Women in Security: The #1 Inclusivity in the Industry

Women in Security play a vital role, having fought an uphill battle in an industry that has historically overlooked their achievements, and at times made them feel underrepresented, ignored and devalued. As part of the Security Middle East Conference, we aim to capture trends, and developments within industries and present them alongside the newest information. In the following article, we analyze the role of the ‘women in security’ marketplace, under the scope of inclusivity in the fast-paced, evolving Middle East Marketplace.

In an era where businesses are more visible than ever. Each aspect of a company can be identified and scrutinized by the ever-present public eye, which seeks to champion diversity and ensure that all people, regardless of ethnic background, gender, or beliefs, have the capabilities to achieve in their chosen industry, on an equal playing field.

With business practices under particular scrutiny, how women are evaluated and treated in the workplace is under analysis, and many are looking to the future of security to set an appropriate example for how women in the workplace are to be treated in the future.

Women in Security Panel

To pave the way to the future, and further develop a platform for understanding the trends in security, the Security Middle East Conference 2024 hosted the panel, “Challenging the Normal: Improving Inclusivity, Equality and Diversity in Security,” hosted by Cyber Law Policy Consultant Betania Allo.

The panel was conceived to be an exploration of the challenges faced in the security industry, and how empowering inclusivity within the sector will inspire the next generation of innovation that shapes the future of security.

In practice, the panel became more about overlooked voices within the industry, and the cultivation of talent within larger industries. Betania Allo, and other panellists, Hayley Van Loon, Sumaiyah Alotaibi and Uliana Barbysheva, discussed how inclusivity leads to investment in projects, so by hearing all voices, and understanding all angles, not only does a project grow in new innovative ways, but the individual team members are more invested in seeing the projects’ success.

Betania Allo used contemporary examples of global brands and businesses that were wearing their inclusivity on their sleeve, as a means of showing the potential of embracing inclusivity. Uliana Barbysheva discussed large-scale events she had worked in, and how they grew as a result of every team member taking part and being heard.

Attention was brought to the future of the industry, and how inclusivity is not going to stop growing as an important topic, however, there was much the audience in the room could do, to help empower those who are typically less heard or represented in the workplace. The Panel asked the c-suite decision-makers, and industry influencers to listen to their team members, consider the level of inclusion they bring to their workplace, and help support growing trends, empowering individuals in the process.

Looking to the future, people are more likely to be judged on their skill, and correctly trained, rather than facing prejudice to due gender, skin colour, or belief. Whilst this phenomenon is sweeping Western countries, it is also emerging in Eastern culture as well, with Women in Security being raised as a topic often. The Security Middle East Conference 2025 will reflect the attitudes and developments from across the Security Industry and the Middle East Region. Diversity, Inclusivity and Empowerment will continue to be an important element of future conferences, including the Security Middle East Conference, and similar events taking place in the Middle East.

Women in Security continue to play a strong role, in developing new voices, and opinions and achieving innovations, both in physical projects, work philosophies and more. Find out how you can get started, learn more about diversity, and be a part of the Security Middle East Conference by signing up for the conference event at the following link.