Our team
We support every women to reach their full potential!
We are a network of wāhine and male allies operating out of 3 cities in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Our team
Natasha Bettridge
Co-founder of NZNWS
Tash is the co-founder of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security and currently working at Microsoft NZ. Tash transitioned from teaching to a career working in Cybersecurity. While she was studying for her undergrad, she interned at PwC, contracted as a Cybersecurity Consultant and interned at Google Australia.
During her undergrad, she faced the challenges of being one of a few women taking Networking and Cybersecurity classes and was curious to understand why there weren’t many women taking those subjects. This led to her completing her undergrad and moving towards a master’s degree that focuses on increasing the representation of women in cybersecurity.
Denise Carter-Bennett
CO-CHAIR OF NZNWS
Denise Carter-Bennett (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) our Co-Chair of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security and a Security Architect at Crown-owned organisation, Network for Learning (N4L). This is where she applies her skills in ethical hacking, malware analysis and open-source intelligence to protect data and systems. With 20 years experience as an ethical hacker, Denise initially honed her skills as a security researcher, and was a Cybersecurity Engineer at Datacom before joining N4L.
An active board member of NZNWS since 2022, Denise was instrumental in setting the organisation up as a registered charitable trust and helping with compliance.
In 2024, Denise won the prestigious Cybersecurity Champion award at the New Zealand Women in Security Awards. She was also named the DEFSEC Indigenous Advocate of the Year in 2022, and is a Scholarship Winner at Unitec though the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Te Pou Angitū scholarships in 2021.
Identifying as a neurodivergent Māori wahine working in security, Denise is also a writer and has spoken at conferences on topics such as neurodiversity, data sovereignty and women in tech. An inspiration to many in the tech sector, she is passionate about increasing its representation of women, while striving to empower the sector’s neurodiverse individuals and Māori and Pasifika communities. She is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei descent.
Andrew Thorburn
Co-Chair
Andrew is our Co-Chair of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security (NZNWS). Having worked in the physical security industry for nearly 30 years, it’s been apparent that roles were predominantly filled due to relationships, including heavy gender biases over demonstrable capability, knowledge, and capacity. It has never sat well with me and the opportunity to engage with highly motivated and talented practitioners several years ago, resonated with my desire to be a part of developing a safe and supportive community across each of the security pillars, specifically for wahine.
In conjunction with global leaders of similar networks overseas, the foundation is carefully being curated to ensure genuine diversity and inclusion will prevail and that with strategic partners, networking, broader Sy education and mentoring is accessible anywhere and at any time.
It is a surreal and humbling experience to witness the incredible drive and talent within the NZNWS committee, volunteer, and member community. It is something everyone should be incredibly proud of, and one where I sincerely hope future Sy practitioner will reflect on positively.
Tina Bautista
CHAPTER LEAD
Tina has a wealth of experience in different areas of Information Technology gained from overseas and in New Zealand. Having a Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Computer Science as a foundation, she embarked on a journey of relentless learning and determination, steering her path into the wonderful world of cybersecurity.
Over the years, Tina has attained Microsoft and AWS certifications, a clear testament to her steadfast dedication to lifelong learning.
For close to nine years, Tina has been an integral part of the cybersecurity industry, channeling her expertise into security operations, cyber culture and awareness, as well as strategy, risk, and governance domains. Her industry experience is mainly with Financial Services, Banking Industry and Healthcare organisations.
To pursue her mission of helping more organisations improve their cyber security posture, Tina is currently working as a Cyber Security Consultant at ZX Security – a respected IT Security Consultancy in New Zealand.
Tina’s heart lies in the realm of cybersecurity and she finds immense joy in inspiring individuals to embrace cyber safety, this extends sharing her passion with the school children in her home country, fostering a culture of cyber awareness.
Motivated by her aspiration to inspire and instill hope among women, Tina joined the New Zealand Network for Women in Security. Her aim is to empower women to shine brightly in the male-dominated field through unwavering determination and effort. As a result of her dedication, she was recognised and has been nominated for various distinguished awards.
Ayla Narciso
Ambassador
Ayla Narciso is a driven and enthusiastic individual with a passion for cybersecurity and a strong background in computer science. As a Computer Science Graduate, Ayla’s thirst for knowledge led her to immerse herself in the captivating world of cybersecurity, where she discovered her true calling. A standout achievement in her journey was being recognized as a Finalist in the prestigious NZNWS Awards 2022, a testament to her dedication and expertise in the field. Ayla’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry led her to serve as an NZNWS Ambassador, where she actively advocates for equal opportunities for everyone.
With certifications as an AWS Cloud Practitioner and being twice Microsoft Certified, Ayla constantly seeks to stay ahead of the curve and embraces cutting-edge technologies. However, her true purpose lies beyond personal accomplishments. Ayla is determined to support and inspire women who are transitioning into tech, with a special focus on mums who have taken time away from the workforce.
Her dedication to empowering women in tech earned her the esteemed position of an ISACA SheLeads Tech Ambassador, where she strives to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for aspiring women in the field.
Nicole Gaskell
Ambassador
Nicole Gaskell is a Vulnerability Management Specialist at Kordia SecOps, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions in New Zealand. She joined the company in December 2021 as a Security Analyst and was promoted to her current role in May 2023. She is responsible for identifying, assessing, and reporting on the security vulnerabilities of Kordia’s clients and systems. She also helps to develop and implement remediation strategies and best practices to enhance the security posture of Kordia and its customers. Nicole has a strong background in information technology and cybersecurity. She holds the New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6), the New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5), and the New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Essentials, Level 4).
She is passionate about learning new skills and staying updated on the latest trends and threats in the cyber world. Nicole is also an active member of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security (NZNWS), a community that supports and empowers women in the security industry. She joined the NZNWS as an Ambassador in Auckland in 2022 and has been involved in organizing events, mentoring, and networking with other women in security. Nicole is a valued member of the Kordia SecOps team and a trusted advisor to her clients. She is an inspiration to many aspiring women in security and a role model for her peers.
Sithara Fernando
AMBASSADOR
As a rising ICT / cybersecurity star, Network for Learning (N4L) Security Analyst, Sithara Fernando, has already proven her potential, achieving significant milestones and industry recognition in her career.
Sithara’s early career had her working in IT at both Rutherford College and Isometric Solutions. Initially joining N4L in 2022 as a member of the customer support team, she was promoted into the cybersecurity team, where she now works in N4L’s Security Operations Centre.
In 2024, Sithara was nominated as a finalist in the Rising Star category in the prestigious Women in IT Awards. She was also a speaker at the New Zealand Network for Women in Security’s (NZNWS) “Tinsel, Tech & Threat Intelligence” event, subsequently invited to become an NZNWS Ambassador.
Also in 2024, Sithara completed her Master’s in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity. A mother of two young children, this achievement is testament to her ability to be able to successfully juggle work, study and home. She will undertake her PhD in 2025. Away from her work at N4L, Sithara is also in the process of developing some tools and apps that can help protect young people from online and web-based harm in the future.
We Find & Fund
We are in search of opportunities to help as many women as possible. We approach and fund all those who are in need.
We Educate
We help educate rangatahi and organisations about the importance of cyber safety and D&I.
We Provide Care
We offer care and support to the people in our network.
We Consult
We consult on D&I practices within organisations in order to create a more diverse security landscape.
We Build Networks
We run events to support women and minorities in cyber.