Education
Cyber Talent Academy Workshop: Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity Talent
On June 5th, the Charter of Trust convened a high-level workshop dedicated to one of the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity: how to train, attract, and retain the next generation of cyber professionals.
Bringing together representatives from Charter of Trust Partners and external organizations, the session focused on enhancing the Cyber Talent Academy, a growing initiative that is already demonstrating real impact. The workshop was a space for deep exchange, shared purpose, and forward-looking collaboration between cybersecurity and HR professionals.
One key theme ran through every conversation: the cyber skills gap continues to widen, and traditional recruitment methods are no longer enough. To meet growing demand, we must fundamentally rethink how we discover, train, and support talent.
A New Approach to Cyber Talent
The Cyber Talent Academy is emerging as a powerful model for change. By offering alternative pathways into cybersecurity, beyond conventional educational and career tracks, it opens opportunities to individuals from a range of academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. Participants agreed that the programme holds strong potential for expanding the talent pipeline, increasing diversity, and making cybersecurity more inclusive and resilient.
The workshop discussions underlined several critical insights:
- Relying solely on established recruitment channels will not close the cyber talent gap.
- Tapping into overlooked talent pools, through inclusive outreach, training, and mentoring, creates real business value and aligns with corporate social responsibility goals.
- Stronger collaboration between cybersecurity and HR teams is essential, particularly when it comes to structuring mentorship, supporting life-long learning, and designing modern career pathways.
- Initiatives like the Cyber Talent Academy are already showing higher retention and greater team innovation in participating organizations.
As Sumit Chanda, Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust and COO Group Security, and Business Lines CISO at Atos, put it: “Key to addressing the cyber skills gap is collaboration and creativity. When businesses, educators, and governments work together, we can solve this.”
Looking Ahead
This workshop was just the beginning. The energy, expertise, and ideas shared on June 5th are shaping the next phase of the Cyber Talent Academy, and informing how we support our partners in building stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity teams. We’re excited to continue this journey and will be sharing updates on upcoming developments.
Stay tuned. The future of cybersecurity talent is collaborative, diverse, and full of potential.