From Limpopo to the ITWeb Security Summit: A CISO Journey in Progress

Strengthening South Africa's cybersecurity landscape requires three things: collaboration, continuous learning, and bringing together the brightest minds across the industry. The ITWeb Security Summit delivers all three in a single room.

I'm deeply grateful to Andrew Jennings, Fanie Prinsloo, and the South African Reserve Bank for believing in my potential and giving me the opportunity to attend as a delegate. Opportunities like these don't just expand knowledge — they inspire continued growth and excellence in the profession.

A Moment of Reflection

The summit turned out to be more personal than I expected.

As I listened to industry leaders and security professionals share their insights, I found myself thinking back to 2020, when I was responsible for IT Security at Digiata and was featured in the ITWeb CISO Directory. I remember reading the title Chief Information Security Officer and asking myself:

"What does it really take to become a CISO?"

For a young boy from Limpopo, that question became a vision.

Since then, every challenge, certification, project, and leadership opportunity has added something to the journey. The destination is still ahead of me — but I'm proud of how far the road has taken me so far.

The People Along the Way

One of the highlights of the summit was reconnecting with Leigh Woods, who gave me my first opportunity in the enterprise technology environment. Most of us can point to one person who changed the course of our careers, and I remain grateful for the guidance and belief shown in me so early on.

I also had the chance to meet Joe Tidy, BBC cybersecurity correspondent and author of Ctrl+Alt+Chaos: How Teenage Hackers Hijack the Internet — a great conversation, and a book that's now on my reading list.

Another memorable moment was connecting with Dr. Simphiwe Mayisela, someone I've admired in the cybersecurity space for a long time. Engaging with leaders whose work continues to shape the industry is a reminder of why continuous learning and collaboration matter as much as any technical skill.

The Journey Continues

From a young boy in Limpopo wondering what a CISO actually does, to sitting among industry leaders discussing the future of cybersecurity — this has been humbling and rewarding in equal measure.

The journey continues.