Alexandria, Va. – September 28, 2026 -- ISC2, the nonprofit membership organization representing more than 270,000 certified cybersecurity professionals, has appointed Brionne Dawson as Executive Vice President for Advocacy, tasking her with elevating practitioner voices in policy debates over AI adoption, cyber resilience and workforce development.
Dawson joins ISC2 from Google after leading government affairs across 120-plus markets
Dawson brings more than two decades of experience in technology policy, government affairs and commercial diplomacy. She most recently led international government affairs for emerging markets across more than 120 countries at Google, later serving as Head of Middle East and Africa, where her portfolio covered AI policy, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital trade and cross-border data flows.
New role reports directly to CEO Scott Beale on the Executive Leadership Team
Dawson will sit on ISC2's Executive Leadership Team and report to CEO Scott Beale. Her mandate includes advancing skills-based credentials, promoting career pathways into cybersecurity, and pressing policymakers to ensure AI governance rules reflect the operational realities of practitioners testing, securing and monitoring AI systems.
"AI safety promises are only as strong as our ability to put them into practice," Beale said, adding that cybersecurity professionals need a stronger voice in decisions shaping how AI is built and deployed.
Career spans U.S. State Department, USAID and U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Earlier roles include Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Senior Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center, and leadership positions at USAID and the National Democratic Institute. She sits on the Advisory Board of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and holds AI governance certifications from Harvard University and the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Dawson holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in International Business from Tufts University's Fletcher School.