CyberConnect Canberra 2026 | AISA CyberConnect Canberra

Keynote Speakers

Shane Fitzsimmons is currently Managing Director, SAF Leading Advisory, the Board Chair of Youth Insearch Foundation (Australia) Inc, the NSW Connectivity Innovation Network and VRA Rescue NSW and is a Board Director of the NSW RFS Benevolent Fund.

He is Chair of the National Emergency Medal Committee and a member of the Australian Bravery Decorations Council and the Australian Father's Day Council. He is Patron of two charities, Kids Xpress and Coffee 4 Kids, and Ambassador for the First Responders Wellbeing Summit and Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA).

There is no question that Shane is passionate about leadership, emergency service and public safety organisations, disaster management, resilience and recovery arrangements, technology and connectivity, community centred organisations and most importantly, the people, both volunteer and salaried alike, who are focused on keeping our communities safe and making a positive difference for others.

Shane served as the inaugural Commissioner of Resilience NSW from May 2020 to December 2022, an organization established as the lead agency for disaster recovery with a focus on social, economic, infrastructure and environmental outcomes. The agency also led in the area of building community resilience to future disasters. Whilst Commissioner, Shane chaired the NSW State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), NSW State Recovery Committee (SRC), NSW Board of Commissioners (BOC) and served as a member of the NSW Mentally Healthy workplaces Advisory Board.

Rachel Noble is the former Director General of the Australian Signals Directorate, Australia’s signals intelligence and cyber security agency. Rachel held this role for five years prior to which she was the head of ASD’s Australian Cyber Security Centre.

Prior to ASD, Rachel was the Deputy Secretary Executive Group in the Department of Home Affairs responsible for enterprise strategy, risk, assurance, security and ministerial, media and intelligence services. Rachel led the Portfolio’s Home Affairs Implementation Team to stand up the Home Affairs Portfolio in 2017.

In 2014, Rachel was promoted to Deputy Secretary Policy Group in the Department of Immigration and Border Protection which included responsibility for trade, customs, immigration and international policy.

Rachel joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) in May 2013 as the National Director Intelligence and Chief Information Officer. Her previous role was as First Assistant Secretary Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication, at the Department of Defence.

Prior to rejoining Defence, Rachel was the National Security Chief Information Officer and Cyber Policy Coordinator in Prime Minister and Cabinet, responsible for improving information sharing among the national security community and coordinating whole of government policy on cyber issues. Rachel received a Public Service Medal for this work.

Rachel previously held several SES positions in the Department of Defence including Assistant Secretary Governance, responsible for the overall governance and assurance framework for Defence; Assistant Secretary Americas, North and South Asia, Europe in the International Policy Division, and Deputy Chief of Facility at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap.

Rachel has also worked for the Bureau of Meteorology on international policies to address global climate change and started her career in private industry working for Optus. Rachel has a Masters of Business Administration in Technology Management and a Bachelor of Science with Honours.

Dr Ben Hamer is a renowned sociologist and accredited futurist, who is ranked as one of the top ten

global voices on the Future of Work.

As the founder of trend intelligence agency, ThinkerTank, Ben has undertaken work and research around

the world, including time spent leading critical projects at the World Economic Forum as well as being a

Visiting Scholar at Yale University. He is an Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University and an

experienced Non-Executive Director, where he is currently on the Board of both the Australian HR Institute

and Netball NSW.

A LEGO Serious Play certified trainer and international expert on curiosity, Ben is a sought-after media

commentator, podcast host and keynote speaker on future trends and their impact on organisations,

communities, and customers.

Government Speakers

Andrew Giles is the Albanese Government's Minister for Skills and Training and is the Federal Member for Scullin in Melbourne's North.

He previously served in the Albanese Government as the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Andrew is a keen reader and runner and an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club. Andrew has a LLB (Hons) and BA from the University of Melbourne.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Andrew worked as a Principal Lawyer in employment law for Slater and Gordon and as a Senior Associate at Holding Redlich.

Since his election in 2013, Andrew served as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools between 2016 and 2019, before serving as the Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 2019 to 2022.

Andrew lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children.

Stephanie Crowe was appointed Deputy Director- General Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) in December 2024. Stephanie has an extensive background in cyber security working with government and industry on responding to nationally-significant cyber events and strengthening Australia’s cyber defenses.

Over her 15-year career at ASD, Stephanie has held a number of key roles in signals intelligence and cyber security, including leading the ACSC’s Cyber Security Resilience Division, responsible for delivering technical programs, services and publications across government and industry, as well as enabling the uplift and hardening of critical networks.

Prior, Stephanie led the ACSC’s cyber threat intelligence and incident management functions and designed programs to enhance Australia’s cyber security situational awareness, national threat picture and incident response capabilities. Stephanie has been involved in cyber security efforts supporting key national events such as e-Census, elections and G20, and in facilitating national exercise programs. She has also directed Government’s technical response to numerous nationally-significant cyber security incidents.

Stephanie has a Bachelor of Asian Studies Specialist (ANU) which led to her to the ASD graduate program in 2009. Throughout her 15+ year career, Stephanie has performed various roles across ASD’s intelligence missions utilising her expertise in operations management.

Jessica is currently Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology and is responsible for leading Australia's international engagement on cyber and critical technology.

Jessica has an extensive background in cyber security working with international partners, government and industry for more than 20 years.

Jessica has led Australia’s cyber security initiatives including as the Australian Government’s National Cyber Incident Response Lead, and leading Australia’s first national cyber uplift and resilience program. She has previously held senior roles within the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) as head of Australia’s Cyber Security Resilience Division and head of Cyber Security Services Division, where she was responsible for delivering Australia’s operational cyber threat intelligence programs, services and publications for hardening critical networks. In 2021, Jessica worked in the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) as the Senior Cyber Security Principal Advisor.

She has previously served overseas in the United States and in the United Kingdom’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at its establishment in 2016.

Jessica is passionate about staff development and leadership initiatives and is a mentor to members of the National Cyber Community. She has also served as an SES gender champion and Chair of Women’s Leadership Council. She was the 2022 Judge for the Australian Women’s Security Network Awards.

Major General Watson enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1992 as an Electronic Warfare Operator. In 1996, he was appointed to the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and following graduation, he returned to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.

Throughout his career, Major General Watson has been fortunate to serve in a range of appointments at the 1st Signal Regiment, 7th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), Defence Force School of Signals and the 2nd Commando Regiment. Additionally, he has held a series of staff appointments at Division, Command and Service levels.

As a senior officer, he has served as Director Joint Cyber, Director General Joint Information Warfare, and most recently as the Deputy of Operations, United States Cyber Command - the first non-United States officer to do so. Currently, he is the Commander of ADF Cyber Command.

