Over nearly two decades in government, she has helped shape the policies, strategies and crisis responses that underpin the country's approach to cyber security, state threats and national resilience. Yet despite playing a central role in some of the UK's most significant security initiatives, much of her work has remained largely out of the public eye.

Today, as Director for State Threats, Cyber and Technology at the Cabinet Office, Ungoed-Thomas is recognised as one of the most influential figures in UK cyber security and national security policy. Her career journey is equally notable. Beginning in entry-level Civil Service roles, she rose through the ranks to become one of the government's most senior cyber leaders, helping steer policy and decision-making at the highest levels.

Judges say what distinguishes Ungoed-Thomas is not simply the number of major programmes she has led, but the breadth of her impact across government, industry and international partnerships.

Over the course of her career, she has helped shape the UK's £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy, led the development of the country's first Counter State Threats Strategy and co-chaired the National Cyber Advisory Board. She also played a key role in establishing the UK's national cyber incident response capability through the National Cyber Security Centre, helping build the structures that support the country's response to major cyber incidents today.

Her leadership has also been tested during periods of national crisis. Judges highlighted her role in coordinating aspects of the government's response to the WannaCry ransomware attack, one of the most disruptive cyber incidents to affect the UK, as well as her leadership during complex cross-government operations including the evacuation of Afghanistan.

Beyond crisis response, Ungoed-Thomas has been a prominent advocate for long-term resilience, helping strengthen collaboration between government, industry and international allies. Her work on responsible AI governance and cyber security cooperation with Five Eyes partners and European allies was also cited as evidence of her ability to address emerging risks before they become major challenges.

"Gemma was recognised as a standout, nationally influential leader whose strategic impact, crisis leadership and long-term contribution place her at the very top of the field."

Judges described Ungoed-Thomas as a leader whose influence extends far beyond her formal responsibilities with a 17-year track record of shaping national security policy, leading through major crises and building stronger partnerships across sectors as evidence of sustained and meaningful impact.

The judging panel said that few individuals have had a greater influence on the development of the UK's cyber security and national resilience capabilities over the past decade than Ungoed-Thomas. She has been a trusted and highly respected leader whose work has helped strengthen the UK's security posture while creating lasting benefits for citizens, businesses and public institutions.