This month, Planet Mainframe celebrates influential mainframers nominated by the community. Today, we highlight someone who doesn’t just talk about the skills gap—she’s doing something about it.
Leanne Wilson
Technical Delivery Manager / Security Consultant, Vertali
Great Britain, UK
Connect with Leanne on:
View the entire 2025 Influential Mainframers group here.
Leanne Wilson is building a pipeline. Not for data—but for people.
As the architect behind Vertali’s mainframe apprenticeship program, Leanne designed a practical, experience-based path into an industry that is challenging to newcomers. Her approach is intentional: to give early-career professionals access, guidance, and relevance.
In addition to mentoring new apprentices one-on-one, she also speaks in front of university classrooms, fields questions from unsure students, and spends time explaining why the mainframe still matters. Her talks at the University of Bedfordshire are one example of this commitment to making the platform visible to people who might otherwise never consider it.
“She’s the reason I felt like I could belong in this field,” one nominator said. “She sat down with me, helped me plan my schedule at GSE, and made it feel like this wasn’t just for the old guard—it was for people like me, too.”
Her influence isn’t limited to talent development. Leanne is a highly regarded voice in cybersecurity, regularly writing and speaking about the real-world threats facing mainframe environments today. She’s published in TechChannel, SHARE, and Planet Mainframe, covering everything from AI-based threat detection to getting the basics right.
In early 2025, she launched Mainframe Shield, an industry-wide initiative focused on improving cybersecurity awareness—vendor-neutral and education-first, something she considers long overdue. “I want future technologists to see the mainframe as a career—not just a legacy.”
She’s also taken on leadership where it counts: As the new GSE UK Conference Manager, Leanne is helping shape the next phase of mainframe community engagement. She’s not just filling slots on a program—she’s intentionally creating space for new voices, pairing student attendees with guides, and helping make the event less intimidating for first-timers.
Leanne isn’t the loudest person in the room, but she might be one of the most effective. She supports those new to the field, helps others stay, and reshapes the space to reflect the future, with room for all.
Influential Mainframer
Mainframe technology continues to evolve because of the dedicated professionals, educators, mentors, and innovators who drive it forward. We’re shining a spotlight on the individuals who are making waves—whether they’re advancing technology, mentoring new talent, sharing knowledge, championing modernization, or quietly keeping mission-critical systems running every day. These are the people shaping the future of mainframe. They come from all backgrounds and experience levels, but they all have one thing in common: they’re making a difference.
Check back daily as we reveal a new honoree. Read their stories, celebrate their impact, and be inspired.
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