Salvos cybersecurity lead ‘humbled’ by excellence award
BY MATT ALLENSBY
The Salvation Army’s Christie Lim has been recognised for her commitment to creating opportunities for neurodivergent people to thrive, receiving the Neurodiversity in Cybersecurity Excellence Award at the 2026 Australian Women in Security Awards.
As General Manager of Information Security and Governance for The Salvation Army Australia, Christie leads the organisation's approach to securing its information and systems. But it’s her commitment to people, particularly in creating opportunities for neurodivergent professionals, that earned her recent industry recognition.
Christie received the Neurodiversity in Cybersecurity Excellence Award at the 2026 Australian Women in Security Awards at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on 1 September, an honour she described as an unexpected and humbling surprise.
She was nominated by industry colleague Roma, whom she met in 2023 through Purple Team Australia, an initiative that supports women transitioning into cybersecurity careers. Christie participated in the program as a mentor representing Victoria.
Roma nominated Christie after observing her work and hearing from others in the industry whom she had mentored and supported.
“It was incredibly humbling to learn that someone had taken the time to recognise and advocate for me when I wasn’t expecting it,” Christie said.
Creating opportunities for people to thrive A significant influence on Christie’s approach to neurodiversity was an earlier partnership with Auticon, a technology consulting organisation that employs autistic professionals and supports organisations in building more neuroinclusive workplaces.
Through this experience, she gained a deeper understanding of the barriers neurodivergent people face when seeking employment and witnessed the strengths, dedication and unique perspectives autistic professionals could bring to an environment where they can thrive.
During the partnership, Christie onboarded several Auticon consultants into cybersecurity roles and has since had the opportunity to watch them grow and develop their careers. One of those consultants, Matthew, attended the awards ceremony to support Christie.
“It made the experience especially meaningful and reminded me why this work matters so much,” she said.
Be open-minded and willing to try something different
“You don’t need to be an expert in neurodiversity to make a meaningful difference. Start by listening, asking questions and being curious about how people work best,” Christie explained.
Small adjustments can have a profound impact on an individual’s confidence, wellbeing and ability to contribute. Creating inclusive opportunities like this can profoundly affect someone’s life and career trajectory.
On the night of the event, Christie was surrounded by colleagues, former team members, industry partners, and Matthew.
Since receiving the award, she has also heard from peers who have shared their own experiences of neurodiversity, either personally or through people close to them.
“Their stories touched my heart and motivate me to continue championing neurodiversity and creating opportunities for neurodivergent people to thrive,” she said.
