Speakers
Synopsis
Women have played an outsized role in espionage and tech evolving towards cyber, but their history has largely been sidelined. Relevant artefacts from women operatives are exceptionally rare. As a collector / curator Mike Pritchard had been wanting to correct this narrative by acquiring items from female spies and technologists - as of 2024, the collection is ready.
In this talk Vannessa Van Beek will lead a talk about women agents and technical operators who were pioneers in their time. Some are incredible role models, and others anti-heroes - because our opponents also made extensive and successful use of women agents through to the digital era.
We'll look at the artefacts and stories of women agents from the 19th century through Mata Hari in WW1. Then WWII's amazing codebreaking staff, Special Operations Executive and Resistance fighters of occupied France, and the entertainers helping the war effort. Finally, digital-enabled Russian and Cuban agents, before finishing with the incredible Grace Hopper - a computing pioneer who served the US Navy for over 40 years.
This talk is a tribute to the incredible women that have contributed to the history of modern threats - from espionage to cyber and climate change.
