This is the first of a series of Cyber Versed podcasts looking at diversity in cyber. And to start the series, we're looking at women in policing to coincide with International Women's Day. And who better to host this series than Mandy Haebrurn-Little, who was named Cyber Woman of the Year in 2021.

Mandy is joined by an impressive panel of women for the podcast; they are Fiona Bail, Detective Chief Inspector and Cyber PATH Lead for the National Cyber Resilience Centre; Leanne Alleyne, Chief Inspector, NPCC Cybercrime Programme, and Mary-Anne Dickson, Detective Constable NPCC Cybercrime Programme.

It is an open and transparent look at policing from a female perspective. Each guest shared their reason for getting into policing, how they found the experience at the time, and what has changed now. They also offered useful advice and encouragement for young women considering policing as a career choice, and the over-riding advice is to speak to women in your local police as a starting point. Leanne and Mary-Anne both stressed that there is a broad range of career options in policing.

Mandy also talks to them about the gender gap in cyber and the need to encourage more young women to consider technology, and in particular, cyber, as a career path. Fiona's advice here is to explore the Cyber PATH programme, where cyber experience is not a prerequisite and where they are looking for students with a variety of skills.