New Appointment: Elliott Atkins – Professor of Practice in Applied Computing
Celebrating a New Appointment:
Elliott Atkins joins UWTSD as Professor of Practice in Applied Computing
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Elliott Atkins as a new Professor of Practice within the Applied Computing Academic Discipline at the University. This distinguished role recognises Elliott’s exceptional professional achievements and industry expertise he brings to our university community.
Speaking after his appointment, Elliott said “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. I’m really looking forward to sharing real-world insights and experience with students, early-career academics and staff, as well as contributing to curriculum development across the Applied Computing, Cyber Security, and Digital Forensics programmes.”
With a career spanning nearly three decades at the forefront of global cyber security, incident response, and national digital resilience, Elliott’s appointment strengthens and will further enhance real‑world industry learning experiences for our students.
A Leader in National Cyber Security:
Elliott is an internationally recognised leader in the field of cyber security. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held several high-profile positions central to the UK’s national cyber resilience, including:
- Managing Director of Exercise3: an NCSC‑assured provider of realistic cyber incident exercises, founded by Elliott in 2014 to prepare organisations for complex cyber crises using highly accurate scenario‑based training.
- Head of the UK Government’s Computer Emergency Response Team (GovCertUK) at GCHQ, leading 24×7 national incident response operations.
- Head of Cyber Intelligence at QinetiQ, contributing to defence and national security innovation.
- Head of Incident Response at Nominet, the UK’s top‑level domain registry, overseeing the protection of critical national internet infrastructure.
Elliott’s influence also extends internationally, as he serves as the UK liaison member of FIRST, the global forum for incident response teams, helping shape standards and collaboration across more than 800 CSIRTs worldwide.
Royal Appointment: CISO to the Royal Household:
A unique highlight in Elliott’s career is his appointment by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal Household’s first Chief Information Security Officer in 2021. This role was created as part of a heightened national effort to strengthen the monarchy’s cyber security posture against increasingly sophisticated threats. His appointment was a key step in safeguarding sensitive digital assets across the Royal Household.
Honours, Fellowships, and Industry Recognition:
Elliott is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a recognition of his sustained contribution to the advancement of cyber security practice.
He also has a long record of community and charitable leadership. Outside the digital realm, Elliott is passionate about aviation heritage and serves as Chair of Trustees of the Panavia Tornado Preservation Group, a charity dedicated to preserving the iconic Tornado aircraft and inspiring future generations of engineers and aviators.
Elliott’s commitment to developing cyber resilience and technical capability aligns strongly with UWTSD’s mission to prepare graduates for critical roles in an increasingly digital world.
A Transformative Contribution to UWTSD:
As a Professor of Practice, Elliott will play a significant role in enhancing the Applied Computing provision at the university. He brings world‑leading expertise and will help support our programmes in cyber security, digital forensics, and incident response. This is an extraordinary opportunity for students, staff, and partners alike to engage with one of the UK’s most experienced practitioner‑leaders in cyber security.
With gratitude, we warmly welcome Elliott to the university and look forward to the contribution he will bring to our community.
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UWTSD Applied Computing Blog 