Dr. Magda Lilia Chelly is an award-winning global cybersecurity leader, entrepreneur, researcher, and storyteller known for transforming complex cyber topics into accessible, actionable, and even entertaining insights. Twice recognized by IFSEC Global among the Top 20 Most Influential Cybersecurity Personalities (2017 & 2021), she bridges the worlds of deep technical... Read more
Dr. Magda Lilia Chelly is an award-winning global cybersecurity leader, entrepreneur, researcher, and storyteller known for transforming complex cyber topics into accessible, actionable, and even entertaining insights. Twice recognized by IFSEC Global among the Top 20 Most Influential Cybersecurity Personalities (2017 & 2021), she bridges the worlds of deep technical expertise, strategic business leadership, and creative communication.
Dr. Chelly has authored and co-authored several acclaimed works on cybersecurity awareness and executive strategy. Her first title, Being Brave: Vera’s Cyber Adventures, fused cybersecurity, science-fiction, and romance to spark interest in digital safety among general audiences. Her most significant and recent publication is the book Building a Cyber Resilient Business, co-authored with Shamane Tan and Hai Tran. The title available through many international distributors—demystifies cybersecurity for C-suite and board-level leaders. It offers a practical roadmap for integrating cyber resilience into every business function and features self-assessment tools to help executives align with their organization’s CISO and security teams. This influential work has been praised for helping business leaders view cybersecurity not as a technical challenge, but as a strategic enabler of trust, profitability, and sustainability.
Dr. Chelly’s insights have been featured by leading media outlets and international broadcasters. She appeared in Channel News Asia’s acclaimed documentary The Dark Web, provided commentary for MoneyFM 89.3 (Prime Time), and has been featured on VTV 1 News, Task Force 7 Radio, Canal Plus, and ZDF Info. Her articulate, human-centred approach to cyber topics has made her one of the media’s most trusted voices on digital risk and resilience.
Before becoming a cybersecurity authority, Magda had an early career in film and television—appearing in European productions such as Love Me (Aime-moi) (2009) alongside French actress Armelle Deutsch, Toute la mort devant soi (2009), and Utopium: Song for an Artist (2008). That creative background continues to shape her dynamic speaking style. Her keynotes are infused with humour, storytelling, and even theatrical performance—turning cybersecurity into an engaging live experience rather than a technical briefing.
A proven entrepreneur, Dr. Chelly co-founded Responsible Cyber Pte Ltd in Singapore and launched RiskImmune, an AI-powered third-party risk management platform redefining how businesses assess supply-chain and vendor risk. The company, valued at 7 million SGD in 2020, reflects her vision of accessible, technology-driven cyber resilience. She has served as an Information Security Officer for multinational insurance corporations and continues to mentor and invest in cybersecurity start-ups globally.
As founder of Women on Cyber (formerly WoSEC Singapore), and the President of ISC2 Tunisian Chapter,Dr. Chelly leads initiatives that elevate women and under-represented groups in cybersecurity. In 2019, she organized Singapore’s first Capture-the-Flag competition for girls, in partnership with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)—an event now entering its fourth edition.
Known for her charisma, warmth, and wit, Dr. Chelly delivers keynotes in five languages—English, French, Polish, Italian, and Arabic. Her presentations blend executive insight with entertainment, leveraging humour and theatre to make cybersecurity relatable and unforgettable. She also uses platforms like TikTok to reach younger audiences, combining education with comedy to make digital awareness viral.
Her research has been featured in IEEE, the RSA Conference, WorldCIS, and Cyber Risk Leaders Magazine. In 2023, she was honoured among the Top 100 Women in Tech by the Singapore Computer Society (SCS)and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Dr. Magda Lilia Chelly stands out as a bridge-builder between the technical and human sides of cybersecurity—a leader who inspires confidence, inclusion, and innovation on every stage she steps onto.