Lianne Potter

Award-Winning Digital and Cyber Anthropologist, Cybersecurity Operations and Technology Leader, Podcast Host @ Compromising Positions at Compromising Positions

When you follow the cables, behind every piece of tech is a person, consumer and creator, and we should never lose sight of this.

Lianne is an award-winning digital anthropologist and technologists specialising in software engineering, cybersecurity and AI. Lianne’s speaking specialism is to deliver talks that not only challenge audiences, but change them.

She provides strategic consultancy to help organisations build and transform security operations into resilient, forward-thinking teams. As former Head of SecOps for Europe’s largest greenfield technology transformation, she established a cutting-edge security function that set new industry benchmarks through innovation and collaboration.
An international keynote speaker, Lianne bridges cybersecurity, technology, and anthropology, drawing on her experience as both a security-focused software developer and practicing anthropologist. Currently pursuing an MSc in AI and Data Science, her research focuses on AI safety, alignment, and the societal implications of emerging technologies.

Recognised with accolades including Security Specialist of the Year and Cybersecurity Personality of the Year, she also champions diversity and inclusion in tech through community initiatives, publications, and her award-winning podcast Compromising Positions. Each week, she interviews experts from anthropology, psychology, and behavioural science to explore how human culture shapes cybersecurity. The show has become a platform for challenging assumptions, amplifying diverse voices, and reframing security as a deeply human issue rather than a purely technical one.

Publications include:

* The Times
* Raconteur
* Computing.com
* The Yorkshire Post
* Security Magazine
* IT Pro
* EmTech Anthropology Careers at the Frontier (Book)

Recent awards and honours include:

* Podcast Newcomer – 2024 European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards
* Cybersecurity Personality of the Year 2023 – The Real Cyber Awards
* Security Woman of the Year – Computing Security Excellence Awards 2023 (Highly Commended)
* 40 Under 40 in Cybersecurity – Cybersecurity Magazine
* Security Leader of The Year 2021 – Women in Tech Excellence
* Woman of the Year 2021 – Women in Tech Excellence
* Security Specialist of the Year 2021 – Computing.com