Chief Security Advisor EMEA for Microsoft, Member of the UK Government Cyber Advisory Board & Former Head of Cyber Resilience for Fujitsu
Sarah Armstrong-Smith’s Biography:
Sarah Armstrong-Smith is one of the UK’s leading voices in cyber security and resilience, recognised for her strategic insight and decades of leadership across government and industry. With a career spanning more than 25 years, she has built an international reputation for guiding organisations through crises, strengthening defences, and shaping policy at the highest level. In 2025, she was appointed to the UK Government Cyber Advisory Board within the Cabinet Office, where she advises on national cyber strategy and resilience. Since 2020, up until 2025, she has served as Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, helping business leaders navigate complex digital threats and build sustainable security frameworks.
Before joining Microsoft, Sarah was Group Head of Crisis Management and Resilience at the London Stock Exchange Group, leading global preparedness and response planning. Her earlier career included over a decade at Fujitsu, where she rose from Management Consultant to Distinguished Engineer, later heading Cyber Resilience and Professional Services. Prior to that, she managed technology risk services at EY and held disaster recovery and fraud control roles at AXA, Thames Water and PHH Arval.
Sarah’s board and advisory work reflect her commitment to ethical leadership and social impact. She sits on the Board of Trustees for Hope for Justice and the Slave-Free Alliance, tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, and advises cyber-focused firms e2e-assure Ltd and Vaultree. A passionate advocate for diversity in technology, she also co-chaired the Women’s Business Network at Fujitsu and continues to mentor women in cyber and leadership roles.
She is the author of two books, Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset and Effective Crisis Management, which explore practical strategies for anticipating and managing cyber risk. Her influence and impact have been recognised with nearly 40 awards, including being named among Computer Weekly’s 2025 Most Influential Tech Leaders, Onyxia’s Inspiring Women in Cyber Security, and the 2025 Top Cyber Security Influencers on LinkedIn. Respected for her calm authority, strategic vision and people-first approach, Sarah Armstrong-Smith continues to shape how organisations and governments respond to the evolving cyber landscape.
Why Hire Sarah Armstrong-Smith?
Sarah Armstrong-Smith is hired as a speaker for her ability to make complex subjects like cyber security, resilience, and crisis management clear, engaging, and relevant to any audience. Named a Distinguished Speaker by Microsoft, she draws on more than 25 years of experience advising governments and global enterprises. Her talks combine deep technical knowledge with practical insight, helping organisations strengthen their defences and stay resilient through disruption.
Equally known for her advocacy, Sarah inspires women to pursue STEM careers and leadership roles. Her sessions on women in business and inclusion are both personal and empowering, encouraging workplaces built on equality and belonging. Event organisers value her authority, warmth, and authenticity; she leaves audiences informed, inspired, and ready to act.
Sarah Armstrong-Smith’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key highlights from Sarah Armstrong-Smith’s distinguished career in cybersecurity and resilience:
- 2025 – Appointed to the UK Government Cyber Advisory Board, Cabinet Office, advising on national cyber strategy and resilience.
- 2025 – Named one of Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Tech Leaders and Onyxia’s Inspiring Women in Cyber Security.
- 2020 – Appointed Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading regional strategy on cyber resilience and risk management.
- 2019 – Served as Group Head of Crisis Management & Resilience for the London Stock Exchange Group, directing global response and recovery planning.
- 2017 – Led Cyber Resilience & Professional Services at Fujitsu, strengthening client defences and crisis readiness across critical industries.
- 2016 – Recognised as a Distinguished Engineer at Fujitsu for outstanding technical innovation and leadership in cyber security.
Videos
Sarah Armstrong-Smith’s Official Keynote Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“A huge thank you for today’s session – you were absolutely fantastic. You managed to make cloud security (a topic that usually makes people’s eyes glaze over) sound not just urgent but genuinely engaging. That’s a rarity in this industry, and our audience definitely felt it. I really hope this is the first of many sessions we get to do together. You brought clarity, energy and plenty of aha! moments – and honestly, I’m already trying to figure out how to lure you back for round two. Thanks again for lending us your time and brilliance today. We’d love to collaborate more often – and next time, maybe we’ll even manage to make misconfigurations sound glamorous.” – Supriya, SecPod
“I want to thank you for joining us this morning, especially at such short notice. The content covered in your presentation was absolutely spot on- there were some poignant examples and excellent take-home points. Thank you also for pitching it so eloquently for our sector. Whilst cybersecurity is on the minds of the SLT, I’m still not entirely convinced it’s getting the full attention and investment required and we are keen to make sure those conversations are taking place… thank you from my team and I” – Lisa, Marketing Director, iSAMS
“Just wanted to say a big thank you for your session yesterday – super engaging delivery” – Lindsey, CISO, M&G
“Having Sarah as part of the first UK Cyber Week was an absolute pleasure. Her session was insightful and left a lasting impact on the audience, it was great to have her there!” – Hannah, Roar B2B
“Sarah was very professional and spoke with ease and conviction on IT security and it was evident that she is a subject matter expert. She delivered on the spec that was provided and discussed a detailed insight into her career and the future of the IT sector. She arrived with plenty of time and caught up with the team, then spent a good time afterwards in the networking session talking and I believe enjoying the discussions. Please thank Sarah it was good to meet her and then see her over the weekend on Sky News!” – Gary, Chairman, IWFM
“Thank you for presenting at the National Information Security Conference last week. Your presentation was exceptionally well received, and the feedback has been fantastic – thank you for doing such a sterling job (as always).” – Tina, Marketing Manager, Sapphire
“Sarah was an absolutely fabulous speaker – so interesting and a wealth of knowledge and stayed around afterwards for photos and a chat (I think she was actually last to leave!). I would really recommend her for future speaking jobs.” – Samantha, Leicester Tigers
“Following our event yesterday, I just wanted to ask you to pass on our thanks to both Nikki Dean and Sarah Armstrong-Smith. Our event was a huge success and we are really grateful to Nikki for doing such a great job as our host and to Sarah for her valuable insights as part of our panel of experts. They were both great to work with and their support was really appreciated. Thank you for the introduction to both speakers” – Paula, Events Manager, Buckinghamshire Business First
Topics
Sarah Armstrong-Smith’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Cyber Security
- Inclusion
- Resilience
- Women in Business
- Crisis Management
How Much Does Sarah Armstrong-Smith Cost To Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Sarah Armstrong-Smith?
The cost of hiring Sarah Armstrong-Smith depends on factors such as your event requirements, whether it’s in-person or virtual, and any travel or accommodation needs. To receive an accurate quote, contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.