Welcome to Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards 2025
Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards 2025 are a wonderful way to reward and celebrate the incredible skills and talent keeping us safe online and inspire future generations. Apply now and seize this opportunity!
Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards programme rewards different types of personalities who make a significant contribution to improving cyber resilience in Belgium
For this fifth edition, we give out five awards. You can apply for one or more awards.
We thank you in advance for participating and wish all applicants the best of luck.

Cyber Security Personality
Target audience
There are many cyber security professionals working in a variety of roles who are neither Young Professionals nor CISOs — for example, Security Architects, IT Risk Advisors, Security Analysts, Intelligence Analysts, Investigators, and Heads of Operations. This award is dedicated to recognising their contributions.
It celebrates individuals who, through cyber security expertise, business insight, and/or innovative approaches, have made a distinguished impact. Outstanding performers will be those who lead by example and inspire others to follow.

C(I)SO
Target audience
This Award is open to both CISOs and CSOs, acknowledging that cybersecurity leadership can take many forms depending on the organisation. These roles may differ in scope, title, or approach, but all share the responsibility of protecting against an evolving landscape of threats.
This category honours those who, through security expertise, business acumen, and/or innovative leadership, have made a significant impact on their organisation’s cybersecurity strategy. Whether through visionary thinking, operational excellence, or driving cultural change, these individuals are setting examples that others will wish to follow.

Cyber Security Researcher
Target audience
This award recognises researchers and academics, who have made significant contributions to the cybersecurity domain through research, or development and implementation of security technologies or methodologies. The award acknowledges research innovation, publications and research output, impact on the industry, collaboration and community involvement, problem-solving solutions, and educational contributions.

Young Cyber Security Professional
Target audience
This award recognises an outstanding young cyber security professional — defined as anyone aged thirty or younger (with no limit on the number of years spent working in the field). It is intended for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional early-career performance and made a meaningful impact in the cyber security domain.
The recipient may, for example, be an analyst or researcher working for a cyber security vendor or a corporate security team. Their contribution may come from any area of cyber security — whether as a student, a professional, or through a combination of both. What matters is that they have made a tangible difference and are laying the foundations for an exceptional career in cyber security.

