Denise Carter-Bennett appointed Co-chair of NZ women security network

Denise Carter-Bennett has been appointed as the new Co-Chair of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security.

Carter-Bennett, an active member since 2022 and the current Treasurer of NZNWS, succeeds Sai Honig, who co-founded the organisation with Tash Bettridge in 2019. Honig will remain involved as an honorary committee member.

"I am confident that the organisation will continue to thrive under the leadership of Denise Carter-Bennett and the rest of the board," says Honig.

"It has been an honour to serve as Co-Chair of NZNWS since its inception. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done to support and promote women in the security industry."

Honig added, "A big driver of our work is to encourage women to lead and excel in their careers, and to see Denise develop her leadership skills and rise into this new role encapsulates that."

Carter-Bennett expressed her enthusiasm for the role saying, "I am excited to step into the role of Co-Chair and continue the important work of NZNWS."

She emphasised the need for diversity in technology, stating, "Diverse thinking is an advantage in the tech sector. I became involved with NZNWS because I am passionate about increasing the representation of women in tech."

Carter-Bennett, identifying as a neurodiverse Māori wahine working in security, highlighted the challenges minorities face in the field. "As a neurodiverse Māori wahine working in security, I understand how isolating the work experience can be for minorities. That's why I am so motivated to build a community that will empower more people like me to thrive in their security careers."

She looks forward to collaboration with the board and members, saying, "I look forward to working with the board and our members to further our mission of supporting women working in security, as well as making our industry more inclusive."

Carter-Bennett's career has included roles focused on ethical hacking, malware analysis, and open-source security as a researcher. She has held senior positions in cyber security with Datacom and serves as a Security Architect at Network 4 Learning. Her achievements were recognised with the "Cyber Security Champion" award at the Women in Security Awards 2023.

A writer and speaker on subjects including neurodiversity, data sovereignty, and women in technology, Carter-Bennett strives to empower neurodiverse individuals, along with Māori and Pasifika communities in the tech sector. Her heritage includes Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Andrew Thorburn, the current Co-Chair, will work alongside Carter-Bennett. Additionally, Wellington's Michelle Crowe, the Security Risk and Compliance Team Lead at Xero, will join the board. Other board positions remain unchanged.