Nihel Ben Youssef Puts Tunisia on the Global Cybersecurity Map

Tunisian academic and cybersecurity expert Nihel Ben Youssef has been named Cybersecurity Woman of the Year 2026 in the Volunteer category, marking a major international recognition for Tunisia’s digital talent.

The award ceremony took place on July 1, 2026, in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and was attended by Hubert Büchel, Liechtenstein’s Minister of Home Affairs, Economic Affairs and Sport.

The 2026 edition drew a record number of applications. The United Cybersecurity Alliance, which presents the annual award to highlight women making an impact in cybersecurity worldwide, received 4,980 applications from 70 countries.

Ben Youssef’s award recognizes more than 15 years of volunteer work supporting Tunisia’s digital ecosystem. A teacher-researcher, she is the co-founder and mentor of SecuriNets, the first cybersecurity club created in Tunisia.

She also leads the Tunisian chapter of OWASP, the Open Worldwide Application Security Project, and serves as Industry Ambassador within IEEE’s Tunisia section.

Through these roles, Ben Youssef has worked for years to promote cybersecurity in Tunisia, support young talent in the sector, and strengthen the country’s community of experts in this increasingly strategic field.