Major General Watson has deployed multiple times to East Timor and Afghanistan, most recently in 2013/14 as the CJ3 of the International Security Assistance Force, Special Operations Forces. He holds postgraduate degrees in Information Technology (USQ) and Military Studies (ANU) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Conference MC

Helen McCabe is the founder and Managing Director of Future Women (FW), a membership business she established in 2018 to advance women in business and careers. Under her direction, the organisation expanded with the launch of Future Women Jobs Academy in 2021.

Helen has held senior executive positions across Australia’s media landscape, including leadership roles at Nine, News Corp and as Editor-In-Chief of Australian Women’s Weekly, where she earned multiple industry awards. Her influence extends to government and policy, delivering the Andrew Olle lecture in 2015 and hosting the Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022.

Helen has built organisations, led teams and shaped conversations that matter. She hosts the FW Leadership Podcast and serves as non-executive director of The Squiz and Australian Indigenous Education Foundation

Conference Dinner MC

Naturally charming and unmistakably Australian, Dave Hughes is one of this country’s sharpest comedic minds. By turning everyday foibles into rich and hilarious routines delivered in his classic laconic style, Hughesy owns any stage he appears on. Having dominated comedy clubs and stages for decades across the country, Dave’s comedy career has also expanded into television and radio.

Dave currently co-hosts the hugely popular radio show The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin on the HIT Network. He is a judge on the Network 10’s The Masked Singer, where his incredible wardrobe, dad dancing and bonkers guesses have been the highlights of this unique, runaway hit show.

Dave appears regularly on all your favourite Aussie tv programs including The Hundred on Channel Nine, Celebrity Gogglebox, and Would I Lie To You? Australia both on Network Ten). Dave’s tv show Hughesy We Have a Problem, premiered on Network Ten in early 2018 to rave reviews and big audiences and ran for five consecutive seasons.

2022 saw Dave release his Amazon special Ridiculous, as well as the publish his fourth children’s book, How Not to Annoy Mum.

Dave Hughes passion for his craft has never waned, which is why you’ll still find him any night of the week performing at comedy clubs across the country.

Speakers

Iftekhar Alam (Zamie) is a senior cybersecurity leader with over 18 years of experience across government, finance, and critical infrastructure. He specialises in cyber risk, GRC, cloud security, operations, architecture, AI governance, and executive advisory, with a proven track record as a virtual CISO in high-trust, regulated environments.

A recognised conference speaker, mentor, and cybersecurity columnist, Iftekhar is the founding Vice President of the ISC2 Queensland Chapter and an active member of AISA.

He currently operates as an independent consultant, delivering strategic cyber and AI security advisory to government, defence, and critical sectors.

He holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Southern Queensland and an MBA from Charles Sturt University, as well as certifications including CISSP, CCSP, CRISC, and RSA CISO. A key attribute of his leadership is integrating responsible AI principles to build resilient, compliant, and trusted digital ecosystems.

Anthony Borgo is the Chief Operations Officer at Seeing Machines, a global leader in computer vision technologies that enable machines to see, understand and assist people. In this role, he leads the Enterprise Information Systems, Cyber Security, Quality Assurance, Enterprise Project Management Office, Aftermarket Enterprise Systems and external facing Project delivery, driving operational excellence, innovation, and efficiency across the organisation.

Anthony has over 30 years of experience working in the Information Systems domain, primarily in Defence and related government agencies. His significant experience began in technical communications, serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for 21 years. Since serving in the RAN, he has further developed his skills leading and delivering complex information systems and business strategies in Senior Operational and Management roles at Compucat Research, Raytheon and Thales.

Anthony holds a Graduate Certificate in Systems Development from Charles Sturt University, is a Certified Practicing Project Director with the Australian Institute of Project Management and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is passionate about championing ideas, fostering collaboration, and achieving results within his team and across the organisation.

Sally Browner has over 20 years’ experience across the educational spectrum. She has taught High School, run Australia’s largest and only accredited Coding Bootcamp, co-founded Goanna Education, run the new Institute of Applied Technology-Digital and is now the Director of Digital the Future Skills Organisation.

Sally is a regular speaker at events like Edutech 2024, Digital Transformation Live 2023, and EdTech Summit 2023. She is also a member of Women’s Education Leadership Group with Edugrowth, Deakin MBA student, and recipient of the Women's Advanced Leadership Program Scholarship in 2021, finalist in both the Women's Agenda Awards (Emerging Leader in Tech, 2018) and the Telstra Businesswomen of the Year Awards (2018/19).

Sally is passionate about innovative solutions that make education more connected and accessible.

Jenalle is an ACS Certified Technologist and Canberra-based technology leader with over a decade of experience advancing digital capability across government and industry.

As Branch Manager at the Australian Computer Society (ACS), she responsible for the Canberra Branch operations and serves its members. She leads strategic initiatives that strengthen Canberra’s ICT ecosystem, building partnerships across the Australian Public Service (APS), industry, and academia, while delivering programs that support professional growth, capability uplift, and workforce readiness.

Jenalle has played a pivotal role in advancing Australian Government initiatives, including Australia Government supported pathway programs through Digital Profession, APSC, helping to strengthen digital capability across the public sector for more than 13 years. She has also successfully led major mentoring programs, large scale technology events, the Professional Partnership Program (PPP), and digital talent initiatives that have positively impacted thousands of ICT professionals and emerging leaders.

Known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to continuous learning, Jenalle is passionate about helping tech professional members grow their careers, expand their networks, and stay at the forefront of a rapidly evolving tech landscape through ACS membership.

Dr. Alberto Chierici is a Principal AI Specialist at Gradient Institute, where he advises government agencies and organisations on the responsible and ethical use of AI. He holds a PhD from NYU, where he researched AI for dialogue systems, and is the author of The Ethics of AI: Facts, Fictions and Forecasts.

Alberto was also an Entrepreneur in Residence at TechStars Sydney and he is the voice behind Human Override, a newsletter read by over 4,000 leaders and founders navigating the AI era. He is passionate about cutting through AI hype to help organisations build resilience, make sound decisions, and harness technology without losing human oversight.

Ant Cohen is a storyteller turned security strategist. With a career that began in marketing and brand activation, Ant helped shape some of Australia’s most iconic campaigns - including Oprah’s Australian Adventure, touring 25 Wallabies campervans around NZ for the Rugby World Cup, and winning a gold medal for marketing of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams in London - before pivoting into the cyber-adjacent space.

Today, Ant brings the same creative energy and behavioural insight once used to sell dreams, to now help people protect what matters most: themselves, their organisations, and their families.

