application.
Her participation with organizations including Women4Cyber Europe, Women Who Code Finland, #mimmitkoodaa, and Purple Team Australia has directly mentored hundreds of professionals while establishing pathways for underrepresented groups in technology sectors. As a keynote speaker at international conferences such as the Disobey Conference, Finnish Government’s Traficom Conferences, ASEAN AI & Security Summits, KuppingerCole Cybersecurity Leadership Summit, GITEX, AISA Cybersecurity conference and the World Science Festival, Dr. McIntosh presents evidence-based insights that influence systemic industry changes. She serves as a judge for international capture-the-flag competitions. She supports inclusive organizational cultures that treat representation as structural rather than symbolic, showing commitment to measurable improvement in industry practices.
Dr. Connie McIntosh’s professional accomplishments show how technical expertise combines with empathetic leadership to create sustained organizational and industry development while establishing new standards for human-centered cybersecurity approaches. Her progression from overcoming personal adversity, including childhood domestic violence, to protecting global digital infrastructures demonstrates resilience and strategic leadership that extends beyond conventional professional boundaries. Managing demanding international cybersecurity responsibilities while maintaining single parenthood and achieving world-class performance standards across multiple areas, including fitness championships and motorsport achievements, demonstrates her capacity for multidimensional professional excellence.
The Global Recognition Awards evaluation process validated Dr. McIntosh’s professional standing through a comprehensive assessment using the Rasch model methodology, providing precise measurement of her contributions across leadership and mentorship categories while confirming her substantial impact on cybersecurity profession development. Her philosophy, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much,” reflects an approach that strengthens the cybersecurity profession’s technological systems, people, cultures, and future capabilities through sustainable mentorship frameworks and inclusive leadership practices. Alex Sterling, spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, commented: “Dr. McIntosh represents advanced cybersecurity leadership – someone who doesn’t just secure networks but strengthens entire industries through her strategic approach to human-centered security development and her commitment to developing the next generation of diverse cybersecurity leaders.”
About Global Recognition Awards
Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who have significantly contributed to their industry.
Contact Info:
Name: Alexander Sterling
Email: Send Email
Organization: Global Recognition Awards
Website: https://globalrecognitionawards.org
Release ID: 89169797
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