The Insider’s Guide to Influencing Senior Tech and Cybersecurity Leaders in the UK

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Influencing senior leaders in cybersecurity and technology is no small task, especially in the UK, where credibility, networks, and standards carry immense weight. Whether you’re a startup founder, a scale-up CISO, or a policy influencer, knowing where the key conversations happen (and who shapes them) can make the difference between being heard and being ignored.

This guide outlines the most influential organisations in the UK cyber and tech ecosystems, from chartered bodies and professional institutes to elite networking forums, and how you can use them to build influence.

This guide, and subsequent related articles, were developed out of a short call with my NCSC for Startups Alumni compatriate and friend, Lucy Burnford, CEO at coc00n. Thank you for the inspiration, Lucy!

Contents

Table of Contents

How to Engage and Build Influence

  • Speak at Events: Target SASIG, CIISec, TechUK, and IEEE/ACM conferences.
  • Join Working Groups: UKCSC, IET, and TechUK all run policy or technical groups you can apply to join.
  • Write Thought Pieces: Publish via IET journals, TechUK blogs, or ACM newsletters.
  • Apply for Fellowships: CIISec, RAEng, IET and WCIT all offer Fellow routes for recognised experts.
  • Sponsor or Host: Use sponsorship tactically to gain visibility within the right communities.

Inner Circle: Where Cyber and Tech Power Meet

These are the organisations that directly influence strategy, standards, and the senior cyber/tech agenda in the UK.

UK Cyber Security Council

  • Territory: UK-wide (government-backed)
  • Membership: Umbrella body for recognised cyber membership organisations
  • Reach: Professional standards, certifications, policy influence
  • Why It Matters: It’s the official voice of the UK cyber profession. Engaging here gives you access to national certification, career frameworks, and policy input.
  • Link: https://www.ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk/

Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)

  • Territory: UK, with global partners
  • Membership: ~1,700 Fellows (elected senior engineers and technologists)
  • Reach: Government advisory, deep technical credibility
  • Why It Matters: Fellows include tech company CTOs, public sector security leads, and academic pioneers. Influence here means national strategy-level reach.
  • Link: https://raeng.org.uk/

Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT)

  • Territory: London-based but global members
  • Membership: ~800, including tech founders, CIOs, CISOs, and public servants
  • Reach: Cross-sector senior tech network, linked to Livery tradition
  • Why It Matters: Behind closed doors, WCIT shapes digital inclusion, ethics, and cybersecurity policy with real influence in the City of London and beyond.
  • Link: https://wcit.org.uk/

Engineers Livery Company (Worshipful Company of Engineers)

  • Territory: UK (City of London rooted)
  • Membership: ~300-400 senior engineers
  • Reach: Defence, infrastructure, and policy-level technical influence
  • Why It Matters: Membership includes high-ranking defence engineers and civil servants — invaluable for connecting cyber to engineering and resilience narratives.
  • Link: https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/

CIISec (Chartered Institute of Information Security)

  • Territory: UK-focused
  • Membership: ~3,000 individuals
  • Reach: Certification body, UK Cyber Security Council founding member
  • Why It Matters: If you want to influence the professionalisation of cyber in the UK (especially with DSIT/NCSC), this is your gatekeeper.
  • Link: https://www.ciisec.org/

SASIG (Security Awareness Special Interest Group)

  • Territory: UK and international reach
  • Membership: ~6,000 vetted members (CISOs, Heads of Risk/Security)
  • Reach: Direct to C-suite in security, via confidential briefings and events
  • Why It Matters: SASIG is the informal backchannel of the UK cyber elite. Speaking at SASIG can build serious trust and visibility.
  • Link: https://www.thesasig.com/

IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology)

  • Territory: Global, with UK HQ
  • Membership: 154,000+ across 148 countries
  • Reach: Standards, academia, and policy development
  • Why It Matters: Their standards and thought leadership influence both engineering and cyber policy in the UK, especially in critical infrastructure and AI.
  • Link: https://www.theiet.org/

UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3)

National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRC Group)

  • Territory: England & Wales
  • Membership: Regional Cyber Resilience Centres (12+)
  • Reach: Policing-led business cyber resilience for SMEs, supported by industry
  • Why It Matters: NCRC helps shape how cyber resilience is delivered across the UK’s economy, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Their links with law enforcement give them practical credibility.
  • Link: https://nationalcrcgroup.co.uk/
  • Regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs):
  • Talent Pipeline:

Wider Circle: Strategic Communities for Broader Influence

These organisations offer reach into practitioner networks, specialist communities, and policy shaping — useful for amplifying ideas and partnerships.

