Panteli Paraskevi (Valina)
Cybersecurity Manager, Security Risk & Architecture BeLux Lead – Accenture NV SA
Paraskevi (Valina) Panteli (1990), Cybersecurity Manager at Accenture, illustrates that the path to IT leadership is rarely linear. With a background in English literature and International Relations, she has successfully pivoted to become a key figure in Belgian cybersecurity governance. She never planned or pictured herself becoming a ‘cybersecurity advocate’. It started simply, by volunteering her time in communities like ECSO, Women4Cyber, BeCode, ECSC, ICC, SheCodes and sharing knowledge later on with younger colleagues, students, during cybersecurity events and conferences, and mentoring colleagues. Over time, those small acts of volunteering grew into a mission that now drives much of what she now does.
Panteli currently leads the Cyber Risk and Architecture practice for Accenture in Belgium and Luxembourg. Her career trajectory began in the European public sector at the European Defence Agency (EDA) and Eurocontrol, experiences that honed her multidisciplinary approach to risk management. These experiences shaped her analytical mindset and built the foundation for her multidisciplinary approach to cybersecurity governance and resilience. Since joining Accenture in 2018, she specializes in cybersecurity compliance, risk management, and data protection. Overcoming early skepticism about her non-technical background, she has established herself as a strategic authority, representing Accenture at the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) and contributing to the Belgian Cybersecurity Coalition.
Her impact is magnified by her community leadership. Panteli founded Women4Cyber Greece, transforming a volunteer effort into a thriving national chapter that promotes female professionals in the sector. Her philosophy centers on bridging the gap between technical ‘bits and bytes’ and strategic governance. Her ambition is to influence how cybersecurity governance evolves across industries, ensuring it is seen as a core business enabler rather than just a compliance checklist. ‘My goal is to contribute to inclusive, future-ready cybersecurity ecosystems that combine public policy, business strategy, and technology’, Paraskevi Panteli states.