Working on initiatives across the globe, Bonnie Butlin is a well-known figure across the security industry. IFSEC Global finds out a little more about the latest projects that Bonnie, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Security Partners’ Forum, is currently involved in.
“We’re looking for women who have advanced the industry and shaped the path for future generations. We see them as the role models who will be instrumental in building the future,” said Bonnie, at the launch of a new recognition initiative for women in cyber security in Canada – just one of the many schemes she helps to lead.
As the founder and international coordinator of WISECRA, a global network of female security and resilience professionals, Bonnie is working on many similar initiatives across the globe, including Latin America, Singapore, India, Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
Alongside this, the Security Partners’ Forum that Bonnie is co-founder and current Executive Director of, is designed to act as an agile international network of security and resilience professionals, bridging all domains.
With cyber security becoming increasingly prevalent for businesses, governments and institutions across the world, ‘Canada’s First Lady of Security’ – as dubbed by SecurityInfoWatch.com and echoed by Sovereign Magazine – has played a leading role in various organisations in bringing the issue to the fore. As aforementioned, a particular focus has been on attracting female talent, which Bonnie clearly believes is vital to addressing the skills gap in the sector, as “globally women are playing a key role in the advancement of the profession of security in all sectors”. WISECRA acts as another example of this, acting as a hub for women in security and resilience organisations to come together from across the globe to network and share best practices.
Crucial to her various roles has been her ability to identify new and existing talent in the security and cyber security domains in an international sphere, acting as a judge on numerous panels for top influencers and recognising women who are demonstrating a valuable commitment to the sector. The Security Partners’ Forum that Bonnie is co-founder and current Executive Director of, is designed to act as an agile international network of security professionals, bridging all domains, while she also currently serves as part of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network in Cyber security, as well as part of the Global Advisory Council for the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM).
Aside from numerous keynote speeches at worldwide events, Bonnie has received over 20 international awards and accolades since 2013. Recent examples for Bonnie include:
Bonnie is also heavily involved in IFSEC Global’s own Global Influencers in Security & Fire, which continues to be one of the most highly regarded accolades in the sector. As a recipient of IFSEC’s Top 50 influencers in Security & Fire in 2017 – she topped the Security Management category – Bonnie supports Lead Judge, Grant Lecky, in the organisation and collaboration of the team of international judges and award nominees.
