Laura Marsden joins PA Consulting to lead Digital Trust and Cyber Security in the Public Services team

Laura Marsden joins PA Consulting (PA), the consultancy that’s bringing ingenuity to life, as a partner in Public Services to lead PA’s Digital Trust and Cyber Security capability in the sector. Laura will support key UK Government departments in solving complex security, privacy and resilience challenges and boost PA’s Cyber Transformation offering.

Laura joins PA from Deloitte, where she was Director of its Public Sector cyber practice and account lead for the UK Central Government. In this role, Laura was responsible for the strategy, planning, forecasting, business development and delivery of key engagements across all Central Government clients and multiple departments, and wider Public Sector organisations.

Prior to this, Laura was Head of Cyber Consulting Services at Leonardo MW Ltd, where she was responsible for the Business Unit's commercial viability and assuring the delivery of all client services. As Head Consultant and a trusted advisor to the Ministry of Defence, Laura provided advisory, assurance and oversight to all client engagements on cyber security and Information Assurance.

PA’s Public Services experts combine problem solving excellence with insights from across the public sector and private industry. They work closely with government departments, local leaders and policing and borders organisations to create a better living and working environment for citizens. From achieving the impossible with the UK Ventilator Challenge, to helping vulnerable people stay independent during the COVID-19 outbreak with Argenti, an innovative approach to technology-enabled care, our experts provide support and advice amid global uncertainty and change to make resources go further and improve lives.

PA’s cyber security experts work with organisations not only to mitigate constantly evolving threats and improve business resilience, but to unlock the growth digital trust enables, by developing the systems, processes and culture that keep organisations secure. Most recently, our experts have helped develop cyber resilience for clients, by halting online child sexual exploitation and abuse at the WePROTECT Global Alliance, supporting the UK Government to enable the production of a Cyber Security Guide for Business and protect the UK in cyberspace and deliver economic growth, to protecting UK critical national infrastructure by securing industrial control systems the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI).  

Elliot Rose, Head of Digital Trust & Cyber Security, PA Consulting, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Laura to lead the cyber security charge in the public sector. Her strong background within public services and in particular cyber transformation, will add considerable value to our clients.”

“As cyber threats to governments become more high profile, and people become more aware of data privacy, Laura will support our clients to deliver outstanding cyber security measures and strengthen the public’s trust in digital.”  

Laura Marsden added: “I am passionate about helping clients solve their most difficult and complex challenges, and the UK Government is certainly facing many of these now. Dealing with a global pandemic and the resultant economic difficulties, whilst also exiting the EU, feels like the perfect storm of a generation. It is therefore critical that we help the UK be secure and resilient to cyber threats, and prosperous and confident in the digital world. PA Consulting is certainly best placed to do this.”