Read about Laetitia Cesari Zarkan

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

I am very interested in international security matters and realized how interconnectivity of people and access to cyberspace in various aspects of humanity, including education, health, right to information, links between families and the provision of governmental services, especially for remote populations are important. Therefore, it is critical to ensure a cybersecurity infrastructure. Satellite applications are important in our modern societies but can be vulnerable to cyber hostile operations. I am fascinated by learning more about the intersection between outer space and cyber. Therefore, in parallel with my position at UNIDIR, I am also pursuing a PhD in Space and Cyber Law.

What has been your favorite IT project at the United Nations and what was your technical contribution?

UNIDIR builds a cyber policy portal that maps the national, regional, and international legal and policy frameworks applying to cybersecurity. It is an accessible and useful tool to which I've been contributing a bit. Furthermore, in the context of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the conference on disarmament, I am conducting research and participating in panel discussions on the threats posed by non-kinetic interference and hostile activities, including cyber ones.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

I would tell them to read as much as possible about the topic and get into coding. Some coding languages are not so complex, and it can give them an opportunity to understand systems of information and cyberspace. Also, I am engaged in the Space4Women Mentorship Programme of UNOOSA and discovered in this context how important mentorship is. It is beneficial to have somebody with whom you share interests and can discuss with.