techUK at RSAC 2026
In March, I had the opportunity to attend the RSA Conference in San Francisco for the first time.
As the largest cyber security conference in the world, I’d tried to gather as much advice as possible on how to make the most of the conference. The general consensus was to sign-up to all the fringe events, spend time on the expo floor and above all else, wear comfortable shoes. It didn’t take me long to realise that last point was the most valuable.
The conference was busier than I could’ve ever imagined. Around 50,000 cyber security professionals descended on downtown San Francisco, turning every bar, restaurant and hotel into a backdrop for conversations around the most pressing issues impacting the sector. It felt fitting for a city already defined by the future of technology with driverless cars becoming the norm and adverts for AI bots on every street corner.
Key takeaways
AI domination
It felt like everyone at the conference had aligned on a single theme. Fringe events, panel discussions and keynotes all centred around the latest approaches to securing AI systems. The majority of companies used the week to launch new AI driven security products or announce new partnerships, which look to accelerate detection and response through automation. The expo floor was the same, with vendors highlighting how their solutions protect AI models and what they’re doing to address the threat and opportunities brought about by agentic AI.
For me, one of the most interesting takeaways was how AI security managed to overshadow other important topics. I had expected to see greater focus on areas such as post-quantum cryptography or the ongoing skills challenge, particularly as the sector looks ahead to future threats. These issues may gain more prominence in future years, but arguably they warrant attention on today’s stage.
UK House
I had the pleasure of attending a number of events at UK House – a hub for UK companies organised by Plexal, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the National Cyber Security Centre. It was great to see so many UK companies at various events, showcasing the very best of UK innovation. This was topped off with Geordie.AI winning RSAC’s Innovation Sandbox competition.
Right room, right time
RSA felt like the place where many of the most important industry conversations were taking place. The largest companies hosted meetings and events in hotel suites, while the C-suite and CISO networking events sold out first. It felt like the real value of the conference came from being in the right room at the right time, using your network to meet potential clients and hearing from experts in the field.
Next steps
We are exploring how techUK could participate in RSAC 2027, which could mark techUK’s first formal delegation to the conference. To help us understand member interest and identify where our efforts could be most valuable, we would welcome your input.
Please could you take a moment to complete this short survey to help us make a decision on our next steps.
Thanks and acknowledgement
I have to give a big thank you to the members who let me pick their brains before and during the conference, your guidance helped me to shape my agenda and ensured I made the most of the week. I would also like to thank Plexal, DSIT and DBT who let me attend many of their events.
Annie Collings
Senior Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
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Meet the team
Jill Broom
Head of Cyber Resilience, techUK
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824
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Annie Collings
Senior Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
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Olivia Staples
Junior Programme Manager - Cyber Resilience, techUK
Olivia Staples joined techUK in May 2025 as a Junior Programme Manager in the Cyber Resilience team.
She supports the programs mission to promote cyber resilience by engaging key commercial and government stakeholders to shape the cyber resilience policy towards increased security and industry growth. Olivia assists in member engagement, event facilitation and communications support.
Before joining techUK, Olivia gained experience in research, advocacy, and strategic communications across several international organisations. At the Munich Security Conference, she supported stakeholder engagement and contributed to strategic communications. She also worked closely with local and national government stakeholders in Spain and Italy, where she was involved in policy monitoring and advocacy for both public and private sector clients.
Olivia holds an MSc in Political Science (Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from University College London (UCL).
Outside of tech, Olivia enjoys volunteering with local charities and learning Norwegian.
- Email:
- [email protected]
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