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

  • Territory: UK with international members
  • Membership: 60,000+
  • Reach: Education, digital policy, skills frameworks
  • Why It Matters: Good for influencing through formal certifications, early-career development, and government engagement on skills policy.
  • Link: https://www.bcs.org

CREST UK

  • Territory: UK (with branches in APAC and USA)
  • Membership: ~300 member organisations
  • Reach: Penetration testing, red teaming, and cyber consultancy world
  • Why It Matters: Influential among those shaping actual defence systems, especially in government and regulated sectors.
  • Link: https://www.crest-approved.org

ISSA UK (Information Systems Security Association)

  • Territory: UK branch of global body
  • Membership: ~1,000 (UK), ~20,000 globally
  • Reach: CISO and practitioner networking
  • Why It Matters: Good for direct contact with practising security leaders — not just theorists.
  • Link: https://www.issa.org/issa-uk-chapter

TechUK

  • Territory: UK-focused
  • Membership: ~1,000 companies (tech vendors, SMEs, consultancies)
  • Reach: Public policy, procurement, and government liaison
  • Why It Matters: Especially relevant for scaleups and those influencing digital transformation or public sector IT.
  • Link: https://www.techuk.org

RUSI (Royal United Services Institute)

  • Territory: UK with global defence influence
  • Membership: Analysts, military, policy experts (no open membership)
  • Reach: National security and cyber defence policy
  • Why It Matters: For those working on cybercrime, state threats, or policy – essential for understanding where state/cyber intersect.
  • Link: https://www.rusi.org

Global Anchors: For Academic and Research-led Influence

These organisations offer global thought leadership, rigorous standards, and the opportunity to publish or present research, ideal for building academic and technical credibility.

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

  • Territory: Global, with UKRI branch
  • Membership: 427,000 members in over 190 countries
  • Reach: Peer-reviewed journals, conferences, technical standards
  • Why It Matters: Publish or speak through IEEE to gain instant international credibility, especially in AI, robotics, and security engineering.
  • Link: https://www.ieee.org

IEEE Computer Society (IEEE CS)

  • Territory: Global
  • Membership: ~60,000 professionals, students, and academics
  • Reach: Software engineering, cybersecurity, and computing research
  • Why It Matters: As the computing arm of IEEE, it provides access to specialised communities, publications, and conferences such as IEEE S&P, making it ideal for technical professionals seeking influence in secure systems, cloud, and emerging tech.
  • Link: https://www.computer.org

ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)

  • Territory: Global, with UK & European chapters
  • Membership: ~100,000 members worldwide
  • Reach: Academia, software development, computer science
  • Why It Matters: ACM is a badge of academic rigour. Excellent if your goal is to reach PhD-level researchers, technologists, and students.
  • Link: https://www.acm.org

Sector-Specific Hubs (Finance, Defence, National Infrastructure)

Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU Network)

Police Digital Service (PDS)

  • Region: UK-wide
  • Focus: National coordination of digital, data, and technology transformation across UK policing
  • Why It Matters: PDS plays a pivotal role in aligning police forces with national cyber strategies, including capabilities like digital forensics, secure communications, and cyber threat management. It also partners with NCSC, ROCUs, and Home Office on critical cyber resilience and innovation projects.
  • Link(s): https://www.policedigital.org and https://pds.police.uk/ (legacy)

Zero Trust Special Interest Group (ZTSIG)

  • Territory: UK (government-industry collaboration)
  • Membership: Cross-industry professionals, government representatives, and security leaders
  • Reach: National Zero Trust reference architecture, practical implementation guidance, and peer-reviewed insights
  • Why It Matters: ZTSIG is the UK’s leading Zero Trust forum, shaping real-world architecture, policy alignment, and industry adoption. With roots in the NCSC Industry 100 and connections to DSIT, it’s where Zero Trust goes from concept to procurement-ready best practice.
  • Link: https://www.zerotrustsig.org/

