Alina is a strategic individual with significant expertise in various fields developed through a combination of relevant work experience and an advanced level of academic study.
In her current capacity, sheendeavours to combine a professional background and an academic career, being a Data Protection Lead at Kidsloop and a recognised teacher at the University of the West of Scotland.
Throughout her professional career, she joined multiple courses and accrued multiple business and cybersecurity-related qualifications helping her to develop a wide range of management, technical, security and commercial experience.
Alina began her doctorate degree in 2015 as a new career path – a career for life! After many years in various sectors, she acknowledged her passion and enthusiasm for cybersecurity, governance, risks and compliance and transitioned into a new career, dedicating endless hours to reach the expected results. Her curiosity and passion for cybersecurity has driven her to engage with the security community, gaining more insights, expertise and collaboration with more than 25 organisations; all of which contributed to her research about cybersecurity management and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).
She was awarded a PhD in Cybersecurity Management and Enterprise Risk Management from Brunel University in 2019. During her time at Brunel University, she produced various pieces of research that looked at the reasons why financial organisations should consider aligning cybersecurity management with enterprise risk management. Correspondingly, she’s a passionate champion that encourages an acknowledgement of a paradigm shift from Information Security towards a Cybersecurity Paradigm.
Previously,Alina earned an MSc in International Business and E-Commerce that had an education root on a BSc degree in Business Management.
She is particularly interested in how organisations innovate, achieve sustainable strategies in dealing with emerging risks and how they approach the future (foresight). Her other interests are in the areas of supporting women in tech (diversity & inclusiveness), mentoring new talents, technology advancements, business management, cybersecurity, data privacy, risk governance, alignment and in particular anything that is socio-technical risk-related.
Areas of Expertise: Management & Leadership, GRC, ERM, Cybersecurity Management, Security Audit, Information Security Assurance, Risk Assurance, Data Protection, ISO 27K, Vendor Risk Management, and Security Awareness. and my *Superpowers* are: Explorer, Regulator & Entrepreneur (according to GLAM)
supervisions. Yoga and meditation practitioner, also a classical music enthusiast and an opera fan.