If you want to bring something into the light, a cinema projector is an effective tool. Too often, the work of women in helping to safeguard communities, companies, and countries has gone unseen. A new documentary aims to cast off this invisibility by spotlighting the stories of women who are making an impact in the cybersecurity sector. The film will have its premiere in Ireland this month, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
The ‘Women in Security’ Documentary (TWISD) helps to highlight women’s contributions to cybersecurity and argues the case for building a modern, effective, and inclusive security profession. It shares real, unscripted stories to show how women are leading, innovating, and solving complex security challenges in spaces that historically did not make room for them.
Tackling female representation in cybersecurity
Women have been under-represented for years in cybersecurity. Female participation in the workforce is 22 per cent on average, according to figures from ISC2. The non-profit security certification group found that in some teams, the female participation number is lower still.
There has been some progress since the beginning of the last decade, when women accounted for barely over one in ten people working in security. But there’s still a long way to go: ISC2 estimates that around 16% of security teams still contain no women at all.
The phrase “if you see it you can be it” has a special resonance in light of the documentary. It gives women the platform to tell their own stories, in their own words, across disciplines like cybersecurity, intelligence, law enforcement, and physical security. Highlight these roles helps to move beyond tokenism and starts to normalise women in roles like CISOs, architects, analysts, investigators, and protectors at every level.
This visibility is not symbolic, it’s strategic. According to the documentary website, the film’s mission is to break down barriers to entry and advancement, highlight the critical contributions women already make, and inspire the next generation of women leaders in security. By putting those goals at the centre, the project directly links representation to a stronger, more resilient security ecosystem.
Storytelling as a tool for cultural change
The film’s tagline is “changing the face of security, one story at a time”. It hopes to use storytelling to drive cultural change in cybersecurity. When women share their journeys, they challenge stereotypes about who is “technical enough,” who is “tough enough,” and who is “qualified” to lead. Their stories offer power, presence, and perspective, showing what becomes possible when women are seen and supported in security roles.
The creative team behind the documentary includes director Yvette Freeman, executive producer Richard Ticho, producer/editor Kyle Wright, co-producer and writer Anne Saita, and composer Kennard Ramsey. Their work puts the women’s voices front and centre, framed with care and authenticity rather than as token examples.
The BH Consulting Connection
At BH Consulting, we have our own connection to this documentary. Our Chief Operations Officer, Dr Valerie Lyons, who was one of the 21 women the film-makers spoke with for the production. The documentary will be shown at the Women in Stem Summit which takes place at Croke Park on Tuesday 10 March.
The filmmakers said the Irish screening “represents an important step in TWISD’s international outreach, extending the film’s conversation into the European security community and reinforcing the documentary’s global relevance”.
The timing is appropriate: International Women’s Day takes place two days before the film makes its Dublin debut. This campaign has been running since 1911 and aims to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action towards gender equality – all goals that align with the documentary’s aims.
Helping to elevate women in cybersecurity
The ‘Women in Security’ documentary began as a film project and evolved into a movement that brings together security professionals. One of the most powerful aspects of the documentary is how it has turned film screenings in cities across the USA, into community gatherings and catalysts for change. Audiences described the documentary as “long overdue” and “essential viewing,” with conversations continuing long after the credits rolled. Each event becomes a space where women’s leadership in security is normalised, allies are engaged, and local security communities deepen their understanding of inclusion.
The movement started by the documentary makes it clear that responsibility for change is shared. The project invites organisations to sponsor or partner with the documentary, universities to host screenings, and advocates to share the film and volunteer their skills. Each of these actions helps bring women’s stories to more audiences, opens more doors, and keeps inclusion on the agenda in cybersecurity and beyond.
It’s also a call to arms for everyone working in security, to ensure women’s expertise is visible by putting them on conference stages, panels, and leadership tracks; featuring their work in internal communications; and recognising their contributions in performance and promotion processes. It encourages educators or mentors to introduce their students to stories like those in the documentary, to expand their sense of what a ‘security professional’ looks like.
The ‘Women in Security’ documentary shows what happens when those roles are finally brought into the light. For International Women’s Day 2026, it’s an invitation to allies everywhere to help keep that spotlight shining.
