With more than 25 years of leadership experience in IT solutions and cybersecurity, John has led and grown businesses across diverse global markets. His expertise spans cybersecurity, risk management, network and cloud solutions, consulting services, and new market acquisitions, serving industries such as manufacturing, government, healthcare, transportation, financial services, energy, and retail.

At Lumen, John is responsible for driving enterprise growth by delivering secure, agile, and innovative technology solutions that help customers connect people, data, and applications seamlessly. He is a proven leader in building high-performance teams, modernising operating models, and executing strategic programs that deliver measurable business outcomes.

His work has included partnering with global law enforcement on cyber threat takedowns through Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs, underscoring his commitment to safeguarding the digital ecosystem.

The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull AC

Australia’s 29th Prime Minister (2015-2018) had international careers in law, business and the media before entering politics at the age of 50.

As Prime Minister, he reformed Australia’s personal income tax, education and childcare systems, oversaw the legalisation of same sex marriage and announced the construction of Snowy Hydro 2.0 the biggest pumped hydro scheme in the southern hemisphere. Mr Turnbull embarked on the largest peacetime investment in Australian defence capabilities and set out Australia’s first national cybersecurity strategy.

Globally, Mr Turnbull played a leading role in reviving the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP-11 or CPTPP) after the United States withdrew. He also struck deals with US Presidents Obama and Trump to accept refugees who tried to arrive in Australia illegally by boat.

As a young lawyer, Mr Turnbull successfully defended former MI5 agent Peter Wright against the British Government in the 1986 “Spycatcher” trial before entering business where he ran his own investment banking firm for a decade before joining Goldman Sachs as a partner in 1997. Both before and after his political career, Mr Turnbull has been a successful venture capitalist. He co founded OzEmail Limited, the first Australian tech company to be listed on the NASDAQ.

Since leaving politics, Mr Turnbull has resumed his business career. He is a senior adviser to KKR and an investor in, and adviser to, many Australian technology businesses. He is a director of the International Hydropower Association and Chairman of Australian Fortescue Future Industries. Mr Turnbull speaks and writes on a range of issues including cyber security, geopolitics and renewable energy.

César Cernuda has led NetApp’s integrated go-to-market organization since July 2020, delivering on the company’s promise to meet customers wherever they are on their digital-transformation journeys by providing the superior products, specialist skills, and services they need to architect, build, and manage their data fabrics.

César joined NetApp following a long career at Microsoft, where he served as President of Microsoft Asia Pacific, President of Microsoft Latin America, and Global Corporate Vice President of the brand. Having walked in the shoes of NetApp’s enterprise customers, he brings a customer-centric perspective to all he does as president. César serves as the non-executive director and Chairman of the ESG committee at Gestamp, an international organization dedicated to the automotive industry; as an advisory board member of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business; and as an international advisory board member of IESE Business School – University of Navarra.

This bonus episode features Mandy Andress, CISO at Elastic, live from Elastic{ON} Sydney 2026. As Australia navigates its unique, sector-led approach to AI regulation, Karissa Breen and Mandy Andress explore the challenges—and opportunities—facing CISOs on the front lines of the agentic AI revolution.

Mandy Andress is currently the CISO of Elastic and has a long career focused on information risk and security.‬ Prior to Elastic, Mandy led the information security function at MassMutual and established and built information security programs at TiVo, Evant, and Privada. She worked as a security consultant with Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche, focusing on energy, financial services, and Internet technology clients with global operations. She also founded an information security consulting company with clients ranging from Fortune‬ 100 companies to start up organizations.‬

‭She is a published author, with her book Surviving Security having two editions and used at multiple‬ universities around the world as the textbook for foundation information security courses. Mandy also tested‬ and reviewed information security products for multiple publications as well as serving as the author for the weekly InfoWorld security column. She has been a sought after expert in the field, speaking at signature‬ security conferences such as BlackHat and Networld+Interop. In addition, she has taught a graduate level‬ Information Risk Management course for UMass Amherst in the College of Information and Computer‬ Sciences.‬

Mandy has a JD from Western New England University, a Master’s in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University, and a B.B.A in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Mandy is a CISSP, CPA, and‬ member of the Texas Bar.‬

Simon is a highly motivated, innovative and creative security professional with almost 20 years’ experience in the Pre-Sales and design space working with hardware, software and cloud solutions. Leadership experience and a proven track record of success growing and evolving teams in both medium and large organisations and on a global scale. Accustomed to speaking up to C- Level, in public forums and to press. A commercial techie that is inspired by good products, and passionate and motivated people.

Omar Khawaja is the VP, Field CISO at Databricks where he gets to work with CISOs to help them securely shepherd their organisations’ data+AI journey. He leads Databricks’ Field Security practice globally, teaches at Carnegie Mellon’s CISO program, sits on the boards of HITRUST and FAIR Institute, spent 9 years as CISO of a $26B enterprise and is leading a team that developed an actionable AI security framework for 11,000 enterprise data platform customers at Databricks.

We explore the pitfalls of traditional and predictable crisis training, the importance of cross-training team members, and the value of embedding continuous improvement and consequence-based learning into daily operations. Lisa also discusses the crucial role of cadence in incident communications, the need to manage rumor mills and public scrutiny, consequences of over-reliance on technology, and why true collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to strengthen defenses against modern threats.

Lisa Black is the Director of Public Sector at Aeon Nexus Corporation where she consults with government clients who are committed to enhancing justice through modernizing technology. Utilizing Aeon’s legal case management solution to deliver a single, secure, centralized, cloud-based system to public sector entities Lisa and her company work with public safety agencies, the offices of District Attorneys, Public Defenders, mediators and courts throughout the US.

With over two decades of government experience, Lisa previously served as the Chief Deputy County Executive in Suffolk County, NY. There she managed the daily operations of a local government that served 1.5 million residents with a $4 Billion budget and a workforce of approximately 12,000 staff. Lisa has also held leadership roles with two NY State Senate Majority Leaders, two New York City Mayors and a NY Governor serving as Senior Advisor at the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Lisa’s advantage in serving in both republican and democratic governments has been instrumental in her ability to communicate across the aisle where she has been involved in crisis and emergency management for over half of her career. Formerly trained in emergency management and operational decision-making during crisis, Lisa has also earned certificates in Government Leadership and Cybersecurity Policy and Technology from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University Executive Education Program. Importantly, her skills and training helped her lead the Unified Command Incident Response to a 2022 countywide ransomware attack including incident identification, containment, eradication and operational recovery.

She has spoken publicly about the experience at conferences and forums across the US including those with the NY State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the US Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, NY State Local Government Information Technology Directors Association (NYSLGITDA), the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA), the International Association of Emergency Manager’s (IAEM) Region II Inaugural Conference, the National Association of Counties (NACo) Chief Information Officer Forum, the FBI & Fordham Law School’s International Cyber Security Summit and the 2020Partners Counterterrorism, Counter-Narcotics & Cyber Security Miami Conference.

Karissa Breen [00:00:57]: Stay with me, we’re diving into the conversations that matter. This is KB On The Go from SYNSPACE Summit 2026.

Karissa Breen [00:01:04]: Let’s get into it. Joining me now in person is Rochelle Hopkins, Professor, Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Florida Southwestern State College, and today we’re discussing the future of cyber workforce. So, Rochelle, thanks for joining and welcome.

Rushell Hopkins [00:01:23]: Well, thanks for having me.

Karissa Breen [00:01:24]: Okay. So Rochelle, I’m really interested in the work that you do. And when we were talking before, you were sort of describing like how things are nowadays. And I think it’s really interesting to explore that a little bit more. So I want to start perhaps with your view on the growing concern about cognitive atrophy in the younger generation. And what are your thoughts here?

Rushell Hopkins [00:01:46]: Absolutely. One of the things I also didn’t share with you is I’m part of a cohort or consortium called the AAC&U, which is the American Association of Colleges and Universities. And I’m in this cohort where we’re trying to bring AI into higher education and kind of look at what that’s going to do. I share concerns with many of the educators in what they’re calling cognitive offloading or cognitive atrophy in our younger generation. In cybersecurity, I tend to have really remarkable, creative, compassionate, and technically advanced students. But what I’m seeing and the shift that I’m seeing is that these students are using AI at a level where it’s eroding their patience, their deep focus, and their willingness to wrestle with the deeper problems. And learning, especially in cybersecurity, requires discomfort. We have to think outside the box.

Rushell Hopkins [00:02:33]: It really requires us to sit with something, and if we don’t understand it, we are breaking it down and we’re building up that mental endurance, right, to solve it. And when their answer is just one click away, right, to these problems, that muscle greatly weakens.

Karissa Breen [00:02:50]: This is where I think it gets really interesting as well, because I’m a millennial, and even when we were learning things, it’s still fundamentally different. Doesn’t feel that long ago. But when you’re talking about what you’re describing versus when I came up through the ranks, it’s not that long ago, but it does feel a lot longer. So I’m curious to see What does this sort of mean now for how people are actually learning things? You mentioned before 15-minute to 20-minute blocks before you had to say, right, we’re gonna get up, go for a walk, we’re gonna do something else. That’s a very short period of time when you think about it. How, what’s going on here?

Rushell Hopkins [00:03:32]: So there’s a lot, there’s a lot of things. People are starting to do a lot of research on attention span, right? And I don’t wanna go down too much that down that road because I don’t have any degrees in psychology or, you know, I teach computer science and cybersecurity. But I’ve watched a lot of content, and I don’t mean social media content, I mean research, where shows like Cocomelon, right, that we put our kids in front of, the screens are changing every 1 to 1.5 seconds. You get to 2 seconds before there is a color change, a scene change, or something’s happening. And what’s happening from a very young age when we put children in front of TVs, we are literally breaking down their attention span from birth. Okay? And so when these college kids are coming in, we’ve already done a number on them in terms of by the time they get to the situation, their attention span, they don’t really have the same attention span that I have. I’m a Gen Xer, right? I didn’t have the same experiences or I wasn’t subjected to a lot of TV or these flashing lights or Cocomelon. We just, we didn’t have that, right? So my ability to sit with something is a little bit, is a little bit different than the younger generation.

Rushell Hopkins [00:04:37]: What I’m finding is that it’s relatively new, like you said, over the past 5 years, I’m just seeing it. I can see it. And so when you’re looking at a classroom, I can tell within the first 5 or 10, 15 minutes that I need to either go down a rabbit hole, tell a joke, and I call it microdosing my lectures. My students are no longer able to sit through an hour and a half, 2-hour, 3-hour lecture, like the ones I sat through when I went through college. And so, what I’ll do is I’ll talk for 15 minutes about a topic, fundamental cybersecurity foundational language, and then I’ll tell a joke or I’ll be like, you know, this one time, and I’ll bring them back and I can see I can bring them back in. And so, the world’s trained that their, you know, their attention differently. And so, I would say that shorter segments I see kind of as on-ramps, right, to that deeper learning. And then, things like SimSpace, right, why we’re here, I will microdose that lecture and then we’ll jump right into a hands-on.

Rushell Hopkins [00:05:33]: Right? So instead of listening, now I’ve got them acting. And so I’ll do a 15-minute lecture. Hey, let’s solve this knowledge check. Hey, let’s, you know, let me talk about this foundational skill and then let’s jump on and do that. My goal is to stretch their attention span, not succumb to it, right? So I think it’s really about growing that sustained concentration over time, like an athlete, right? Building that muscle memory.

Karissa Breen [00:05:57]: So one of the things I’m curious to hear, well, whilst you were speaking, You said before when you would sit through lectures, hour and a half, and now it’s obviously these 15, 20-minute bursts before you could do something else. Do you think the outcome’s still the same though in terms of the learning and the knowledge?

Rushell Hopkins [00:06:13]: This is really probably the first year, maybe year and a half that I’ve been seeing this. So I don’t have a really good litmus test yet in terms of what the outcome’s gonna be and how much they’re retaining. I would say that retention, again, when I was going through school, there wasn’t this one-click-away answer, right? It wasn’t this solution set at my fingertips, right? Everything had to be figured out. And so those lectures, I would take notes, I would be on it. I didn’t have a device, right? It would be me just writing and studying. And now my students are recording it or they’re just going back to it at a later date, or they’re using agentic AI to answer the questions. So I don’t really know. The answer to that is going to come down the road.

Rushell Hopkins [00:06:55]: Sadly, I’m not really optimistic about that answer. To be honest, but I think we need to give a little bit more time to see how these students are coming out workforce ready. So there’s one thing to get through a course and take the class and pass it. And there’s another to take the course, pass it, and actually be employable and have employable skills where you retain the knowledge when you get out. I don’t know what that’s going to look like yet, or the answer to that yet.

Karissa Breen [00:07:16]: And speaking of retention of knowledge, one thing, Emma, you would know this more, Michelle, than I would, like writing things down, it actually imprints it more in your brain to learn something versus typing it. So Do you think as well that even if all these things that you’re explaining, it’s still not perhaps being imprinted into this is how we do the thing? So it becomes to your point before around it’s a muscle memory because perhaps people aren’t going and taking notes and highlighting and going to library and using encyclopedias like we used to do. It’s not like that anymore. Everything’s so instant, so quick, so quick and it wants the next thing nowadays. Curious on your thoughts.

Rushell Hopkins [00:07:56]: So technology is both a gift and a risk, right? It gives my students access to tools that I could only have dreamed of when I was in their position, but it also is a substitute for thinking, right? The future professionals simply accept what a system tells them. My students are, instead of challenging it, thinking outside the box, they’re just accepting the output of the AI. Do you see what I’m saying? And so that We are not creating a group of cyber defenders. We’re really creating a group of individuals that rely on AI to defend.

Karissa Breen [00:08:29]: So I have a question then. So with going back to the AI and then discerning the answer, there’s a group of people in the world that believe the Earth is flat. So if you said, is the Earth flat? And hypothetically ChatGPT says, yes, people would believe it, or they wouldn’t go, I’m gonna challenge that and think, Is it a threat or not?

Rushell Hopkins [00:08:47]: So that’s one of the things I challenge my students to do is do a lot of critical thinking, right? Because it all boils down to critical thinking. It’s about challenging the process, challenging the answer. Love to tell you I get a lot of students that do that, but sadly I don’t see a lot of that spark, that willingness to do a deeper dive to confirm. I think a lot of students now, and again, I think that social media has really created this environment where students are more willing to accept data or information that fits their narrative rather than doing the deeper dive and saying, well, if this happens, if this happened and this happened, then that couldn’t have happened, right? And they’re not willing to put in the research or the work. They just simply fall victim. And so one of the things the general was talking about, general gave this analogy about the blind man and the elephant, how you have a bunch of different blind men touching different parts of an elephant. And one man is holding the tail and he says, this is a snake. Another gentleman is touching the legs and he’s like, well, this is a tree.

Rushell Hopkins [00:09:40]: Well, with all of this, all the social media, and the disinformation, how do you convince students that totality is an elephant when they’re only being fed pieces of information to the whole? Does that make sense? And so my students are seeing things and they’ll say, well, that guy says it’s a snake, so it’s a snake. And that guy says it’s a tree, it’s a tree. And they’re not evaluating the whole entire, they’re not looking at the information as a whole and coming to a conclusion. They’re letting the information that they’re given dictate the outcome. Or their theory.

Karissa Breen [00:10:10]: Then if we zoom out and look at that as a theory, how does that help? Like, as cybersecurity, when I was a practitioner by trade, curious, ask questions, break things. That’s how I got into it because I’m curious. And it’s ironic now I’m a media person in this space because I’m genuinely curious. I want to understand how you think. So how do we get to a point then? Because we’re going to need, like, eventually my generation, we’re all going to retire. We’re going to need these younger folks to do the work. So how does that stack up?

Rushell Hopkins [00:10:40]: I think that’s one of the ones that keeps me up at night. I would tell you 5 years ago that we were churning out some pretty amazing— my career was, I was really doing good as a force for good, right? Because we do absolutely need these generations to protect our nation, right? These are— I’m supposed to be churning out workforce-ready students. A lot of that’s why I brought SimSpace on, right, to start giving them more real-world, hands-on scenarios and getting out of that lecture environment, right, where I’m just verbatim spitting out information. If we think about where all these attack surfaces we’re looking at now, especially in Southwest Florida, you know, we need to look at our hospitals, our power grids, our schools, our military. It’s going to depend on them, not algorithms. And I worry about the future of AI in education. That’s a lot of why I joined that consortium, looking at how AI is brought into higher education, not just in cybersecurity, but as a whole, because we still need nurses and doctors. And one of the philosophies that we have, or we call, is like the pixie dust approach to AI.

Rushell Hopkins [00:11:35]: Which is all these different educators are sprinkling AI into their curriculum or into their course development, or some are what we call conscious abstainers, where they choose to not allow the students to use AI in the classroom. Neither approach is great, right? We don’t have any type of structure. We don’t have any rules. You know, this AI right now is kind of the Wild West, right? We didn’t create any. It’s like putting the genie back in the bottle at this point. And then in higher education, you have a lot of people that are kind of there sitting out their career, they’re in that retirement phase, right? Maybe an older kind of pedagogy or ideas. And then you have these other individuals like me or myself teaching cybersecurity technology where AI is embedded in everything that we do. So our students have to come out and be workforce ready with this heavy AI.

Rushell Hopkins [00:12:19]: And so one of the concepts we’re talking about is like, how do we shoot that gap? How do we teach them how to use AI to better themselves in their career field without actually doing that cognitive offload? And That’s really where you really have to teach them the difference between when to use it and how to use it. And the when to use it’s the most important because for cognitive offload, as educators, we use it all the time. I’m helping, you know, I have Gronk, I have Gemini, they’re helping me build curriculum, they’re streamlining my mapping. We would do course mapping. It takes a lot of time and does a lot of the heavy lifting and things that I don’t really need to do. And so we need to teach our students that yes, AI is incredibly helpful and it can take a ton of workload off of us.. But we have to make sure that we’re using the AI in the way that we’re still learning the skill to become a subject matter expert in our industry, but using that to take off some of the stuff that we don’t really need to learn.

Karissa Breen [00:13:13]: So one thing I’m curious to understand from your perspective, Rochelle, would be recently I interviewed the former Deputy Director of the NSA, George Barnes, and he spoke a lot about the new generation and what concerns him. And maybe you can answer this. He said, I’m concerned that people aren’t taking up roles in this period, but also from a government perspective, service to our nation, because YouTubers and TikTokers XYZ, these roles that people want to do over protecting the nation from a public-private sector perspective?

Rushell Hopkins [00:13:43]: Yeah, that’s something we definitely wrestle with.

Karissa Breen [00:13:44]: And it’s—

Rushell Hopkins [00:13:45]: I’m not gonna lie, I would teach a lot of gen ed courses where I had students in different disciplines, right? And one of the courses that I taught was computer literacy. And computer literacy, most, you know, students think that when they come in, they’re like, I don’t need this, I’m computer literate. And they really have no idea what goes on in the background, right? They don’t really know what goes on behind the algorithms and the social media and how those algorithms get into their phone and the security behind it and why social media is eroding our students’ concentration. And they don’t see that aspect. And there’s one assignment that I would, I’d book into my students where there’s a security module and it asks them to go through their phone and find 3 of the most commonly used applications in their phone. I want them to read the terms of service and tell me what they learned. And after they read the terms of service and learned about what these apps are using in terms of their personal data, how do they feel about it, and were they still going to use it or they were gonna delete it? The overwhelming majority of our students said that, wow, I didn’t realize how intrusive they were or how much information they were gathering. I don’t feel comfortable with it, but I’m still gonna keep it ’cause I like watching puppy videos.

Rushell Hopkins [00:14:53]: So this is where I get nervous, and this is where I guess a little bit of the pessimism comes in because in cybersecurity, we know that end user’s our biggest threat. Our end user, all these demographics outside of cybersecurity, right? So people that are gonna get corporate world marketing, Hospitals, nurses, everybody is our users in our networks, right? And so if at this level we can’t get them to understand basic cybersecurity concepts and get them to realize what they’re giving up, they always say if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product, right? If I can’t get them at this level to take accountability and responsibility and understand the threat landscape, I don’t know what that’s gonna look like for us. And that’s the part I think that keeps me up at night is how do I, be that water droplet, that effect, invoke change, and get some of these kids to understand the repercussions of their actions. So, I don’t know what that’s going to do for our workforce. I think it also creates that conundrum of, you know, in my PhD program, I’m a PhD student, and my dissertation was focusing on how to shorten the cybersecurity skills gap using agentic AI. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, if we have students that aren’t workforce ready, that are outsourcing their critical thinking to AI, it just makes sense for companies to use AI to close that cybersecurity skills gap because the students that are coming out of higher education are critically offloading to their agentic AI and making their agentic AI more capable than they are to join the workforce.

Karissa Breen [00:16:16]: So then how can anyone complain to say, well, we don’t have a job and there’s no entry-level jobs? That shouldn’t be a complaint then. It’s valid.

Rushell Hopkins [00:16:22]: You’re right.

Karissa Breen [00:16:26]: Joining me now in person is retired General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of Joint Special Operations Command, and today we’re discussing winning the cyber war without a map. So Stan, thanks for joining and welcome.

Stan McChrystal [00:16:37]: Thanks for having me.

Karissa Breen [00:16:38]: Okay, so before we sort of got on the record today, I was saying I’ve been watching some of your YouTube videos, some of your interviews, just to understand a little bit more on how you’ve previously interviewed and getting more familiar with your approach to certain things. So I want to start today, Stan, with you’ve said that modern warfare moved from fixed battlefields to the everyday fast tech world. So what I’m curious to know is how does this directly mirror what cyber defenders are dealing with today?