A member of the NSW Crime Stoppers' Cyber Security Advisory Committee, Ant collaborates with law enforcement, regulators, and industry leaders to shape national strategies that combat cybercrime. Ant’s expertise ensures that security messaging is not only technically sound but also emotionally resonant -designed to reach everyday Australians in ways that matter.

Ant’s work sits at the intersection of influence and impact - translating complex security concepts into human language, and designing programs that shift behaviour, not just awareness. With a deep understanding of how people think, act, and decide, Ant builds bridges between technical teams and everyday users, helping organisations move from compliance to culture.

Known for blending warmth, wit, and wisdom, Ant is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and collaborator. Whether on stage or in strategy sessions, Ant brings clarity to complexity and heart to hard conversations.

Remy Coll is Director of Redacted Information Security and a seasoned blue team cyber expert with over a decade of experience across Federal Government, private sector, military, and law enforcement. He’s a GIAC-certified security leader, ISO 27001 lead auditor, and IRAP assessor (#194). Remy commanded the first Army Cyber Protection Team and received a commendation for his cyber training initiatives. He also MCs the annual ADF Cyber Skills Challenge conference. Alongside his technical acumen, Remy brings a unique creative background, having studied acting at the Victorian College of the Arts and performed in theatres nationwide.

Remy is also co-founder of Stage0 the AI assisted IRAP assessment platform, soon to be launched and accelerating quality IRAP assessments nationally. Come chat if you want to get in on early access.

Sarah Darcy is the Assistant Director of Online Safety Education at the ACT Education Directorate, drawing on 19 years of experience across all levels of the Australian education system, from early childhood to senior secondary. A Women in ICT finalist (2024) and a subject matter expert, her expertise lies in translating emerging online risks into systemic, whole-of-community safety strategies.

With a Master’s in Literacy Education and extensive experience in digital practice, Sarah is focused on empowering entire community networks—school leaders, staff, families, and students—with the knowledge to navigate complex digital environments. She is a trusted voice and representative on several national working groups, where she ensures the ACT’s proactive implementation of frameworks, such as the eSafety Commissioner’s Best Practice model, is scalable.

Sarah is deeply passionate about protecting and empowering communities to have safer and more positive online experiences, establishing a strong foundation for Australia’s collective cyber resilience.

Craig Davies is an experienced company director and technology leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and building high-performing teams. Based in Australia, Craig has spent over two decades at the intersection of cybersecurity, technology strategy, and business growth—working with organisations ranging from high-growth startups to global enterprises.

As Director and Chief Security Officer at Gathid, Craig is helping redefine identity management and security, empowering businesses to take control of their digital ecosystems. He brings deep expertise in designing scalable, secure infrastructure—combined with a pragmatic, people-first approach to leadership.

Previously, Craig served as CEO of AustCyber and as Head of Security at Atlassian, where he was instrumental in scaling security operations for one of the world’s most prominent technology companies. His passion for solving complex challenges and mentoring the next generation of leaders continues to shape his work today.

When he’s not in the boardroom, you’ll find Craig sailing the Australian coast or immersed in a great book—always curious, always learning.

Amelia Edge brings a dynamic blend of experience in market research, IT, and cyber recruitment. This has equipped her with a deep understanding of the needs and expectations of both employers and candidates in the cyber field.

Her ability to foster trusted relationships across the national cyber community has made her a respected and influential figure in the industry. Amelia’s contributions have been widely recognised, particularly through her leadership as the Project Lead for the Victorian Summer of Cyber Program, where she successfully spearheaded a high-impact initiative to engage and develop emerging talent in cyber security.

She currently serves as the Volunteer and Community Lead at the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN), where she continues to champion inclusion, collaboration, and professional growth across the sector.

Kersti is the Managing Director of the WorkPath Australia Program at the Vertical Scope Group (VSG).

Kersti brings 30 years of experience as a diplomat representing Estonia and completed her five-year term as Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in Canberra in August 2024. During her tenure, her work focused extensively on digital innovation and cyber security.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master’s degree with honours in Business Consultations. Her diplomatic career began as a trade diplomat representing Estonia’s interests in Geneva and Brussels. She later advanced to serve as the Director General of Human Resources and led the Estonian consular service for five years, also acting as the Ministry’s spokesperson on consular matters.

Patrick Fair B. Ec, LL. B is the principal of law firm, Patrick Fair Associates, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Information Technology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment at Deakin University, the Chairman of the Communications Security Reference Panel at the Communications Alliance, a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association, a member of the IoT Alliance of Australia Security Workstream, a director of Crimestoppers NSW, a member of the Crimestoppers Cybersecurity Committee and Member Technical Advisory Standing Committee auDA.

Sitting in silence for ten days straight taught Darren Fleming more about the human psyche than his psychology degree and years studying philosophy ever could. Those experiences, combined with a decade representing Australia in elite sailing, give him deep insight into how people perform under pressure.

The author of seven books on communication, leadership, and mindset, Darren shows leaders and teams how to control their attention, eliminate distraction, and think clearly when the pressure is on. His latest book Mindset Mastery has been translated for the Japanese market and adopted by clients across Australia and around the world.

For more than twenty years, Darren has helped Global 500 organisations such as Caterpillar, CISCO, Accenture, BHP and Rio Tinto improve focus, resilience and decision-making. He has also worked with multiple cyber-security teams and agencies, helping technical experts stay composed and effective during incident response, crisis simulation and transformation programs.

Peter has been helping software teams and application owners improve their security for the last 17 years. He has experience in key facets of application security covering code review, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), opensource libraries, secrets detection and management, penetration testing and DevSecOps in over 100 companies, ranging from startups to multinationals. Working prior to consulting as a developer himself for nearly ten years, starting in the late 90s, through the dot com boom, bust and beyond. His passion now lies in code analytics and mining Git for predictive maintenance and focused remediation.

Angelo Friggieri is the Executive Director of Public Sector and head of the ACT region of Australia’s largest and leading cybersecurity firm, CyberCX.

Angelo Friggieri is a seasoned technology leader with over 19 years of experience in technology architecture and delivery, including 17 years advising government agencies. As the public sector lead at CyberCX, Angelo is focusing on assisting government and national security agencies stay ahead of adversaries and protect our Australian way of life.

Previously Angelo has held senior leadership positions for global system integrators with a focus on serving the Australian federal and state governments for technology, transformation, and cybersecurity needs.

Angelo is a respected voice in the cybersecurity and national security communities, having spoken and hosted at major conferences such as the Australian Cyber Conferences in Canberra and Melbourne, AusCERT, and AuSEC.

Angelo holds a Bachelor of Information Communication and Technology from the University of Wollongong.

