Meet the team

Anya Bridges

South Yorkshire Chapter

Anya Bridges

South Yorkshire Chapter

Anya’s dedication to putting others first is a large part of what makes her such a groundbreaking and an increasingly valuable member of the industry. Alongside running various projects in the skills, innovation and ecosystem working groups to benefit the regional cyber security ecosystem.

Mark Cross

North Yorkshire Chapter

Mark Cross

North Yorkshire Chapter

Mark is an expert technical business analyst and cybersecurity consultant, specialising in cloud infrastructure, data governance and information security within large and complex enterprises. He holds 25 years of international experience of business transformation (including 8 years as a network engineer and 15 years as a business analyst) from projects within telecoms, banking & financial services and bioinformatics for clients in the UK and abroad.

Melanie Oldham OBE

Founder & CEO

Melanie Oldham OBE

Founder & CEO

YCSC founder and one of the directors of UKC3, Melanie is also CEO of Bob’s Business, the cyber security awareness training company. An Executive in Residence at Sheffield Hallam University, Melanie was awarded an OBE for her services to cyber security in 2022 and aims to create a safer world online for all.

Melissa Reid

Regional Cluster Manager

Melissa Reid

Regional Cluster Manager

Melissa is an experienced content creator, having started her own business within interior design and UGC content for brands. She came into cyber security to help share cyber security in a new light using her social media expertise. Her role as Cluster Manager entails managing the development of the cluster and cluster activities, including organising YCSC events.

Mike Faulks

Director

Mike Faulks

Director

Michael is a YCSC: South Yorkshire Chapter Lead. CTO and Co-Founder of Ioetec Ltd, Michael is an experienced consultant with over 40 years in the industry specialising in cyber security and embedded computing. After completing a Masters in Cyber Security, Michael joined Sheffield Hallam University as an Associate Lecturer where he taught cryptography and secure system design.

Mike Hudson

Director

Mike Hudson

Director

Mike is the YCSC: East Yorkshire Chapter Lead. With over 20 years in the industry, Mike is an experienced Cyber Security Manager at Arco and a Cyber First Schools ambassador. Mike has a keen passion for application and web development technologies, and is always learning new technologies and languages. ry

Neil Richardson

South Yorkshire Chapter

Neil Richardson

South Yorkshire Chapter

Neil is the co-founder and partner of Cyber Alchemy LTD and an associate lecturer in the computing department at both Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Warwick. His main teaching focus includes Computer Security, more specifically Ethical Hacking. Neil co-created and co-organises Steelcon and runs the Sheffield OWASP chapter.

Paul Wheway

South Yorkshire Chapter

Paul Wheway

South Yorkshire Chapter

Paul was a full time lecturer in Cyber Security and Computer Networks for 20+ years at Sheffield Hallam University up until March 2022, managing academic staff, a strong portfolio of Degree Programmes, and establishing certification by the NCSC for the Masters Degree in Cyber Security. Since then his main interest has been establishing a secure river water quality data analytic system, as a co-founder of AquaSensor Limited, in order to be a key part of solving the current water pollution crisis. He is working with Sheffield Hallam University students in generating secure live water quality data for their projects, and his passion in cyber security continues in this endeavour.

Sarah Holtshousen

Sponsorship Acquisition

Sarah Holtshousen

Sponsorship Acquisition

Sarah spent 12 years of her professional career in digital marketing and advertising strategy, before pursuing further higher education. After achieving a First-Class degree in Cyberpsychology from the University of Central Lancashire, she is actively involved in helping grow the YCSC.

Dr. Shahrzad Zargari

Director

Dr. Shahrzad Zargari

Director

Shahrzad is a YCSC: South Yorkshire Chapter Lead. Principal Lecturer and Subject Group Lead in Cyber Security & Forensics at Sheffield Hallam University, Shahrzad is part of the UKC3 skills working group and passionate about teaching cyber security to the next generation.

Tharmini Janarthanan

South Yorkshire Chapter

Tharmini Janarthanan

South Yorkshire Chapter

Tharmini is a cybersecurity expert with over five years of experience, specialising in risk management and regulatory compliance in the financial sector. As a lecturer, she brings valuable industry insights and actively contributes to research in digital forensics. She has developed security policies, conducted risk assessments, and advised stakeholders on significant initiatives. A strong advocate for women in STEM, she leads CyberWomen@SHU and is a CIISec and BCS South Yorkshire member.

Tim Ripper

East Yorkshire Chapter

Tim Ripper

East Yorkshire Chapter

As Account Director at ITogether, Tim specialises in Cyber Security solutions across multiple industry sectors. Tim is passionate about promoting Yorkshire as a cyber hub, blending his industry expertise with his dedication to cyber resilience.

Anya Bridges

Mark Cross

Melanie Oldham OBE

Melissa Reid

Mike Faulks

Mike Hudson

Neil Richardson

Paul Wheway

Sarah Holtshousen

Dr. Shahrzad Zargari

Tharmini Janarthanan

Tim Ripper

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