Stan McChrystal [00:17:08]: If we talk about war, it used to be sort of geographically bounded. If you go way back, it was where the armies were. And then you expanded that. The armies could have a greater effect on countryside as they marched through it. Then we got to world wars, and suddenly the ability to reach with military things like submarines or aircraft, it basically brought the war close to civilians in a pretty real way. Now the war can be everywhere because information technology allows you to get both information and disinformation everywhere, but also cyber activities allow you to have impact everywhere. So whereas it might not have been possible to reach across an ocean and bomb an enemy’s factory, now we can reach across an ocean and attack it with cyber pretty simply. So the reality is the battle space, as the military would call it, has just expanded.

Stan McChrystal [00:18:06]: It’s almost limitless now. And so there is no front of the battle line, middle, and there’s no rear anymore. I don’t think we’ve really felt that yet. I don’t think we’ve digested the meaning of that because we still have an idea that if something is kinetic and it blows up, then it’s war. And if it’s cyber, that it is maybe espionage or maybe crime or maybe just irritating. But we haven’t had power stations turned off in the United States or Great Britain yet. We haven’t had that real impact felt on everyday lives from enemies yet. They’ve done some of it in Ukraine, but we think of that as battlespace.

Stan McChrystal [00:18:48]: So I think we are mentally not yet prepared for the fact that war is and can be everywhere, which then expands the idea of who’s a combatant. And then the question is, is someone sitting on a keyboard targetable kinetically, meaning if you hack me, can I bomb you? Is that fair? And I think we haven’t come to grips with that philosophical question yet, but we’re getting close because there will be an appetite to do that.

Karissa Breen [00:19:20]: Yeah, okay, so this is really interesting. So I’ve come from a cyber background as practitioner before doing this sort of stuff today. And what’s interesting is, do you think now as we move forward with everything that’s happening in the world, of course there’s a rise of geopolitics, but you said before you can attack from anywhere, right? And then what I’m also seeing interviewing people across the globe with how it traverses into the kinetic warfare. And whilst you said nothing major has happened, and I hate to sort of raise it, do you think we’re going to unfortunately start seeing these sort of incidents now?

Stan McChrystal [00:19:51]: I think we will. I think in the past what we’ve seen in the case of big powers is cyber-enabled killing, meaning we will find a targetable person by cyber, but then we will kill them kinetically. And that feels traditional. And so cyber was part of it. It was maybe the critical part, but the reality is we use traditional means. What if we turn off their pacemaker? What if we disable the hospital? What if we cause water or food to be contaminated, which I think we’ll be able to do all through cyber. And we’re killing people or we’re causing really damaging effects. We didn’t do anything that felt traditional.

Stan McChrystal [00:20:39]: We’re going to have to come to grips with, if you hit the keyboard, is that the same as pulling the trigger? And I don’t think right now we think of it that way.

Karissa Breen [00:20:48]: Do you think as well it’s because out of sight, out of mind? What I mean by that is, I worked in a bank as a practitioner. Someone’s money gets stolen, we would just replenish it back in your bank account. It’s a bit different to back in the day when people could physically go to a bank and, you know, rob some cash and run away. Do you think it’s because people can’t see it as much? Perhaps it’s not tangible. You can’t feel the impact?

Stan McChrystal [00:21:09]: I think that’s right. I think we can’t feel the impact. But of course, if somebody effectively bilks you out of a large amount of money, you will feel the impact at some point because you’ll have less. But I think that’s right. It’s different than being mugged on the street where someone takes your purse or wallet. Which, or even being your home invaded and your jewelry and money stolen from your home, you feel violated. But I think that as people start to do identity theft and other, you will feel violated in the same visceral way, which will start to cause people to want to respond in the same visceral way.

Karissa Breen [00:21:46]: So respond with force? We don’t. Right. Yeah, because I’ve always wondered this as well, because it’s like If someone upsets me online, for example, it’s not the same as someone coming up and punching me in the street, right? So where do you think the shift’s going to happen, or what do you think the catalyst is? Is it going to be, unfortunately, one of these incidents where people may lose their life as a result of cyber warfare that connects into kinetic warfare and then something bad really happens?

Stan McChrystal [00:22:11]: Of course I’m not sure, but my sense is it will be a cumulative number of events like that get so painful, like identity theft or even just extreme inconvenience. So, for example, suppose someone disables TSA at the airport and you go to the airport and you can’t board your flight because no one can get through TSA. I think people will get much more angry far quicker than we have so far, particularly if it’s en masse. If someone hacks your account, I feel sorry for you. But I’m glad it wasn’t me. If they hack a bunch of us together, we are outraged and we’re willing to do something. I think something at scale, or cumulatively at scale, enough things happening, people are going to want to act. And again, some cases are going to act kinetically.

Karissa Breen [00:23:03]: So given your background, do you think people are starting to really focus on this now, like governments, etc.? I mean, like, well, people may start to respond this way. You think it’s on the radar?

Stan McChrystal [00:23:13]: I think theoretically it is, but practically it’s not because we’ve been warned about this so long. We know the cases of it so much. We’ve seen big hacks of government data. We’ve seen big hacks of business data. We’ve seen individuals suffer different cyber impacts, but it hasn’t affected our life. Look at any of the big cases and you go, wow, that’s bad. But it really didn’t change my life at all. I think one that turns out to have a big military effect or a big financial effect, that will be the tipping point.

Stan McChrystal [00:23:48]: And I think it has to come pretty soon. And it doesn’t have to come from a nation-state. In fact, it’s probably likely not to, as a nation-state can be held at risk. You can threaten a nation-state. You can’t threaten an individual that doesn’t care. So I think it’s more likely that someone is able to do the equivalent of a weapon of mass destruction on cyber, but without, you know, the national assets. And we just haven’t seen it. And I’m, I’m frankly surprised that we haven’t seen that yet.

Karissa Breen [00:24:17]: So you think back to the Colonial Pipeline attack that happened, obviously that caused outrage for people. Do you think that even if it’s something like that, there’s going to have this flow-on effect for people, there’s a group of people who are going to be agitating, concerned, start acting in a certain way, or to your point earlier, if it’s water gets contaminated, people start dying because they’re drinking it, and then emergency services go down, people can’t go through. Like, it’s going to have a— it’s, from my understanding, interviewing people like yourself there, Stan, can happen quite quickly. Not like weeks, like hours.

Stan McChrystal [00:24:53]: Yeah, I think that if you— and I use this word carefully— inconvenience our society enough, I would argue that if you were able to turn the electricity off in a city for 12 hours and people didn’t know when that electricity would come back on in 12 hours, you’d start to see society break down. I think if it was longer than that, it would be even greater. So I think you’d have this groundswell response. Colonial Pipeline inconvenienced some people, but the resilience of our society, in fact, mitigated much of it. And that’s a good thing. We want our society to be very resilient, but we don’t want us to be so resilient that all of these things can happen and we start to just accept them. We’ve got to understand we must be resilient to survive them, but there’s got to be a decision made on the part of society of what’s acceptable and what isn’t and what we are going to actively going to stop, try to stop.

Karissa Breen [00:25:53]: So one thing I’m curious then You said before we don’t want to accept it because we’re so resilient. Do you think people, even with like cyber breaches, people seem a little bit desensitized, like, oh well, another breach happened? Do you think this will become, oh well, another power plant blew up and people died? Do you think it will unfortunately become like that because so much of this could be happening?

Stan McChrystal [00:26:13]: I think it could. I don’t think so. I think once you get into those things that affect people directly, that will be a point it tips. And I use, for example, So right now, we know that there are these scam centers in some of the Asian countries where they literally have created little factories of people who reach out around the world and do scamming. We know it. We even know where they are, but we don’t do anything directly. I think the difference would be those kinds of activities, if they rise to enough inconvenience, suddenly you get a strike on them. Either a cyber strike or a kinetic strike, and you say, we’re not putting up with that, and the host country refuses or is unable to do something about it, suddenly that’s a new dynamic because you’re violating national sovereignty to pursue things.

Stan McChrystal [00:27:06]: But yet, if you think that those nations are unwilling to do that, then you say that they don’t deserve their sovereignty if they’re unwilling to respect international law.

Karissa Breen [00:27:16]: So with that thought for a moment, one thing I’ve observed and spoken to like ex-law enforcement folks is if I commit a cyber crime in a non-country that doesn’t have a treaty with the US or Australia or whoever, it’s hard to really go after. First of all, it’s hard to track them down, but then it’s really hard to do anything. Where does that— what happens now? I can’t really bring them back and do something. There’s no treaty.

Stan McChrystal [00:27:43]: Yeah, that’s going to be, I think, a bold new frontier. You know, we just went and took the president of Venezuela out of his palace because he was doing things we didn’t like. Now, you could argue it was geopolitical, but our argument was he had done illegal things. I think the respect for national boundaries— think of the predator strikes that occurred in sovereign countries inside places like Pakistan against terrorism, I think we could easily find an appetite grow for doing operations inside sovereign countries that are either unable or unwilling to take action, that we suddenly don’t respect national boundaries as much as before. I’m not advocating this because there’s a lot of complications that come with that. Once you violate national sovereignty, you take away from them their perceived responsibility to do it. They go, okay, if you’re going to go after people in my country, we’re not going to do that, we’re not going to help you. That’s a different relationship than the international community that we want.

Stan McChrystal [00:28:50]: But I think that once you get cyber activities that reach a level of damage, I think the appetite for that will be so great that it will force that. Now, I’d like to believe that international Alliances, United Nations, NATO, other places could be very helpful there because international law is critical here because we have the ability for crime to reach so far. And so international law, in my view, becomes increasingly important. And we’re not there yet, but I think we’ll get there. And I also think you described earlier, if someone does a cybercrime from country X and we identify them, You know, we still say, well, they’re guilty of cybercrime. They didn’t kill anyone. They didn’t hold a gun on someone. We almost put them in a different category, like white-collar crime.

Stan McChrystal [00:29:40]: I think we’ll stop doing that. I think we’ll start saying it’s the impact that you create.

Karissa Breen [00:29:45]: Do you think from your experience, Stan, it’s better to go on the offensive or on the defensive? Good and bad to both, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

Stan McChrystal [00:29:53]: Obviously, what we’ve largely done is the defensive. We’ve done it imperfectly, but it’s getting better. Just people are becoming more resilient because more organizations get better at it and we can take a punch. I think there’s going to have to be a more aggressive offensive part, but it is going to have to be very controlled. I was with a corporation— it’s been a decade now— when they were exploring developing their own offensive capability against actors around the world. They stepped back and didn’t do it. But they were— their theory was they would have the equivalent of mercenaries. And so anyone who came after their organization was going to be punished offensively.

Stan McChrystal [00:30:35]: And again, they stopped. But I can understand the appetite for doing that. And I can understand, say, big banks get together and they say, we got to stop this stuff. And they decide to create or hire capabilities to do that because national governments are unwilling or unable. And they say, well, we’ve got to protect the international financial system. And they’re not wrong, but now you’ve created extralegal military or law enforcement capabilities. And again, that’s problematic.

Karissa Breen [00:31:07]: So talking of problematic, what about now adding AI into the mix, accelerating a lot of these problems you discussed here today?

Stan McChrystal [00:31:13]: Yeah, we’re not ready for AI. It’s funny, we weren’t ready for social media. We got social media. We didn’t understand how powerful it would be, and it changed our society, and we’re still not mature enough to deal with it. We are polluting a lot of young people’s minds and whatnot. And what seemed like a good thing— I didn’t see it coming— has turned out to have a downside that’s so huge. I think AI is similar. We’re just, as mankind, we are not Maybe we are in the Prometheus phase.

Stan McChrystal [00:31:47]: Somebody goes and takes fire and suddenly gives man fire and we’re not ready for it because we don’t have the rules in place. We have the whole idea of a capitalist economy is each person does their best. Now they operate hopefully within rules, but they do their best to get the most they can. And in an earlier age where you were reliant on your personal wits or your strength of your body The difference between you and I couldn’t be that much. In an AI world, the difference between you and I could be incalculable. And suddenly you could gather wealth, you can gather influence, you can gather power, and I could have none. You essentially can win Monopoly. You get everything on the first move of the game.

Stan McChrystal [00:32:36]: And AI offers that potential for individuals, for companies, and for nations. And the problem is we’re still programmed to pursue that because, you know, you pursue in your best interest. And that has worked well in capitalist economies because it made people work hard and be effective. I don’t know that it works hard when suddenly people are empowered to a degree we never thought imaginable. And so I’m worried that we’re gonna get not just wealth inequality, we’re going to have inequality of everything to a massive scale. We’ll have a group of, a small group of empowered people who control everything. And we say, well, that’s not possible. Well, it is, I think.

Stan McChrystal [00:33:25]: And at least I worry.

Karissa Breen [00:33:27]: I think it’s interesting. So we’re not ready for social media. Even if you look back to when the internet started and people are saying we’re not ready for that. How are governments, society, companies, private, public, whatever, going to police all of this? What I mean by that is if I go through a red light here, I’m going to get fined. There is repercussion. But hey, someone might think, well, I don’t like Chris Breen’s comment or the story that she’s written about Stan. So I’m going to say something horrible to her. There’s no real repercussions.

Karissa Breen [00:33:55]: Oh, but it was online. So, and now we’re adding AI into it. So it’s like, well, you know, we could be fighting people with AI and all of the things. So it’s like, Are people going to start to become deluded in what’s real and what’s not real? What’s a fake world fabricated? Like, how do we find that line? Is there a line?

Stan McChrystal [00:34:13]: I think they are already challenged by that. At least the people who are informed enough, they know that much of what they read is not true and it’s designed to influence. A lot of people still aren’t really aware, but increasingly they are. Whether I think there’s hope, and I’ve done some thinking about this, but I’m not an expert. The potential to use AI for governance. Because if you think about it, a lot of the problems in our governments are inefficiency, but also corruption and things. And we all believe a representative democracy is a good thing, but AI could do a lot of things to make things fair. If you create AI and set up rules and understanding, You say, we’re not going to do something that’s not fair.

Stan McChrystal [00:35:02]: And you put policies in AI and it comes back and it says, that’s not fair. And suddenly it’s the equivalent of having wise men or women, you know, great people, the gods who say, okay, here are the rules and the road. Now the danger there is it’s almost like an old science fiction movie or something where you have this machine that gives everybody the rules. But perhaps we could use AI to take some of the uncertainty and foolishness out of what we see. What if AI fact checks everything that politicians say and do? And then suddenly, in a best case, what that would do, it would be a shaping to stop them from lying. Because every time they talk, if a red light’s going off over their shoulder that says this person’s lying, boom, It’s hard on them. If we could use it for things like that, then there’s some potential that we shape ourselves into better behavior. You hope we don’t become lab rats that only do what the machine tells us to do, but we need something that brings us back to what is true.

Stan McChrystal [00:36:13]: Remember the old alternate facts kind of thing? We’ve got to have something that says, no, there aren’t alternate facts, there are facts. There are interpretations, and We accept that, but some things are true, some things are not true.

Karissa Breen [00:36:26]: So then on that note, and maybe to conclude today’s interview, do you think given everything you talked about with there’ll be a few players that own the power and the distribution, do you think those companies, people, whoever will use that AI for their advantage or to disadvantage people? So like you said, it actually could be used for good and maybe it gets distributed evenly. Or do you think perhaps these people, these companies would be more selfish in looking after themselves? So therefore there’s only the top 10% and the rest is a huge polarization.

Stan McChrystal [00:36:57]: I think what we’re already seeing is they use it for themselves, for individuals and for the power of corporations. I mean, if you look at some of the conduct of some of the major entities, at the end of the day, they’re about survival and profitability of the entity. And they’ve got a lot of verbiage and narrative that says trying to make the world a better place, but they’re making it very much better for them. And a little bit theoretically better for everyone else. And then you look at the oligarchs, and I use the term pejoratively, intentionally. We have created a class of absurdly wealthy people who live absurdly wealthy lifestyles. And I don’t believe that’s healthy for any society. I think that, I think that’s not sustainable in a healthy way long term.

Stan McChrystal [00:37:52]: And so that’s either going to get worse if it’s not addressed, or we’re going to have some kind of climactic crash-up about it.

Karissa Breen [00:38:00]: And then lastly, Stan, what would you like to leave our audience with today? Perhaps one takeaway that you’re thinking about.

Stan McChrystal [00:38:06]: I think we need to think broadly about cyber. Nuclear weapons emerged at the end of the Second World War, but it took about 15 years before a doctrine of nuclear weapons really emerged where people started to say, okay, a bunch of people have the ability to destroy the world. How are we going to manage these? How are we going to think about them? And you started to have the doctrine of mutually assured destruction and mutual deterrence, all those things which people hate, but they were actually necessary adaptations to the reality that a small group of nations could destroy the world at any moment. And it worked. We need the equivalent for the march of technology, because first it was cyber information technology, and I would argue that that got ahead of us. And now artificial intelligence. We are going to need to develop a doctrine of thought, common understanding, what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s not allowed. And we’re going to have to do it pretty quickly.

Stan McChrystal [00:39:14]: And it’s not just a few legal rules. It is you know, how we think broadly about it. And so society’s got to mature faster than we have been maturing.

Karissa Breen [00:39:26]: And there you have it. This is KB On The Go. Stay tuned for more.

Peter Lee, Chief Executive Officer and President of SimSpace

Peter serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of SimSpace, the realistic, intelligent cyber range that strengthens teams, technologies, and processes to outsmart adversaries before the fight begins.

Previously, Peter was co-founder and CEO of DataSynapse, an infrastructure software company acquired by TIBCO; and CEO of RapidMiner, an open source machine learning platform acquired by Altair. At TIBCO, Peter served as Executive Vice President responsible for multiple businesses including the security, cloud computing, B2B, CX, and analytics product groups. Before launching his career in software, Peter was a strategy consultant with Deloitte and an investment banker with JP Morgan.

Peter has extensive Board experience collaborating with top tier investors to grow innovative software companies, serving as Chairman for Attivio (acquired by ServiceNow), WorldQuant Predictive, and ActiveState, and as Director for Ektron (acquired by Accel-KKR), Vesta (acquired by TINT), Infomatix (acquired by EPAM), OpenAssemby (acquired by Fulcrum), BlogTalkRadio (acquired by iHeartRadio), Entrio and Chattermill. Peter also serves on the investment committees of Advanced Finance & Investment Group and Communitas Capital Partners.

Peter graduated from Harvard College with an AB degree in Government (cum laude), received an MBA degree from The Wharton School in Entrepreneurial Management and an MA degree from The University of Pennsylvania in International Affairs.

Peter has been invited twice to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos and four times at The Milken Institute Global Conferences in LA and Singapore, explaining the impact of AI in terms of its business value and key use cases. Peter is a former Board member of Upwardly Global, alumnus of YPO and a member of the Development Board for Phillips Academy Andover.

Ernie Ferraresso, Senior Director of Cyber Florida

As the senior director of Cyber Florida, Ernie drives the organization’s strategic vision while overseeing the center’s day-to-day operations. He started with Cyber Florida in 2017 as associate director of programs and partnerships and brings decades of technology expertise and leadership experience to his role.

Prior to Cyber Florida, Ernie worked for a small technology design and integration firm as the Director of Operations, overseeing the design and implementation of cybersecurity and emergency operations center technology solutions in the U.S. and throughout Latin America.

He is a retired U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer who served in the U.S. and abroad. His work included assignments with the U.S. Special Operations Forces, the intelligence community, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and U.S. Cyber Command.

James Tennant, Partner – Head of JAPAC, BOKA Capital

James Tennant is a Fellow with ASPI’s Cyber, Technology and Security Program and a Partner at BOKA Capital, a leading AUKUS Investment House in London, Sydney and New York.

His key role at BOKA is complemented by his service as an Officer in the Australian Army, where he specialises in Capability Development. He is also a Senior Partner at Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian-based rocket company innovating in the field of low-cost small satellite launch vehicles.

James is a seasoned investor and corporate leader with deep interests and investments in diverse fields such as Quantum, Artificial Intelligence, Space, CyberSec, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Drones, Enterprise Infrastructure, and Autonomous Vehicles. His professional journey, spanning across different continents and industries, uniquely positions him at the intersection of finance, defence, and technology including artificial intelligence.

James holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialisation in International Business from the University of Sydney, is a Graduate of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, and holds management courses in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School. He has also completed the Company Directors Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Simon Hodgkinson is a Strategic Advisor at cybersecurity firm Semperis, and a former Chief Information Security Officer at multinational energy company BP. In his 18 year tenure at BP, Simon held several senior IT leadership roles and was responsible for the company’s cybersecurity strategy, governance, architecture, education, counter threat operations, and incident response.  

During this time, he drove a significant improvement in IT operational integrity, led a transformation program and spearheaded the commitment to improve employees’ IT experience. He led the CISO function in BP Supply & Trading, where he delivered a program to improve cyber-controls, many of which have been implemented across the BP group. Before joining bp, Simon worked in IT for a dotcom, an investment bank, and commercial software companies

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Cummings, Director of Education at Gen AI Works, as he explores the current and future landscape of large language models (LLMs) and their impact on cybersecurity. Sam unpacks the technical and economic limitations of LLMs, highlighting issues such as model cost, scalability, hallucination, and the looming challenges around reasoning and memory management. The conversation delves into the shift from universal LLMs to specialized models, the inevitability of market monopolization by big tech firms, and the environmental cost of massive data centers. Sam also paints a vivid picture of the “arms race” in the cybersecurity sector, predicting a boom in both offensive and defensive capabilities powered by AI, and offers actionable insights for professionals and entrepreneurs looking to thrive in this rapidly-evolving environment.