I’m a Partner and Director at nXus People, with a career spanning military service, complex operational leadership, and organisational development consulting across government and industry. I began as an infantry officer in the British Army, completing five operational deployments across Europe and the Middle East before moving into senior headquarters and procurement program roles within the Ministry of Defence.

Since transitioning into the commercial sector, I’ve led large and complex organisations at Director General Manager level, working across strategy, operations, leadership, culture, and organisational performance. Drawing on this experience, I now work with leaders and executive teams to improve performance in high-pressure, complex environments — helping individuals, teams, and organisations work well together. My work includes consulting, facilitation, executive coaching, and leadership development for clients including Saab, Toyota Finance Australia, Department of Defence, State and Federal Government organisations, and a range of SMEs and industry clients.

Will has extensive experience in organisational, program, and change management. His core skills AI implementation, strategic and financial planning, program design, and stakeholder engagement.

As Chief Operating Officer for Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), Will manages operations, strategy, finance, governance, and program delivery. Working with the COSBOA Board, he has transformed the organisation from two staff to a robust team of ten plus an extensive network of contractors and delivery partners.

Will has implemented cutting edge technologies with a focus on practical, cost-effective solutions, including developing in-house AI capabilities that have increased organisational efficiency equivalent to 4+ FTE employees.

Will has personally negotiated and secured significant partnerships with major stakeholders including Microsoft, Square, Meta, and AMEX. He has designed and overseen multiple national programs including Cyber Wardens, Small Business PEAK, She Means Business and GO LOCAL FIRST.

He has been personally responsible for negotiating over $50 million in program work. The total value of all programs managed under his leadership exceeds $90 million.

Darren Hopkins is a Forensic Technology and Cyber Incident Response specialist with 30 years’ experience guiding organisations through the proactive and reactive challenges of cybersecurity, privacy and information-risk management.

A foundation member of the Queensland Police Forensic Computer Examination Unit, he is a court-recognised expert who has led complex digital-forensic investigations for criminal and civil matters in Australia and abroad.

Darren now advises boards and executive teams on cyber strategy, incident readiness and data-breach response, drawing on work across sectors including government, finance, healthcare, construction and technology.

Dr Vicki Gardiner is Chief Operating Officer of the Canberra Cyber Hub, where she works at the intersection of cyber security, space and quantum to grow Australia’s advanced technology ecosystem. She supports cyber companies to scale through skills development, partnerships, and cross‑sector collaboration, strengthening a resilient, self‑sustaining national cyber industry.

Vicki brings deep experience spanning industry, government and research, with a career focused on workforce development, ecosystem building and translating advanced capability into real‑world impact. She has led nationally recognised initiatives across STEM, cyber and emerging technologies, working with industry, education providers and governments to grow skills pipelines, support company growth and strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability.

David is a senior cyber security leader and board adviser with over 35 years’ experience in financial services, engineering and consulting.

He has held CISO roles across superannuation, big four consultancies, and insurance, leading the cyber security, risk, and compliance functions in highly regulated environments.

David has a Master’s in Business, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is CISM certified and serves on the Executive Advisory Board for Cyber for the Australian Information Security Association.

Pouya Ghotbi is a seasoned cybersecurity strategist with over 20 years of experience shaping how organisations protect, detect, and respond in an increasingly AI-driven world. He focuses on cloud security, AI security, and modern SecOps, translating complex concepts into clear and actionable strategies that deliver results.

Pouya is known for his direct and practical approach, and for challenging assumptions that hold security teams back. His sessions explore the intersection of technology, intelligence, and human judgement, revealing how practical security thinking can turn chaos into control. Audiences leave with real ideas they can apply immediately and a sharper view of what effective cybersecurity looks like in practice.

Peter is a seasoned cyber security and ICT professional with more than 20 years’ experience operating at the sharp edge of complex technology environments. He thrives under constraint, delivering impact where budgets are tight, resources are limited and outcomes matter.

Peter is a Director of Cyber Security, responsible for leading large‑scale cyber security capability and uplift across the Western Australian public sector.

Peter is widely known for his dedication to mentoring and developing the next generation of cyber professionals, combining real‑world experience with practical guidance that builds confidence and capability. He is a long‑standing contributor to the cyber community, particularly through the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN), where he actively supports, mentors and advocates for others. Peter was recognised as the AISA Mentor of the Year in 2025, reflecting his lasting impact on individuals, teams and the broader profession.

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is the founding CEO of Strat Futures Pty Limited, host of the Technology & Security and Cognitive Edge Podcasts as well as an adjunct Associate Professor at Deakin University. She is leading the development of a platform to improve cognitive readiness and resilience in leaders who make high stakes decisions. Dr Miah Hammond-Errey publishes and presents at the intersection of technology and security as well as guides organisations and leaders on national security, emerging technologies and leadership.

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey spent eighteen years leading federal government analysis, operational and liaison activities in Australia, Europe, and Asia. She has been awarded medals, citations and awards for operational service, leadership and excellence. Her book, Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted (2024) is based on her PhD. Her Masters thesis developed the Information Influence and Interference (I3) Framework to counter Russian disinformation. Previously, she established and led think tank programs on emerging technologies and information operations. She currently teaches postgraduate students about cyber security, emerging technologies and national security.

Erin Harriott is Director, Employer Partnerships at Future Women (FW). Before joining FW Erin served as Director of Cyber Intelligence and Assurance for the Federal Parliament.

A true pioneer, Erin established a world-leading cyber capability staffed by 90% women. Erin built high performing teams across nine different cyber capabilities - establishing the award winning Human-centric Cyber Defence Program for Federal Parliament.

Not only has she been at the forefront of Australia’s rapidly evolving cyber sector - as a woman in tech and security, she has significant experience navigating male-dominated industries. Erin’s career highlights in cyber include participation at the US Cyber Command CyberFlag Exercise in 2025 and providing the keynote for the Five Eye Parliament Cyber Conference 2024 in Washington D.C.

Sylvain Hirsch is a leading authority on cybersecurity strategy and executive resilience. As a Principal Consultant at Mandiant, Google Cloud, he focuses on guiding C-level and board-level clients to enhance their cyber defense capabilities.

With a proven track record leading high-stakes responses to advanced threats and impactful cyber defense exercises, Sylvain helps organizations move beyond technical playbooks to develop strategic leadership preparedness. His expertise lies in uniting incident response with crisis communications and legal guidance, ensuring executives are equipped to minimize the impact of sophisticated cyberattacks.

Sylvain is also a frequent speaker and guest lecturer, sharing his insights on cyber risk with a global audience.

Emily Holyoake is the Co-Founder of Not A Standard and Co-Creator of the SAFE Framework, a multidisciplinary initiative integrating cybersecurity, criminology, and behavioural science to map how adversaries exploit systems, technology, and human vulnerabilities. Her work focuses on transforming complex intelligence into actionable insights for practitioners and organisations, bridging the gap between technical defences and human factors in security.