UK Finance – Cyber Resilience Groups

  • Region: UK financial sector
  • Focus: Coordination across banking, fintech, and payments industries
  • Why It Matters: These groups influence resilience standards, incident response frameworks, and regulatory engagement for the financial sector. Critical for any vendor or thought leader working in finance cyber risk.
  • Link: https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/

ADS Group (Aerospace, Defence, Security)

  • Region: UK and international
  • Focus: Defence, national security, aerospace supply chains
  • Why It Matters: ADS gives you access to defence primes, export markets, and policy forums on cyber-physical security. Especially relevant for those in OT security, critical infrastructure, or cyber assurance.
  • Link: https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/

NCSC Industry 100 Programme

  • Region: UK
  • Focus: Embedding industry experts within NCSC to co-develop guidance, tooling, and responses
  • Why It Matters: The i100 programme is a high-trust pathway into UK government cyber thinking. Alumni and contributors gain unique visibility and often shape the tools and patterns used across sectors.
  • Link: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/industry-100

The Security Institute

  • Region: UK
  • Focus: Physical and converged security leadership
  • Why It Matters: While historically focused on physical security, the Institute now includes cyber-physical convergence, insider threat, and infrastructure protection. Useful for influencing integrated risk thinking across sectors like energy, transport, and health.
  • Link: https://security-institute.org/

Insurtech UK

  • Region: UK-wide
  • Focus: Trade association for insurance technology firms; innovation in underwriting, risk modelling, and digital services
  • Why It Matters: Insurtech UK represents over 100 companies and acts as a bridge between startups, insurers, regulators, and policymakers. If you’re working in cyber risk quantification, loss modelling, or cyber insurance markets, this is a key influence point for shaping standards and building partnerships with underwriters and reinsurers.
  • Link: https://www.insurtechuk.org/

Regional and Ecosystem Builders

These organisations work at the intersection of innovation, regional development, and digital growth. They may not directly set national policy, but they shape who gets funded, connected, or spotlighted, making them essential for influence.

UK-Wide

Catapult Network

  • Region: UK-wide (with regional centres)
  • Focus: Translating cutting-edge research into commercial products and services
  • Why It Matters: Catapults act as national innovation hubs in sectors like Digital, Connected Places, High-Value Manufacturing, and Satellite Applications. The Digital Catapult (especially its work on AI, cyber-physical systems, and testbeds) and Connected Places Catapult (smart cities, mobility, resilience) are highly relevant for cyber and digital leaders looking to scale or influence policy. They work closely with DSIT, Innovate UK, and regional clusters.
  • Link: https://catapult.org.uk/
  • Catapult Centres:

London

CyLon (Cyber London Accelerator)

  • Territory: UK & Global (HQ in London)
  • Membership: Alumni of accelerator programmes; 100+ startups supported
  • Reach: Cyber innovation, investment, and startup scaling
  • Why It Matters: CyLon is one of the UK’s most successful cyber accelerators. If you want influence in the emerging tech and startup end of cybersecurity, including VC relationships and scale-up leadership, CyLon is a strategic entry point.
  • Link: https://www.cylonventures.com/

West Midlands

TechWM (Tech West Midlands)

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Focus: Tech ecosystem development, founder support, Birmingham Tech Week
  • Why It Matters: TechWM amplifies regional voices and builds bridges between local talent, industry, and investors. It’s the platform through which the West Midlands tech story is told.
  • Link: https://www.techwm.com/

Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (IAWM)

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Focus: Cross-sector innovation strategy, convening working groups (e.g. WM CWG, HealthTech)
  • Why It Matters: IAWM brings together business, academia, and government to drive inclusive innovation. Their working groups directly shape project bids and regional priorities.
  • Link: https://innovationwm.co.uk/

SuperTech WM

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Focus: UK’s first professional services tech cluster – lawtech, fintech, proptech
  • Why It Matters: SuperTech builds sector-specific momentum. Strong links with government and universities make it a good ally for B2B cyber or AI plays.
  • Link: https://www.supertechwm.com/

