Mary Calam takes over as Chairman of the Board
Having joined as a trustee in 2024, Mary now steps up to chair the board, bringing national security expertise, a clear strategic vision, and a clear understanding of what The Cyber Helpline means to the people we serve.
We are proud to announce that Mary Calam has become Chairman of the Board at The Cyber Helpline. Mary succeeds Mike Wawro, who guided the charity from its early days as a startup through to an organisation with real impact and a recognised public voice.
Mary joined us as a trustee in summer 2024, and over the past two years has been a close observer of the charity's work and a passionate advocate for its mission. Now, she steps up to lead the board at a pivotal moment in our growth.
Mary's career in the UK government spanned a range of roles in security and policing. Her final executive position in government as Director General for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office placed her at the centre of national policy-making on issues highly relevant to The Cyber Helpline's mission.
In her time as a trustee, Mary says the charity has opened her eyes to the true range and complexity of threats people face online today. In her own words, she sees two things as central to the charity's unique value: the genuine cyber security expertise that every staff member and volunteer brings to their work, and the empathetic, trauma-informed way in which that expertise is applied. Our team is trained not just to solve problems, but to understand what it means to be a victim — and to identify and address safeguarding risks where they arise.
“I’ve seen first-hand the range and complexity of threats people face online, and I know this isn’t victimless crime. What makes The Cyber Helpline unique is that it combines real cyber security expertise with genuine empathy for the people behind each case. I’m excited — and a little daunted — to take on the role of Chair, but I’m proud of what this team has built and energised by what we can achieve together.”
Mary's appointment as Chairman comes at a time when a significant growth in funding is allowing The Cyber Helpline to increase its impact for victims. Under her leadership, the board is well placed to support the executive team in scaling the charity's services, strengthening relationships with government and law enforcement, and ensuring that anyone affected by cybercrime can access the expert, empathetic help they need.
We thank Mike for all he has achieved in getting us to this point and warmly welcome Mary to her new role.