ISC2 Appoints Brionne Dawson as Executive Vice President for Advocacy

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Sep 28, 2026, 09:00 ET

New advocacy leader will ensure cybersecurity professionals have a strong voice in policy discussions shaping AI adoption, cyber resilience and workforce development

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ISC2 – the world's leading nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals – today announced the appointment of Brionne Dawson as Executive Vice President for Advocacy. Dawson will lead ISC2's global advocacy efforts, strengthening engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, members and partners. She also will guide ISC2 strategy to advance the cybersecurity profession by helping to shape the policy environment for a safe, resilient and inclusive digital economy.

"Cybersecurity professionals are on the front lines of protecting our economies, communities and daily lives, yet their perspectives are not always reflected in the policies that shape their work," said Scott Beale, CEO, ISC2. "Brionne understands how to bring people together across government, industry and partner ecosystems, and her leadership will help ISC2 advocate for the policies and partnerships needed to grow, support and strengthen the global cybersecurity workforce."

This position is particularly important as government, industry and the workforce debate how to keep society safe from the cyber risks of AI.

Beale added, "AI safety promises are only as strong as our ability to put them into practice. Cybersecurity professionals are essential to testing, securing and monitoring these systems, and they need a stronger voice in the decisions shaping how AI is built and deployed."

Dawson brings more than two decades of experience across technology policy, government affairs, international relations and commercial diplomacy at a time when policymakers are increasingly focused on strengthening cyber resilience, addressing the cybersecurity skills gap and ensuring the profession has a voice in decisions shaping AI, digital trust and the future of secure innovation. She joins ISC2 from Google, where she led international government affairs for emerging markets across more than 120 countries and later served as Head of Middle East and Africa. Her work included artificial intelligence policy and adoption, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital trade, cross-border data flows and digital infrastructure.

"As AI reshapes our economies and societies, the professionals responsible for securing these systems must have a seat at the table when the rules governing them are written," said Dawson. "I'm excited to help bring the cybersecurity workforce's expertise into closer dialogue with government and industry—and to build the skills, institutional capacity and trust needed to ensure technological progress creates opportunity and security for all."

At ISC2, Dawson will serve on the Executive Leadership Team and report directly to the CEO. Her work will focus on advancing practical pathways into cybersecurity, promoting globally recognized skills-based credentials, supporting continuous professional growth and ensuring policy reflects the realities of the people doing the work to build a safe and secure world. She will be an advocate for the workforce to governments worldwide and cybersecurity employers. Dawson will bring cybersecurity practitioners' perspectives into policy discussions on securing AI systems, defending against AI-enabled threats and equipping cybersecurity professionals to turn AI governance principles into everyday practice.

Earlier in her career, Dawson served as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and as Senior Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center. She also held leadership roles at USAID and the National Democratic Institute, building partnerships across government, industry, international institutions and civil society.

Dawson serves on the Advisory Board of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is a Fellow of the International Career Advancement Program, and she was named by New America among 35 Black American experts in U.S. national security and foreign policy.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in International Business from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Dawson also holds certifications in AI governance and agentic AI, including from Harvard University and the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

About ISC2
ISC2 is the world's leading member organisation for cybersecurity professionals, driven by our vision of a safe and secure cyber world. Our more than 270,000 certified members, and associates, are a force for good, safeguarding the way we live. Our award-winning certifications – including cybersecurity's premier certification, the CISSP® – enable professionals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities at every stage of their careers. ISC2 strengthens the influence, diversity and vitality of the cybersecurity profession through advocacy, expertise and workforce empowerment that accelerates cyber safety and security in an interconnected world. Our charitable foundation, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, helps create more access to cyber careers and educates those most vulnerable. Learn more, get involved or become an ISC2 Candidate to build your cyber career at ISC2.org. Connect with us on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Jarred LeFebvre
Senior Director, Global Communications
ISC2
[email protected]

SOURCE ISC2