River is a visionary cybersecurity and technology leader with a dynamic career spanning traditional banking, cutting-edge blockchain innovation, and Web3 transformation. As a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and fractional C-suite executive, River has driven security and operational excellence across highly regulated industries, including healthcare, financial services, and emerging tech.

Renowned for bridging the gap between strategic leadership and hands-on execution, River has played a pivotal role in modernising risk and security frameworks, scaling secure systems, and advising on crypto, digital asset infrastructure, and decentralized technologies. Her influence extends beyond the boardroom – she is a powerful voice in the tech community, advocating for digital trust, innovation, and ethical leadership in the AI era.

In 2025, River was named one of The CEO Magazine’s Top 50 Women of Influence, recognised not only for her technical expertise but for her commitment to shaping a more secure and inclusive digital future. She is a sought-after speaker, frequently appearing on stage at leading conferences, panels, and keynotes to share insights on cybersecurity resilience, leadership, and the evolving Web3 landscape.

With a storytelling style that blends bold insights with deep reflection, River continues to inspire the next generation of cyber leaders and disruptors.

Alex Loizou is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with a proven track record of building and leading high-performing security teams. He has extensive experience as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for major organisations such as Medibank, Flybuys, and Bupa. Notably, he served as the CISO at Medibank during their 2022 cyber incident, where he played a crucial role in leading the response and recovery efforts.

Tammy Klotz is a vibrant and accomplished executive and best-selling author with over three decades of diverse experience in the manufacturing industry, specializing in cybersecurity and transformational leadership. She offers keen expertise in navigating mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures within both publicly-traded and privately-held companies and is seasoned in security, risk, and compliance leadership. Tammy brings a dynamic and positive approach to problem solving, excelling in simplifying intricate IT and cybersecurity concepts and facilitating pragmatic, non-technical dialogues that resonate with business executives. She is recognized as a strong, knowledgeable, thoughtful security executive who excels in public speaking and thought leadership, striving to empower others through knowledge sharing.

Prior to joining Red Cell, Mr. Barnes served as the Deputy Director and senior civilian leader of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) from April 2017 through September 2023. In this role, Mr. Barnes served as NSA’s chief operating officer, overseeing strategy, policy, and operations.  As an agency deputy in the U.S. national security system, Mr. Barnes supported the U.S. defense and intelligence enterprise in national security strategy execution and the formulation of supporting policies.  He positioned NSA as an integrated mission partner enabling U.S. decision advantage and security against foreign threats.

Over his 36-year career at the NSA, Mr. Barnes held numerous technical and organizational leadership roles spanning intelligence collection operations, intelligence target analysis, foreign liaison and industrial partnership management, workforce support, and global enterprise governance.

U.S. Government Service Recognition Includes:

Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Medal

National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security Distinguished Service Medallion

National Security Agency Distinguished Civilian Service Medal

Central Intelligence Agency Seal Medal

National Reconnaissance Office Medal of Distinguished Performance

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Medallion for Excellence

National Intelligence Medal of Achievement

Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award

Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Awards (2)

Mr. Barnes received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1986. In 2020, he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Maryland’s College of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Paul Maddison, Australia & New Zealand Country Manager, Strider Technologies

Paul Maddison is the Australia & New Zealand Country Manager at Strider Technologies, where he is responsible for leading Strider’s market expansion and strategic partnerships with Australian universities, corporations, and governments.

Prior to joining Strider, Paul worked at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and Canberra as Director of the UNSW Defence Research Institute. This was preceded by a four-year appointment as  Canada’s High Commissioner for Australia. Paul also spent over 35 years in Canadian naval service. As a surface warfare officer, he commanded at all levels culminating in his appointment as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy at the rank of Vice Admiral. A graduate of Canada’s Royal Military College, and a dual national since 2020, Paul is from Canada but has chosen to make Australia his home.

Jeff Lindholm, Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout

As the Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout, Jeff oversees all aspects of the company’s global sales, including the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, as well as Channel Sales, Commercial Sales and Sales Engineering. He brings a wealth of experience in networking and security sales leadership, having previously served as President and CEO of Plixer, a company focused on network traffic analysis and visibility solutions. Before that, Jeff led sales operations at both Brocade and Juniper Networks. As the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Brocade, he oversaw a $2.5 billion global sales operation until the company’s acquisition by Broadcom Inc. At Juniper Networks, he served as Chief Revenue Officer, managing $2.5 billion in revenue.” He has also held significant global sales roles at Arbor Networks (the security division of NETSCOUT) and BigBand Networks. Jeff is based in Boston and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Neha delves into the significance of operating one of only two global LEO satellite constellations, emphasizing how satellite networks power resilient connectivity, complement terrestrial infrastructure, and enable sovereign national capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions. James offers a global investment perspective, highlighting how Australia and other key regions are rapidly adapting to strategic defense imperatives, the challenge of nurturing deep-tech startups, and the necessity of scaling defense technology within complex regulatory frameworks. Simon rounds out the discussion with expert insights on cybersecurity, examining the impact of economic uncertainty, increased insider risk during major corporate events and layoffs, and the criticality of robust cyber operations—even as organizations strive to balance resource constraints and work-life demands.

Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President – APAC, Eutelsat OneWeb

Neha Idnani is an accomplished leader in the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) sector, currently serving as the Regional Vice President for APAC at Eutelsat OneWeb. With over 18 years of experience across the telecom, space, and infrastructure industries, she leads the Asia Pacific and ANZ business for Eutelsat Group, the world’s first multi-orbit satellite connectivity provider. Prior to her current role, she spent over a decade with Bharti Enterprises and Bharti Airtel, notably serving as Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Chairman’s Office. In that capacity, she managed multi-billion dollar fundraising transactions and drove significant global expansion initiatives.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Neha is deeply involved in industry governance and the arts. She serves as a Board Director for OneWeb Communications India, is a Founding Member of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), and acts as a Board Trustee for Improbable, a UK-based non-profit. Academically, she holds an MBA from NMIMS, Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s in Commerce (Honours) from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University. Throughout her career, she has remained a passionate advocate for driving the future of global connectivity through innovation and strategic collaboration.

James Tennant, Partner – Head of JAPAC, BOKA Capital

James Tennant is a Fellow with ASPI’s Cyber, Technology and Security Program and a Partner at BOKA Capital, a leading AUKUS Investment House in London, Sydney and New York.

His key role at BOKA is complemented by his service as an Officer in the Australian Army, where he specialises in Capability Development. He is also a Senior Partner at Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian-based rocket company innovating in the field of low-cost small satellite launch vehicles.

James is a seasoned investor and corporate leader with deep interests and investments in diverse fields such as Quantum, Artificial Intelligence, Space, CyberSec, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Drones, Enterprise Infrastructure, and Autonomous Vehicles. His professional journey, spanning across different continents and industries, uniquely positions him at the intersection of finance, defence, and technology including artificial intelligence.

James holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialisation in International Business from the University of Sydney, is a Graduate of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, and holds management courses in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School. He has also completed the Company Directors Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Simon Hodgkinson, Strategic Advisor, Semperis

Simon is an experienced technology leader who has worked in the software sector, financial services, energy sector and has worked in a financial services startup company.

Simon is currently a Strategic Advisor at cybersecurity firm Semperis, and prior to this, he spent 18 years working for BP in a variety of global roles, the last being CISO. Simon transformed BP’s cyber security with a strategy of embedding security to simplify and accelerate adoption. Simon advised the BP board and has shared his expertise on numerous technology and diversity forums.

Prior to the CISO role, Simon was the VP of Infrastructure and Integration Services where he initiated the programme to move BP to the cloud, significantly improving time to market and user experience. Simon was accountable for a complex technology infrastructure in 80 countries, supporting 75,000 users across 600 offices and included critical national infrastructure.

Simon has led globally diverse teams in excess of 500, an annual budget in excess of $0.5bn and has negotiated and managed significant outsourced contracts. His brand is building highly inclusive, capable and successful technical teams, leading with empathy and performance edge.

Mike is a proud Londoner now living in Hampshire, UK. He has worked across various industries covering local and central Government, manufacturing and more recently 11 years of Legal professional services as an IT professional.

Mike’s passion has recently seen him start his own IT consultancy targeting support for SMB’s on Cyber security & virtual IT management.

Alex Tilley is a Cyber Intelligence and investigation guy with over 25 years of experience spanning the private sector and federal law enforcement. As the Australian Federal Police’s first Senior Cybercrime Senior Technical Analyst, he specialised in unmasking and prosecuting sophisticated threat actors in global cybercrime and child protection. In his current role as Global Threat Research Coordinator at Okta, he leads law enforcement liaison efforts and drives critical threat research for the world’s leading identity company.

Rajesh Ganesan is the CEO of ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corp. and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions. With over two decades of experience at the company, he plays a pivotal role in shaping ManageEngine’s strategy, direction, and product management while also serving as a key evangelist for the brand. Beyond strategy, his day-to-day work involves being a mentor and coach to teams across various business functions. With deep institutional knowledge and market insight, he helps them navigate decisions with clarity and perspective, ensuring they are equipped to handle the challenges of today’s IT market.

Amberley, an astute industry professional with extensive experience in public policy, founded Realfoodprice in 2024 in response to identified structural inefficiencies within Australia’s food supply chain. Recognizing the critical need for market transparency, she established this data-driven platform to address the competitive imbalance affecting both producers and consumers.

Through rigorous market analysis and comparative price assessment, Amberley developed a methodology to clearly communicate authentic food value throughout the supply chain. Her strategic initiative to “un-supermarket” represents a paradigm shift in how agricultural commodities are valued and traded within the Australian market.

Realfoodprice exemplifies Amberley’s innovative approach to economic challenges, leveraging data analytics to foster equitable commercial relationships between farming communities and end consumers. The platform serves as both an advocacy tool and a practical market mechanism designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Australia’s agricultural sector and strengthen national economic resilience.

Under Amberley’s leadership, Realfoodprice continues to advance data transparency as an essential component in creating a more competitive and balanced food system for all stakeholders.

Jenny Tsai-Smith, SVP, Overall Database Product Management, Oracle

Since joining Oracle in 1993, Jenny Tsai-Smith has held leadership roles spanning technical support, content development, education delivery, plus Oracle Cloud acceleration of startups and scientific research. As the leader for database product management, Jenny works with release and development management to take products and services from design through development to production. Her team runs the customer advisory board, drives technology adoption partners, performs field enablement, assists with migrations to Oracle Database, and works directly with a wide range of customers. She meets regularly with customers, partners, press, and analysts to better understand existing and emerging data management requirements, and to discuss how database innovations can be applied to solve real-world challenges.

Rand Waldron, VP at Oracle

Rand Waldron is vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure product development, responsible for the Global Government Sector team and leading the strategy, development and deployment of Oracle’s National Security Region product line. Prior to joining Oracle in 2018, he was Deputy Assistant Director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responsible for the FBI’s enterprise software and data—including investigative and intelligence analytics, records and evidence management, large scale custom software development and business operations systems. Prior to the FBI, Waldron served at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Arman Ashouriha, Head of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at Vodafone

As the Head of the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at Vodafone, Arman Ashouriha leads the strategic effort to modernize and migrate thousands of key systems to a dedicated region within the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Arman is continually driving towards platform support, system modernization, and scaling crucial operations across complex, high-stakes infrastructure environments.

David Bloxham is the CEO of GCS Recruitment Specialists, where he has been a key player since 1996, with a brief hiatus from 2004 to 2008. Starting as a fresh graduate, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a manager in 1999, a director in 2004, and the MD in 2008. In 2017, he led a management buyout with nGAGE. David is passionate about recruitment, strategic leadership, and making a positive impact. He is also the host of the GCS Leaders Series Podcast, where he engages with industry thought leaders to share insights and drive conversations around innovation and excellence.

Steven is a cross-functional cybersecurity and information technology leader with experience working in startup to large enterprise environments. After 2 decades of management consulting with international firms like PwC, smaller boutiques and independently on his own, Steven jumped into the cyber and tech startup ecosystem, bringing to bear his knowledge and experience in cybersecurity, risk management, regulatory regimes, data analytics and business process management. Throughout his career, Steven has also held numerous industry executive positions, including his current role as CISO/CIO of Standard & Preferred and the Graph Group, a Workers Comp insurance carrier based in the NY/NJ tri state area.

Danielle Sheer, Chief Trust Officer, Commvault

Modern compliance, legal and security teams need to be predictive, proactive, and data-driven to meet the speed, agility, and growth of global business in a world of constant cyberattacks. Danielle Sheer, Chief Trust Officer, enables Commvault to do just that.

Prior to joining Commvault, Danielle served as General Counsel at financial technology services company Bottomline (NASDAQ:EPAY) and at cloud-backup SaaS solutions provider Carbonite (NASDAQ:CARB).

As Senior Director of Cloud Engineering at Lennar, Avi leads Lennar’s enterprise cloud vision and strategy to drive the company’s digital transformation. With expertise spanning Strategic Planning, & Integration, Digital Transformation, Cloud Computing, and more, Avi is continually driving towards excellence, scalability, and reliability, especially in fast- paced settings.

Rajesh Khazanchi is the CEO and Co-Founder of ColorTokens, a company that provides a zero-trust segmentation SaaS platform that spans across IT, OT, Industrial Control Systems (ICS), Devices and Users. Under Rajesh’s leadership company has accelerated to grown over 300% annual in last 3 years deployed over 100+ large enterprise customers in Insurance, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Pharma. Rajesh leads a team of 400+ people worldwide and drives the vision, strategy, and execution of the company’s products and services. As an accomplished technology leader, Rajesh has led product teams at VMware, BMC, HP, and Oracle, and has been on the front lines of the battle against cyberattacks for more than two decades. He has been awarded six patents for his innovations in cloud automation and cybersecurity, and is a member of YPO and TiE, two global networks of entrepreneurs and executives. Rajesh is passionate about solving complex problems, creating value for customers, and building a culture of excellence and innovation at ColorTokens.

Dan is an Australian and Asia Pacific Sales Leader with over 25 years’ IT experience in Hardware and Software Solutions and Services, Business Development, GTM planning and implementation, Large Complex Negotiations and Executive Relationships. He has worked for IBM, NTT Global and Verizon Enterprise Solutions driving business and building teams in Hardware, Software, Professional Services, Managed Services, Hybrid Cloud, PaaS, SaaS, Data Analytics, Security and Digital Transformation solution sales.

As a Sales Director with ColorTokens, Dan is driving market penetration, brand development, partner engagement and client services and support. He is responsible for industry and buyer alignment and understanding of the ColorTokens “Breach Ready” messaging focusing on halting the spread of ransomware and malware attacks across IT/OT, IoT and Legacy environments providing customers a viable Cyber Resilience ‘Uptime’ compliance capability they can report to market.

VTRAC is a specialized division within Verizon’s Cyber Security Consulting organisation, helping customers regain control and mitigate cyber threats from their networks, applications and devices. VTRAC team members are located across the globe, bringing together professionals with military, law enforcement and IT expertise who are well-versed in criminal and civil investigative requirements.  The organisation is a globally-approved PCI Forensic Investigator (PFI).

As a regional leader for the investigative response team and a global capability lead for VTRAC, Anshuman is responsible for business portfolio management for professional services, especially focused on digital forensics, incident response, and threat intelligence in the APJ region while working for several top global enterprises and government organisations.

Paul is an experienced IT Security Executive who, as Field CISO at JFrog, works to help CISOs, IT execs and security teams, enhance protection of their software supply chain. Additionally, he advises IT security startups, mentors security leaders, and provides guidance on various IT security trends.

M.K. Palmore is an award-winning cybersecurity executive, military veteran, public speaker, and leadership advisor with more than 30 years of combined public- and private-sector experience. He is the Founder and CEO of Apogee Global RMS, a veteran-owned enterprise risk management advisory firm delivering solutions across cyber and physical risk landscapes. Through Apogee, he also leads the Apogee Speakers Bureau, a premier platform showcasing more than 40 diverse experts at the intersection of technology, leadership, and security.

Palmore’s distinguished career includes service as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, leadership as head of the Cyber Security Branch at the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, and senior executive roles in the private sector, including VP/Field CSO at Palo Alto Networks and Director in Google Cloud’s Office of the CISO.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Palmore also holds an MBA from Pepperdine University. His expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, executive risk management, leadership, digital transformation, cloud security, and national security. He is widely sought after as a keynote speaker and advisor to boards and senior executives navigating today’s complex threat landscape.

Through Apogee Global RMS and its Speakers Bureau, Palmore is advancing his mission to amplify diverse voices and perspectives shaping the future of technology, leadership, and security.

Eric Stride is the Chief Security Officer at Huntress, where he oversees the company’s 24/7 Global Security Operations Center, Detection Engineering, Adversary Tactics, IT Operations, and Internal Security. A 20+ year cybersecurity leader, Eric has held senior roles spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, and private sector. 

During his 12 years on active duty, Eric helped architect the Air Force’s first cyber combat mission team, co-authored its first offensive cyber operations manual, and rose to Deputy Chief for Cyber Operations at NSA Georgia. He continues to serve as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve, where he established its first cyber range squadron. 

In the private sector, Eric co-founded Atlas Cybersecurity, advised defense and enterprise clients as an independent consultant, and led Deloitte’s Advanced Cyber Training portfolio, generating $135M+ in new business. He holds an M.S. in Information Technology Management, a B.S. in Computer Science, and multiple cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, GCIH, CEH). 

Christine Gadsby is the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer for BlackBerry Secure Communications. With over 20 years of experience in mobile and information security, Christine is known for her strategic vision and leadership skills, with a proven track record of developing and implementing robust strategies that protect organizations from evolving risks and digital threats – particularly in the areas of communications security and critical event management. Gadsby is a visionary who helped pioneer secure software supply chain efforts and SDLC capabilities influencing industry and government-driven security frameworks in use by the world’s most security-conscious industries.

She is a sought-after panelist, moderator, and keynote speaker with several awards for challenging security mindsets and leading Diversity efforts, including Cybersecurity Woman of the Year, Power 100 Women in Security, and Top 10 Women Leading Cybersecurity. She is a well-known contributor, including RSA, CES, Black Hat and has been quoted in notable media outlets Fox News, CBS, Yahoo, MSN, CSO Magazine, CyberScoop, and Dark Reading.

Prior to joining Cosive, Joe held senior roles at Microsoft, Citrix, Palo Alto Networks, and Cisco where he focused on AI and Data Security, cloud security, risk management, and executive engagement. He has served as a Virtual CISO and Security Architecture Advisor for complex transformations, including industrial and mining clients undergoing separation programs and Azure cloud migrations. Joe works extensively with Australian frameworks and regulations including the ACSC Essential Eight, APRA CPS 234, the SOCI Act, the PSPF, and ISO/IEC 27001, and partners with boards, CISOs, and delivery teams to operationalise pragmatic controls. A committed mentor to the next generation of practitioners, Joe has also completed ISACA training in AI Governance, AI Risk, and Auditing AI.

Blending legal expertise with executive leadership to deliver risk transformation and regulatory uplift at scale.

Anne-Marie Paterson is a risk executive and former legal partner with more than two decades of experience spanning risk management, governance, and legal services. Beginning her career in top-tier law firms before founding and leading her own practice, Anne-Marie has gone on to hold senior executive roles across ASX-listed companies and the financial services sector. Recognised as both a strategist and a problem-solver, she has built and led teams that deliver lasting impact in risk management, compliance, legal services, and organisational integrity.

Anne-Marie has shaped enterprise-wide risk culture strategies recognised by APRA, designed whistleblowing and investigation frameworks for ASX-listed companies, and steered some of the largest regulatory uplift programs in the financial services sector. Her career highlights include establishing AMP’s inaugural Group Integrity Office, uplifting governance for Colonial First State post-demerger, and most recently leading Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s largest multi-stream risk transformation program.

Equally comfortable in the boardroom and at the front line of crisis management, Anne-Marie is known for her values-based leadership, her ability to influence stakeholders from directors to regulators, and her focus on embedding sustainable change. A qualified lawyer, and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she is also a regular keynote speaker on risk, governance, and whistleblowing.

Brad explores the complexities enterprises face in keeping up with the rapid pace of AI innovation, especially as traditional policy frameworks struggle to adapt. He outlines the growing use of LLMs in both consumer and enterprise environments, the unique risks of agentic workflows, and the blurred boundaries between public and private AI deployments.

He also highlights the increased sophistication of social engineering threats fueled by LLMs and discusses strategies for observability, governance, and keeping security teams ahead of the curve in a fast-changing landscape.

Brad serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and has been with the company since 2023. Prior to joining Snowflake, Brad was the CISO and VP of Information Security at Seagate for over six years. Before his tenure at Seagate, Brad oversaw Information Security at Synopsys and SanDisk. Additionally, he has actively participated in a number of customer advisory boards and is currently part of the CISO Advisor Council at NightDragon. Brad earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis.

Prashant Vadlamudi is a strategic leader with two decades of experience driving transformative information security and compliance initiatives. As Senior Vice President of Product Security at Salesforce, he is responsible for safeguarding the company’s products and ensuring adherence to global standards. His career is marked by pivotal leadership roles, including Vice President of Information Security and Cloud Compliance at Cisco, where he established robust security baselines for SaaS offerings, and Director of Technology GRC at Adobe, where he architected the Adobe Common Controls Framework (CCF), a cornerstone of their global trust strategy. Prashant’s expertise spans cloud security, global certifications, and data-driven risk management, allowing him to navigate and mitigate complex security challenges in today’s dynamic landscape. He utilises a risk-based approach to decision-making and focuses on operational efficiency. He has experience in team development and mentoring, with individuals he has mentored holding security leadership positions across the industry. His professional experience includes strategic planning, technical implementation, and team management within the field of information security.

