Dr Magda Lilia Chelly: A Trail-Blazing Cybersecurity Visionary, Entrepreneur & Advocate

A global citizen at the cutting-edge of cyber

Born in Kraków, Poland, and holding dual Polish-Tunisian nationality, Dr Magda Lilia Chelly has carved an influential career that bridges technical depth and business leadership in cybersecurity. She earned a PhD in Telecommunication Engineering from Télécom SudParis and became one of the first Tunisian women to sit on Black Hat Asia’s Executive Summit advisory board. en.wikipedia.org

Early life, studies & first steps

Chelly’s childhood spanned Poland and Tunisia, nurturing both scientific curiosity and an entrepreneurial streak. After completing her doctorate in France, she lectured at universities and consulted for European firms, where she discovered a passion for offensive security that set the course for her future.

Building businesses in Singapore

Relocating to Singapore in 2016, she co-founded Responsible Cyber Pte Ltd, offering CISO-as-a-Service and cyber risk consulting across Asia-Pacific. By 2020 the start-up was valued at SG $ 7 million, with corporate backing from NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8.

RiskImmune™: next-generation TPRM

In 2022 Chelly launched RiskImmune™, an AI- powered platform that automates third-party-risk management. As CEO, she positions the product as a cornerstone for proactive vendor security and regulatory compliance worldwide. issuewire.com

Corporate leadership

Parallel to her start-up work, Chelly has headed Cyber Risk Consulting for a Fortune 500 insurance-broking giant in Asia, advising boards on quantifying cyber exposure. singaporeglobalnetwork.gov.sg

Championing diversity & inclusion

A fervent advocate for women in tech, she founded Women on Cyber (formerly WoSEC Singapore) and spearheaded Southeast Asia’s first all-girls Capture-the-Flag competition with Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency. en.wikipedia.orgsingaporeglobalnetwork.gov.sg

Thought leadership & media presence

Chelly’s accessible commentary makes her a sought-after voice. In 2024 she warned of “double and triple extortion” ransomware trends on The Insuring Cyber Podcast. Her insights also headline Authority Magazine’s “Women Leading Cybersecurity” series, and she appears regularly on Channel News Asia documentaries. insurancejournal.commedium.com

Publications & recognitions

• Books — Light, Shadow & Cyber: Vera’s Cyber Adventures (2021); Building a Cyber-Resilient Business (2022).

• Awards — IFSEC Global “Top 20 Cybersecurity Influencer” (2017 & 2021); Singapore Computer Society “Top 100 Women in Tech” (2023). londonspeakerbureau.comen.wikipedia.org

Polyglot keynote speaker

Fluent in English, French, Arabic, Polish and Italian, Chelly delivers keynotes on quantum-era cyber risk, cyber-insurance economics and risk quantification. This autumn she will open Quantum.Tech Europe 2025 with “Quantum Security: Defending Tomorrow’s Data Today.” alphaevents.comlondonspeakerbureau.com

Lasting impact

Dr Magda Chelly’s blend of technical mastery, entrepreneurial grit and advocacy continues to reshape how organisations — and society — understand and manage cyber risk. Her trajectory highlights both the strategic importance of cybersecurity and the power of inclusive leadership.

Further reading

(Selected online articles & profiles)

1. Wikipedia biography — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magda_Lilia_Chelly

2. Personal site “Magda on Cyber” — https://magda-on-cyber.com/

3. London Speaker Bureau profile — https://londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/magda-lilia-chelly/

4. Authority Magazine interview — https://medium.com/authority-magazine/wisdom-from-the-women-leading-the-cybersecurity-industry-with-magda-lilia-chelly-of-responsible-9c91cf3701bb

5. Women in Tech feature (Singapore Global Network) — https://singaporeglobalnetwork.gov.sg/stories/tech/women-in-tech-uplifting-sisters-in-cybersecurity/

6. Insurance Journal podcast article — https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/2024/01/17/755851.htm

7. Issuewire release on RiskImmune™ — https://www.issuewire.com/riskimmune-revolutionizes-third-party-risk-management-with-cutting-edge-technology-1801092496720180

8. Quantum.Tech speaker roster — https://www.alphaevents.com/events-quantumtech

9. Global Speakers Bureau bio — https://www.gspeakers.com/our-speakers/magda-chelly/