A proud Wiradjuri Woman and Neurodiversity in cyber advocate with a background that spans human-centred security, intelligence analysis, and social impact, Emily’s work challenges conventional thinking about risk and protection. She is driven by the belief that effective security starts with understanding people and that awareness, not automation, is the key to resilience. Through SAFE, she is building practical ways to make intelligence usable beyond the cyber domain, empowering everyday defenders to recognise the subtle signals that traditional tools often miss.

John Karabin has over three decades of IT and cybersecurity expertise, with a focus on transformative projects spanning government and commercial sectors. His prominent roles at leading consulting firms and major system integrators have allowed him to provide strategic advice across Australian, New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific regions.

Taking a pragmatic, risk-based approach, John has significantly contributed to developing cybersecurity strategies that mitigate risk and enhance technical and organizational resilience. He collaborates regularly with boards, executives, and security leaders, fostering consensus for greater maturity, compliance, improved reporting, and refined organizational security approaches.

Len Kleinman is the Chief Strategy and Technology Officer for FedCyber, a premier technology and cybersecurity advisory practice with a special focus on the Federal Government and Critical Infrastructure sectors. His

mission is to work with executives and business stakeholders where technology, security, and strategic transformation are deeply intertwined. His role is to guide organisations through complex

technological landscapes, helping them unlock growth, mitigate risk, and build future-ready capabilities. As a member of the executive team, Len works closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to

ensure that technology initiatives align with organisational goals and deliver measurable impact in a safe, secure manner.

Len is an Associate Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University, a former member of the Forbes Technology Council, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Oceania Cyber Security Centre. With over 35 years of experience in the information technology and cybersecurity industry, he is an active member of the security technology community and a frequent speaker at industry events.

Prior to joining FedCyber, Len was the CISO for Enablis, Field CTO at Palo Alto Networks, and Chief Cyber Security Advisor for RSA International. A career public servant prior to 2016, Len worked in senior roles in IT security

at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), including governance and risk, compliance, the IT Security Advisor role and leading the ATO's cyber technical team. His areas of focus included specialist advice and policy on a range of business and technical activities, strategic and operational planning, service provider engagement, contingency and

incident response, and threat intelligence.

Abbas Kudrati is the Regional Chief Identity & Security Advisor at Silverfort and a former Chief Cybersecurity Advisor at Microsoft Asia. With deep expertise in Identity Security, Zero Trust Archiecture, Cloud and Cybersecurity, he provides strategic and technical guidance to a number of startups, including SquareX, Aona.ai, and PriviEzi, as well as leading institutions such as EC-Council and Vinnies Victoria, while actively mentoring the cybersecurity community.

A bestselling author and renowned keynote speaker, Abbas has authored industry-leading books such as Threat Hunting in the Cloud and Zero Trust Journey Across the Digital Estate. He also serves as a Professor of Practice at La Trobe University and is a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA). https://aka.ms/abbas

Lucinda Longcroft is Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the Tech Council of Australia. She advises on technology policy, regulatory strategy and corporate affairs, particularly on issues related to artificial intelligence, data and digital transformation in Australia and globally.

Formerly, Lucinda was Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google in Australia and New Zealand, where she led engagement with governments on critical digital policy issues including the News Media Bargaining Code, online safety and emerging AI regulation. She previously served for over two decades at the United Nations, including as Head of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in New York, shaping international frameworks for intellectual property and innovation and working with government leaders across Australia, Europe and the United States.

Lucinda is an international lawyer, admitted to practice in New York and New South Wales, holds a Masters in International Law from the University of Cambridge and a teaching diploma in speech and communication and is a member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.

Jacqui is the CEO and Founder of the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) which aims to connect, support and inspire a diverse security workforce.

She brings over 2 decades of international experience in IT, Cyber Security and cybercrime.

She's passionate about increasing the diversity in the workforce across Australia, building inclusive teams and educating everyone on cyber security.

She is on several advisory committees, including the Home Affairs Executive Cyber Security Council (Workforce and small business working groups), ISC2 Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and the Digital Taskforce committee for the Future Skills Organisation.

Simon Lucey is Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Director of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) at the University of Adelaide. AIML is Australia’s largest university-based machine learning research institute, bringing together experts in computer vision, machine learning and robotics to develop next-generation AI systems. Under his leadership, the Institute has secured more than $100 million in funding and established major national research initiatives and industry partnerships.

Professor Lucey’s research spans computer vision, machine learning and visual perception, focusing on computational and mathematical models that enable efficient learning and large-scale AI deployment. His work has advanced visual representation, learning dynamics and autonomous perception, influencing both academic research and real-world applications across sectors including autonomous vehicles, financial services and consumer technologies.

Prior to joining Adelaide, he held senior roles at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, Argo AI and CSIRO, where his research led to internationally commercialised technologies in computer vision and 3D facial modelling.

An internationally recognised leader in AI, he has authored over 300 publications, received more than 22,000 citations (h-index 63), holds 11 patents, and has received major honours, including the 2024 AmCham Alliance Award and an ARC Future Fellowship. He also contributes to national AI strategy and policy through advisory roles.

Dr Susan McGinty is the CEO and Founder of The Asstembly. An award-winning scientist and global Security & STEM leadership development expert, speaker and author, she is inspired to transform the profile of leadership in Security & STEM to foster leadership excellence, diversity and inclusion; uplift women into leadership roles; and promote innovation sustainability.

Susan helps organisations across STEM, intelligence, national security and cyber security to develop diverse leadership pipelines as a foundation for business growth and innovation. She works with leaders globally to strengthen leadership skills and develop resilient, high-performing teams. Her thought leadership and tailored leadership programs have global impact.

Susan was awarded the 2025 International Women in Cyber Day Canberra Awards Change Maker of the Year Award, 2025 Women Leading Tech Champion of Change Award (Highly Commended), 2024 Australian Women in Security Awards Best Industry Initiative That Supports Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and 2023 Women in STEM Leadership Leader of the Year Award, for her work supporting the leadership development of women in STEM, defence and cybersecurity globally.

Susan has a PhD in Medicinal & Organic Chemistry, a Master of Leadership, and 28 years’ experience in STEM, Defence, Intelligence and National Security, and STEM/Security leadership development.

Grant is a distinguished CISO and Risk Leader with 20+ years of experience in cybersecurity and leadership. CISO with Endeavour Group and Senior roles at Telstra and NBN Australia. He has successfully established greenfield cyber security functions, led operational transformations, and contributed to building secure national infrastructure. Awarded as one of the top 10 CISOs in Asia Pacific in 2022, he was crucial in developing national cybersecurity initiatives.

