Brigitte Heijkoop

Security Specialist at the Dutch Ministry of Defence | Part-time HBO-ICT Student at Fontys University of Applied Sciences | Volunteer in WICCON’s social media and communications team

Brigitte Heijkoop began her career at the Dutch Ministry of Defence as a full-stack software developer, working in a complex environment across backend and frontend development, testing, and data-conscious design. Where she now works as a security specialist. Her background in both software engineering and security gives her a practical perspective on how systems behave in the real world, and how technical decisions influence trust, learning, and safety. She focuses on cybersecurity, privacy, and human-centered security, with a particular interest in translating complex technical and security challenges into responsible, usable solutions. 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.