Phil Jackman retires after eight years leading CyberNorth growth

Phil Jackman has retired from his role as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyberNorth after serving the North East cyber security community for eight years.

Jackman, who was instrumental in establishing CyberNorth, is credited with advancing the profile of the region's cyber security sector both nationally and internationally. His departure marks the end of what colleagues described as a significant period of growth and development for the North East cluster.

Longstanding commitment

During his career, Jackman played a central role in connecting industry stakeholders, raising awareness about cyber security opportunities, and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors. His efforts have resulted in the formation of partnerships with major industry players, and he has been a strong advocate for the North East as a centre for cyber expertise and investment.

Jackman's previous experience includes over three decades in IT management across multiple sectors. In 2018, he co-founded CyberNorth, blending a passion for regional development with technical knowledge acquired throughout his career. The organisation received support from the technology network Dynamo during its initial stages.

Recently, CyberNorth announced a partnership with Sage, a FTSE 100 company known for providing accounting, HR, financial and payroll technology to small and mid-sized businesses. This move is intended to leverage the strengths of the North East cyber security community.

Jackman will be succeeded by Danielle Phillips, who takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer, with the remit to build on CyberNorth's current trajectory.

Milestones and initiatives

Under Jackman's leadership, CyberNorth has delivered several initiatives intended to strengthen the region's cyber sector. These include the establishment of CyberFest, the organisation's involvement as a founding member of the UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration, relationships with UK governmental bodies such as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the creation of a Shared Apprenticeship scheme aimed at introducing new talent to the industry, and the launch of two innovation centres.

Jackman also championed the introduction of a unique Shared Apprenticeship model, described by CyberNorth as a global first, to facilitate greater access to careers in the sector.

In recognition of Jackman's contributions, CyberNorth has launched The Jackman Fund. This fund is intended to support young people, career changers, military veterans, and career returners seeking to enter or return to the cyber security workforce. It has already received several thousand pounds in donations.

"Phil's legacy is one we want to remember and as such, we've created The Jackman Fund, a fund that will administer small grants to young people, career changers, veterans and career returners looking to get into cyber security. This fund will be used to give small bursaries to people, whether that be funding certifications or helping to buy a suit for an interview, it's really about giving people their first leg up into the world of cyber security, and this is something very close to Phil's heart."

Since its outset, CyberNorth has built a community supporting around 100 businesses and over 2,000 professionals in the region. The organisation collaborates across sectors including FinTech, Space, Maritime and Defence, and maintains close working relationships with government departments. Recent support from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has further increased the region's profile through campaigns such as 'Influencing the Influencer'.

Tributes from colleagues

"Phil has been the beating heart of CyberNorth for the last 8 years and his reputation in the sector is second to none, it's Phil's ethos, connections and energising spirit that have opened doors for the region, creating a safe, secure and sustainable business model in CyberNorth. As Phil retires, he will be sadly missed, and we absolutely value him from the bottom of our hearts – he was always there whenever anyone needed him and having that bedrock in our community has been so valuable - an array of businesses exists in the cyber security community because he believed in them, he really did have the 'The Jackman effect'."

Jackman recently reflected on his tenure and future plans in a podcast conversation with Danielle Phillips, providing further insight into his perspective on the development of the region's cyber community.