APU cybersecurity academic Asst Prof Dr Vinesha Selvarajah receives two major regional honours, recognising a career built not only on technical expertise and leadership, but also on creating opportunities for students and women in cybersecurity.

When Asst Prof Dr Vinesha Selvarajah learnt that she had been named Top Woman in Security in Malaysia, the recognition was already deeply meaningful. Then came another announcement: she had also been selected as Top Woman in Security in the ASEAN Region.

For the Assistant Professor of Cyber Security & Forensics at the School of Technology (SoT), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), the double honour announced on 30 September 2026 was more than a professional milestone.

“The award carries my name, but I see it as recognition of a much bigger journey,” she reflected, dedicating the achievement to the students she has taught, colleagues and industry partners who supported her ideas, and women who placed their trust in communities she helped build.

Emerging as one of four Malaysian nominees among 12 finalists, Dr Vinesha received the prestigious Top Woman in Security ASEAN Region and Top Woman in Security Malaysia awards in recognition of her contribution as a cybersecurity strategic leader, industry advocate and technology strategist.

The official award ceremony will be held in Singapore in February 2027.

From student to cybersecurity leader

Organised by MySecurity Media, the Top Women in Security ASEAN Region Awards are part of a global campaign initiated by the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA). 

Bringing together professional women in security communities across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia, the initiative celebrates women making meaningful contributions to the security profession.

For Dr Vinesha, the recognition represents another chapter in a journey that has taken her full circle.

She began as a student at APU before continuing her studies at Kyushu University in Japan and completing her PhD at Monash University. Eventually, she returned to academia with a clear motivation: to give back through education.

A major turning point came when she realised her influence did not have to stop at the classroom door.

She began moving beyond teaching individual modules to developing programmes, building industry partnerships, creating professional training opportunities and helping students gain exposure to the realities of the cybersecurity profession.

“A good lecture can influence a classroom. But a strong programme, a strong partnership and a strong community can influence thousands of lives,” she said. 

Today, Dr Vinesha serves as APU’s Industry Liaison Head of Technology as well as Cyber Security Programme Leader, leading initiatives that strengthen cybersecurity education while fostering partnerships with industry, government agencies and professional bodies.

Her work encompasses curriculum innovation, professional certification initiatives and industry collaboration, all directed towards developing cybersecurity graduates who are prepared for a field that evolves almost by the day.

That same philosophy applies to her own development. Around the time of receiving the awards, Dr Vinesha also passed the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) examination, reinforcing her belief that leadership should never become a reason to stop learning. Cybersecurity changes constantly, she said, making continuous learning a responsibility rather than an option.

Making the table bigger

Her journey, however, has not been without challenges.

Working in a traditionally male-dominated field meant there were occasions when her ideas were questioned and her authority tested. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Dr Vinesha concentrated on what she could control: the quality of her work, the consistency of her leadership and the impact she created.

She also became increasingly aware of the comparatively small number of women entering cybersecurity.

Instead of simply discussing the gender gap, she decided to act.

That conviction eventually contributed to the founding of ASIGWISE, a community through which women and girls can find mentors, build confidence, gain industry exposure and develop their voices in cybersecurity.

“I did not want my journey to end with me simply finding my own seat at the table. I wanted to make the table bigger,” she explained.

It is a philosophy that reflects how she now views success: not simply as personal advancement, but as the ability to create pathways for others.

The work behind the recognition

Away from award ceremonies, Dr Vinesha’s working days are far less glamorous.

They can involve teaching, research supervision, professional training, programme leadership and meetings with industry partners. Behind visible achievements lie months of partnership negotiations, sponsorship discussions, accreditation preparation, programme development and mentoring.

Outside the university, she is also a daughter, wife and mother of two — roles that, she says, keep her grounded.

Motherhood, in particular, has profoundly shaped her outlook on life. Through her children, she has discovered a different kind of strength, one built on patience, resilience and unconditional love. They have also deepened her understanding of success, reminding her that what matters is not merely what she achieves professionally, but the example she sets, the values she instils and the legacy she leaves behind. Above all, her children inspire her to keep learning, push boundaries and help build a better future for the next generation.

It is this sense of purpose, both as a mother and a professional, that sustains her through demanding times. She draws strength from what she calls her “three Ps”: Purpose, Perseverance and Passion.

Her family has also profoundly shaped that determination. She continues to carry the lessons of her late mother and the constant encouragement of her father, including a phrase that remains with her: “Enough is never enough, and the sky is never the limit.”

For Dr Vinesha, therefore, the two awards are not an ending. They provide a larger platform from which to encourage the next generation, particularly young women, to see cybersecurity as far more than a technical career.

It is a field, she stresses, where they can innovate, conduct research, build businesses, lead organisations and shape the future of digital security.

And her message to them is simple:

“You belong in the room. You deserve a seat at the table. And when you get there, don’t forget to bring someone else with you.”

Ultimately, Dr Vinesha hopes to be remembered not merely for awards or positions, but for the doors she opened and the people she helped along the way.

As she puts it, success is “not how high you climb, but how many people can climb because you were there.”