International Women’s Day 2026: From 5am study sessions to protecting the UK’s network – Jess Quantrill’s story

Jess Quantrill didn’t plan a career in technology, but today she leads Cybersecurity and Governance at Openreach, helping keep the UK’s digital backbone safe. For International Women’s Day, she reflects on early‑morning MBA study sessions, leading with inclusion, being the only woman in the room, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is “take a deep breath and stay”.

How would you describe your role as Director of Cybersecurity and Governance at Openreach – and why is cyber so critical for a national telecoms network?

As Openreach’s Cyber Security and Governance Director, no two days are the same. As the technology underpinning our network evolves, so does the threat landscape, and I’m accountable for keeping our infrastructure, our network and our customers safe.

Our full fibre network connects over 20 million premises across the UK today, and we’re committed to reaching 30 million by the end of the decade. Many end users of our network are part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure. Serving those customers is our top priority, which is why the integrity and performance of our network is essential. I’m proud to play a role in that.

My team focuses on a few core things: making smart technology choices, using our resources wisely, constantly monitoring and improving our network and infrastructure, and making sure our colleagues are aligned on the outcomes we are building for.

What drew you into technology and cybersecurity in the first place, and what made you choose the telecoms industry as the place to build your career?

Growing up, I never imagined I would work in these fields. I was very academic at school with a passion for modern languages and art, and after university I didn’t have a clear vision for my career.

I have always enjoyed problem solving and working with people. I started out in recruitment after graduating, then moved into project management. My work ethic and determination to learn and grow led me into delivery, business change and transformation across sectors including construction, retail, fast moving consumer goods, utilities and eventually telecommunications.

I joined Plusnet as Head of Business Change and Transformation in 2018. Since then I have worked in BT’s Consumer and Networks functions, and was lucky to take part in talent programmes that deepened my understanding of the business. That led to a step up as Technology Strategy and Governance Director in Openreach in 2023, and then a pivot into cyber security. My role has evolved as the external landscape has changed, and I have learned so much along the way. I have also continued my personal development with an MBA, which I am close to completing.

Looking back, I used to feel nervous that I didn’t have a career plan mapped out. Now I realise that if I had, I might have missed the opportunities I have been lucky enough to experience, and I might not be doing the role I love today. I don’t regret not knowing exactly what I wanted to do.

You’re balancing a demanding role, motherhood and an MBA – what does that look like in real life and what keeps you motivated?

A lot of caffeine and deep breaths!

Seriously though, I think life is a series of micro decisions. Most of my MBA work gets done between 5am and 7am. I am not naturally an early riser, but I made a decision at the start of the course to dedicate the time it needs. It is a great opportunity, and it will not last forever. I am quite self disciplined, so I get up, do two hours while my husband and daughter are asleep, and start the day already winning by the time they are up for work and school.

Don’t get me wrong, there are times I hit snooze after a bad night’s sleep, or need to use those two hours for something else, but generally, I find the motivation I need. I try to eat well, get exercise and fresh air, be present for my daughter, who at 12 is fast becoming a young woman, and make time for family and friends.

I couldn’t have undertaken the MBA without my husband’s support. We met in 2020 while he was working at BT. He had wanted to do an MBA at my age, so when the opportunity came up he encouraged me. He carries a lot of the mental load at home, more than his share of childcare and housework, and his working week is more flexible because he does a number of part time roles. That is incredibly helpful.

As the sponsor of the Gender Network, what does that involve and what impact are you hoping to make?

I feel very fortunate to be co-sponsor of the Gender Network. Inclusion matters deeply to me and I am proud to have a role that allows me to advocate for it.

My little sister was born with a combination of learning difficulties and went to a special school. From a young age, I understood that many people do not start on a level playing field. That shows up in many different ways, and I realised I had a voice I could use to advocate for others.

My daughter’s dad and I were very different, but I will always appreciate that when I returned to work, he went part time for a while. It was a financial decision at the time, but it allowed me to continue my career, and it strengthened our daughter’s relationship with her father too.

Co-sponsoring the GEN is my way of paying that support forward. I want to help level the playing field and use my voice to amplify others. I care passionately that gender is not a barrier to be navigated. Raising awareness of gendered differences, listening to lived experiences and weaving that into Openreach’s culture is a privilege.

Telecoms and cybersecurity are still male‑dominated fields. How does being a woman director in this space shape your experience, if at all?

They really are, but they don’t have to be. These fields have been male dominated for a long time, and that is changing.

There are times I am the only woman in the room. I will be the one who needs to pick up a child after school or leave punctually for parents’ evening, and sometimes it feels like not all my male peers carry those pressures, which can feel unfair. But then I see them embracing our new parental leave, or taking their daughter to visit a university, and I believe things are improving. Like any change, it will not happen overnight.

Leadership is a privilege but also a responsibility. For me, that means getting comfortable being the only woman present, because if I am not there, there might not be one at all, and what example would that set for others. It can take courage. I once went to a networking event where I was the first woman to arrive, and the only person wearing a bold colour. I took a deep breath, dared myself to stay for half an hour, and told myself I could leave after that. By the time the half hour was up, several other women had arrived, so I gave myself permission to stay.

What would you like to see change in tech and telecoms to make the industries more inclusive?

If we all took time to listen to other people’s perspectives and really try to understand them, our industry, and the world, would be better for it.

I would love to see more reverse mentoring, learning from people with different backgrounds about the challenges they face and how we can help remove barriers. It does not need to be a big, standalone initiative. We have a complex business to run. But if we weave it into how we work every day, it could be powerful.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in cyber, governance or telecoms?

Probably the same advice I would give anyone considering those fields. If it is what you want to do, go for it. Don’t be the force that holds you back. Everyone faces challenges, some more than others, and how you respond matters.

Take a deep breath and stay at the conference. Pick a partner who will share the mental load. Be unashamed about leaving a meeting on time to do the school run. You never know who is watching, and who might feel able to do the same because they have seen you do it. And ask for help when you need it. None of us gets there alone.

And finally, tell us something about you that people might not expect.

This is a tough question. My more predictable answer is that I used to be a reasonably good long distance runner (county and regional standard) over everything from 1500m to half marathon before I became a mum. Maybe that is where I developed a competitive edge. I still run now, mainly for my sanity and to earn the odd glass of wine.

My funnier answer is that I performed in the parade at Disneyland Paris a couple of years ago with my daughter and her dance school. The school was performing on stage, and they invited the children and their mums to learn the parade routine. It involved more coordination and cheesy smiles than I am used to, but it was a real laugh and not an opportunity I am likely to get again.