- GIS & Cybersecurity Specialist, Fortum Plc
- Initiative of the Year, finalist
Since I was young, I’ve been a bit of a ‘nerd’, enjoyed science and loved logic puzzles, so STEM has always felt like the right field for me. There are endless opportunities to learn and develop in this field.
I have worked in a variety of roles, from data analyst to cybersecurity manager. My current professional identity is strongly built around geographic information security issues, and I have worked specifically on projects related to critical infrastructure and the defence sector.
The aim of my initiative is to remove unnecessary and often artificial barriers between geographic information and cybersecurity.
Geographic information systems are used to manage everything from energy distribution to evacuation planning. Despite this, geographic information systems that are critical to society have not always received the cybersecurity attention they deserve. If we want a safe and functional society, geographic information systems must be protected.
Having worked in cybersecurity, geoinformatics and the defense sector, I know how important it is to see role models who look like you, share your experiences, or simply show that there are many paths to expertise. I have often been the only female expert in the room, and especially when I was younger, I felt a tremendous need to prove my expertise. Since then, I have decided not to let it silence me.
Translation: Notaatio. This is a shortened version, read the original here (in Finnish).