He excels at aligning complex technical challenges with business outcomes, with strategic risk management, and fostering high-performing teams. His expertise spans all of the required domains of CISO in enterprise, and his leadership philosophy emphasises continuous learning and collaborative strategy creation.

Dr Margot McNeill is an experienced education leader with over 35 years across TAFEs, universities, and schools in Australia and New Zealand. She has held senior roles in both public and private institutions, driving excellence in student outcomes and institutional performance. With a PhD focused on educational technologies and curriculum innovation, her career is defined by sustainable innovation, quality assurance, and scalable improvements that enhance learning and workforce readiness.

Margot is currently CEO at the Canberra Institute of Technology, the ACT’s public vocational education provider. Prior to this role she served as Chief Product and Quality Officer at TAFE NSW, overseeing quality assurance, curriculum development, and governance across the largest dual sector provider in the Southern Hemisphere.

Recognised nationally, Margot has represented educators on the Federal Qualification Reform Design Group, contributed to TEQSA’s Academic Integrity Toolkit, and was honoured as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has published extensively, with over 50 scholarly works and more than 1,300 citations of her research.

I work and speak about the intersection of technology, law and human rights.

As a principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn, Australia's premier class actions law firm, I lead large scale litigation against major technology companies on behalf of thousands of people who have been harmed by them. As the founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch, Australia's leading digital rights organisation, I advocate for stronger laws to protect people from predatory industries and dangerous business models.

I am an author of two books, and a contributing author to three more, which explore campaigns to protect human rights and the history and future of technology.

John Paitaridis (JP) is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyberCX, the leading cyber security organisation in Australia and New Zealand. With over 30 years’ experience in the technology industry, he is a recognised leader in digital transformation and cyber security strategy.

Prior to founding CyberCX, Mr Paitaridis served as Managing Director at Optus, leading its enterprise and business division, and previously held senior leadership roles at Telstra. He currently serves on several industry and government bodies, including the Australian Government’s Executive

Cyber Council, and co-chairs the Australia–New Zealand Leadership Forum.

Jeannie Marie Paterson is a Professor of Law and co-founding Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Melbourne (CAIDE).

Jeannie’s research and teaching focuses on the ethical and regulatory challenges of AI. Her current projects cover misleading AI (incl deep fakes, scams and misinformation), the regulation of AI chatbots (including in mental health, companionship and consumer facing roles) and AI in the civil justice system (with a focus on access to justice).

Rozika brings over 20 years of experience in education and wellbeing, serving in teaching and leadership roles dedicated to student safety and development. Her passion for safeguarding children inspired her to contribute to the development of a proactive filtering and monitoring tool to support student wellbeing across public schools in South Australia.

As the Cyber Awareness and Wellbeing Leader for the Department for Education, Rozika combines her expertise in education with her recently completed Psychology degree to enhance cybersecurity awareness. Her deep understanding of human behaviour and learning has been instrumental in designing and implementing initiatives that address the unique needs of educators, staff, and students.

Rozika’s work focuses on bridging the gap between online safety and cybersecurity, fostering a culture where children and young people can navigate the digital world confidently, safely, and respectfully. Her mission is to empower people with the knowledge and tools to thrive as responsible global citizens in an increasingly digital age.

Andrew Philp is the Field CISO for Trend Micro across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with over 28 years in IT and cybersecurity. He advises boards, executives, and government leaders on translating security frameworks into measurable outcomes that build confidence, resilience, and public trust.

Andrew has worked closely with agencies and critical infrastructure operators on aligning cyber programs with national strategies and governance obligations, including risk appetite, resilience reporting, and assurance frameworks. He has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors Course and, amongst other community volunteering, serves as a member of an Audit and Risk Committee for a not-for-profit organisation.

A regular national and international speaker, Andrew focuses on helping leaders cut through noise and compliance fatigue to create predictable, evidence-based security that supports better business and government decisions.

Chantelle Ralevska is a trusted voice in cybersecurity — recognised for her human-first approach to security awareness and her ability to make complex threats relevant, engaging, and genuinely behaviour-changing.

After protecting some of Australia's largest and most complex organisations — including Macquarie Group, Westpac, and Woolworths — Chantelle identified a critical gap: best-practice human risk management wasn't reaching far enough. The training that changed behaviour inside enterprise simply wasn't available to the businesses that needed it most.

She founded Psyber to change that. Today, Psyber delivers world-class cybersecurity and AI safety awareness — making enterprise-grade human risk management accessible to every Australian organisation.

Chantelle's mission is to empower one million Australians with the skills and confidence to stay cyber safe, from frontline staff to the boardroom.

Alongside building Psyber, Chantelle is an active voice in Australia's cybersecurity conversation, sharing insights through podcasts with leaders including Shark Tank's Nick Bell and being featured by publications including Commbank and Women's Agenda.

Rodman Ramezanian is a strategic cybersecurity leader supporting Australia’s Federal Government and Defence organisations as they modernise and secure their cloud environments. He works closely with agencies and senior stakeholders to uncover and manage risk, improve visibility, and enable the safe, rapid adoption of cloud technologies across critical systems.

Renowned for his ability to communicate complex security concepts with clarity and impact, Rodman bridges technical depth with executive strategy. His expertise spans cloud security, governance, and risk management, helping organisations strengthen assurance and resilience in increasingly dynamic, multi-cloud environments.

As an ASD-endorsed IRAP Assessor, Rodman brings deep understanding of compliance and assurance frameworks within government contexts. He holds multiple professional accreditations including CISSP, CCSP, CISA, CDPSE, CCISO, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect and AI Engineer, and MITRE ATT&CK certifications.

Rodman regularly leads high-impact cybersecurity workshops and executive roundtables across the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, engaging senior leaders on cloud security maturity, data protection, and risk strategy. His sessions are recognised for their insight, practicality, and ability to inspire meaningful change.

Raymond Schippers is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with over 15 years of experience developing enterprise-wide security programs for global organisations. He has held leadership roles across various organisations, including his current position as Lead Technologist at Check Point Software, where he collaborates with strategic customers to develop cybersecurity strategies and operationalize cutting-edge solutions.

Previously, as CISO and CTO at Huntabil.IT, Raymond led cybersecurity advisory services, helping organisations transition to intelligence-led strategies and uplift security capabilities. At Canva, he played a pivotal role in building and scaling the Detection & Response group, establishing 24/7 global threat detection, response, hunting, and intelligence teams.

