CYBERWISE 2026: Promoting Cybersecurity Awareness and Digital Responsibility Across the University Centre Community
The Office of the University Chief Information Officer (OUCIO) held its annual Cybersecurity Awareness Session on October 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Eon Nigel Harris Council Room under the theme of Entering a New Threat Landscape with AI... "One Click Can Stop an Organisation". The session brought together members of the University Centre community to discuss cybersecurity threats, strengthen digital safety practices, and promote greater awareness of emerging risks associated with evolving technologies.
Members of the audience at CyberWise 2026
The event formed part of the University’s Cybersecurity Awareness campaign. The campaign sought to encourage staff to adopt safer digital habits and take an active role in protecting personal and institutional information.
Brigitte Collins, University Chief Information Officer
The programme opened with remarks from Locksley James, followed by a brief message from Brigitte Collins, the University Chief Information Officer, and a special message from Kristerbella Sookdeo, a representative of Fujitsu Caribbean, one of the campaign’s sponsors. Ms Sookdeo highlighted the evolving cybersecurity landscape, drawing attention to growing threats from phishing, text-message scams, and other cyberattacks. She emphasised that human behaviour remains a significant cybersecurity risk and reinforced the importance of individual responsibility and adopting a “Think Before You Click” approach to staying safe online.
Building a Security-Conscious University Community
The campaign addressed several important areas of cybersecurity, including password security, AI-powered attacks and Business Email Compromise, ransomware, Generative AI threats, data classification, data protection, secure remote and hybrid working, travel and conference security, and incident reporting. Presentations involved several members of the OUCIO team.
Richelle Williams, Programmer Analyst
Darien Nairne-Powell, Systems Analyst
Howard Smith, Senior IT Officer - ICT Policy
Damelia Coleman, Programmer Analyst
Locksley James, Senior IT Officer - Cybersecurity
Derval Dally, University Webmaster
Nigel Leitch, IT Officer - Business Intelligence
Javier Bailey, IT Officer - M365 Administrator
The session incorporated interactive activities to assist participants in engaging with cybersecurity concepts beyond the presentations. A live encryption demonstration brought the concept of secure communication to life, with four audience volunteers taking part in an exercise that illustrated how messages can be encoded and subsequently decrypted. The activity provided a practical introduction to how information can be transformed to support secure communication.
Members of the audience partaking in the live demonstration of the Encryption Game.
Exploring Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Threats
The increasing influence of artificial intelligence on the digital environment: the session examined its implications for cybersecurity.
The discussions highlighted that AI is being used by threat actors to generate voices, images, and videos for impersonation scams and other deceptive activities. Participants were encouraged to verify unusual requests through trusted communication channels, particularly when sensitive information or financial transactions are involved.
Making Cybersecurity Practical
Additional discussions explored password security, virtual private networks (VPNs), data privacy, and the risks associated with sharing sensitive information online. Participants were reminded to exercise caution when accessing information remotely and when using online digital services.
The presentation also highlighted the importance of promptly reporting suspected cybersecurity incidents. Participants were encouraged to report concerns such as phishing attempts, compromised accounts, and lost or stolen devices as soon as possible. Timely reporting allows the appropriate university personnel to investigate incidents and take steps to minimise potential damage.
Encouraging Participation Through Interactive Challenges
To reinforce the information presented, participants took part in two quizzes covering general cybersecurity awareness and Generative AI. The quizzes tested their understanding of key concepts discussed during the session, with prizes awarded to the top performers. The AI quiz challenged participants to distinguish between authentic content and material generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence. The activity encouraged attendees to think critically about the images and other digital content they encounter.
These activities reinforced the importance of critical thinking and verification in an environment where digital content can appear convincing, even when it is misleading or fabricated.
General Quiz 1st place winner, Tashika Taylor (left) awarded by Locksley James (right)
General Quiz 2nd place winner, Samorae Campbell (left) awarded by Richelle Williams (right)
General Quiz 3rd place winner, Mia McMorris (left) awarded by Darien Nairne-Powell (right)
AI Quiz Top Performer, Mykelow Thompson (left), awarded by Chavon Forrester (right)
Tokens provided by the campaign’s sponsors, including Fujitsu Caribbean, SoftwareONE, Fortinet, and LVW Electronics Systems INC., were also distributed among participants and members of the audience in recognition of their involvement. Through the OUCIO’s annual Cybersecurity Awareness Session and ongoing engagement activities, the OUCIO continues to promote a culture of proper digital hygiene across the university. By equipping staff with practical knowledge and encouraging vigilance, the initiative reinforces the importance of individual actions in safeguarding the university’s information, systems, and digital resources.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, staying safe online takes a shared commitment that goes beyond a single event. CyberWise 2026 may be over, but every strong password, every suspicious email reported, and every software patch installed helps protect our colleagues, our students, and the University.
So, as you return to your day, ask yourself: What are you doing to stay cyber safe?
