CyberFest showcases region’s cyber credentials

A North East tech initiative is cementing the region’s status as a “powerhouse” in cyber security through its flagship month-long festival.

CyberFest 2025, organised by CyberNorth, brought together more than a thousand delegates and forty speakers from across the UK and beyond for a series of 21 events celebrating innovation, collaboration and talent in the cyber sector.

Now in its eighth year, the festival has become a cornerstone of the region’s digital calendar, uniting professionals across industries including FinTech, maritime, space and defence.

The festival’s headline event, the sell-out CyberFest Community Conference at Newcastle Civic Centre, centred on the theme Your Connected Community and showcased the strength of collaboration within the North East’s cyber ecosystem.

Alongside panel debates, workshops and networking sessions, the CyberNorth Awards returned to honour standout achievements across the industry.

Annabel Berry, chair at CyberNorth, said: “We set out to make CyberFest 2025 bigger and bolder than ever before, and the team delivered. 

“It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to open and address the CyberFest Community Conference, however it’s key to acknowledge that the month of CyberFest and the Community Conference are not just gatherings – CyberNorth are creating spaces that enable knowledge, collaboration and innovation to be shared. 

“In an age where cyber risks are growing more complex, these events are not just beneficial – they’re essential for building a safer digital future.  

“The North East is a hotbed for innovation and collaboration and CyberNorth play a vital role in infusing the community together. 

“The month-long CyberFest programme has become a prominent point in the cyber community diary, but we couldn’t do this without our key partners and sponsors, and we’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to them all.”

Winners included Accenture’s Newcastle security team for Team of the Year; Aspire Technology Solutions for Innovation of the Year; Kimberly Graham, director of AI transformation at Sage AI Labs, won the Outstanding Cyber Professional award; Matthew Chambers received the Rising Star award; and Dr Martin Wilson was named Community Champion.

Danielle Phillips, chief executive of CyberNorth, added: “As we close on CyberFest 2025, the success of the month-long festival and community conference is a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and expertise of our team and the fantastic, active cyber community we have in the region. 

“CyberFest was key to bringing together other prominent clusters in the region from the space, maritime and defence sectors. 

“And the calibre of speakers we attracted this year was second to none. 

“Projects and collaborations between some of the speakers and other clusters are already happening because of the festival, which is terrific!

“The North East has something really special to offer, and our cyber community is now known on a national level for being connected and collaborative. 

“Only good can come from this.”

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