Emilio Escobar is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at observability and security company Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG). With two decades of experience in Information Security and Compliance, Emilio has worked at large enterprises, medium-sized companies, and government organizations. Before Datadog, Emilio served as the VP of Information Security for Hulu, where he played a pivotal role in setting up key security functions. Prior to that, Emilio worked for PlayStation, where he built and ran the software security teams. Emilio’s unique approach to security and compliance has always prioritized partnerships and people—hiring the right talent to build the processes, procedures, and technologies that unite Security, Engineering, and Operations teams. Emilio holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico.

Christian Morin is the Chief Security Officer at Genetec. With over 20 years of experience in IT, telecommunications and physical security industries, Chris has a keen ability to anticipate technological trends and drive meaningful organizational growth. He is a multidisciplinary business leader, having managed the Operations, Customer Service, Sales Engineering, Technical Support, Professional Services, and IT Teams since joining Genetec in 2002. Chris’ executive leadership continues to support the strategic direction and success of the company.

Marco is an industry-recognised cybersecurity thought leader and strategist with over 25 years of leadership and hands-on experience. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing highly complex, large-scale IT transformation projects. Known for his visionary approach, Marco has been instrumental in shaping and executing numerous strategic cybersecurity initiatives. Marco holds a master’s degree in information systems and computer engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen enables him to bridge the gap between technology and strategy, driving innovation and achieving organisational goals.

John Hultquist – Chief Analyst, Mandiant Threat Intelligence

John Hultquist serves as the Chief Analyst at Mandiant Intelligence, now part of Google Cloud. In this senior leadership role, he oversees global threat intelligence operations—tracking cyber espionage, hacktivism, ransomware, and state-aligned threat actors. He regularly advises C-suite and public-sector leaders on cyber risk strategy and prioritisation.

John’s unique background—spanning military intelligence, U.S. government service, private sector leadership, and real-time cyber conflict analysis—positions him as one of the most respected voices in global threat intelligence. He brings a strategic mindset focused equally on technical insights, geopolitical awareness, and operational impact.

Rob Clyde, Chairman, Crypto Quantique, and past ISACA board chair

Rob Clyde is a distinguished cybersecurity and technology leader with over three decades of experience in executive, board, and advisory roles. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Crypto Quantique, a company specialising in quantum-driven IoT cybersecurity solutions. He is also the Executive Chair of White Cloud Security and a long-term board member of ISACA, where he previously held the position of Chair.

Rob’s career includes notable positions such as Chief Technology Officer at Symantec, CEO of Adaptive Computing, and co-founder of Axent Technologies. As Managing Director of Clyde Consulting LLC, he provides strategic advisory services to cybersecurity software companies. Rob is also a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds the NACD Directorship Certification.

A frequent speaker at global cybersecurity conferences, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to discussions on digital trust, governance and emerging technologies.

Jamie Norton, ISACA Board Director

Jamie Norton is a leading cybersecurity expert with over 25 years of experience across government, commercial and international sectors. He is Chief Information Security Officer at Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and Board Director at ISACA. He is a Partner at McGrathNicol, where he advises executives and boards on cyber risk, resilience and strategic performance. Jamie also serves on the Advisory Board of Avertro, a cybersecurity start-up focused on informed, data-driven decision-making around cyber resilience and AI safety. He previously held leadership roles at NEC, Tenable, Check Point and the World Health Organisation.

Jamie is the former Chief Information Security Officer at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), one of Australia’s largest federal agencies. He has chaired and contributed to numerous interdepartmental and industry committees on cyber strategy, and represented Australia at international government forums on cybercrime. He holds degrees in accounting and IT from the Australian National University and is a respected speaker and media commentator.

Experience

David has 25+ years of experience in software, security, information management, mobility and communications at BlackBerry, IBM, SAP, Sybase, and the US Navy. His expertise in Secure Communications leads BlackBerry in the vision of securing a connected future you can trust, helping governments to augment and fortify digital defences to strengthen national security

Notable Achievements

David helped design the world’s first large-scale environmental geo-spatial database for NASA. He also helped design the software for one of the first shipboard radar data fusion systems for the US Navy.   At BlackBerry, David and his team have helped NATO and multiple global governments operating in challenging geo-political environments to establish trusted, secure communications channels from the battlefield to the boardroom – using military-grade software to ensure classified conversations and messages remain private.

James leads cyber resilience strategy at Cohesity. He brings extensive hands-on experience in leading incident response in dozens of ransomware and wiper incidents; as the former CISO of Mimecast and Global Director of Cyber Transformation at JPMorgan Chase; and having led a consultancy practice that built the end-to-end security operation center capability for over 91 organizations including over two dozen in the FORTUNE 100.

Federico Torreti leads the vision, strategy, and delivery of generative AI services, enabling enterprises to build, deploy, and scale large language model applications on Oracle’s cloud platform. Prior to Oracle, he spent over 20 years at Amazon Web Services, Eaton Corporation, and Rolls-Royce, leading AI product teams and launching corporate ventures.

Awarded Australia’s Most Outstanding in IT Security 2024, Fellow of AISA, and Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors, Kate is a distinguished cyber security executive with over 25 years global experience. She has served in influential roles including Interim CISO The Lottery Corporation, Head of Security Google Cloud ANZ, Head of Risk, Wholesale Banking, Standard Chartered Bank and has been a volunteer Board Director. This diverse experience positions her uniquely, having been both an operator and a vendor, she understands the industry from both sides. Kate brings not only deep expertise but also a passion for making this knowledge accessible to everyone through her company Empowered Cyber.

Courtney Guss, Semperis, Director of Crisis Management 

Courtney Guss brings over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, crisis response, and business resilience. She began her career in the insurance and risk management sector, working with FEMA and the NFIP, where she developed a strong foundation in emergency preparedness and crisis communications before transitioning into cybersecurity leadership roles. 

Courtney has led cyber crisis management initiatives for a wide range of organizations, including global enterprises, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously served as a senior consultant at IBM Security, where she specialized in cyber risk quantification using the FAIR framework and advised clients on regulatory compliance, incident response, and stakeholder management. 

Her work has included developing and running executive-level tabletop exercises, supporting ransomware recovery efforts, advising organizations on SEC, DORA, CCOP, and CIRCIA reporting obligations, and orchestrating cross-functional response plans to major incidents. Courtney is passionate about turning chaos into order and equipping teams with the clarity, tools, and playbooks they need to act decisively under pressure. 

In a dynamic and rapidly evolving media landscape, companies like Vanta are exploring innovative platforms to amplify their presence and impact. This partnership enables KBKast to:

• Invest in content development: Improve production quality and explore new formats to engage listeners more deeply
• Foster brand trust: Support brands in reaching security-minded audiences through authentic, expert-driven conversations
• Enhance cybersecurity awareness: Continue providing valuable, accessible insights to a global audience

With Vanta’s involvement, KBKast will introduce:

• Expert insights: Timely discussions on the evolving compliance and security landscape
• Real-world case studies: Practical lessons from businesses navigating compliance challenges
• Resource-rich learning: Access to best-in-class materials and frameworks via Vanta’s expertise

Graeme was born in Scotland, learnt cracking, reverse engineering and security from the Internet. Emigrated to NZ in early 2000’s and was one of the founders of Aura Information Security (pen testing company and RedShield (web defence company). He has presented original offensive security research at many international conferences including Blackhat, H2HC, Troopers, Ruxcon and Kiwicon. Now he is head of research for Siege Ltd, an NZ based company specialising in testing denial of service and bot mitigations.

Kavitha Mariappan, Chief Transformation Officer, Rubrik

Kavitha leads Rubrik’s efforts to accelerate enterprise transformation and deepen executive engagement, with a focus on expanding Rubrik’s footprint across the Global 2000 and public sector decision-makers. She partners across the GTM organization, shaping Rubrik’s CXO narrative, championing value economics, and unlocking new revenue streams. Prior to Rubrik, Kavitha was EVP of Customer Experience & Transformation at Zscaler, where she built and scaled the company’s CXO and Transformation Practice. She holds a B.Eng. in Communication Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, and an M.S. in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from NYU School of Law and Tandon School of Engineering.

Sunny Rao, SVP, Asia Pacific at JFrog

Sunny Rao is SVP, Asia Pacific at JFrog and brings almost three decades of business management experience in information technology and enterprise software. Rao has vast experience and deep expertise in the global expansion of emerging technologies and is passionate about helping customers and partners enhance, secure, and accelerate their entire software supply chain with JFrog.

Craig Wilson, Cloud Platform Principal Engineer at Iress

Craig Wilson is a Cloud Platform Principal Engineer at Iress, where he focuses on cloud architecture and developer tools, and champions ‘shift-left’ practices to implement secure software delivery platforms.

Tal Zarfati, Architect Lead, JFrog Security

Tal Zarfati is the Architect Lead at JFrog Security, bringing over 20 years of expertise in software engineering and cybersecurity. With a strong background in leading R&D teams focused on Supply Chain security, he has since spearheaded the development of core SCA and SBOM capabilities and owned the JFrog OSS Catalog product, leading multiple teams to bring it to life.

Paul O’Rourke commenced as Chief Risk Officer in June 2024.

Paul brings a great depth of experience in risk management, including with respect to cybersecurity and technology risk management.

Prior to joining Tabcorp, Paul was Managing Director and Partner of Boston Consulting Group where he led their Global Cyber and Digital Risk practice, and was also the Australian Risk Leader.

He was previously the Global and Asia Pacific Cybersecurity Leader at PwC, and was Chief Information Security Officer of ANZ Bank Limited.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and is a Graduate Member of AICD.

Chuck Herrin is the Field CISO of F5. Prior to F5, Chuck was the CTO of Wib, an API security firm that created the second generation of API security solutions designed from the ground up to provide end to end visibility, testing, and context to discover, test, and secure all APIs across a customer ecosystem. Prior to Wib, Chuck spent 19+ years as a CISO in financial services and banking, including SVP and Head of IT Security, Risk, and Compliance for all of AIG’s consumer-facing divisions and EVP and CISO of Texas Capital Bank prior to being named “Most Trusted Bank in America” by Newsweek in 2022.

A lifelong learner, Chuck holds a litany of industry certifications gathered over the last 25 years, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lenoir Rhyne University. When not traveling to events and customer locations, Chuck is based out of his ranch in North Dallas.

Norbert Kiss has been Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific (APAC) at Delinea since January 2024, bringing over 30 years of experience in scaling and leading technology businesses across the region. A seasoned executive, he has a proven track record of driving growth, expanding market presence, and building strategic partnerships in the cybersecurity and technology sectors.

Before joining Delinea, Norbert was Vice President, APAC at Grafana Labs, where he significantly expanded the company’s footprint, driving growth and spearheading entry into new geographic markets. Prior to that, as Vice President, APAC at NGINX, he played a pivotal role in establishing the company’s presence in the region, leading its expansion across key markets and overseeing its integration into F5 Networks following its acquisition.

Throughout his career, Norbert has held leadership roles at Kemp, WatchGuard, and other prominent technology and cybersecurity firms, consistently demonstrating his expertise in market expansion, business transformation, and navigating the complexities of the APAC region.

Martin is a highly experienced professional with a stellar record of achievement in senior leadership roles across the Australian technology sector. Having begun his professional life with the United States Navy, he applied his skills to the cyber security and cloud storage landscape across a range of roles, consistently finding success in sales growth and business development.  

Martin worked at AT&T for 16 years, rising from the Business Development team to become Vice President and Managing Director for the A/NZ region. He moved from there to a similar leadership position at Citrix, before joining Commvault as the Vice President for Sales in A/NZ.  

Martin was quickly elevated to the Asia Pacific Vice President role, having gained immense success at elevating the Commvault brand and developing the business at a critical juncture in the company’s evolution. 

Matt Watts Matt is increasingly in demand as a keynote speaker, combining his knowledge of the IT industry with anecdotes and stories that bring technology to life with witty, easily understandable examples. Matt project Managed a number of significant IT projects; managed System Engineers responsible for providing installation and onsite support; as well as overseeing IT outsourcing contracts. This experience has given him contact with all levels of Leadership, enabling him to understand, communicate with and support clients with their IT and transformation Strategies.

A dedicated and trusted senior Cyber security professional, Imran Husain has over 22 years of Fortune 1000 experience that covers a broad array of domains which includes risk management, cloud security, SecDevOps, AI Security and OT Cyber practices. A critical, action-oriented leader Imran brings strategic and technical expertise with a proven ability to build cyber program to be proactive in their threat detection, identifying and engaging in critical areas to the business while upholding their security posture. He specializes in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Distribution focusing on how to best use security controls and processes to maximize coverage and reduce risk in a complex multi-faceted environment. A skilled communicator and change agent with bias to action who cultivates an environment of learning and creative thinking, Imran champions open communication and collaboration to empower and inspire teams to exceed in their respective cyber commitments. He is currently the Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at MillerKnoll, a publicly traded American company that produces office furniture, equipment, and home furnishings.

Rose Alvarado is an accomplished security specialist with more than eleven years of experience in the Australian Enterprise IT industry who partners with CISOs, CIOs and IT Managers to provide them with the best IT security and data solutions that meet their needs. Currently, she is the Regional Sales Manager for NSW at Cribl, helping organisations adopt a better data management strategy, improving their security and observability operations while reducing their cost of ownership. She is passionate about cybersecurity and data management, she constantly seeks to expand her professional skills and learn from industry experts.

Jenna’s cyber journey began at Accenture Federal Services, where she collaborated with U.S. federal agencies on mission-critical projects. She then transitioned to Splunk as a Public Sector Solutions Engineer, specializing in compliance, automation, and IT and security modernisation. Now, as a Solutions Engineering Manager for ANZ at Cribl, she helps organisations take control of data growth through optimisation, data tiering, and breaking vendor lock-in. When she’s not “Cribbling,” you’ll find her exploring her new home in Australia or spending time with her American Bulldog.

Agni is a CxO Advisor specializing in digital resilience and cyber defense, with a primary focus on strengthening digital environments to ensure that organizations are adequately prepared for cyber attacks as they reap the benefits of digital business. With over three decades of insightful experience in the fields of cybersecurity, continuity, crisis management, privacy, and risk optimization, he actively advocates for and promotes zero-trust principles across complex systems, including on-premises, cloud, and operational technology/industrial control systems (OT/ICS) environments. Agni is a highly regarded speaker and thought leader, contributing his expertise to various industry forums and standards organizations, such as ISO and the Cloud Security Alliance, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of cybersecurity practices for a safer digital landscape.

Ivano is a researcher, consultant, author, and speaker whose work focuses on the managerial and business implications of Cybersecurity.

He is the General Manager of AUSCERT, a not-for-profit organisation affiliated with UQ that delivers cybersecurity services to public and private sector organisations across Australia and New Zealand.

Ivano is also a Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity Management with the UQ Business School and a member of UQ Cyber.

Ivano helps business leaders and executives make evidence-based decisions in cybersecurity. With a professional background in risk and security management, Ivano’s work bridges the gap between technical cybersecurity and its repercussions across organisations. He has advised ministers, policy-makers, board members, and senior executives on strategies, governance structures, policies, and training programs for effective cybersecurity management. Ivano is also an experienced facilitator in the fields of Design Thinking and Design-Led innovation, having run since 2015 more than 50 design-led workshops and longer projects for public and private sector organisations.

Prior to AUSCERT and UQ, Ivano worked as a Research Fellow with the Adam Smith Business School (University of Glasgow) and a Postdoctoral Fellow with the PwC Chair in Digital Economy (QUT). In this role, he worked with public and private sector organisations in projects aimed at facilitate their transition into the Digital Age. Ivano obtained his PhD from QUT in 2016, with a thesis on safety and security management in Australian airports. His academic career includes stints with Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan), where he worked as a faculty member and consultant for three years.

He also worked as a Deputy Venue Security Manager at the XX Winter Olympic Games – Turin 2006 and as a Police Officer for the Italian Ministry of Interior.

He has a double MSc in Management of Public Administrations and International Institutions (Bocconi University, Milan) and International Security (Sciences Po, Paris).

A father of one and an eager snowboarder, Ivano loves soccer, American football, and writing novels and poems.

Dr. Keith D. Dorsey is a researcher, author, advisor, and active board member focused on issues  of diversity, governance, and strategic growth for private and public corporate boards. His recent  research examined women executives’ pathways to securing corporate board seats, yielding  powerful insights about the barriers and facilitators unique to women candidates seeking these  positions. His book, The Boardroom Journey: Practical Guidance for Women to Secure a  Seat at the Table, combines his research insights with his extensive executive, board, and  industry experience. He speaks on topics related to governance and navigating the path to the C suite and boardroom. As an executive advisor, he is focused on increasing Optimal  DiversityTM within corporate senior management, executive, and board-level roles.  

Board Experience and Certification  

Keith is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Certified Director and was  recognized as an honoree of the 2023 NACD Directorship 100, an annual recognition of 100  leading corporate directors and corporate governance experts who impact boardroom practices and  performance. He serves as a board member at Vimly Benefit Solutions, a private technology and  third-party administration company; Continu, a private learning management system SaaS  company; Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, Pacific Crest Trail Association;  and the Chair of the City of La Quinta’s Financial Advisory Commission. Former Board Member,  Orion Talent, a recruitment process outsourcing and talent acquisition firm. Keith is also an  Executive Leadership Council (ELC) member and a graduate, mentor, and advisor of Santa Clara  University’s Black Corporate Board Readiness program.  

Corporate Experience  

Keith founded the Boardroom Journey, a leadership development consultancy dedicated to  helping professionals access board education, gain needed certifications, and make efficient  progress to the C-suite and the boardroom. As a senior advisor at Boyden, a global executive search  and consulting firm, he also helps executive teams and boards enhance their governance quality  through a comprehensive set of board consulting services, including full-scale governance review,  board, committee, and director assessments, M&A governance planning, board refreshment, and  CEO succession planning.  

In his former role as President and Executive Advisor for Dorsey Management Consulting, he  mentored and advised CxOs on their sales growth and go-to-market strategies, helped businesses  align their strategies with sales expectations, aggressively grew their bottom line and shareholder  value during significant periods of change, and optimized leadership and sales team effectiveness. 

He has over 25 years of sales leadership experience in the Human Capital Management industry,  such as at Alight Solutions (formerly Aon Hewitt and Hewitt Associates), a $2.3B leading provider  of human capital solutions where he served as the Executive Vice President, Global Head of Sales  responsible for the overall sales growth strategy and execution. Under Keith’s executive  leadership, his sales teams consistently produced double-digit annual growth. Prior to joining  Hewitt Associates, Keith worked with Paychex, Inc., a Fortune 1000 payroll and HR outsourcing  company, for 16 years. He was a Zone Sales Manager responsible for the growth and delivery of  revenue in their Human Resource Service Division. Before Paychex, Keith spent three years in the  insurance industry and five years serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.  

Education  

Keith has a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of  Southern California. His dissertation research examined gender and ethnic diversity on corporate  boards. He also holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BS in Business Administration  from Charter Oak State College. 

Sam Mackenzie is a driven technology and cybersecurity leader with 25 years of experience dedicated to protecting and advancing critical infrastructure. As a valued committee member of both the Australian Control Rooms Network Association and the Australian Computer Society, Sam is known for his structured thinking, his talent for simplifying complex challenges, and his ability to harness culture as a catalyst for meaningful change. Sam’s career spans leadership roles with global brands and household names in Australia, where he has built high-performance teams across sectors including health, telecoms, energy, and local government. With hands-on expertise in seven of the eleven Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act sectors, Sam’s straightforward approach and thought leadership—evident through his frequent speaking engagements, panel hosting, and published works—continue to drive high-quality technology and security outcomes.

Helmut has been in the security business for more than 25 years in various management roles for some of the leading suppliers of a broad range of security solutions. He also holds some patents. Within the last 20 years he has successfully led different engineering, global product management and marketing teams. His portfolio includes one of the first VPN products ever as well as solutions for HW-based encryption solutions in combination with RFID technologies managed by his various teams. He has been with HID now for more than 15 years with a focus on RFID technologies, and is used to challenging the status quo in seeking more customer-friendly solutions and services.

Samuel Tseitkin is a passionate advocate for emerging technologies, with a strong foundation in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. During his university years, he co-founded the Artificial Intelligence Student Society (AISSOC), a hub for students collaborating on AI projects, where he contributed to and facilitated multiple initiatives.

After completing his Cybersecurity studies at Monash University, Samuel became deeply interested in quantum computing and its implications for digital security. Recognising the urgent need to adapt cybersecurity strategies for a post-quantum world, he founded ExeQuantum to not only raise awareness of the quantum threat but also provide cutting-edge cryptographic solutions.

Since then, Samuel has established himself as a thought leader in post-quantum cybersecurity, delivering lectures, leading panels, and driving discussions across Australia’s top innovation and technology hubs, including Stone & Chalk, the University of Melbourne, and Monash University. His mission is clear: to ensure businesses and institutions are prepared for the next era of digital security.

Juan Loaiza, Executive Vice President, Database Technologies, Oracle

He is responsible for leading product strategy, development, and management for the world’s leading transaction processing and engineered systems technologies, in the cloud and on-premises. His team is focused on automating and converging database technologies to make application development and operations dramatically easier, saving customers time and money and allowing them to focus on what matters most to them.

Juan holds BS and MS degrees in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1988, he left the MIT doctoral program to join the Oracle Database engineering team and has been an innovator in database technologies ever since. In his free time, Juan is an active supporter of more than 15 organisations around the world that work to conserve wildlife and wild places, including WildAid and Wildlife Conservation Network.

