NEWS: Spotlight on UC Security Leaders – Excerpt From the 2024 Cyber Risk Program Annual Report

This story, and associated stories, appear in the 2024 Cyber Risk Program Annual Report. Read the report in its entirety here: https://security.ucop.edu/files/documents/2024-annual-report.pdf

In the recently published Cyber Risk Program Annual Report, we spotlighted two UC security leaders who were ORBIE (Outstanding Recognition of Business Excellence) Award Finalists last October – April Sather and Allison Henry, two extraordinary women committed to making UC a safer place to work, study, and do research. The ORBIE Awards honors CISOs who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.

 Take a minute to learn more about these exceptional UC CISOs.

April Sather, CISO, Office of the President
NOMINATED IN THE ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

Career: April spent her early career in various positions at Deloitte, Sun, Computer Sciences Corporation, and First West Credit Union before serving as Chief Information Security Officer and Director, Innovation, Architecture, and Security Services at Pacific Blue Cross. In 2019, April joined UC Irvine as Assistant CISO before becoming CISO at the Office of the President in 2022.

Education: April earned her MBA from UC Irvine and her Bachelor of Information Technology & Commerce from Bond University, Australia.

Favorite Thing About Being a CISO: “Building and executing strategy in the critical space of cybersecurity is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy the fast pace and working with teams to implement processes and technologies that reduce risk. Being a CISO allows me to build trust across the organization and position security as an enabler of mission and innovation, not a blocker.”

Favorite Things to Do Outside of Work: “Travel and adventures with my family are at the top of my list. I also love exploring new cuisines and food experiences, replicating these at home with varying levels of success.”

The most challenging part of being a CISO is there are no guarantees. Answering, ‘Are we secure?’ is tough, no matter the  investment or talent. Staying ahead of threat actors is always challenging, especially with the rise of AI and advanced computing.

APRIL SATHER, CISO, Office of the President

Allison Henry, CISO, UC Berkeley
NOMINATED IN THE LARGE ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

Career: Allison started her information technology career as a system administrator at UC Santa Cruz. In 2004, she joined Communications and Network Services at UC Berkeley, pivoting to information security in 2006. In 2013, Allison started managing the Security Operations team. In 2018, she served as Associate CISO before assuming the role of CISO in December 2019.

Education: Allison graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology in 1996.

Favorite Thing About Being a CISO: “It’s a rewarding career that offers daily challenges, a meaningful purpose, and authentic human connection.”

Favorite Things to Do Outside of Work: “In addition to information technology and security, I have a passion for the study of optimizing human performance through fitness and nutrition. I enjoy endurance athletics, including running and cycling.”

Learn more about UC cybersecurity

Please note: The Cyber-risk Coordination Center (C3) is now UC Digital Risk and Security. This change reflects our focus on providing valued digital risk services and expertise to UC Locations and managing risk across the UC system. 

The 2024 Cyber Risk Program Annual Report is live! The report features stories highlighting the innovative approaches and improvements that have been implemented systemwide this year. 

Contact