Olga Forné Honoured as World’s Top Cybersecurity Leader
Olga Forné, Global Chief Information Security Officer (Global CISO) at infrastructure group Abertis, has been awarded the Global CISO of the Year 2026 prize at the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress (BCC). The award was presented on Thursday 5th November at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, during a gala ceremony co-organised by Fira de Barcelona and the Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia. Forné received the top honour in recognition of her role in transforming information security at Abertis from a technical support function into a strategic, cross-cutting department central to the company’s global operations. The award underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity as a core business priority in critical infrastructure sectors.
Global Recognition Amid High-Level Competition
The Global CISO of the Year Award is part of the CISO Leadership Awards, which this year featured 28 finalists across seven categories. Forné was selected ahead of other high-profile candidates, including cybersecurity leaders from Puig, Grupo Argal, Interpol, and Swiss media group CH Media.
The recognition reflects not only personal achievement but the collective effort to embed cybersecurity at the highest levels of corporate governance.
The awards ceremony took place alongside the Smart City Expo World Congress, reinforcing Barcelona’s role as a hub for digital innovation and security policy. The BCC itself runs until Monday 9th November, focusing this year on emerging challenges including artificial intelligence and operational technology (OT) protection.
Other Key Winners in 2026 CISO Leadership Awards
- Next-Generation Cyber Defense & Innovation Award: María Luisa Redondo Velázquez (TK Elevator), for developing advanced models to anticipate emerging cyber threats.
- Women in Cybersecurity Leadership Award: Connie McIntosh (Ericsson), recognised for her transformative industry leadership.
- Public Sector Cybersecurity: David Esteban (Barcelona City Council), for strengthening digital defences in local government.
- OT Protection Innovation: Jorge Jiménez (Schneider Electric), for safeguarding industrial control systems.
- Talent and Digital Awareness: Farell Folly (TÜV-SÜD), for promoting cybersecurity education and workforce development.
- Honorary Career Recognition: Jody Blanchard (Werfen), for lifelong contributions to the field of digital security.
The full list of winners and finalists is available on the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress website.
Sources: CatalunyaPress, firabarcelona.com.