Chris Chelliah, Senior Vice President, Technology and Customer Strategy, Oracle JAPAC

Chris Chelliah leads Oracle’s digital transformation strategy across Japan and Asia Pacific, driving hypergrowth in cloud infrastructure and autonomous databases. He oversees cloud specialist sales teams, industry architects, and Oracle Insight experts to deliver a consultative, customer-focused approach that helps businesses achieve their goals.

Chris has nearly 30 years of experience across a variety of portfolios in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Previously at Oracle, he focused on customer success with consulting and implementation services in global projects in the telecommunications, financial services, and government sectors. He’s a frequent industry speaker and contributes regularly to trade and industry journals and opinion pieces on applications for emerging technologies.

Simon Hodgkinson, Strategic Advisor at Semperis

Simon Hodgkinson is the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at bp. He was responsible for cybersecurity including strategy, governance, architecture, education, counter threat operations, and incident response. He joined bp in 2002 and has held several senior IT leadership roles.

Prior to becoming CISO, he was the VP for Infrastructure & Integration Services at bp. During this time, he drove a significant improvement in IT operational integrity, led a transformation program and spearheaded the commitment to improve employees’ IT experience. He led the CISO function in bp Supply & Trading, where he delivered a program to improve cyber-controls, many of which have been implemented across the bp group. Before joining bp, Simon worked in IT for a dotcom, an investment bank, and commercial software companies.

Reuben Koh is a Director of Security Technology & Strategy at Akamai Technologies where he provides deep thought leadership and advisory in helping clients align security strategies with their core business initiatives and digital transformation processes.

He also works with Fortune 1000 enterprises and business partners across Asia Pacific & Japan in providing cybersecurity guidance and expertise, especially in domains such as Web Security, Zero Trust, SASE, XDR, network security and Security Operations.

With close to 20 years of experience in cyber security, Reuben previously held prominent leadership roles with industry leaders such as Symantec, CA Technologies, VMware and Cisco Systems. Reuben also holds various industry certifications such as CISSP, CISA, CISM and ITIL.

Chris Peake is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Vice President of Security at Smartsheet. Since joining in September of 2020, he is responsible for leading the continuous improvement of the security program to better protect customers and the company in an ever-changing cyber environment, with a focus on customer enablement and a passion for building great teams.

Chris holds a PhD in cloud security and trust, and has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity during which time he has supported organizations like NASA, DARPA, the Department of Defense, and ServiceNow. He enjoys biking, boating, and cheering on Auburn football.

BlackBerry Role

In his role as the Vice President of Secure Communications, David is a seasoned international public speaker, whose responsibilities include leading the Secure Government Communications business in the Americas and APAC. He specializes in applying technology to real life mission critical business systems with a focus in communications, security, and safety.

David and his team support our customers in understanding how to secure their mobile communications from the most advanced adversaries, especially in complex and highly secure sectors such as defense and military, including NATO. David has been with BlackBerry for ten years, joining the organization in November 2014.

Experience

David has 25+ years of experience in software, security, information management, mobility and communications at BlackBerry, IBM, SAP, Sybase, and the US Navy. His expertise in Secure Communications leads BlackBerry in the vision of securing a connected future you can trust, helping governments to augment and fortify digital defences to strengthen national security

Notable Achievements

David helped design the world’s first large-scale environmental geo-spatial database for NASA. He also helped design the software for one of the first shipboard radar data fusion systems for the US Navy.   At BlackBerry, David and his team have helped NATO and multiple global governments operating in challenging geo-political environments to establish trusted, secure communications channels from the battlefield to the boardroom – using military-grade software to ensure classified conversations and messages remain private.

Anand Pashupathy is Vice President and General Manager of Security Software & Services (S3) Division in the Office of the Corporate Technology Officer organization where he leads a team of senior leaders whose purpose is to deliver security software technologies, services, and practices that empower our customers to achieve their security objectives. His organization’s product portfolio includes Confidential Compute, Ecosystem Enabling, Security Corporate Technology Initiative, Open Source Security Supply Chain, etc. Anand is also responsible for Intel’s Confidential Compute vision, strategy, and execution. Previously Anand has held many engineering, program wide and GM leadership roles at Intel. Additionally, Anand has been granted six patents and currently serves a governing board member of the Confidential Computing Consortium.

Anand is a strong advocate for women and underrepresented people in technology, he serves as the Executive Sponsor for an internal employee resource group. For his advocacy and leadership contributions to diversity and inclusion, Anand received the 2023 Global Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award for Executive Advocate for D&I. Outside of work, Anand and his family love to travel and experience cultures from around the world. He earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science and has been with Intel since the nineties.

As Managing Director of SMA Australia and Regional Manager APAC, Doris Spielthenner heads the Residential, C&I and Large Scale Utility business across ANZ, India, China and Taiwan, South East Asia, Japan and Korea. Doris Spielthenner joined SMA from senior management positions in the software and professional services industries across APAC, Europe, and the US.

Doris is passionate about building and growing businesses, with strong leadership across B2B and B2C, recently in the Greentech industry. She is a dynamic, results-focused leader with a top tier consulting background and strong planning and execution experience. She is also the co-founder of a global software business.

Ginny Badanes is the General Manager of Microsoft’s Democracy Forward program, an initiative within Microsoft’s Technology for Fundamental Rights organisation. At Microsoft, protecting fundamental rights means promoting responsible business practices, expanding accessibility and connectivity, and advancing fair and inclusive societies. Ginny’s team is focused on addressing challenges to global democratic stability, with efforts aimed at safeguarding open and secure elections, promoting a healthy information ecosystem, and advocating for corporate civic responsibility. In 2024, a key focus of her team’s work was raising awareness about the deceptive uses of AI in elections and combating these cyber and AI enabled threats.

Ginny has spent her career at the intersection of politics and technology, advising presidential and senate campaigns on leveraging data and technology. She was named among Washingtonian’s 2021 & 2022 “Most Influential People” list for national security and defense.

Mick Dunne heads the new Customer Security Officer team across Asia who are part of a global team for over 40 former CISOs, CTOs and deeply experienced SMEs. They are focused on providing trusted, deep expertise and advice to customers, Microsoft area leadership and to feedback key strategic investments and product roadmap. Prior to Microsoft Mick was the CISO at AustralianSuper, bringing a long history as a security leader and also one of the first organisations to adopt Security Copilot.

Ben Lamont is the Chief Data Officer at the Australian Federal Police (AFP). In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing the AFP’s technology strategy and data management initiatives. Ben’s work focuses on addressing capability gaps and leveraging opportunities to enhance the AFP’s operational effectiveness. His leadership ensures that the AFP remains at the forefront of technological advancements in law enforcement.

Helen Schneider is a Commander with the Australian Federal Police (AFP). She leads the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), which focuses on combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Commander Schneider has been instrumental in coordinating significant operations, such as Operation Bakis, which led to the arrest of numerous offenders and the rescue of children from harm. Her work involves collaborating with both national and international law enforcement agencies to tackle complex and sensitive cases, ensuring the safety and protection of children.

Leigh Williams is the Chief Information Officer at Brisbane Catholic Education. With a career that began in teaching, Leigh has held various leadership roles, including CEO, Executive Director, and COO. She oversees digital, information, and IT infrastructure for hundreds of locations and over 13,000 staff. A passionate advocate for digital innovation and education, Leigh is a published researcher and has led keynotes and workshops globally. She holds multiple post-graduate qualifications in Education, IT, Leadership, Management, and Business.

Bret Arsenault is the Corporate Vice President and Chief Cybersecurity Advisor at Microsoft. With over 30 years at the company, he leads global efforts in information security, compliance, and business continuity. Bret oversees a team dedicated to protecting Microsoft’s assets and advises Fortune 100 leaders on cybersecurity strategies. He is also the Chairman of Microsoft’s Information Risk Management Council and a founding member of the Executive Security Action Forum (ESAF).

Janice Le is the General Manager of Microsoft Security, Compliance, Identity & Privacy. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she leads a global team dedicated to safeguarding Microsoft’s customers and their data. With a strong background in software development and cybersecurity, Janice drives innovation and strategic initiatives to enhance security and compliance across Microsoft’s vast ecosystem.

Chris Lloyd-Jones is the Head of Architect & Strategy in the Office of the CTO at Avanade. He leads strategic initiatives and architectural frameworks to drive innovation and digital transformation. With a strong background in technology and leadership, Chris plays a crucial role in shaping Avanade’s technological direction and ensuring alignment with business goals.

Tom Gillis is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cisco Security Business Group (SBG). A respected security industry leader with strong executive management skills and in-depth knowledge of the challenges surrounding secure enterprise computing, Tom is responsible for the company’s global security business to fundamentally simplify the security experience.

Prior to Cisco, Tom was the SVP/GM of the Network and Advanced Security Business Group at VMware, where he led the endpoint, networking, load balancing and network security businesses. He was also the CEO/co-founder of Bracket Computing which was acquired by VMware.

Before Bracket Computing, Tom was the GM of the Security Technology Group at Cisco where he led the company’s businesses for security management, appliances, applications, and endpoint services. Tom was also part of the founding team at IronPort Systems and served as senior vice president of marketing when the company was acquired by Cisco. Under his guidance, IronPort grew an average of 100 percent year-on-year for seven years. During his tenure, IronPort rose to become the leading provider of antispam, antivirus, and antimalware appliances for organizations ranging from small businesses to the Global 2000.

Tom has also worked at iBEAM Broadcasting, Silicon Graphics, and Boston Consulting Group in various technical and leadership roles. He is also a noted advisor to startups and venture capital companies and is a member of several boards of directors.

Tom holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.S.E.E. degree from Northwestern University and a B.S.E.E. from Tufts University.

Gerry Sillars is the Vice President of Asia Pacific at Semperis, a leading provider of enterprise identity protection, threat research, and incident response services headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey. In this role, he heads the APAC operations and focuses on expanding Semperis’ footprint in Australia, ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and India while evolving the company’s channel business.

Gerry Sillars has over 20 years of experience building and scaling software businesses in APAC. Before joining Semperis, he played pivotal roles in Commvault Systems, Alcatel Lucent, UpGuard, and Fortanix.

Gerry lives in Singapore with his wife, is an Australian citizen and a native of Scotland.

Grant Bourzikas joined Cloudflare as the Chief Security Officer in 2023, where he is a driving force in helping the company achieve its mission to build a better Internet. As a critical component within Cloudflare’s ecosystem, Grant’s primary role is to protect the company from sophisticated adversaries to stay ahead in today’s cybersecurity landscape. He oversees Cloudflare’s threat intelligence services, which successfully mitigate 170+ billion attacks daily, in addition to acting as “Customer Zero” to help foster innovation across all Cloudflare products and services.

Grant is a seven-time CSO with over 20 years experience leading global security programs that span the private sector, having worked at a Fortune 500 critical infrastructure company, an online trading organization and within the gaming space. Most notably, Grant spent several years in the financial services industry at both HSBC and Silicon Valley Bank. Grant holds a Master’s in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. He is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

David has just retired in July 2024 and is building out his portfolio. He is an Advisor with Bain Advisory Network and also an Advisor to JS Careers (Cyber Recruitment) and Emertel (Software Commercialization).

He is a seasoned technology executive with significant experience and has over 25 years’ experience in CIO and CISO roles across different industries and countries.  At Macquarie Group David served as Global Head Technology, Cyber and Data Risk. Previously was CISO for HSBC Asia Pacific.  His career as a CIO spans across multiple industries and geographies including – Metlife, Eli Lilly and Credit Union Australia. He was winner CIO of the Year 2014, at CUA where he successfully completed a significant Transformation of Core Banking, Online and Mobile Banking systems.

David is past Chairman for the FS-ISAC Strategy Committee and awarded Global Leaders Award in 2023 for his contributions to the cybersecurity industry. A regular conference keynote speaker and 150+ published articles for CIO Australia, Computerworld, ITNews and CSO (Cyber Security), David now writes for Foundry CIO.com and AICD.

His most recent book – the Aspiring CIO & CISO was published in July 2024 and David is writing his second – A Day in the Life of a CISO with a number of CISOs from around the world for 2025.

Hosted by the insightful trio of Tom Walker (the infrastructure tragic), Scott Fletcher (the security ninja), and James Vincent (the cloud alchemist), this show promises to deliver a deep dive into the world of cloud, security, and infrastructure.

Here are 3 key takeaways for you:

• Comprehensive Expertise: Engage with content that combines expertise in infrastructure, security, and cloud, providing a holistic view of today’s technological environment.
• Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by industry specialists, the podcast brings together various outlooks, giving listeners a rich and varied understanding of complex topics.
• Part of KBI FM Network: As a part of the respected KBI.FM podcast network, expect well-curated content designed to inform and inspire.

In this episode, we sit down with Vishwanath Nair, Head of Cyber Risk and Compliance at Baptist Care, as he explores the evolving partnership between IT and business. Vishwanath discusses the critical role of IT in digital transformation, the importance of data as a key business asset, and the proliferation of AI tools in enhancing IT-business alignment. He addresses the historical lack of trust between IT and business, emphasizing the need for effective communication and co-design to improve this relationship.

With over 25 years of experience, Vishwanath (Vish) is a leading authority in Risk Management, specializing in Information Security (InfoSec), IT Service Management, and Business Resilience on a global scale. He has led multi-million-dollar transformation initiatives across key sectors such as Public Sector, Critical Infrastructure, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.

Vish’s recent work as the inaugural Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the NSW Electoral Commission earned him the prestigious CSO30 Business Value Award 2024 by Foundry. His role was critical in safeguarding the Commission’s cybersecurity, where he developed security services from the ground up, embedding them into the organization’s processes to support the delivery of secure and transparent elections.

Currently, Vish serves as the Head of Cyber Risk and Compliance at BaptistCare NSW/ACT, one of Australia’s leading Aged Care providers, where he oversees the security and compliance frameworks that protect critical services.

Previously, as Global Continuity Lead at Emirates Airlines, Vish was responsible for enhancing IT and Business Continuity practices globally. He also established Cyber/IT Trusted Advisory services, aligning business and IT strategies for optimal results across the airline’s operations.

Known for his collaborative, inclusive leadership style, Vish has built and nurtured high-performing teams, maintaining exceptional retention rates. His commitment to professional development and industry advancement is reflected in his active contributions to organizations like ISACA, AISA, and BCI, where he has served on the Board of Directors for ISACA UAE and BCI UAE.

Vish is also a prolific public speaker and has earned numerous industry accolades, solidifying his position as a trusted leader and influential voice in the cybersecurity and risk management sectors.

Shannon also shares insights on the evolving role of AI in cybersecurity and the need for greater integration and proactive practices within organizations to reduce the risk of breaches.

Shannon brings a decade in enterprise, consumer, and cybersecurity technology experience across high-growth industries focusing on the role of security in business and the workforce of the future. A subject matter expert in emerging security operations technologies including XDR, generative AI, exposure management and Zero Trust implementations, she is at the forefront of innovations that help organisations stay ahead of evolving threats.

Shannon is a security champion for business leaders, helping organisations translate and validate the business value of a resilient risk posture and culture that puts security first. As a strategist, she works with cybersecurity leaders and partners to develop scalable solutions that address unique and emerging threat models.

Further reading: How a Communication Breakdown in the Boardroom is Hurting Cyber-Resilience

As Interactive’s Chief Information Security Officer, Fred is responsible for Interactive’s organisational cyber security and supporting Interactive’s customers to build resilient cyber security solutions.

Fred has always been interested in systems: whether it’s the mechanics of a car or the application layers of network architecture, he enjoys understanding the end-to-end process and enhancing their capabilities.

Whether defending a small business or a national grid, Fred focuses on proactively building the ‘castle walls’ of cyber defence to prevent incursions, rather than relying on ad-hoc threat responses.

Over three decades in the industry, Fred has found that cyber security isn’t just about protocols; he sees it as a holistic mindset that empowers us to thwart threats at every level, safeguarding our digital landscape.

Additionally, David provides insights into misconceptions about WAN acceleration and optimization, emphasizing the importance of secure backups, air-gapped systems, and the resurgence of tape technology for robust data protection against cyber threats.

David Trossell is a recognised leader in the storage technology industry. He is CEO and CTO of award-winning WAN Acceleration company Bridgeworks, where he holds 18 technology patents. David is also committed to supporting British STEM initiatives and developing technology leaders through UK university and college apprenticeship programmes.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Expanding Beyond KBKAST: While our flagship podcast, KBKAST, remains a key focus, KBI,FM allows us to introduce a variety of valuable content outside of our own podcast, shedding light on areas that need attention in cybersecurity.
• Experience That Sets Us Apart: With our podcasting journey beginning in 2018, KBI.FM benefits from years of experience. We know what it takes to build and succeed in the podcast world, offering high-quality content tailored for our audience.
• Client Show Debuts: We’re excited to premiere some of our client shows soon, adding diverse voices and perspectives to our network. Stay tuned for releases that promise to bring insightful discussions to your ears!

As we continue this journey, we’re here to deliver top-notch cybersecurity content that keeps you informed and engaged.

From car bombings, the Ebola Outbreak to meeting Yasser Arafat and making it to the summit of Mount Everest, Mark ‘Squiz’ Squirrell OAM has experienced more than many can dream about.

Squiz was awarded the coveted “Green Beret” whilst serving with the Australian Commando’s.  His tenure with the military provided him with the skills and courage to succeed amongst adversity and turmoil. It was the perfect grounding for a career as an International Aid Worker.

Squiz escorted food convoys through the Gaza Strip, negotiated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamel Eelam (Tamil Tigers) and brokered deals with Somali Clansmen to ensure the safe delivery of United Nations food aid.  In doing so, he has mastered the challenges of performing under pressure, communicating effectively and building relationships.

In addition to this, Squiz has taken the concept of being motivated at work to an all new high.  He was inspired by his organisation, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the impoverished people that it feeds, to climb to the top of the world to help raise awareness of the global hunger crisis. After a gruelling six week ordeal, Squiz raised the WFP flag on the summit of Mount Everest. The inspiring and thrilling recount across glaciers and up exposed cliffs reveal the motivation, habits and adversity skills that facilitated his success.

Squiz has a Bachelor of Business (HRM) and has published a memoire titled From Arafat to Everest. In 2019 Squiz was recognised in the Australia Day Honours List with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for “service to the international community through humanitarian aid”. He continues to deploy on short term assignments to emergency zones, such as the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa and Nepal Earthquake.

Now based out of Melbourne, Squiz provides keynotes, workshops and team building activities to develop workplace performance.

Kate Carruthers is an experienced data and technology leader who has expertise in analytics, AI, data management, Data Governance and AI governance. She is a passionate educator who loves sharing her knowledge and helping people to develop their own AI and data expertise.

Kobi Leins is a reformed lawyer, academic in tech and law, and is a technical expert for Standards Australia. She loves to teach, learn and be challenged at the edges of tech and governance.

The Essential Eight

The mitigation strategies that constitute the Essential Eight are:

• patch applications

• patch operating systems

• multi-factor authentication

• restrict administrative privileges

• application control

• restrict Microsoft Office macros

• user application hardening

• regular backups.

Ivano is the General Manager of AUSCERT. He is also a researcher, consultant, author, and speaker whose work focuses on the managerial and business implications of Cybersecurity.

A Lecturer in Information Security, Governance and Leadership with the UQ Business School and a member of UQ Cyber, Ivano helps business leaders and executives make evidence-based decisions in cybersecurity. With a professional background in risk and security management, Ivano’s work bridges the gap between technical cybersecurity and its repercussions across organisations. He has advised ministers, policy-makers, board members, and senior executives on strategies, governance structures, policies, and training programs for effective cybersecurity management. Ivano is also an experienced facilitator in the fields of Design Thinking and Design-Led innovation, having run since 2015 more than 50 design-led workshops and longer projects for public and private sector organisations.

Prior to UQ, Ivano worked as a Research Fellow with the Adam Smith Business School (University of Glasgow) and a Postdoctoral Fellow with the PwC Chair in Digital Economy (QUT). In this role, he worked with public and private sector organisations in projects aimed at facilitate their transition into the Digital Age. Ivano obtained his PhD from QUT in 2016, with a thesis on safety and security management in Australian airports. His academic career includes stints with Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan), where he worked as a faculty member and consultant for three years.

He also worked as a Deputy Venue Security Manager at the XX Winter Olympic Games – Turin 2006 and as a Police Officer for the Italian Ministry of Interior.

He has a double MSc in Management of Public Administrations and International Institutions (Bocconi University, Milan) and International Security (Sciences Po, Paris).

We also explore the unique security demands of AI factories, explaining the need for both traditional data center precautions and modern zero-trust models. Jarrod shares insights on the various stages of AI factory development and integration, emphasizing the importance of securing data throughout its lifecycle within these specialized environments.

As a seasoned industry professional with over 25 years of experience in Service Provider and Cloud Engineering, Jarrod has developed a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership skills. His background in Mobile and Satellite technologies has equipped him with a deep understanding of network design, implementation, and troubleshooting.

He’s passionate about staying at the forefront of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications in Cloud, Service Providers, and IoT at scale. The convergence of Edge Networks, Cloud capabilities, and AI Factories will revolutionise industry and how applications are delivered and he’s excited to explore the potential of AI infrastructure and its impact on the future of technology and business.

Venkat is an experienced cyber security and technology risk executive with expertise in building cyber resilience, safely enabling business growth and inspiring customer trust. Adept in building relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels across organisations with strong customer focus to deliver pragmatic and innovative solutions to derive business value. Passionate people leader with demonstrated success of developing diverse and high performing teams. Experienced in building security practices from grassroots with innovative approaches for modernisation and by accelerating into scalable and sustainable operations.