Privacy Professional
Target audience
This award recognises individuals working in the privacy domain, who have made significant contributions in enhancing digital trust. By leading efforts to ensure the privacy and protection of personal information within the organisations they are working for, they have proven their expertise in fostering trust in data protection among stakeholders. These individuals excel in upholding privacy laws and regulations, reinforcing their commitment to a secure and compliant digital environment.
Created to honour excellence, innovation and leadership
in cyber security in Belgium
The Cyber Security Awards Winners will get:
Showcase your unique talents and your contributions to the cyber security industry
Participation in Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards programme is a great opportunity for you and your team to get recognised for excellence, innovation and leadership, and to showcase your unique capabilities and contributions to the cyber security ecosystem.
Have you made a contribution in one or more of the following areas:
The Cyber Security Personality of Year 2024, Dr. Catherine Van de Heyning encourages you to apply
FAQ
What are Belgium’s Cyber Security Awards?
The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements and amazing endeavours of Belgium-based cyber security experts and enthusiasts working to improve the country’s cyber security and posture. In 2024, the campaign was extended to include a new award – Privacy Professionals – to honour the achievements of professionals in the privacy and data protection domain. The awards programme is organised by the Belgian Cyber Security Coalition.
What Cyber Security Awards are available?
The following awards will be presented on December 1st:
- The Cyber Security Personality of the Year
- The C(I)SO of the Year
- The Young Cyber Security Professional of the Year
- The Cyber Security Researcher of the Year
- The Privacy Professional of the Year.
Click here to learn more about the cyber security awards categories. For each award category we have described the profiles that fit within the category.
If you cannot find the right category for your profession, contact the Coalition Task Force for support: [email protected].
Who can apply?
- The application process is open to all cyber security and privacy enthusiasts and professionals operating in Belgium. You do not have to be a member of the Cyber Security Coalition to apply.
- Individuals can be from the public, private or academic sectors and must be based in Belgium. It is not required to have the Belgian nationality.
- Individuals must have contributed to the country’s information security industry, shown tremendous professional growth and achievement, and promoted strong and innovative security practices in the last 24 months.
- Applicants who participated last year, can resubmit their application possibly supplemented by new achievements.
- If you work for an organisation that is successful all over Europe, but boasts only a small market share in Belgium, you should not hesitate to apply.
- An age limit of 30 years has been set for the Young Cyber Security Professional of the Year Award. Any person based in Belgium born in 1995 or later can apply for this award.
- The application process is free of charge.
Is the Privacy Professional Award only open to Data Protection Officers (DPOs)?
No, the Privacy Professional Award is not limited to Data Protection Officers. It is open to all practitioners, researchers, educators, and professionals who have made significant contributions to enhancing privacy and data protection. We encourage anyone who has demonstrated excellence in this field, regardless of their specific role, to apply for this prestigious award. Your contributions are valuable, and we welcome a diverse range of applicants.
What information do I need to submit in my application?
- For each award category there is a specific application form.
- The form is in English, French or Dutch. You can choose in which language you want to submit your application.
- You can fill out the application online or download the form and send it to [email protected].
- All fields related to Applicant & Employer Information in the application form are mandatory.
- Depending on the award category, you must describe your contributions in at least one or all areas mentioned in the application form.
- Try to be concise and highlight your achievements in maximum 2,500 characters per field in the application form. Emphasise why your application deserves recognition. The strength of your application is most important in determining award winners. Add examples of how your achievements impact the cyber security industry/ ecosystem in the specific award category.
- You will receive an acknowledgement upon receipt of your application.
What is the best way to showcase my own contribution in the application?
To create a compelling application, focus on showcasing not just your technical skills, but also your passion, leadership, and vision. Here are some tips:
- Show passion: Explain what fuels your dedication to cyber security. Share moments where your enthusiasm helped you go beyond the usual expectations.
- Demonstrate leadership: Illustrate moments where you stepped up to lead a project, mentor others, or foster collaboration in a team. Leadership doesn’t always mean a formal title—it can also mean being a key problem-solver or decision-maker.
- Communicate vision: Show your forward-thinking approach by describing how you anticipate future challenges or trends in the field and how your work aligns with this vision. How do you innovate, anticipate risks, or create lasting solutions?
- Tell a personal story: If possible, share a personal story, such as overcoming significant obstacles. Or you could talk about a project that changed your perspective, a collaboration that inspired you, or a pivotal moment when you realised the importance of your work. These stories add depth and make your application more relatable and memorable.
By incorporating these elements, you will be able to paint a fuller picture of yourself and your impact.
Can I use generative AI to help with my application?
Yes, the use of generative AI is not prohibited. However, we encourage you to clearly highlight your personal contribution and the unique value you have added. AI-generated text can sometimes be too generic and make it harder for the reader to identify your personal input. Ensure that your submission reflects your individual expertise and achievements.
How can I edit my application after it has been submitted?
- Until the deadline of October 6th (11:00 PM) it is possible to edit and change your application. You can do so by sending an amended version to [email protected]. The Task Force will only consider the last version of your application. Please, use version control by including the date in your file name.
- Additional information submitted after the deadline will be conveyed to the jury if you are selected as one of the finalists. However, the jury is not obliged to take it into account.
How many different nominations can I submit?
- There is no limit on the number of nominations you can submit.
- The nominations can be made across all awards categories.
