Brigitte Heijkoop

Full-Stack Software Developer at the Dutch Ministry of Defence | Part-time HBO-ICT Student at Fontys University of Applied Sciences | Focused on Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Human-Centered Security

Brigitte Heijkoop is a full-stack software developer at the Dutch Ministry of Defence, with a growing focus on cybersecurity, privacy, and human-centered security. In a high-security environment, she works across backend and frontend development, testing, and data-conscious design to build secure and reliable systems. Her work connects engineering, ethics, and user behavior, with particular attention to how technical choices influence trust, learning, and safety. She specializes in turning complex technical and security requirements into solutions that are effective in practice, privacy-conscious by design, and grounded in responsible decision-making. Outside her day-to-day work, she volunteers in WICCON’s social media and communications team, helping amplify women in cybersecurity and strengthen the community around the conference.