Jenny Radcliffe

Jenny Radcliffe is one of the world’s most respected social engineering experts, widely recognised as “The People Hacker”. An ethical hacker with first-hand experience of the hacking scene, Jenny specialises in exposing the human vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit. Her unique ability to demonstrate how manipulation, persuasion and trust can be used to gain access to information has made her a highly sought-after keynote speaker for organisations worldwide. Having delivered talks for TEDx, Channel 4, Cisco, NTT, Trend Micro, ISC2, Cyber Security Week and numerous global security conferences, Jenny combines real-world expertise with engaging storytelling to help audiences better understand the human side of cyber security.

Jenny’s career began in training, consultancy and behavioural influence, leading her to establish Radcliffe Training Associates in 2010. As her expertise in social engineering grew, she was appointed Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Management School in 2013, where she taught negotiation, communication, influence and persuasion. She went on to found Human Factor Security in 2014 as Director of Social Engineering before becoming CEO in 2016. Throughout her career, Jenny has worked with organisations across multiple sectors, helping them identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their security culture through practical, people-focused approaches.

A recognised authority in her field, Jenny has received numerous accolades throughout her career. She was inducted into the prestigious InfoSec Hall of Fame in 2022 and was named among SC Magazine’s Top 30 Female Cyber Security Leaders the same year. Her best-selling book, ‘People Hacker – Confessions of a Burglar for Hire’, was published in 2022 and is set to be adapted into a major television series. Jenny is also the host of the award-winning podcast ‘The Human Factor’, which won Best Security Podcast at the European Blogger Awards and later received the Security Serious Award for Most Educational Security Blog.

Known affectionately throughout the industry as the “Godmother of Security”, Jenny is renowned for making complex cyber security concepts accessible and memorable. In 2023, she was appointed Scams and Security Expert on ITV’s This Morning, further expanding her public profile. She also gained mainstream recognition as the HQ Hunter in Channel 4’s HUNTED. Through her media appearances, consultancy work and speaking engagements, Jenny continues to champion greater awareness of human-centred security risks and the importance of resilience in an increasingly connected world.

Jenny delivers captivating presentations that reveal how cyber attacks often exploit people rather than technology. Drawing on years of practical experience in social engineering, she shares real-world stories that demonstrate the psychology behind manipulation, deception and security breaches. Her TEDx talks, including ‘Truth, Lies and Light’ and ‘Surrounded by Lies (But Never Happier)’, showcase her ability to engage audiences while delivering valuable insights. Combining humour, practical advice and compelling case studies, Jenny equips organisations with the knowledge needed to strengthen security awareness and reduce human risk.

Here are some of the key milestones that define Jenny Radcliffe’s remarkable career:

  • 2023 – Appointed Scams and Security Expert on ITV’s This Morning, providing expert commentary on cyber security and fraud.
  • 2022 – Inducted into the prestigious InfoSec Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to cyber security.
  • 2022 – Published the best-selling book ‘People Hacker – Confessions of a Burglar for Hire’, later earmarked for television adaptation.
  • 2022 – Named one of SC Magazine’s Top 30 Female Cyber Security Leaders.
  • 2021 – Nominated in seven categories at the Security Serious Awards, including the “Godmother of Security” award.
  • 2020 – Won the Security Serious Award for Most Educational Security Blog through The Human Factor platform.
  • 2020 – Recognised as one of the Top 25 Women in Cyber by IT Security Guru.
  • 2016 – Became CEO of Human Factor Security and launched ‘The Human Factor’ podcast.
  • 2013 – Appointed Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Management School, specialising in influence, negotiation and communication.

“Jenny presented at One Identity’s global user and partner conference earlier this year in Budapest. From the moment she stepped on stage, Jenny had the audience in the palm of her hand. Her subject, “The Human Factor”, is always one to make people think and the way it was delivered took them on a journey of just what goes on in the industry. The delivery was fast-paced and fun but delivered a serious message. A very professional and slick presenter that I would recommend to anyone looking to book something a little different. Thank you Jenny!” – Patrick, Sales Engineering Senior Director, One Identity

“Jenny is one of my favorite people. We had a chance to meet at a conference recently where we were both speakers. There are a few social engineering / human hacking experts and Jenny is clearly one of the best. We got along great. I think. Maybe that was all part of the plan. Guess we will never know.” – Bryan, Ethical Hacker

“If you want to know about social engineering, people-hacking and security there are lots of people that talk about that stuff. If you want to know about social engineering, human-hacking and security and have the subject come alive for you then Jenny Radcliffe is the person you need to talk to. Scary smart, deep knowledge, engaging, witty and Scouse-funny. Highly recommended.” – 
Ross, Chief Strategy Officer at Ever Wonder, Co-Founder at Valuementor and Owner & Principal at rossmackenzie.net