- You can nominate the same person in different award categories.
- However, due to the nature of the selection process, entry is by application only. Your nominee will still have to complete the appropriate application form.
- The ultimate deadline for nominations is September 30th, but practically you should submit your nomination much earlier enabling the nominee to submit his/her application.
- You can submit your nomination using the appropriate nomination form. It will not take much of your time.
- You will get an acknowledgement of receipt from the Coalition Task Force, which will contact the nominee. Therefore, it is important to add the latter’s contact details to facilitate this process.
- We do not charge a nomination fee.
Who is on the jury?
The assessment process is independent and open. All jurors have been chosen for their varied backgrounds and achievements within the industry and emanate from the three sectors (private, academic, public). The jury is multidisciplinary and discussion among jurors is crucial to maintaining a fair process. The open nature of the selection shall ensure integrity of the awards, with the winners being chosen on merit only. We refer to the code of conduct for jurors page.
How are the awards finalists and winners selected?
Here is a brief overview of the awards process. The Sounding Board first selects 5 finalists for each award category. Each cyber security or privacy professional will be assessed using 3 to 4 criteria, which differ depending on the award. For most awards the applicant should demonstrate outstanding achievements in at least one of the domains. It is not required to excel in all domains. Only for the CISO and Privacy Professional we require achievements across the 4 domains. For the Young Cyber Security Professional and Researcher of the Year, the scoring is based on 3 criteria.
Award winners are determined by the strength of their application and the provided information. Additional information submitted by the finalist after the deadline will be conveyed to the jury by the Coalition Task Force, but the jury is not obliged to take it into account.
The winners in each category are selected from the group of shortlisted finalists using the same criteria as outlined on the selection criteria page. The jury can switch a finalist from one award category to another award category.
What if I am shortlisted?
Congratulations! Being shortlisted means you are one step closer to winning. All shortlisted candidates will be notified by the Awards Task Force and will be asked to make a short video to introduce themselves. This video should be sent to the Coalition Task Force by November 2nd.
All finalists will be invited to the Award ceremony. However, please note that the winners will not be notified of the jury’s decision in advance. All finalists must attend the ceremony to find out if they will receive an award. We look forward to celebrating your achievements with you and wish you the best of luck!
When and how are the winners and finalists announced and what is part of the award package?
- The finalists will be published on the Cyber Security Awards website of the Cyber Security Coalition on October 27th.
- The winners will be announced during the Gala dinner on December 1st and be published on the Cyber Security Awards website on December 2nd.
- The winners will receive a trophy as well as a gift of an amount of EUR 1,000.00.
- Winners and finalists will receive a certificate and a digital award badge to display on their social media.
- The Cyber Security Coalition will also announce the finalists and winners on its LinkedIn & Twitter accounts.
- A press release will be sent out on December 2nd.
- The winners will be invited for an interview to be published in the Coalition Gazette 2025 (release in January 2026).
Where will the awards ceremony take place?
The awards ceremony will be held on December 1st, 2025 as from 6:00 PM in the Africa Palace in Tervuren. The Cyber Security Coalition has entered into a partnership with TMAB for the organization of this Gala dinner. Organizations can sponsor the awards programme by booking a table at the Gala dinner.
TMAB is not involved in the awards decision-making process.
There is no streaming of the Gala dinner.
How will the EUR 1000 prize be awarded?
We will ask each winner to indicate a shop of their choice where we can purchase a gift voucher for the amount of EUR 1000. As the prize is considered a benefit, we must declare it to the Belgian tax authorities.
Alternatively, if the winner prefers it, the amount can be donated to a Belgian charitable organisation (e.g., Child Focus, Kom op tegen Kanker, etc.).
Who organises this awards programme and why?
This awards programme is organised by the Belgian Cyber Security Coalition and supported by a Sounding Board and a Task Force.
The Sounding Board acts as a consultative group of experts that reflects on the programme’s strategy, criteria, categories, and messaging. It keeps the programme on the right track. It also plays an important part in the review of the applications to select a shortlist of finalists for each award. It is composed of experienced professionals or stakeholders with a broader view.
The Task Force has an operational role and handles the practical implementation of the awards programme. It defines award categories and criteria, coordinates the call for applications, and manages the jury process and event logistics. The Task Force is a mix of organisers, project managers, and subject-matter experts. The latter support the Sounding Board with the selection process of the finalists.
The Coalition’s Operations team, ISACA Belgium Chapter, Agoria, Beltug, Agence du Numérique, Agentschap Digitaal Vlaanderen, CETIC, Antwerp Management School, and Solvay Brussels School of Management & Education are represented in either the Sounding Board or Task Force or both.
The goal of the campaigns is twofold. Firstly, to highlight the importance of the professionals driving cyber security and data protection. Secondly, to showcase role models and inspiring achievements.
How many times can I submit an application for an Award?
You are welcome to submit an application for the Award up to three years in a row. If you are not shortlisted or do not win within those three years, we kindly ask you to take a two-year break before applying again. This “cooling-off period” is designed to give applicants time to reflect, refine their work, and return with fresh ideas or projects.
We understand how much effort goes into each application, and we want to ensure the process remains a positive and inspiring experience. Limiting consecutive applications prevents frustration and helps maintain a diverse and dynamic pool of applicants each year.
After taking a two-year break, you are welcome to submit a new application. We look forward to seeing how your work evolves and grows during that time.
If your work undergoes significant changes or you have new achievements to share, exceptions to the cooling-off period may be considered. Please contact our Awards Task Force for more information.
What are the terms and conditions?
We refer to our terms and conditions page.
Who should I contact if I have any questions?
Please, contact the Coalition Task Force with any questions or suggestions at [email protected].