He also developed Canva’s initial Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) strategy and led incident response activities. Additionally, Raymond has provided strategic guidance as an Advisory Board Member at Sustainabil.IT and worked as a Principal Consultant at Parand.io, helping organizations adopt threat-informed defense postures and operationalize threat intelligence. His extensive experience spans incident response leadership, threat detection, and intelligence-driven security strategies, making him a trusted partner for enhancing organisational security maturity.

Adam Selwood is Founder and CTO of Cynch, a cybersecurity startup dedicated to solving the resilience challenge for small businesses. With over 20 years of experience as a security architect and technology leader, his career has spanned major enterprise and government programs with organisations like Australia Post. This deep technical background gave him a unique insight into the growing gap between enterprise-level security and the practical needs of the small business community.

Frustrated by the complexity that locked SMEs out of effective security, Adam co-founded Cynch to address this challenge directly. His work has since provided him with a ground-level perspective on the challenges faced by Australia's small business community, having directly engaged with over 2,000 SMEs. Adam is passionate about moving beyond box-ticking compliance to build practical, partnership-based approaches that foster genuine security and strengthen Australia's entire business ecosystem.

Rajiv Shah is a technology and business adviser, helping organisations to understand emerging technology, and to apply it in a way that is both secure and delivers business value. He has a PhD in quantum physics, and almost 30 years of experience in cyber security, working for government and commercial clients across the globe.

He was the inaugural Australian country director for BAE Systems cyber security business, and his work has spanned cyber security strategy and architecture, big data and artificial intelligence, quantum technology and advanced communication systems and networks.

Rajiv is the Managing Director of MDR Security, helping clients to make technology understandable, effective and safe and secure to use. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an adviser to CAN.B Group and a member of the board of the Australian Information Security Association and various other boards.

Maryam is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with deep experience in building and leading world-class security operations centres and incident response capabilities. She specialises in developing high-impact cyber resilience strategies and guiding organisations through rapid recovery from complex cyber incidents.

With a strong track record of transforming security operations and uplifting organisational maturity, Maryam combines strategic vision with hands-on technical leadership. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity in cybersecurity, championing initiatives that empower women to step into leadership roles. Her dedication and influence have earned her multiple industry award nominations recognising her exemplary leadership and commitment to advancing the cybersecurity profession.

Malcolm was Director INFOSEC at GCSB for a decade before moving into the telecommunications industry to take on CSO roles at Telecom NZ, NBN Co, and Huawei Australia. He has also held Technical Director positions in BAE Systems AI, CES Comunications NZ, and Outpace AI. He is currently Chief Security Architect for David Lynas Consulting.

Malcolm has represented Australia and New Zealand in cybersecurity forums internationally, has participated in the ISO and Open Group standards bodies, and has held board roles in both AISA and the SABSA Institute. He is also a partner representative in the Global Forum for Cyber Expertise (GFCE).

Malcolm has held adjunct roles at Canterbury University, UNSW, and currently is an adjunct PhD supervisor at Deakin University in Melbourne. Malcolm was instrumental in developing and launching the vocational Certificate IV in Cybersecurity throughout Australia. He has published research in the cybersecurity field, and is the author of numerous online cybersecurity and programming courses published through Linkedin Learning and Offsec.

Mona Sidhu is a dedicated Cyber Education and Awareness Manager at the NSW Department of Education, with a passion for promoting cyber security and online safety awareness among students, teachers, and parents and carers. With a background in education and technology, Mona has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age in the education sector.

Mona is committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. She develops award-winning innovative educational programs and resources that empower students to make informed decisions about their online behavior and protect themselves from cyber threats.

In her role, Mona collaborates with schools, government agencies, and community organisations to raise awareness about cyber safety issues and promote best practices for digital citizenship. She is a strong advocate for integrating cyber security education into the school curriculum and providing support and training for educators.

Mona's expertise and leadership in the field of cyber education make her a sought-after speaker and consultant. She is dedicated to inspiring and empowering educators to embrace technology in the classroom while prioritising the safety and well-being of their students.

Sarah Sloan is Head of Cybersecurity Policy APAC, Cisco where she leads public sector engagement across the region. With 15 years’ experience across government, industry, and consulting—including over a decade focused on cyber and technology —Sarah has held senior roles in the Australian Government and leading global technology firms, driving policy development, public-private sector partnerships, and national cybersecurity priorities.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies from the Australian National University (ANU), and postgraduate qualifications in legal practice, international law, and Japanese studies. Sarah is also Chair of the Australian Industry Information Association's (AIIA) National Security and Cyber Resilience Policy Advisory Network.

Meg Tapia is a national security expert with over 20 years’ experience across Commonwealth, State Government, and private sectors. She served 16 years as a diplomat with postings in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu and holds three degrees in policy and business. Meg is known for her unique blend of expertise in intelligence capability, technology, government relations, and commercial strategy.

She was awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal and NATO Medal for her civilian service in Afghanistan. Currently, she serves on the Board of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers and the Advisory Board of Hemisphere East. A sought-after speaker, she regularly presents on national security threats, particularly disinformation.

Dr Bruce Tonkin commenced as the Chief Executive Officer of auDA on 1 January 2025.

Bruce joined auDA in 2017 and served as auDA’s Chief Operating Officer from 2018 to 2024. In this role, he was responsible for the operations of the .au country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

Before joining auDA, Bruce was Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Melbourne IT from 1999 until 2017, where over the years he has been responsible for IT infrastructure, software development, the development of the company's strategic and operating plans, strategic initiatives with major customers and suppliers, and managing the evaluation of merger and acquisition opportunities. He gained more than 15 years of experience taking cloud-based services to global markets across the USA, Europe, and Asia for both SMBs and Enterprises. Bruce also served on the Board of ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers) for nine years. ICANN manages the global domain name and IP addressing system for the internet.

Bruce holds a BE(Hons) and a Ph.D. in electrical and electronic engineering and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Toby Walsh is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of AI at UNSW Sydney. He is Chief Scientist of UNSW.AI, UNSW's campus wide AI Institute.

He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many others on this topic.

One focus of this advocacy has been on the military uses of AI, and this has led to him being "banned indefinitely" from Russia. He is a Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science, and was named on the international "Who's Who in AI" list of influencers. He has written five books on AI for a general audience, the most recent is "The Shortest History of AI: six ideas are all you need to know".

Johanna Weaver is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Tech Policy Design Institute. A reformed commercial litigator, a recovering diplomat, and an escaped professor, Ms Weaver champions tech policy as a tool to shape technology for the long-term benefit of humanity.

Prior to founding TPDi’s predecessor – the Tech Policy Design Centre – at ANU, Johanna completed her term as Australia’s independent expert and lead negotiator on cyber issues at the United Nations. In 2022, she was appointed Professor in the Practice of Tech Policy at ANU.

