In a wide-ranging interview with City St George's News, Rishi shares insights from his cybersecurity experience, and what he thinks is important for future UK STEM.
By Dr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published
On Wednesday 28 October, 2026, the School of Science & Technology at City St George's, University of London will honour four of its most outstanding alumni at its fifth, annual STEM Alumni Awards ceremony.
This year Rishi Preetam Thiruthani (MSc Cybersecurity in 2022) will receive the Excellence in STEM Achievement Alumni Award.
In a wide-ranging interview with City St George's News, Rishi shares insights from his cybersecurity education and industry experience, and what he think is important for future UK STEM.
About Rishi
He graduated from City St George’s University of London in 2022 with a Merit and has rapidly established himself as a cybersecurity leader, driving innovation, resilience and measurable improvement in a complex business environment.
Rishi is the sole cybersecurity specialist at Craig International, Aberdeen with responsibility for the full security function, including governance, risk and compliance, security operations, penetration testing, incident response and security architecture.
His work has contributed directly to improving security standards within industry leading his organisation to achieve the Cyber Essentials Plus certification, a recognised benchmark for cybersecurity assurance in UK business and government supply chains.
Rishi’s visibility and impact also extend into academia and outreach by helping to encourage more students into STEM and cybersecurity careers and demonstrating what can be achieved early in a professional career, demonstrating through continued engagement, mentoring and advocacy via the City St George’s Professional Mentoring Scheme.
What were your motivations for studying at City St George's?
RPT:
What were the highlights and challenges of your MSc in Cybersecurity at City St George’s?
RPT:
"The highlights of my MSc included several of the modules I studied. I particularly enjoyed the Cyber Crime & Sociotechnical Risk and Network Security modules, as they added significant depth to my learning and provided a comprehensive foundation across the core areas of cyber security. The curriculum covered a broad range of topics, from digital forensics to network security, which I found to be a major strength of the programme.
"The primary challenge was the circumstance of my studies, as they were entirely remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite this, my overall experience was very positive. I made regular visits to campus to use the library, which was a great resource and provided a productive environment for focused study.
"A significant personal challenge I faced was the perseverance required to pass certain professional certifications alongside my MSc, which taught me the value of resilience."
How did your studies at City St George’s assist you in transitioning to your present role?
RPT:
"My studies were instrumental in my career transition. The MSc provided me with a strong theoretical foundation that was essential for entering the cyber security field. To complement this, I also pursued industry-recognised certifications such as eCPPT, CREST, and OSCP alongside my master's. This combination of academic knowledge and practical credentials made my profile stand out in the job market.
"When I successfully secured my role as a Cyber Security Specialist at Craig International Ltd, I was able to demonstrate both the theoretical knowledge from my MSc and the practical skills from my certifications throughout the interview process."
What have been your career highlights in the field of cybersecurity?
RPT:
"My career has been marked by several significant highlights. One standout professional achievement was earning my OSEP certification, which marked a significant milestone in my technical development. Another major highlight was delivering Cyber Essentials Plus compliance for my company, Craig International, within my first year - an accomplishment that validated both my efforts and the trust placed in me.
"Most recently, a career-defining moment was winning two major awards at the Computing Security Excellence Awards 2026: the Outstanding Security Analyst/Researcher Award and the Security Rising Star of the Year award. Winning these, especially at the age of 26 and against strong competition, reinforced that hard work and resilience truly pay off."
Why would you recommend City St George’s as a place to study STEM and specifically cybersecurity?
RPT:
"I would highly recommend City St George’s, particularly for its MSc in Cyber Security. The programme is NCSC-certified, which is a powerful endorsement of its quality and ensures the curriculum is relevant to the current needs of the industry. The modules are carefully designed to cover a broad and comprehensive range of topics at a master’s level, from digital forensics to network security.
"This combination of academic rigour and professional accreditation provides students with an excellent foundation to launch a successful career in the field. My own positive experience, even under the challenging circumstances of remote learning, is a testament to the programme's strength and the resources available, such as the campus library."
What are the main issues facing the UK in terms of STEM from your perspective?
RPT:
"From my perspective and specifically looking at the cyber security sector within STEM, the UK faces several key challenges. The most pressing issues include a persistent skills shortage, which makes it difficult for organisations to find qualified professionals. We are also seeing the rapid evolution of AI-driven threats, which creates a constantly shifting landscape that is hard to defend against.
"Furthermore, there are increasingly complex supply chain vulnerabilities that pose significant risks to national and economic security. Addressing these challenges requires a continued focus on developing talent through robust educational programmes and certifications, as well as fostering greater resilience and accessibility in cyber security for everyone."
Attend the awards and panel discussion
Register your attendance to the STEM Alumni Awards 2026, Wednesday 28 October at City St George's, University of London's Clerkenwell campus.