Bio statement
Prof. Lynn Ann Futcher
Professor Lynn Futcher is a Professor in the Department of Information Management and Governance within the School of Information Technology (SoIT), Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET) at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa. She plays a leading role in advancing research in the institution and serves as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Information and Cyber Security (CRICS).
As a Professional Member of the Institute of IT Professionals in South Africa (IITPSA), Prof Futcher has made significant contributions to the ICT profession. She has served as a non-executive board director (2021–2025), is a long-standing member of both the Eastern Cape Chapter and the Women in IT Chapter, and participates actively in the IITPSA Cybersecurity Special Interest Group (SIGCyber). In November 2025, she was conferred as a Fellow of the IITPSA for her exceptional contribution made to the Institute, the industry, and the profession.
Prof Futcher has been involved in the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 11.8 on Information Security Education since 2005, which promotes information security education, training, and awareness across academia, government, and industry. She has held several leadership roles within IFIP WG 11.8, including Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. In January 2024, she was appointed the South African representative to IFIP Technical Committee 11 (TC11), which focuses on security and privacy in information processing systems, and she currently serves as the Working Group Coordinator for TC11.
As a National Research Foundation (NRF) C1-rated researcher, Prof Futcher’s primary research interests include information and cybersecurity education and secure software development. She also has a strong interest in IT governance and management, project management, human–computer interaction, user experience, and usable security. She is deeply committed to advancing cybersecurity skills development in South Africa and to strengthening national capacity to ensure resilience within an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving threat landscape.