Paddy McGuinness, Former UK Deputy National Security Advisor (Intelligence Security and Resilience); Senior Advisor at Brunswick Group

Paddy McGuinness is a Senior Adviser at Brunswick Group, supporting clients on crisis and resilience and the interplay between geopolitics, national security and their transactions. He works closely with the Firm’s regional and specialist leads across Technology, Cyber, Aerospace and Defence, Litigation, Geopolitical, Activism and Competition and Regulatory Affairs.

From 2014 – 2018, Paddy was the UK’s Deputy National Security Advisor for Intelligence, Security and Resilience and Government Chief Security Officer advising two successive British Prime Ministers on UK Homeland Security policy, capabilities and related legislation. This included the UK’s National Risk Assessment and ability to respond to and recover from all hazards and threats, national crisis response and coordination, cyber strategies and programmes, counter terrorism and approach to managing hostile state activities, including the resilience of Critical National Infrastructure. He chaired the Investment Security Group reviewing FDI and M&A for National Security purposes.

As a Foreign Service officer Paddy led variously on Counter Terrorism, aspects of Cyber, the Middle East, Iran, Counter Proliferation and Africa. He served overseas in the Middle East and Europe and was an envoy on matters as diverse as Yemen, Counter Terrorism, and National Security and Law Enforcement access to data.

Away from Brunswick Paddy works with Governments on their Resilience and with Private Equity on emerging technologies, nuclear energy and space. He is a co- founder of Oxford Digital Healthcare and of Venari Security. He sits on the advisory board of PoolRe, the UK’s Counter Terrorism Reinsurance Pool. Until the recent UK General Election he was a special advisor to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

Toby Jones, Founder from TJC

Toby is CEO of TJC and until recently was Head of UK’s Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE). TJC founded, mobilised and led ACE for the UK Home Office from 2017 – 2024. ACE is a Home Office capability which is highly regarded cross-sector for its mission-led innovation platform. ACE has expedited the development and deployment of £150M+ of cutting-edge capability driving forward diverse public missions in counter-terrorism and homeland security, cybersecurity, pandemic response, healthcare, law enforcement and justice.

Toby is known as an inspiring and innovative leader who created ACE and who has had a multi-faceted career, grounded in national security and public safety, as a senior civil servant, in private sector with a global professional services firm and founder of a successful values- based UK SME synonymous with powerful innovation.

Beth Sanner, Former Deputy Director for Mission Integration (ODNI); Director, Geopolitics and Strategy, International Capital Strategies

Beth Sanner is the Director of Geopolitics and Strategy at International Capital Strategies. She has held a wide range of national security positions for over 35 years, including in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and the U.S. Department of State.

Beth’s last government role was as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration, where she oversaw the integration of Intelligence Community collection, analysis, and programs and served as the President Trump’s intelligence briefer.

Prior to this role, Beth was the Director of the President’s Daily Brief, Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and a senior executive in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis. Beth continues to inform both business and government leaders and everyday Americans about foreign affairs through consulting, speaking engagements, writings, and as a CNN national security contributor.

She also is a Distinguished Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Intelligence Program at Harvard University’s Belfer Center, and a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

Antony Reynolds, Vice President, Federal and National Security at Bridgeworks

Tony leads Public Sector and Global Channels for British AI Data Software Vendor,Bridgeworks Ltd and has extensive knowledge of enterprise software and high performance and super computing solutions. He previously worked in a variety of leadership positions with IBM to include Global Strategic Alliance Director, North America and EMEA and was Systems Solution lead at IBM for Coca-Cola, Nike and Santander Leasing. Tony served in the Royal Air Force Reserve for 18 years until June 2024.

He supported deployment of Air Traffic Control and Interception Cells, (QRA), during the 2012 London Olympic Games. As well as detachments to the prestigious RAF Aerobatic Display Team, (The Red Arrows), and 32, The Royal Squadron, Tony deployed on J-2 Operations in Afghanistan, pre-deployment exercises in Africa and a humanitarian mission in the Caribbean. One of Tony’s final ceremonial duties was to represent the Royal Air Force at the parade of the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2024 at Buckingham Palace.

Malcolm Purcell, Vice President APAC, at Fivecast

Malcolm is an experienced strategy and business development executive with broad experience working in the defence, security and intelligence sectors. Commencing his career as an Army Officer he had operational service in Iraq with the Combined Joint Special Operations Taskforce in 2003. Following a short period working for the Attorney-General’s Department, he has spent the past 18 years in sales leadership roles with multinational organizations including WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff and KPMG. Malcolm moved to Washington DC in 2020 and was instrumental in establishing Fivecast’s open-source intelligence business in North America – working closely with US & Canadian Government agencies. He currently leads the Canberra office for Fivecast, with market responsibilities across Asia Pacific region.

Jeff Lindholm, Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout Technologies

As the Chief Revenue Officer at Lookout, Jeff oversees all aspects of the company’s global sales, including the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, as well as Channel Sales, Commercial Sales and Sales Engineering. He brings a wealth of experience in networking and security sales leadership, having previously served as President and CEO of Plixer, a company focused on network traffic analysis and visibility solutions. Before that, Jeff led sales operations at both Brocade and Juniper Networks. As the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Brocade, he oversaw a $2.5 billion global sales operation until the company’s acquisition by Broadcom Inc. At Juniper Networks, he served as Chief Revenue Officer, managing $2.5 billion in revenue.” He has also held significant global sales roles at Arbor Networks (the security division of NETSCOUT) and BigBand Networks. Jeff is based in Boston and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Michael Loewy, Co-Founder at Tide

Michael is a Co-founder of Tide Foundation, a deep tech start-up reimagining trust in the digital world. He’s a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich C-Level history leading the productization and commercialization of transformational software for organizations like Dell, Yahoo!, News Limited, NetRegistry, Telstra, Motorola through to greenfield startups. Michael was an academic professional at the University of Illinois, and currently serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

Daniel Churches, Sales Director, at ColorTokens

Dan is an Australian and Asia Pacific Sales Leader with over 25 years’ IT experience in Hardware and Software Solutions and Services, Business Development, Enterprise engagements and Executive Relationships. He has worked for IBM, NTT Global and Verizon Enterprise Solutions driving business and building teams in Hardware, Software, Professional Services, Managed Services, Hybrid Cloud, PaaS, SaaS, Data Analytics, Security and Digital Transformation.

With ColorTokens, Dan is driving market penetration, brand development, partner engagement and client services and support. He is responsible for industry and buyer alignment and understanding of the ColorTokens “Breach Ready” messaging focusing on halting the spread of ransomware and malware attacks across IT/OT, IoT and Legacy environments providing customers a viable Cyber Resilience ‘Uptime’ compliance capability they can report to market.

Dan brings a wealth of experience to his role and to startup growth. He has worked with several startups as well as global organisations from around the world. His grasp of industry, cultural relevancies, and buying behavior are proven assets when winning trust and rapport with employees, partners and customers. He has built and delivered IT sales and coaching development programs in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, Philippines, Australian, New Zealand, England and Germany.

Dan grew up in Denver, Colorado, lived in Bavaria, Germany for many years and is now an Australian citizen, living in Sydney, Australia. Dan continues to learn and build leadership skills and insights taking courses with Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan. In addition to this, he finds time to travel with his wife and family, drink red wine and make homemade pasta.

Simon Hodgkinson, Advisor at Semperis

Simon Hodgkinson is the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at bp. He was responsible for cybersecurity including strategy, governance, architecture, education, counter threat operations, and incident response. He joined bp in 2002 and has held several senior IT leadership roles.

Prior to becoming CISO, he was the VP for Infrastructure & Integration Services at bp. During this time, he drove a significant improvement in IT operational integrity, led a transformation program and spearheaded the commitment to improve employees’ IT experience. He led the CISO function in bp Supply & Trading, where he delivered a program to improve cyber-controls, many of which have been implemented across the bp group. Before joining bp, Simon worked in IT for a dotcom, an investment bank, and commercial software companies.

Leon has been with Genetec for five years having previously served in a multitude of technology leadership roles at Tyco across a near fifteen year tenure. Leon has previously worked as Senior Director of Growth Markets and Regional Strategy at Tyco Security Products, and Director of Product Management at Tyco Safety Products. Leon is an alumnus of the prestigious Universite de Sherbrooke and Polytechnique Montreal.

Dean delves into the critical importance of avoiding an “us vs. them” mentality between IT and OT teams, and how security interruptions can severely impact business continuity. We explore industry-specific vulnerabilities, such as those in factory chicken farming and Tasmanian salmon farming, and emphasize the necessity for executives to have a deeper technical understanding of cybersecurity. Dean also highlights the value of telemetry and real-time reporting, the evolving role of cloud solutions in OT environments, and the importance of a well-integrated, multidisciplinary team to effectively manage cyber risks.

Dean Frye is a Solutions Architect for Nozomi Networks in Australia and New Zealand. Dean is an experienced security professional with a demonstrated history of providing compliance strategy, pragmatic risk mitigation, security project delivery, threat abatement and vendor interface solutions with a significant commercial background. Covering more than twenty years, his previous roles span consulting and senior leadership, including a stint at Armis as solutions architect, and another tenure at Cisco as director of security for the APJ region.

Guy Diedrich SVP & Global Innovation Officer, Country Digital Acceleration (CDA), Cisco Networking Academy & Learning & Certification

Dr. Guy Diedrich is a Senior Vice President and the Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, where he is responsible for its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) and Networking Academy programs, as well as Learning and Certifications (L&C). In this role, Dr. Diedrich collaborates closely with government and industry leaders around the world to drive mass-scale digitization and skilling initiatives that help increase GDP, create millions of next-generation jobs, and develop sustainable innovation ecosystems around the world. Dr. Diedrich continues to grow and evolve the programs into new markets, building trust with government, industry and academic stakeholders along the way.

Dr. Diedrich is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Cisco Foundation, which supports nonprofits and NGOs with grants, technology donations and expertise to help solve global challenges in communities around the world.

Prior to his current role at Cisco Systems, Dr. Diedrich was a Vice Chancellor at the Texas A&M University System where he was responsible for research, commercialization, federal government relations, state government relations and strategic initiatives.

Before joining Texas A&M, Dr. Diedrich served as President and CEO of GRA Inc., a software development and consulting company that he co-founded and grew from a start-up to a firm employing more than 130 professionals. The company was sold to a publicly-traded technology company.

Dr. Diedrich holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge (Kings College) and a Ph.D. from Swansea University where he studied the economics of trust in organizations. Dr. Diedrich is a published author in cost accounting and medical psychology, and has worked extensively throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East for more than two decades.

Anupam Trehan Vice President, People and Communities APJC, Cisco

Anupam is the People & Communities Leader for APJC. Anupam has been a strategic part of Cisco’s operations for a decade, having worked across different roles. Anupam is particularly passionate about talent & leadership development, organizational transformation, promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace and has been a strong voice in this space sharing her thought leadership in various forums both internal and external to Cisco.

She has previously worked with JP Morgan, Delphi Technical Centre & Tata AutoComp across various functions in HR. Anupam describes herself as a Mother, Traveler, Reader and an avid foodie.

Raj Chopra, SVP & Chief Product Officer, Security Business Group, Cisco Raj Chopra is SVP and Chief Product Officer of the Cisco Security Product Management organization, where he leads strategy and execution for Cisco Security and SD-WAN products, ensuring comprehensive security for all users, from any device to any network or application.|

Raj is a seasoned executive with a proven record of delivering market-leading innovation in security with a strong focus on user-first experiences. He is a strong advocate of supporting diverse teams and equitable environments that bring out the best in everyone.

Prior to taking on this role, Raj led product, design, and strategy for Proofpoint’s flagship Email Security portfolio, helping grow that business nearly 3-fold in 4 years.

Before Proofpoint, Raj was part of the founding team of Netskope. He built both the product and new market category of CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) and spurred its growth into SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and SSE (Security Services Edge). During his career, he launched more than a dozen cybersecurity products, including several in the past 15 years that rose to $250M+ in product revenue.

Raj holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, and a BS in Computer Science from NIT (National Institutes of Technology) India and has a growing eagerness to go deeper into in his yoga practice.

Angelique Medina, Head of Internet Intelligence, Cisco ThousandEyes Angelique Medina is Head of Internet Intelligence at Cisco ThousandEyes, where she reports on all things Internet related, from BGP routing and outages to the performance of edge and cloud-based services. She has more than a decade of experience in the networking industry.

Matt Caulfield, Vice President of Product for Duo and Identity, Cisco Matt Caulfield is VP of Product for Duo and Identity at Cisco, where he leads Cisco’s strategy and thought leadership in all things identity. Previously, Matt was the Founder & CEO of Oort, a venture-backed Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) pioneer, which was founded in 2019 and acquired by Cisco in 2023. Matt has a technical background and is an expert in identity, networking, cloud, and security domains. Until 2018, he led the Cisco Boston Innovation Team focusing on new product initiatives.

Tom Gillis SVP and General Manager, Security Business Group

Tom Gillis is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cisco Security Business Group (SBG). A respected security industry leader with strong executive management skills and in-depth knowledge of the challenges surrounding secure enterprise computing, Tom is responsible for the company’s global security business to fundamentally simplify the security experience.

Prior to Cisco, Tom was the SVP/GM of the Network and Advanced Security Business Group at VMware, where he led the endpoint, networking, load balancing and network security businesses. He was also the CEO/co-founder of Bracket Computing which was acquired by VMware.

Before Bracket Computing, Tom was the GM of the Security Technology Group at Cisco where he led the company’s businesses for security management, appliances, applications, and endpoint services. Tom was also part of the founding team at IronPort Systems and served as senior vice president of marketing when the company was acquired by Cisco. Under his guidance, IronPort grew an average of 100 percent year-on-year for seven years. During his tenure, IronPort rose to become the leading provider of antispam, antivirus, and antimalware appliances for organizations ranging from small businesses to the Global 2000.

Tom has also worked at iBEAM Broadcasting, Silicon Graphics, and Boston Consulting Group in various technical and leadership roles. He is also a noted advisor to startups and venture capital companies and is a member of several boards of directors.

Tom holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.S.E.E. degree from Northwestern University and a B.S.E.E. from Tufts University.

AJ Shipley Vice President, Product Management, Threat Detection & Response

Think big. Start small. Move fast. These three values drive AJ Shipley, Vice President, Product, Threat Detection & Response at Cisco Security Business Group. In this role, AJ is responsible for Extended Detection and Response (Cisco SecureX, Advanced Malware Protection), Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (Kenna Security), Endpoint Detection and Response (Cisco Secure Endpoint), Network Detection and Response (Cisco Secure Analytics, Talos), and Cisco Secure Email.

A dedicated product executive, AJ is passionate about creating phenomenal products that solve customers’ acute cyber-security business problems. He is equally enthusiastic about building and nurturing winning teams. That combination boded well in his previous position leading Cisco’s Customer Experience (CX) product management team, where he was responsible for managing the technical support team and offers aligned to Cisco’s security and collaboration product portfolios.

Having experienced both the trenches and the board room, AJ leverages his diverse background to inform his career journey and that of others. Prior to joining Cisco, AJ served as Vice President of Product Management for Palo Alto Networks Cloud Delivered Security Subscriptions, leading successful launches that he credits to the strength of the individuals and teams committed to those customer outcomes.

AJ has led various disciplines at multiple public and private companies — all honing his purpose and passion for developing the best products and bringing out the best in people while ensuring the teams and individuals responsible for those successes have the opportunity to achieve their career aspirations.

AJ is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), fluent in multiple cyber security disciplines, including email security, network security gateways, threat intelligence, encryption & PKI, network access control, security standards and certifications. He is a past TS/SCI clearance holder.

AJ holds undergraduate and graduate technical degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a graduate degree in Business Administration from The University of North Carolina.

Tom Casey Senior Vice President and GM, Products & Technology, Splunk

Tom Casey is the Senior Vice President and GM, Products & Technology for Splunk. With over 25 years of experience, Tom is responsible for evolving Splunk’s market-leading unified security and observability platform. Prior to joining Splunk, he served as Senior Vice President, Engineering at DocuSign, where he led the company’s product strategy, including development, execution and delivery of all products worldwide. Prior to DocuSign, Tom served as Vice President, Platform and Infrastructure at Apptio, where he helped scale the Company’s SaaS platform from a single offering to a multi-product portfolio. Before that, he spent 16 years at Microsoft in a number of leadership positions in product and engineering. He holds a B.S. from the University of Arizona.

Executive Sponsor: Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group

Mark has over 28 years’ experience in the IT industry with 18 of those at Microsoft in various roles across the globe. As the National Security Officer for Microsoft Australia & New Zealand, Mark is responsible for working with customers, partners, governments, and industry regulators to ensure that the Microsoft platforms are not only understood by policymakers but also adhere to their security, compliance and risk management requirements. In addition, Mark is accountable for the PROTECTED level assessment of Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics. Mark holds a Master of Cyber Security degree with high distinction from Edith Cowan University and is a Visiting Associate Professor at Macquarie University.

Kelly Sabo, Leader – Small & Medium Business and Commercial Mid-Market, Cisco Australia & New Zealand

With over a decade of experience in the technology sector, Kelly is dedicated to empowering small and medium businesses (SMBs) and commercial mid-market enterprises to thrive in today’s digital backdrop. As the leader for SMB and mid-market sized customers at Cisco ANZ, Kelly is deeply committed to leveraging Cisco’s cutting-edge technologies to drive growth, efficiency, and competitiveness for businesses of all sizes.

Kelly‘s expertise lies in understanding the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SMBs and mid-market enterprises, particularly in an environment where the adoption of cloud and software as a service solution has reshaped the industry landscape. She is passionate about helping organisations harness the power of cloud managed networking, security, and collaboration to meet the demands of the modern business world. 

Kelly’s experience covers multiple technology companies including Oracle, NetApp and now Cisco,  from sales leadership, managing partners, distributors, account management and sales operations.

Since joining Cisco in 2015, Kelly has held various leadership, channel, and sales roles, gaining valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the technology ecosystem. Her extensive knowledge of the channel space provides her with a unique perspective in helping partners adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing environment.

As a leader in the industry who can distil complexity and boil it down to clear actions, Kelly is frequently sought after to share her insights and expertise at industry events and conferences. 

In this episode, we sit down with Ana Forsyth, Associate Director from KPMG, as she discusses the fragmented state of Australia’s education system in relation to cyber education. Ana highlights the significant gaps between schools, vocational training, and higher education, stressing the need for cohesive national strategies and government accountability.

Ana also covers the critical role of teachers in cybersecurity education, the necessity of early cyber safety awareness, and the challenges parents face in navigating their children’s digital lives. She shares her views on current parenting trends in relation to children’s access to technology and the imperative for systemic educational reforms to build a resilient cybersecurity workforce in Australia.

For the past eight years, Ana has been a cyber professional consulting to Federal Government and Defence clients. Ana previously worked in event sales and hospitality management for almost a decade, but took the leap into cyber security and never looked back, successfully transferring her leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

Ana completed a PhD in cyber security strategy, entitled ‘Educational pathways to national cyber resilience: the Australian story’ (ANU, 2020); the thesis focused on growing Australia’s future cyber workforce by enhancing its pipeline. She argued for strengthened higher and vocational cyber security education, but also for the need to drive more interest in STEM in primary/secondary school, bringing along not just the students, but also their teachers and carers. The research highlighted the need for support from government, academia and industry, seamlessly integrated at every level.

Ana also holds a Master of Arts in Strategy and Security (UNSW at ADFA, 2012), a Master of International Affairs (ANU, 2011), and a Bachelor of Business Administration and Hospitality Management (Northwood University and Hotel Institute Montreux, Switzerland, 2009). She grew up in the Middle East, and did most of her schooling in the French system.

[NB: if Ana could study forever, she would.]

Passionate about the human risk management facet of her industry, Ana is a firm believer in not only growing Australia’s future cyber workforce, but also uplifting the level of cyber skills across the board for the nation’s generations to come. She is dedicated to sparking conversation and raising awareness of the fact that future Australia needs support from us today to be the best that they can tomorrow – and as secure as possible.

In this episode, we sit down with John Hare, Associate Partner, Cyber Security from EY as he discusses the latest EY research on what those organisations that achieve the best security outcomes (“Secure Creators”) do differently to their less secure peers (“Prone Enterprises”).

We also explore how Secure Creators are responding to the recent surge in AI and GenAI use – both in the cyber function (AI for Cyber) and throughout the enterprise (Cyber for AI). John provides insights into how AI presents an opportunity for astute cyber teams to cement themselves as the true enablers of technology transformation, rather than “the department of no”.

John has 25 years of professional experience, spanning cybersecurity, diplomacy and law. John began his career as an M&A lawyer in London and Tokyo, before serving as a British diplomat for 9 years. John has spent the last decade working on cybersecurity, as a consultant, inside a major bank, and as a regional executive for a technology company.

John advises Australia’s leading financial services organisations on their cybersecurity strategies, adopting global better practice, and making cybersecurity a value creation driver.

Articles:

Cybersecurity an AI accelerator across the business | EY – Global Cyber and privacy leaders’ agenda | EY – Global

Listen to Decrypting The Future episodes here.

Skeeve Stevens is a leading authority in Australia and the APAC region on the Weaponisation of Technology. He specialises in identifying the risks and threats posed by emerging technologies and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of future technology-driven crime.

Future Crime transcends traditional concepts of cybercrime, representing a vast, complex, and rapidly expanding threat landscape with global reach and immediate, far-reaching consequences.

Skeeve provides expert advice to a diverse range of professionals, including government officials, politicians, legal advisors, lawyers, judges, law enforcement agencies, defence forces, the security sector, and businesses alike. His expertise has earned him hundreds of media appearances as a subject-matter expert, featuring on television, radio, newspapers, and podcasts across the globe.

