Member of the month Ms. Josephine Knowles | Championing the Human Firewall and Integrating Security with Digital Transformation

We are delighted to feature Ms. Josephine Knowles as HKCNSA’s Member of the Month for August. She is a certified SANS Security Awareness Professional and a digital transformation leader at CLP, Josephine brings a unique blend of expertise in organisational behaviour, communications, and cybersecurity. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Global Supply Chain Management and now plays an integral role in strengthening both physical and cyber resilience at one of Hong Kong’s most critical energy providers.

Expanding Professional Expertise through HKCNSA

Josephine credits HKCNSA with significantly enhancing her professional capabilities, noting that through her involvement with the association, she has "had the opportunity to connect with a diverse network of security professionals." These connections have proven invaluable, as they "deepen my knowledge across various domains within cybersecurity while keeping current in the field." She emphasizes that "through regular exchanges of insights with fellow experts, I am able to apply newly acquired skills effectively in my professional role" at CLP.

Perspective on the Critical Infrastructure Ordinance

Regarding Hong Kong's upcoming Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance, Josephine views it as "a significant step towards enhancing cybersecurity resilience in Hong Kong." She believes the legislation greatly enhances the awareness of organisations in safeguarding themselves against cyber threats and predicts that more organisations will take proactive measures in strengthening their security measures as a result.

Communications: The Key to the Human Firewall

Josephine emphasizes that "security awareness is a critical aspect of any effective cybersecurity strategy," noting that "employees play a critical role in maintaining robust cybersecurity." She stresses that "it is crucial to not only implement advanced technology but also strengthen the 'human firewall', since people are often the primary attack vector for cyber threat actors around the world."

She identifies a common challenge in security awareness initiatives: "The messages can often be overly technical, dull, and not easily understandable to all users." To address this, she advocates for "ensuring that messaging, training, communication channels, and education are clear, concise, and engaging." Most importantly, Josephine emphasizes that "to build a strong cybersecurity culture, we have to first make it relevant to our audience."

A Vision for a Cyber-Resilient Future

Through her involvement with HKCNSA and her work at CLP, Josephine continues to advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and user-centered communication in cybersecurity. Her efforts highlight how combining technical expertise with strategic messaging can build lasting resilience in an increasingly digital world.

HKCNSA is pleased to recognize Ms. Josephine's contributions and looks forward to her continued impact within the community.