West Midlands Cyber Working Group (WM CWG)

  • Territory: West Midlands, UK
  • Membership: Open community of regional cyber professionals, leaders, and supporters
  • Reach: Cyber strategy, skills, collaboration, and regional innovation projects
  • Why It Matters: WM CWG operates at the intersection of public, private, and academic sectors. It’s emerging as a regional force for shaping cyber strategy and ecosystem development, especially around cyber skills and investment.
  • Link: https://innovationwm.co.uk/cyber-working-group/

South of England

SETsquared Partnership

  • Region: South of England (Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Southampton, Surrey)
  • Focus: University-backed incubator for high-growth tech companies
  • Why It Matters: One of the world’s leading university startup accelerators. High impact in early-stage innovation, with strong investor and policy links.
  • Link: https://www.setsquared.co.uk/

South West

TechSPARK / Engine Shed

  • Region: South West (Bristol & Bath)
  • Focus: Tech news, community, and scaling support
  • Why It Matters: Key influencer in the South West. Engine Shed also houses regional cyber and quantum innovation programmes.
  • Link: https://techspark.co/

Scotland

ScotlandIS (and ScotlandIS Cyber Cluster)

  • Region: Scotland
  • Focus: Digital technologies, software, and cyber
  • Why It Matters: Influences Scottish tech policy, digital skills pipelines, and cyber cluster development.
  • Link: https://www.scotlandis.com/

Wales

Cyber Wales

  • Region: Wales (multiple sub-clusters)
  • Focus: Regional cluster, women in cyber, cyber skills, and export
  • Why It Matters: A UKC3-recognised cluster with reach into skills, diversity, and export strategy. Partners frequently with NCSC and DSIT.
  • Link: https://cyberwales.net/

Yorkshire

Leeds Digital Festival

  • Region: Yorkshire
  • Focus: Community-driven tech events, sector mapping, and ecosystem visibility
  • Why It Matters: One of the UK’s largest open tech festivals, it’s a key platform for showcasing regional innovation and influencing public and private sector engagement in the North.
  • Link: https://leedsdigitalfestival.org/

North West

Manchester Digital

  • Region: North West
  • Focus: Digital skills, cyber talent development, and industry representation
  • Why It Matters: As the largest independent trade body in the region, it shapes local digital strategy, runs cyber apprenticeships, and influences policy through direct engagement with government and business.
  • Link: https://www.manchesterdigital.com/

East of England

Tech East

  • Region: East of England
  • Focus: Regional promotion, investment readiness, and innovation in digital and cyber sectors
  • Why It Matters: Acts as the voice for one of the UK’s most innovative regions, linking Cambridge and coastal tech hubs, and driving regional collaboration with LEPs, universities, and national bodies.
  • Link: https://techeast.com/

North East

Tech North East (Dynamo / Innovation SuperNetwork)

  • Region: North East England
  • Focus: Startup support, R&D commercialisation, and regional innovation policy
  • Why It Matters: This dual network plays a major role in advancing digital and cyber innovation, including investment pipelines, university spinouts, and Net Zero tech integration.
  • Link: https://dynamonortheast.co.uk/

Optional Adds: Niche, Emerging & Strategic Influence Channels

Research, Commercialisation, and Technical Futures

Digital Security by Design (DSbD)

  • Region: UK-wide (UKRI / Innovate UK programme)
  • Focus: Hardware and systems-level cybersecurity, secure-by-design silicon architectures
  • Why It Matters: DSbD supports projects reshaping the foundations of digital security (e.g. CHERI architecture). A great entry point for those working in hardware security, embedded systems, or long-horizon policy and funding.
  • Link: https://www.dsbd.tech

CyberASAP (Cyber Academic Startup Accelerator Programme)

  • Region: UK-wide (run by KTN and Innovate UK)
  • Focus: Turning academic cybersecurity research into commercial startups
  • Why It Matters: This is where tomorrow’s cyber companies are born. Engaging as a mentor, judge, or partner gives early access to IP, researchers, and commercialisation opportunities.
  • Link: https://ktn-uk.org/programme/cyberasap

Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub (TAS Hub)

  • Region: UK-wide (University of Southampton-led consortium)
  • Focus: Safety, trust, ethics, and cybersecurity for AI and autonomous systems
  • Why It Matters: Influential in shaping AI risk policy, particularly where it overlaps with cyber. Strong tie-ins with UKRI, DSIT, and global standards work.
  • Link: https://www.tas.ac.uk

Capital, Investment and Scaleup Influence

British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA)

  • Region: UK-wide
  • Focus: Policy, lobbying, and standards for UK VC and private equity
  • Why It Matters: Where large-scale tech and cyber funders align on policy. Useful for influence on how and where capital flows into cyber.
  • Link: https://www.bvca.co.uk

London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF)

  • Region: London-focused but supports UK-wide tech startups
  • Focus: Early-stage investment, especially in high-growth sectors including cyber
  • Why It Matters: Public/private fund that de-risks early cyber investments. Partnering or tracking LCIF opens doors to influential capital conversations.
  • Link: https://lcif.co

Angels in MedCity (and other Angel Networks)

  • Region: London and South East
  • Focus: Healthtech, data, and security-adjacent investments
  • Why It Matters: Strong crossover with cyber-health, privacy, and critical infrastructure protection — especially post-pandemic.
  • Link: https://www.angelsinmedcity.org.uk

Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation Networks

CyberWomen@Birmingham

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Focus: Gender inclusion and networking in the cyber sector
  • Why It Matters: Local influence, strong policy voice, and community reach. Works with regional partners like WM CWG and IAWM.
  • Link: https://www.cyberwomen.uk

Women in Cyber Wales

  • Region: Wales
  • Focus: Supporting women in cyber through mentoring, speaking opportunities, and events
  • Why It Matters: One of the most active women-led cyber communities in the UK. Partnered with UKC3 and international networks.
  • Link: https://www.womenincyber.wales

WiCyS UK (Women in Cybersecurity UK Chapter)

  • Region: UK-wide
  • Focus: National community to promote gender diversity in cybersecurity
  • Why It Matters: Strong links to academia, enterprise CISOs, and public sector programmes. Backed by industry and international WiCyS network.
  • Link: https://www.wicys.org/affiliates/united-kingdom

On Hiatus (But Still Influential or Worth Watching)

These programmes have either paused, changed structure, or are under review, but they’ve played a significant role in the UK’s cyber innovation ecosystem and still hold influence through their alumni and legacy.

NCSC for Startups & NCSC for Startups Alumni

  • Territory: UK, with global reach through partners
  • Membership: ~50+ startups supported since inception
  • Reach: Deep technical validation and support from NCSC, access to NCSC/NCSC Industry 100 experts, alumni network
  • Why It Matters: This programme, run in partnership with Plexal and formerly Wayra, gave early-stage cyber startups rare access to the NCSC’s technical team. Alumni include CyberOwl, Risk Ledger, Angoka, and others now influencing the supply chain, critical infrastructure, and resilience sectors.
  • Link: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/ncsc-for-startups

DSIT Cyber Runway (Launch, Grow, Scale, Ignite)

  • Territory: UK (national coverage with regional hubs)
  • Membership: ~250+ startups and SMEs supported
  • Reach: DSIT-backed accelerator programme delivered by Plexal and partners; aimed at commercial growth, skills, and investment
  • Why It Matters: Cyber Runway was the UK’s largest cyber accelerator initiative, split across four growth stages (Launch, Grow, Scale, and later Ignite for diversity). Though currently paused and under review, its alumni network continues to shape the UK’s cyber startup and scale-up scene.
  • Link: https://www.plexal.com/cyber-runway

Final Thoughts

Influencing senior cyber and tech leaders in the UK is about credibility, contribution, and community. There is no shortcut, but there is a clear route. Start by showing up where they are, speaking their language, and contributing to the evolution of standards, skills, and practice.

Whether you want to influence national cyber policy, secure major customers, or shape the future of digital trust, the path runs through these networks.

If you’re looking to build your presence in these networks or need help navigating the UK cyber ecosystem, reach out, I’d be happy to connect or advise.