Skeeve is, above all, a visionary Futurist, accomplished entrepreneur, highly sought-after keynote speaker, and renowned technology architect. As a trusted advisor to C-Level executives, he delivers exceptional insights across a broad spectrum of cutting-edge domains, including Future Crime, Artificial Intelligence, Futurism, Internet Architecture and Critical Infrastructure, the Internet of Things, and Automation. His expertise also spans Micro and Personal Robotics, as well as the sociology and psychology of human interaction with emerging technologies, offering a comprehensive perspective on how these innovations will shape society and our future.

 Skeeve is the author of the Threat Matrix, a restricted publication where he discusses potential risks using current, near Future, and emerging technologies and methodologies.

Skeeve is the founder of the Future Crime Agency (FCA) which specialises in the weaponisation of advanced and emerging technology and creating awareness for Law Enforcement, Military, First Responders, Private Security, and enterprises who work within those sectors.

Skeeve guest lectures on Cybersecurity, Technology Crime, Technology Terrorism, Infrastructure Protection, 1st Principal Thinking and Inversion Thinking at multiple academic institutions in departments such as Computer Science, Political Science, Psychology, National Security, and International Studies.

Skeeve is a former Director of the Internet Society of Australia and former chair of APNIC (Internet Governance) Policy Committee.  He has also represented Australia in Internet Governance issues and policy across the world.

Yuri Miloslavsky is an IT professional and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the industry. As the co-founder and CEO of SharePass, a cutting-edge digital footprint management and privacy protection platform, Yuri is at the forefront of developing secure solutions for the modern digital communication landscape. His expertise extends to building and running a successful Managed Service Provider (MSP) specializing in IT consulting and cloud services.

Mary D’Angelo is a Dark Web Threat Advisor dedicated to empowering organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively combat cyber threats. With a strong focus on threat intelligence, Mary guides businesses in leveraging advanced security strategies to thwart malicious actors.

Her commitment to raising awareness about cybersecurity risks is evident through her extensive work, including insightful interviews and thought-provoking blog posts aimed at educating the public.

Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Actively engaged in the InfoSec community, Mary is a familiar face at industry events, contributing her expertise and staying abreast of emerging trends.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Mary is deeply invested in nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. She dedicates time to mentoring university students, sharing invaluable insights and guiding them toward successful careers in the field.

Mary’s influence extends beyond traditional realms, as she actively participates in esteemed think tanks such as the Dagstuhl Seminar 2024 and the Tortora Bradya Institute. Through collaborative efforts with leading experts, Mary continues to shape the discourse and advance cybersecurity strategies on a global scale.

The discussion delves into the importance of building strong relationships with hyperscalers, the impact of AI on enterprises, and the challenges of data governance. Join us as we explore strategies for integrating AI with data, addressing customer needs, and effectively managing data security and insights.

Pravjit Tiwana, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Cloud Storage Business Unit

Pravjit Tiwana is NetApp’s GM and SVP of Cloud Storage. In his role, Pravjit is responsible for continuing the acceleration of our market leading first-party services in all three public clouds.

Pravjit brings over 25 years of experience to the role, many of those in the cloud space. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Gemini APAC, leading a 1000 person team across engineering, product, program management, sales and Business Development functions. Prior to that, he held a variety of general manager roles at Amazon/AWS, leading the Productivity Applications business and then their Edge & Network Services business. Pravjit lives in Bellevue, Washington with his wife and two teenage daughters (and his best friend, golden doodle Nemo). He is an avid golfer and marathon runner (when it isn’t raining in Seattle).

Jeff Baxter, Vice President, Product Marketing

Jeff Baxter is Vice President, Product Marketing at NetApp. In this role, Jeff leads the team responsible for core product & solutions marketing at NetApp. Previously, Jeff has held a variety of technical and strategy roles at NetApp, including serving Sr. Director of Product Management for ONTAP, Chief Evangelist for ONTAP, and Field Chief Technology Officer for the Americas at NetApp. Before joining NetApp, Jeff worked as an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton advising multiple government clients and performing numerous in-depth storage assessments. Prior to Booz Allen, Jeff was Manager of Enterprise Systems at George Washington University, where he led a team of 15+ storage and systems administrators. He had responsibility for enterprise systems including collaboration and virtualization environments, as well as a complex storage system spanning multiple Data Centers. Jeff holds an MBA and BA from George Washington University. He is a NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator (NCDA). He has also has held VCP, SNIA, PMP, ITIL, and CISSP certifications.

Krish Vitaldevara, Senior Vice President, Shared Platform

Krish Vitaldevara is a passionate product leader and engineer with demonstrated success at building compelling multiyear strategies for large platform and product teams and delivering significant impact for large enterprises and billions of consumers. Krish is the SVP for Shared Platform at NetApp, responsible for unified storage platform, manageability platform, Customer eXperience Office (CXO), and Chief Design Office (CDO). His team enables delivery of various NetApp offerings across On-Premise, Hybrid Cloud, and Data Services. Prior to joining NetApp, Krish spent six+ years at Google in multiple roles, including leading product for Android and Plays Trust and Safety and Product for Google Maps. Krish joined Google after a long stint at Microsoft where he led product teams for O365 Foundations, Outlook.com, and Microsoft Consumer Trust and Safety teams. Early in his career, Krish worked at startups such as LoudCloud, started by Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreesen, and Brience, which enabled enterprises to customize customer experiences on mobile. Krish is also a proven innovator and hacker with more than 30 patents, primarily in distributed systems and spam-detection models, using graphs and networks for anomaly detection.

Tune in to discover how NetApp is not only redefining the cloud operating model but also tackling the crucial challenges of data security and ransomware protection.

Haiyan Song, EVP & GM, CloudOps – NetApp

Haiyan Song is an experienced cloud, security, engineering, and database-management leader, with a track record of successfully integrating acquisitions and scaling them by connecting with and leveraging larger company ecosystem capabilities to accelerate success. Haiyan has held several leadership roles throughout her career tenure, including Splunk, HPE and Arcsight, all of which represent richly diverse technical experience. While her achievements are vast, one of the most notable during her time at Splunk includes her leadership in building and scaling a transformative business area that resulted in an increase in revenue of more than 15x over a seven-year period. Not only does she have a wide breadth of technical skills, but she has also worked in management roles within smaller companies, large-scale enterprises, and acquired businesses, and is experienced in change-readiness and organisational transformation.

Sandeep Singh, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Storage – NetApp

Sandeep Singh is a driven, passionate, creative business leader with a proven track record of leading business and product strategy, building innovative products, managing high-performance organisations, and delivering business results at startups and Fortune 500 technology companies. Prior to joining NetApp, Sandeep spent four years at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) in multiple roles, including Vice President of Product Management for Data Infrastructure, Vice President of Marketing for HPE Storage, and CMO for Zerto, an HPE company. Sandeep joined HPE from Pure Storage, where he led product marketing for FlashArray, and helped the company scale from pre-IPO $100M run rate to a public company with greater than $1B in revenue. Prior to Pure, Sandeep led product management and strategy for 3PAR, an enterprise storage company, from pre-revenue to greater than $1B in revenue, including four-year tenure at HP post-3PAR acquisition. Sandeep resides in the Bay Area with his wife, two daughters, and their family dog. He has completed several marathons and ultra-marathons, including a 50-mile race, and his family has backpacked more 75 miles of the John Muir Trail.

Join us as we explore the accelerating drive towards enterprise cloud adoption with Ashish and discover the obstacles enterprises face and the strategies necessary for successful cloud integration.

Later in the episode, we shift focus to data protection and governance with Gagan as we discuss the crucial role of understanding and safeguarding your data in today’s digital landscape.

Ashish Dhawan, SVP/GM and Chief Revenue Officer, Cloud Business Unit

Ashish Dhawan is NetApp’s Senior Vice President of Global Cloud Sales. Ashish Dhawan is a highly respected leader in the technology industry, currently serving as the Managing Director for Global Enterprise Workloads at Amazon Web Services (AWS). With a career spanning over two decades, he has been the architect of several successful businesses across the world.

Driving Enterprise Cloud Adoption at AWS: Since joining AWS in 2018, Dhawan has played a pivotal role in driving cloud adoption in enterprises. He began in Asia Pacific where he built the enterprise sales team and in 3 years helped the enterprise business grow 6X. He built and nurtured lasting C-level relationships, hired and mentored talented people, and was a change agent with a focus on strategic planning and disciplined execution. He then went on to lead the Global Enterprise Workloads team which focused on migrating and modernising key enterprise workloads like Microsoft and VMware. Under his leadership, the enterprise workloads business consistently grew >30% and he helped AWS achieve leadership in infrastructure and application modernization.

Early Career and Industry Expertise: Dhawan began his career in technology sales, quickly establishing himself as a top performer. He honed his skills at companies like Wipro, Microsoft and Juniper, where he built businesses from scratch, created strong teams and left a legacy of strong relationships with customers and partners. Prior to joining AWS, Ashish was VP Sales at Juniper in Asia Pacific, Japan and China based out of Singapore. This experience gave him invaluable insights into the needs and challenges of enterprise customers, which has proven crucial in his current role.

A Visionary Leader and Motivator: Dhawan is known for his strategic thinking, ability to build high-performing teams, and passion for innovation. He is an Amazon Bar Raiser and a highly respected leader within AWS, known for his motivational approach and commitment to employee development. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events, sharing his insights on the future of cloud computing and the impact it will have on businesses globally.

Gagan Gulati, General Manager, Data Services – NetApp

Gagan’s team focuses on building best-in-class data protection and governance products for NetApp enterprise and cloud storage. This portfolio includes backup, disaster recovery, ransomware protection, data classification and governance and CVO. Prior to NetApp, Gagan was Chief Product Officer at Behavox, a security and compliance company where he helped guide the vision, strategy, and roadmap for their product portfolio. Prior to that, Gagan was at Microsoft for 16 years. He was partner and director for PM for Data Protection and Governance products, where he took multiple products—including Azure RMS, Azure Information Protection, Microsoft Information Protection, and Azure Purview— from incubation to their incredible growth, usage, and success.

Stephen Bovis, Regional Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Oracle

Stephen Bovis is responsible for Oracle’s overall business in Australia and New Zealand and ensuring it delivers on its values of trust, customer success, innovation, and equality for its customers, partners, and communities across the region.

Stephen has more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry across a wide range of roles, functions, and marketing segments. Most recently, he was at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he was vice president and managing director of the South Pacific region.

Prior to that, he was based in Singapore leading HP’s Enterprise Group sales account management team for Asia Pacific, whose portfolio included hardware, services, and software.

Stephanie Trunzo, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Oracle Industries

Expanding upon the success of launching Oracle Health as a complete portfolio that spans Oracle’s applications and infrastructure, Stephanie leads an industry-informed approach to Applied AI, Industry Clouds, and One Oracle model. In addition to Health and Life Sciences, Stephanie’s team drives Go To Market strategies for Financial Services, Retail, Hospitality, Restaurants/F&B, Energy & Water, Communications, Engineering & Construction, and Public Safety. Stephanie’s scope spans an $8B business with over 50k employees, including multiple acquisitions and organic growth.

Oracle’s Global Industries organisation solves some of industries’ toughest challenges with innovative yet practical applications built as best-practice examples of Oracle’s technology stack. By partnering with our clients, and hiring industry experts, we are building the most flexible and robust industry clouds in the market.

Pradeep Vincent, Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Architect, OCI, Oracle

Pradeep Vincent is the Chief Technical Architect and Senior Vice President at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). He is a technology and software architect with more than 20 years of experience in tech companies such as Oracle, AWS, and IBM. He has a deep understanding of Cloud Infrastructure, Compute, Storage and Networking. Pradeep has been with Oracle for more than eight years leading a team of architects and software engineers building Oracle’s Public Cloud. He also leads OCI’s Architecture and Engineering Community initiatives.

In a world where unintended cloud data loss scenarios like UniSuper in May 2024 are a very real possibility, Courtenay is passionate about educating organizations in shift-left DevSecOps processes and integrating backup into the SDLC together with other Developer Security Platforms (SAST, ASPM etc)

Erik Prusch

Erik is an experienced CEO and board director for major tech companies. Prior to joining ISACA, he was most recently chief executive officer at Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., a provider of integrated payment solutions and integrated marketing services. He has also served as CEO for Outerwall, Lumension, NetMotion Wireless, Clearwire and Borland Software Corporation. Additionally, he has been a board member for RealNetworks, WASH, Calero Software and Keynote Systems. Previously in his career, Erik served as chief financial officer for a number of public companies, such as Identix and Borland, and for divisions of public companies, such as Gateway Computers and PepsiCo. He began his career at Deloitte & Touche (then Touche Ross). Erik holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Jamie Norton

Jamie Norton, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CISSP, CIPM is a Partner at McGrathNicol, a specialist Advisory and Restructuring firm committed to helping businesses improve performance, manage risk, and achieve stability and growth. He also serves on the Advisory Board at Avertro, a cybersecurity startup enabling informed and defensible data-driven decisions about organisational cyber resilience and AI safety. He has over 25 years’ experience in managing security resilience for State and Federal Government agencies and commercial organisations. He is the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), one of Australia’s largest federal government agencies, where he led the security governance, risk, intelligence & operations, testing and forensics teams. He has chaired and supported several senior industry and interdepartmental committees on cyber strategy and resilience and the senior Australian representative at international government forums on cybercrime. He has previously held leadership roles at NEC, Tenable, Check Point, and the World Health Organization.

Jamie has been involved with ISACA for nearly 20 years, at the local chapter board, conference organiser and most recently with the CISM Certification Working Group. He holds degrees in accounting and information technology from the Australian National University and is an affiliate member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Jamie is a regular and accomplished industry speaker and media commentator on cyber security. He is based in Australia.

Chirag Joshi

Chirag Joshi, a multi-award winning cyber security executive, brings extensive experience in leading cyber security and risk management programs across various industries, including critical infrastructure sectors such as financial services and energy. His expertise in both IT and OT environments, coupled with his experience in managing cyber security through mergers and acquisitions, makes him uniquely qualified to address the challenges of the SOCI Act. As the author of bestselling books on cyber security and a recognised thought leader, Chirag offers valuable insights into practical implementation strategies and behavioural aspects of security awareness. His role as Founder and CISO at 7 Rules Cyber, combined with his experience in leading multi-million-dollar cyber transformation initiatives, positions him to provide actionable advice on navigating the complex landscape of critical infrastructure protection, supply chain resilience, and cyber risk management in the context of the SOCI Act and beyond.

Francine Hoo

Francine is a Director with KPMG’s Data team focusing on building trusted data practices. She has helped build, assure and audit multiple frameworks including governance, data management, data analytics practices, privacy, risk and compliance. Having started in audit, she leverages her combined experience to help build evidenced based, human centric, ethical and trustworthy data practices. She’s helped teams build AI Assurance frameworks to ensure safer and reliable deployment of AI based outcomes. She passionately believes that humans are accountable for the right use of data and therefore the sufficient and appropriate risk management of data operations in all its forms – including AI and automation. The future of data driven outcomes including AI is dependent and strengthened by the partnership of a diversity of thinking, where humans collaborate with tech.

Kate Raulings

Kate didn’t start her career in cyber security. Computers and internet connected devices weren’t common at the time. She has a deep understanding of business imperatives developed over a decade’s experience in senior communications and innovation roles before focusing on IT strategy, governance and cyber security for the last 8 years. She regularly briefs senior executive, audit and risk committees and boards on privacy and cyber security matters and has supported numerous organisations through notifiable data breaches. Kate has a Masters in Marketing and an MBA from the University of Melbourne as well as CISM certification. She has won local and global recognition for her success in digital communication and was a finalist in the Women in ICT Awards in 2022 and 2023. She is a member of the Australian Women in Security Network and an ISACA member. Kate is the CISO at EPA Victoria.

Richard Magalad

Richard is a 30 year veteran of the ICT industry starting at the Commonwealth bank and was a 10-year IT director from 2010 at a mining company with gold and diamond projects in Australia, Laos and Canada. Current projects are systems integration for two of the large Telcos, several agencies in the Australian Federal Government. He is a hands-on tech with a philosophy to never separate Cyber Security from Information Technology, just as he was trained in highly secure arena in banking and government He consulted and trained cyber security in SE Asia to governments and critical infrastructure enterprises on missions for Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade and with RMIT University, where he now lectures cyber security to professional students. He was an executive committee and secretary at the Australia Computer Society (Victoria) until 2022 and the current chairperson of Cloud Branch with the Australian Information Security Association.

Sam Mackenzie

Sam Mackenzie, is a Cybersecurity committee member with ACS Victoria Branch and brings 25 years of experience, where he speaks straightforward cybersecurity and technology with business leaders. Having worked with global brands overseas and household names in Australia, he’s known for creating high-performance teams across the sectors of health, telecoms, energy and more recently local government. His approach is characterised by structured thinking, simplifying complexity and developing culture as a catalyst for change.

Wayne Rodrigues

Wayne Rodrigues is currently a Security Architect at Insignia Financial and an active member of the cybersecurity community.

Having been involved with ISACA Melbourne in the very early stages of his career, he has remained an active member and volunteer for the past 12 years. He is also part of various other initiatives such as the Purple Team Australia mentoring program and the EC-Council Career mentoring program. Being a keen advocate for continuous learning and growth, he loves mentoring others in the industry. Wayne believes these initiatives an excellent opportunity to give back to the community and help mould the next generation of industry professionals.

Mignona Coté, Global Chief Security Officer – NetApp

Mignona Cote, SVP and chief security officer at NetApp, has become a world leader in multi-cloud security, building solutions in high-tech, healthcare, insurance, and large financial institutions. Under her leadership, her team has unified security accountability internally to protect NetApp as well as externally to protect customers ultimately by moving NetApp to a SuperCloud architecture, which combines edge computing, multi-cloud, and multi-location recourses to create a powerful computing environment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Systems from Northwestern State University and a MBA from Louisiana State University.

Matt Watts, Chief Technology Evangelist – NetApp

As Chief Technology Evangelist, Matt Watts provides guidance on NetApp’s overall strategy and technology solutions to a wide base of customers and the global partner community. Matt is also part of the portfolio leadership team, providing advice and guidance on technology and transformation.

Matt is increasingly in demand as a keynote speaker, combining his knowledge of the IT industry with anecdotes and stories that bring technology to life with witty, easily understandable examples.

Prior to this role, Matt Project Managed a number of significant IT projects; managed System Engineers responsible for providing installation and onsite support; as well as overseeing IT outsourcing contracts. This experience has given him contact with all levels of Leadership, enabling him to understand, communicate with and support clients with their IT and transformation Strategies.

Kristen shares her expertise on the intricate landscape of government relations and public affairs, explaining how NetApp supports various government missions across the globe, from AI strategies to the U.S. Space Force. Later, Michelle delves into leadership in the U.S. public sector, highlighting the importance of data security and the role of NetApp’s intelligent data infrastructure in enhancing data governance.

Kristen Verderame, Vice President, Global Government Relations – NetApp

Based in Washington DC, Kristen currently serves as the Vice President of Global Government Relations for NetApp, a $20B market cap technology company based in San Jose, CA. In that role, Kristen represents the company in front of Congress and Executive Branch agencies as well as government bodies around the world to support NetApp’s policy positions and enhance business development opportunities for the company. Kristen has spent over twenty-five years working in government relations and public affairs, and has extensive experience in cyber security, telecommunications and technology, and designing and running international lobbying campaigns and programs to support business objectives.

Prior to joining NetApp, Kristen worked with a number of other Fortune 100 companies to build their Government Relations functions through her firm, Pondera International LLC, including BT (British Telecom) Americas, Booz Allen Hamilton, Mandiant and FireEye. As an attorney, Ms. Verderame also worked through her firm to provide outside general counsel and business consulting services to major corporates, startups and small businesses.

Before founding her own firm, Kristen spent over ten years in a variety of roles within BT (British Telecom) Group plc. Her most recent role was Vice President and General Counsel for the company’s US operations where she was a leading member of the management team that drove 150% revenue growth (to US$3B) and a quadrupling of the workforce, with the non-organic growth requiring numerous reviews with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) which she led. Also throughout her tenure, Kristen served as the head of BT’s lobbying and government affairs office in Washington, D.C. in which she was the senior advocate for the company’s interests in front of U.S. Government agencies and Washington-based policymakers and led the company’s international trade policy efforts.

Kristen holds several advisory roles outside of NetApp. She currently serves as an officer on the IT Sector Coordinating Council at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security, having served on its Executive Committee for the last several years, and serves on the National Risk Management ICT Supply Chain Task Force. She also currently serves on the board of TPG Corporation Ltd. (Australia) as its Security Director responsible for ensuring compliance with US Government national security requirements. Over the years she has been actively involved in the network of British-American organisations in the US and UK, serving as board member, Vice President and general counsel of the British American Business Council, the international umbrella organisation that represents over 2,500 British and American businesses across 25 chapters in the US and the UK, and also serving as President of the Washington, D.C. chapter. Kristen has also served as the General Counsel to the Transatlantic Business Council, as the CEO of the European-American Business Council, and as a US Non-Executive Director for UK Trade & Investment.

Kristen received her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, and her BA degree from Albion College, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with Honors. Kristen has also completed post-JD course work at the Georgetown University Law Center. Kristen holds a Top-Secret security clearance. She has two young-adult children, and in her spare time teaches yoga and races in duathlons.

Michelle Rudnicki, President, US Public Sector – NetApp

Michelle Rudnicki serves as Vice President of NetApp’s U.S. Public Sector business where she focuses on supporting government’s important and complex missions. She is passionate about and dedicated to helping public sector clients find technology solutions to manage their data most effectively and migrate to the cloud in this era of distributed, dynamic, and diverse data. She is responsible for leading the team to achieve strategic, financial, operational, and business objectives as they relate to NetApp’s public sector customers and channels.

