Dr Nisha Rawindaran

Dr Nisha Rawindaran is a cybersecurity academic, researcher and industry practitioner whose work sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, emerging technology, leadership, education and human behaviour. She is a Lecturer in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics at the University of South Wales, where she leads teaching across cybersecurity leadership, digital transformation, legislation, governance and compliance, as well as professional practice and employability. She is also involved in supporting undergraduate and postgraduate students through academic leadership, pastoral support, authentic assessment and industry-informed learning. Nisha’s research focuses on cybersecurity governance, organisational resilience, SME cyber capability, professional judgement and cyber education. Her work includes the development of frameworks and models such as the ROHAN Model, CAP-J, Cyber Guardian Framework and Cyber Hygiene Scorecard, with a particular interest in how people move from awareness and knowledge towards confidence, capability and sound professional judgement. Alongside academia, Nisha brings extensive industry experience through her work with Aytel Systems Ltd, where she has held senior technology and cybersecurity responsibilities, including CISO-level practice. This enables her to take a pracademic approach, connecting academic research and teaching with real organisational cyber challenges, governance requirements, emerging technologies and professional practice.

She is the creator of CyberDocWales, an independent cybersecurity education and research initiative designed to make cyber knowledge more accessible, practical and engaging. CyberDocWales brings together research communication, cyber-awareness activities, educational resources, industry engagement and outreach, helping to translate complex cybersecurity topics into material that can be understood and applied by wider audiences. Nisha is also the creator and author of Byte & Firewall: Be Smart. Be Safe. Be a Cyber Hero!, a cybersecurity education initiative originally developed to introduce younger children to online safety through age-appropriate storytelling. The Byte & Firewall concept has since expanded into interactive cyber-learning activities and Cyber Quest, supporting older school pupils in exploring cybersecurity, digital responsibility and decision-making through play and discussion. Her wider work includes cyber outreach with schools and communities, CyberFirst activity, simulation-based learning, authentic cyber scenarios and the development of educational approaches that recognise cybersecurity as not simply a technical discipline, but a human, ethical, organisational and societal challenge.

Nisha holds a PhD, MSc, BEng, PGCert HE and AAT qualifications, and contributes to the wider professional community through research, publications, conference activity, industry collaboration and public engagement. Across her academic, professional and outreach work, her central aim is to make cybersecurity understandable, inclusive and usable, developing people who are not simply more aware of cyber risk, but more capable of making informed decisions about it.