The Women in OT (WIOT) concept struck me just over a year ago. For a long time, I had noticed the scarcity of women working in operational technology (OT), and even fewer opportunities existed for us to connect, share stories, and navigate the unique challenges we face in this space. While mulling it over, I shared the idea with another woman in the industry, who immediately championed it – there’s nothing like having a supporter in your corner. That was the spark I needed. I set a date, and WIOT was born: a dedicated space for women working in critical infrastructure to build connections and strengthen their community.
One of the reasons I gravitated toward cyber security was seeing the industry’s transformation over the years – especially the growing focus on diversity and the effort to bring more women into STEM. Cyber security is fast-moving and dynamic, and it’s a place where you can build a long-term career. Compared to my earlier experience in the payments industry, cyber security felt like home. But Women in OT is an even smaller subset, bridging women working in engineering, cyber security, and IT – occupying critical roles across industrial organisations with a focus on OT and OT cyber security.
Event 1: Kicking Things Off in Sydney
We held our first WIOT event in Sydney, casting a wide net – from graduates to senior executives including experienced CIOs of industrial organisations. To my great relief, everyone engaged straight away. The range of stories and experiences shared was inspiring, and there was an uplifting sense of connection. Many of us hadn’t had the chance to experience such a forum in person before.
Key takeaway:One attendee commented that the event felt like Women in IT gatherings from 15 years ago – a reminder that OT is a new niche where there’s real hunger for connection, mentorship, and clear career pathways.
Event 2: Taking WIOT to Melbourne
Based on feedback that a quieter space would foster better conversations, we moved the second event to a private dining room in Melbourne. This event also marked the creation of the WIOT LinkedIn space, providing an online community for continued connection. It was clear there’s a real appetite for more networking, mentorship, and support – especially in parts of the country where opportunities are scarcer.
Key takeaway:Creating an intimate, welcoming space makes all the difference for deeper conversations and relationship building.
Event 3: A Career Journey with Dawn Capelli
For the third event, we returned to Sydney and partnered with Dragos, hosting Dawn Capelli. Dawn shared her incredible career journey—from nuclear engineer to CISO of Rockwell and Head of OT Cert at Dragos. Her openness created a safe space for others to share their personal journeys and challenges. It was inspiring to see women open up about navigating their careers and experiences as women in OT.
Key takeaway:Role models matter. Having senior women share their authentic stories encourages others to reflect and share their own.
Events 4 & 5: A Big Month for WIOT
Kicking off 2025, I hosted two events in one month – one in beautiful Perth and another in sunny Brisbane. Perth exceeded expectations with around 20 women joining us, many meeting for the first time despite working in a well-networked industry. Brisbane was also a standout, especially with Rhiana Cooke from our team attending and bringing along her industry peers. It was fantastic to see new faces and fresh conversations take root.
Key takeaway:The number of women in OT and OT cyber security remains small but is growing steadily across Australia. These forums are playing a real role in strengthening that network.
What I’ve Learned
Across all these events, some key themes emerged:
- Diverse backgrounds:We had women from engineering, mining, IT project management, cyber security, law, and science – all excited about OT cyber security. There were PhDs, MBAs, and Masters in Cyber Security among us, underscoring that there are many paths into this space.
- Mentorship & leadership:Topics like stepping into leadership roles, building your online presence, seeking out career coaching, and navigating career transitions came up regularly.
- Industry challenges:Bridging gaps between IT, OT, and cyber security teams was a hot topic, reflecting the real-world complexities of this work.
- Building diverse teams:I noticed a pattern – women often hire women. The most gender-diverse teams were led by female managers who are proactive in building inclusive teams.
- Supportive leadership:I really respect the male leaders who showed up for their teams – championing these events and encouraging participation. Their visible support matters.
- Work-life balance realities:We talked candidly about everything from juggling Zoom calls with three kids, to the emotions of re-entering senior roles after time away, to planning families while advancing careers. These conversations were refreshing and real.
These conversations were great to have with women from various roles and organisations to share some of our common challenges, passion for OT security, and nuances of our roles. It was empowering to additionally share some of the more personal sides of our lives.
Looking Ahead
All of this has been achieved on a small budget, powered by incredible people who believe in the mission. I’m excited about how we can grow this community and build on what we’ve started over the past 12 months.
WIOT is a small but mighty community – come and get involved!
P.S. Never underestimate the power of good food. A great meal really does go a long way in bringing people together.
Original post can be found on Linkedin here.