Earlier Johanna led the Cyber Affairs Branch at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working closely with Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs. Johanna is a member of several board, including International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Global Advisory Board on digital threats during conflict, and the Independent Advisory board to the Australian Minister for Government Services.

Caitlan is a strategic program and partnerships professional with over ten years’ experience across higher education, industry engagement, innovation programs, and emerging technology initiatives in Queensland and the ACT.

Prior to joining the Canberra Cyber Hub, Caitlan was Project Lead at Innovation Central Canberra (ICC), a partnership between the University of Canberra and Cisco, where she led initiatives across cyber security, AI, workforce capability, short courses, and industry engagement. Her work focused on building collaboration between government, industry, and academia through strategic programs, partnerships, events, and innovation initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Caitlan worked extensively across higher education, student engagement, and Work Integrated Learning (WIL), leading industry partnership and employability initiatives within the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Science and Technology.

Caitlan holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science, Master of Clinical Counselling and a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security. She is currently the Strategic Program Manager at the Canberra Cyber Hub, supporting initiatives across cyber, space, and quantum technologies with a focus on ecosystem growth, industry collaboration, and workforce capability.

Tim Willis [he/him] is a Senior Engineering Manager at Google and leads the Exploitation and Offensive Research team, which includes Project Zero and Big Sleep. During his fourteen years at Google, Tim's highlights include leading vulnerability analysis and triage for Alphabet, running both Chrome and Google's bug bounty programs, being Google's "Hacker Philanthropist" and "HTTPS evangelist", and co-created and launched Google's first HTTPS Transparency Report.

Tim also has an interest in the intersection of technology and policy, helping to ensure that governments and industry recognize the importance of

security research. He strongly believes that security doesn't improve when bugs are found, only when they're fixed (and updates applied!).

Prior to Google, Tim held a variety of technical positions within industry and the Australian Government.

Emily Wingard is a passionate leader with two decades of ICT and cyber security experience within the Government of South Australia. She is the Director, Cyber Security at the Department for Education, where she drives cyber initiatives to support South Australian schools and young people to learn, grow and thrive.

Previously, Emily was the Senior Manager, Cyber Capability and Engagement at the state’s lead cyber security agency, championing awareness and collaboration to boost resilience across government and the community.

In addition, Emily dedicated almost seven years volunteering for the Australian Information Security Association (AISA). Through her roles as Board Director, South Australian Branch Chair and Deputy Chair, her commitment uplifted collaboration and knowledge sharing that has strengthened the cyber community.

Emily’s impact has been recognised with awards such as the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s ‘Making a Difference’ award and AISA’s ‘Branch Executive of the Year’ in 2021 and AISA’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to AISA’ in 2024.

Over the years, Sharin has journeyed from the trenches of cybersecurity into the ever-evolving realm of artificial intelligence — where curiosity meets code and ethics meets algorithms. As a seasoned technical leader turned AI-bot-in-training, she now explores how human intelligence and machine intelligence can learn from each other (without one plotting the other's demise).

Sharin specialises in translating complex AI concepts into practical, secure solutions — turning buzzwords into breakthroughs and making responsible AI feel less like compliance homework and more like levelling up in the game of digital evolution. And true to form, she's still powered by the same secret fuel that's never failed her: a good conversation, and a scoop (or two) of ice cream.

Michael Zimmerman is a Founding Partner at Main Sequence, an early stage deep tech venture capital firm co-founded with CSIRO and the Australian Government to solve the planet’s greatest challenges in food, health, climate, space, national security and industrial resilience.

Mike has over 30 years of operating and investing experience with high growth companies in Australia and the United States. He serves as a Director of a number of companies in the Main Sequence portfolio, as well as a Board member of the Australian Investment Council. Mike holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BA with honors from Amherst College.

Jakub Zverina is a respected cyber workforce specialist with more than 20 years of technical and operational experience across government, defence and the private sector. Transitioning from practitioner to strategic program lead, he now focuses on building and growing Australia’s cyber workforce. Jakub is currently the Technical Program Lead for CyberPath, the national cyber workforce professionalisation program delivered by the Australian Computer Society.

He was a key contributor to the Australian Cyber Workforce Playbook and works extensively across Australia and internationally on workforce strategy. His consulting and advisory work includes engagements with DFAT, CREST International, the SFIA Foundation, the Executive Cyber Council’s Cyber Workforce Working Group, the NSW Digital Skills Compact, multiple university advisory boards, and technical committees with both Future Skills Organisation and the Tech Council of Australia.

His leadership in shaping accessible and future ready cyber career pathways has earned national recognition, including being named Champion of Change at the Australian Women in Cyber Awards 2025 and a finalist for Consultant of the Year at the Australian Cyber Awards 2026. Jakub is driven by a commitment to strengthening Australia’s cyber resilience by developing a skilled, diverse and confident cyber workforce.

Speakers

CyberConnect Canberra 27-28 May 2026

Speakers

Discussing the pressing and emerging cyber trends

Keynote Speakers

Shane Fitzsimmons

Rachel Noble

Ben Hamer

Name

Session Title: Opening Keynote – Session Title

Government Speakers

Hon Minister Andrew Giles

Stephanie Crowe

Jessica Hunter

MAJGEN Robert Watson

Conference MC

Helen McCabe

Conference Dinner MC

Dave Hughes

Speakers

Iftekhar Alam

Blanca Barreras

Anthony Borgo

Anne Louise Brown

Sally Browner

Jenalle Bushby

Alberto Chierici

Ant Cohen

Remy Coll

Sarah Darcy

Craig Davies

Amelia Edge

Kersti Eesmaa

Patrick Fair

Darren Fleming

Peter Freiberg

Angelo Friggieri

James Fulford-Talbot

William Harris

Darren Hopkins

Vicki Gardiner

David Geber

Pouya Ghotbi

Peter Gigengack

Miah Hammond-Errey

Erin Harriott

Sylvain Hirsch

Emily Holyoake

John Karabin

Len Kleinman

Abba Kudrati

Lucinda Longcroft

Jacqui Loustau

Prof Simon Lucey

David Masters

Susan McGinty

Grant McKechnie

Michael McKinnon

Dr Margot McNeill

Lizzie O'Shea

John Paitaridis

Prof Jeannie Paterson

Rozika Pratap

Andrew Philp

Chantelle Ralevska

Rodman Ramezanian

Raymond Schippers

Adam Selwood

Rajiv Shah

Anita Sheridan-Roddick

Maryam Shoraka

Malcom Shore

Mona Sidhu

Sarah Sloan

Meg Tapia

Bruce Tonkin

Susan Travis

Prof Toby Walsh

Johanna Weaver

Amanda Wescombe