Prior to NetApp, Michelle served as the vice president of Public Sector at Virtustream. Before that, she enjoyed a long tenure at IBM in leadership roles – including VP of Federal Systems – that spanned decades working with public sector clients to transform the way they interacted with their clients, citizens, and patients, progressing their digital services through the use of technology such as analytics, cognitive computing, mobile, and cloud.

William Glazier  is Head of Cequence Security’s new Cequence Prime Threat Research Team, whose mission is to help the security industry better understand how cybercriminals execute automated, malicious bot attacks against web, mobile, and API-based applications. As Head of CQ Research, Will focuses on the rapidly escalating problems of account takeover, fake account creation and content scraping at scale. He has an extensive background in fraud and abuse prevention, as well as building threat intelligence systems and databases. He has also extensively studied the shared attacker infrastructure and network fingerprints of tools used by cybercriminals to carry out these attacks, and has presented research at various security conferences such as BotConf, Hack.lu and GreHack.

Claudionor Coelho, Chief AI Officer, Zscaler

Claudionor Coelho brings a wealth of expertise to help Zscaler deliver a competitive technology advantage through the development of AI and ML innovations. Prior to joining Zscaler, Coelho served as the Chief AI Officer and SVP of Engineering at Advantest, where he spearheaded the development of a Zero Trust private cloud solution tailored for the semiconductor manufacturing market. Before Advantest, Coelho was the VP/Fellow of AI and the Head of AI Labs at Palo Alto Networks where he led the charge in AI, AIOps and Neuro-symbolic AI, an advanced form of AI that enables reasoning, learning, and cognitive modeling, to help revolutionize time series analysis tools on a massive scale. Coelho’s career also includes vital roles in ML and Deep Learning at Google, where he developed a state-of-the-art Deep Learning technology designed for automatic quantization and model compression which played a pivotal function in the search for subatomic particles at CERN..

Deepen Desai, Chief Security Officer & Head of Security Research, Zscaler

As Chief Security Officer & Head of Security Research at Zscaler, Deepen Desai is responsible for running the global security research operations as well as working with the product group to ensure that the Zscaler platform and services are secure. Deepen has been actively involved in the field of cybersecurity for the past 15 years. Prior to joining Zscaler, he held a security leadership role at Dell SonicWALL.

Jagdish Mahapatra is the Chief Revenue Officer of ColorTokens, a leader in Cybersecurity  industry in helping organisations “ Be Breach Ready”. He is responsible for the Global Go to  Market strategy of ColorTokens. 

Prior to joining ColorTokens Jagdish Mahapatra was the Vice President for CrowdStrike for  Asia Region which included South East Asia, North Asia and South Asia. His key responsibilities  included Building a Strong Business for Asia Region with the focus on providing next Gen  Cybersecurity solutions to Enterprise customer and Govt. and build Strategic Alliances for  CrowdStrike. Aside from growing business in hypergrowth mode which made Asia one of the  fastest growing regions in the world for CrowdStrike, he topk a lot of pride in incubating a 

culture of a highly engaged team with CrowdStrike Singapore being amongst the Top 5 Workplaces of 2022 and CrowdStrike India in Top 10 Workplaces in 2023. ( GPTW). 

Jagdish has previously worked for Cisco and McAfee. In Cisco he built a Strong Enterprise  business of 250M USD when he took charge as the Managing Director for McAfee India.  Having built a successful business and culture in McAfee India, he went to run the Strategic  Alliances for APJ for McAfee before joining CrowdStrike. 

He was recognized as one of the Top 40 Executives in India Inc under 40 in 2011 by Business  World.  

He has delivered a TED talk for Star TV which was aired in Jan 2018 where he spoke about how  we should keep our kids safe in the online world. He has also spoken as TEDx speaker in Feb  2018 on Cybersecurity and impact of Digital footprints. 

In the formative part of his career, he was instrumental in creating the manufacturing off  shoring model in India which emerged as a significant game changing industry phenomenon  during his stint at Larsen and Toubro, a large Engineering Conglomerate in India.  

On the academic front, Jagdish is an Electrical Engineer with MBA in Marketing and Finance.  Jagdish loves to explore travel to experience cultures, food and local mythology and loves to  relate the stories to work. Born in the holy city of Puri, one of the 4 top pilgrimages of India,  he finds Indian mythology inspiring to fulfil todays’ life. He is an avid reader from fiction to  Business and Technology and loves to blog regularly on all topics on Social media. Right now,  his passion is to rekindle his music desires with Piano and Drums. 

Kavitha Mariappan, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience & Transformation, Zscaler

Kavitha Mariappan is a seasoned go-to-market executive with a penchant for rapidly translating technology into customer-centric value, mobilizing global teams and operations, and transforming them into high-growth businesses. Over her 20+ year tenure spanning enterprise software and service providers, she has held various high-impact roles spanning marketing, product management, and engineering at industry-leading companies including Databricks, Riverbed, Cisco, and Philips Electronics.

Prior to joining Zscaler, she served as CMO at Split Software, a venture-backed startup where she built the company’s go-to-market engine from the ground up and was instrumental in defining a new category for product decisions. Kavitha is responsible for driving global transformation and innovation across all facets of Zscaler’s business, customers, strategy, products, and operations, with a strong focus on customer value creation. Kavitha holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Communication Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from New York University School of Law and Tandon School of Engineering.

Dhawal Sharma, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Product Management, Zscaler

Dhawal Sharma is Senior Vice President & General Manager of Product Management at Zscaler. He led all core product management from 2012 to 2018 and currently leads all emerging product and core platform responsibilities. His specialties are in cloud security, networking, data path, IoT, NFV, NPM, DLP, and compliance.

Prior to joining Zscaler, he has worked in product management, product marketing and head of sales roles in the space of security, networking, compliance and network management at large companies such as Cisco as well as in tech startups.

Dhawal has a technical MBA degree from Symbiosis Center for IT where he achieved the best academic performance with a specialization in Networking and IT Infrastructure and he also holds a Bachelors in Engineering degree specializing in Computer Science. Dhawal also holds multiple patents in the security space along with many technical certifications in the past.

Oracle CloudWorld 2024 is happening on September 9 to 12, 2024. Learn more about the event here.

Mahesh Thiagarajan serves as the Executive Vice President at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), overseeing the development of core infrastructure services that includes Hardware, Supply Chain, Datacenter, Compute, Networking, and Storage. His team is devoted to constructing a distributed cloud infrastructure that offers customers a comprehensive, high-performance cloud computing environment. The primary objective is to empower customers to innovate, scale efficiently, and manage costs effectively.

Mahesh was pivotal in the 2016 launch of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, contributing to strategic planning and overseeing various product launches related to security, application development, computing, database, and big data services. He also played a crucial role in establishing partnerships with Microsoft and VMware.

In his prior role as EVP for Security & Developer Platform, Mahesh led a team in developing security and observability products, cloud security measures, privacy solutions, compliance features, and services tailored for cloud-native applications development.

Gabie Boko is a business trailblazer currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at NetApp. She draws on her deep experience as a business, marketing, and technology leader to help shape NetApp’s evolution as the industry leader in intelligent data infrastructure.

A 25-year veteran in the tech industry, Gabie is known for her work spearheading business transformations at high-impact companies such as HPE, SAP, Sage, and Cognos. Prior to becoming NetApp CMO in January 2023, Gabie led the company’s Portfolio Marketing organization.

As a visionary business leader, Gabie relentlessly prioritizes a customer-first mindset. Among traditional marketing practices, she applies distinct strategies that anticipate future trends and adeptly navigate uncharted territories. This is driven by her proven certitude that marketing is much more than promotion and branding, it is about driving high impact outcomes and thinking for the business and industry as a whole. Gabie is resolute in her commitment to revolutionize the face of marketing and amplify its influence on business growth, strategy and vision.

Having grown up in the beautiful state of Alaska, Gabie is a strong advocate for the protection of rural communities.

After two decades of working globally, consulting on risk and cybersecurity, Shannon has keen insight into what makes an organisation both protected and resilient from cyber threats. Shannon’s focus is on cyber risk governance and providing strategic advice to executive leadership and boards. Shannon works with government and corporate clients to develop solutions to incorporate cyber risk into their strategies. Shannon helps clients meet risk-reduction and compliance objectives and advises on the implementation of new and evolving technologies by ensuring they are secure, fit-for-purpose, scalable, and continually driving efficiencies. By employing his unique blend of experience in finance and cybersecurity, he assists in uplifting internal due diligence capabilities, focused on reducing risks and increasing return on investment.

Josh (Twitter: @ananalytical) is Global Solutions Architect – Security, at F5. Previously, Josh served as VP, CTO – Emerging Technologies at FireEye and as Chief Security Officer for nPulse Technologies until its acquisition by FireEye. Prior to joining nPulse, Josh worked as an independent consultant, applying his analytical methodology to help enterprises build and enhance their network traffic analysis, security operations, and incident response capabilities to improve their information security postures. He has consulted and advised numerous clients in both the public and private sectors at strategic and tactical levels. Earlier in his career, Josh served as the Chief of Analysis for the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) where he built from the ground up and subsequently ran the network, endpoint, and malware analysis/forensics capabilities for US-CERT. In addition to Josh’s blogging and public speaking appearances, he is also a regular contributor to DarkReading and SecurityWeek.

Chris Diffley from Optus, announces the launch of the Optus managed threat monitoring service powered by Devo Technology, emphasizing the use of AI and ML to automate threat monitoring and detection. Chris “Gonzo” Gondek from NetApp highlights the importance of data storage conversations, storage technology flexibility, and autonomous ransomware protection. Gavin Jones from Elastic addresses the evolving nature of technology and the lag in Australia’s adoption of generative AI, while Geoff Schomburgk emphasizes the importance of a positive approach to encourage MFA adoption.

Chris Diffley, Senior Director for Client Security, Enterprise and Business,Optus

Chris is an experienced Information Security Manager and Security Director with over 20 years of experience in Telecommunications, Security, Operations and Consulting. He’s lead teams across enterprise, midmarket and small businesses and has deep understanding of implementing and upholding a number of frameworks and standards across businesses.

Chris “Gonzo” Gondek, Solutions Engineer Manager, Australia & New Zealand, NetApp

Chris “Gonzo” Gondek is a technology evangelist who plays a crucial role in driving NetApp’s technical solutions specialists (TSS) to greater heights. As our TSS Leader, Chris and his team collaborate closely with our sales and channel business units to drive innovation, develop new opportunities, enhance our solution offerings, and ensure that our customers’ needs are not just met, but exceeded. Chris spent the past 4 years working in the NetApp Partner eco-system as a Technical Partner Manager, as well as spokesperson at our channel and alliance events. Prior to NetApp, Chris partnered with us at Commvault and worked as a solutions specialist at Symantec. With 25 years in the tech sector, Chris is a seasoned industry leader with a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions and driving customer success.

Gavin Jones, Area Vice President and Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand, Elastic

Gavin brings over two decades of enterprise software experience, with a track record of leadership in banking and financial services, telecommunications, and public sector verticals. Joining Elastic as an Area Vice President and Country Manager in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), he assumes a pivotal role in overseeing ANZ market operations, driving business development, and shaping the company’s strategy. Prior to joining Elastic, Gavin served as Vice President of ANZ at Confluent, where he spearheaded their transition towards vision and value-based selling. His focus was on high-value and priority use cases for the clientele. Preceding this role, he held the position of Country Manager for Tableau Software ANZ for two and a half years. In this capacity, he played a key role in shaping the BI/analytics category as a leader and a subsidiary of salesforce.com. His responsibilities included developing and executing the ANZ go-to-market strategy, as well as navigating the integration with Salesforce. Gavin is motivated by his ambition to lead a dynamic and inspired team within an innovative, growth-oriented organisation. His expertise spans strategic account management, new business development, and the skillful negotiation of large-scale, complex deals and partnerships.

Geoff Schomburgk, Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ), Yubico

At Yubico, Geoff is responsible for driving the Yubico business across the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, working with partners and enterprise customers to implement modern phishing-resistant authentication, helping make the internet safer for all.

Geoff brings a strong customer focus and a proven ability to implement complex technology solutions across various industries, including telecommunications, utility and transport sectors across Australia, Asia and Europe. Critical to the success of these projects is the definition and realisation of tangible business value, where the combination of Geoff’s business consulting approach and project delivery experience consistently delivers business value.

Geoff is an experienced senior executive with a background in engineering and strategy consulting and over 30 years of experience in the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Geoff has a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and an MBA. He is also a qualified Company Director (FAICD) with current Board and business mentor roles for several Not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.

Jeetu Patel is Cisco’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of Security and Collaboration. He leverages a diverse set of capabilities to lead the strategy and development for these businesses and also owns P&L responsibility for this multibillion-dollar portfolio. Jeetu combines a bold vision, steeped in product design and development expertise, operational rigor and innate market understanding to create high growth Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses.

A member of the Executive Leadership Team, Jeetu is helping to redefine Cisco’s SaaS business and strategy to further accelerate the company’s transformation and growth. His mission is to build world class, subscription-based products that solve Cisco customers’ biggest problems. His team is creating and designing meaningfully differentiated products that diverge in the way they’re conceived, built, priced, packaged and sold.

Prior to joining Cisco, Jeetu was the Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Box, a role he pioneered. He led the company’s product and platform strategy, setting the company’s long-term vision and roadmap for cloud content management in the enterprise. He transformed Box from a single product application to a multi-product platform used by 100K customers representing 69% of the Fortune 500. The discipline, quality standards, performance metrics, and stability Jeetu instilled fueled the platform’s growth – nearly quadrupling revenues to $700M+. Box’s growth scaled to reach over 60M users with over 50% of customers using multiple products. He also created the Box Platform business unit where he led product strategy, marketing and developer relations – driving products from incubation stage to mature offerings.

Before joining Box, Jeetu was General Manager and Chief Executive of EMC’s newly acquired Syncplicity business unit, a cloud service for Enterprise File Sync Sharing (EFSS) and collaboration. One of the first SaaS-based solutions offered by EMC, Jeetu spearheaded the company’s acquisition. He created a world class leadership team, secured some of the market’s largest customers and led the group to become one of the fastest growing EFSS companies in a highly competitive market. Other key roles at EMC included CMO for the Information Intelligence Group and Chief Strategy Officer, where he drove the organic and inorganic strategy for the division’s cloud and mobile growth.

Previously, Jeetu was President of Doculabs, a research and advisory firm co-owned by Forrester Research. The firm focused on collaboration and content management across a range of industries including financial services, insurance, energy, manufacturing and life sciences.

He currently serves on the boards of JLL, an American commercial real estate services company, and Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company.

Jeetu holds a B.S. in Information Decision Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.

As CEO, Wendy Thomas leads Secureworks to fulfill their purpose of securing human progress via innovative, battle-tested security solutions. She first joined Secureworks in 2008 leading Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), where she helped to execute strategic acquisitions that scaled the business and Secureworks’ IPO in 2016. As Strategy lead and Chief Product Officer, she developed the vision for Secureworks’ future, fueling the team that built and launched Secureworks® Taegis™. Prior to becoming CEO, Wendy served as President of Customer Success, where she drove a customer-centric approach to help organizations achieve better security outcomes. In this role, Wendy was recognized in the number one position in The Software Report’s “Top 25 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity of 2021.”

Wendy leverages over 25 years of experience in strategic and functional leadership roles, and has worked across multiple technology-driven companies such as FirstData, BellSouth, and Internap Network Services, Inc. Wendy is a graduate of the University of Virginia, with a double major in Economics and Foreign Affairs, and she holds an International MBA from the University of South Carolina School of Business.

Wendy currently serves on the Board at IonQ, an industry leader in quantum computing. Additionally, she serves as a Liaison for AFS Intercultural Programs, an international youth exchange organization, and is a member of The Executive Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Wendy is an alumna of Leadership Midtown Atlanta, a program designed to propel established leaders to further serve their communities.

About Secureworks

Secureworks Taegis™, is a SaaS-based, open XDR platform built on 20+ years of real-world detection data, security operations expertise, and threat intelligence and research. Taegis is embedded in the security operations of thousands of organisations around the world including in Australia who use its advanced, AI-driven capabilities to detect advanced threats, streamline and collaborate on investigations, and automate the right actions.    Secureworks generated $85.7 million in revenue for Q1FY25, with revenue from its Taegis platform growing 10% year-over-year in the first quarter, to $69.1 million. Taegis adoption in Australia is accelerating. The company processes approximately five trillion cybersecurity-related events across its global customer base each week, giving Secureworks a rapidly growing and diverse security telemetry of more than 50 petabytes across endpoint, network, cloud, identity and other business systems.

Nathan Wenzler is the Chief Security Strategist at Tenable, the Exposure Management company. he has over two decades of experience designing, implementing and managing both technical and non-technical security solutions for IT and information security organizations. He has helped government agencies and Fortune 1000 companies alike build new information security programs from scratch, as well as improve and broaden existing programs with a focus on process, workflow, risk management and the personnel side of a successful security program.

As the Chief Security Strategist for Tenable, he brings his expertise in vulnerability management and Cyber Exposure to executives and security professionals around the globe in order to help them mature their security strategy, understand their cyber risk and measurably improve their overall security posture.

Richard is focused on cybersecurity risk management – as a modern enterprise practice and leadership skill. His books, speaking, and work support security leaders who need to align security practice with business goals. That alignment is at the heart of cybersecurity risk management.

As the Chief Risk Technology Officer at Qualys, Richard helps customers and the broader security community measure, communicate, and eliminate risk. With over 10 years of experience as a CISO, he has led and supported security strategy, operations, and governance across various industries and orgs, including Twilio, GE, and LendingClub.

He is also a published author and a faculty member at IANS, where he share his insights and knowledge on security metrics and risk management. His books, “How To Measure Anything In Cybersecurity Risk” and “The Metrics Manifesto: Confronting Security With Data”, provide practical and innovative approaches to quantifying and reducing security risk.

Sam speaks straightforward cybersecurity and technology with business leaders in critical infrastructure. With 25 years’ experience at international corporations and household names in Australia, he’s created and led high performance teams in health, telecoms, energy and more recently in local government, focusing on using structured thinking and making the complex simple.

Sam’s recent research project involves interviewing leaders of critical infrastructure in Australia to gain valuable industry insights. Sam also serves on the Cybersecurity Committee for the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and is building a new community of driven professionals, passionate about protecting critical infrastructure and keeping society safe.

Matt Preswick is the Principal Solutions Engineer from Wiz in APJ, with experience in network, email and cloud security at leading security vendors in EMEA and APAC. Before joining Wiz, he lead operations at a Sydney based network analytics startup before returning to Cloud security with Wiz.

Matt is passionate about developing scalable and actionable security practices within APJs largest organisations.

With over 20 years of experience in computer security and cybercrime, Alex Tilley is a highly awarded cybercrime researcher. Beginning his career in the online casino industry on Australia’s Gold Coast, Alex went on to implement and administer many varieties of network security technologies within Australia’s banking industry. Alex was on the forefront of research and countermeasures when phishing and malware first began to attack banking platforms and customers. When he later became the Australian Federal Police’s senior cybercrime technical analyst, he combined his technical background with an analytical approach to discover “who” the cybercriminals were, why they were attacking specific targets, and what they were looking for. This included identifying exposing online child predators as well as cybercriminals.  During this time Alex become a key member of the operations team responsible for many high profile cases.

Alex is now head of Threat Intelligence and research for Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) for Secureworks a global IT security and research leading company. Where we uses his wealth of experience to help organisations at all levels from the board to operational techs understand the organisational and technical aspects of State-sponsored cyber attacks as well as cybercrime in all its forms.

Find more about Security2Cure here.

Poornima DeBolle

Co-founder & Chief Product Officer
Official Member – Forbes Technology Council

Poornima co-founded Menlo Security, bringing years of product management experience to the table. Before Menlo, she was a product management executive at Juniper Networks, responsible for cloud security, security management, and security analytics. She joined Juniper via its acquisition of Altor Networks, where she was vice president of product management and business development. Prior to that, she was head of business development at Check Point in product management and engineering roles. Poormina holds an MSCS from Arizona State University.

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/poornima-debolle-b0428/
• https://www.menlosecurity.com/management/

Recent Accolades:

• Forbes: 50 Over 50: Entrepreneurs (2022)
• Inc.: 200 Female Founders (2023)

Ashish Ray, Vice President, Product Management

Ashish Ray is Vice President, Product Management within Oracle’s core database development organisation. His product responsibilities include Exadata, Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance, Oracle Database’s High Availability Solutions (Maximum Availability Architecture), and all associated Platform as a Service (PaaS) Cloud Services.

His team is responsible for all technical product management and product strategy for Oracle’s mission-critical database technologies, including Exadata and Autonomous Database, across on-premises, public cloud, and cloud at customer. Team responsibilities include defining and driving product strategies, corralling requirements and framing roadmap based on market/business demands, articulating product positioning and value proposition, launching and evangelising products and cloud services that solve complex enterprise problems, building and managing cross-functional teams and strategic partnerships.

Sunil Wahi, Vice President, Fusion Cloud Applications

Sunil is a Vice President and Head of Solution Engineering at Oracle, where he leads the Cloud Solutions Innovation Portfolio for ERP, Supply Chain, CX, and Human Capital across Asia Pacific. He is also heading the Strategy and Execution of the Large Deals Program. He is a Chicago Booth MBA Graduate, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) with over 25 years of experience in enterprise software sales and consulting.

As part of the APAC Senior Leadership Team at Oracle heading Fusion Applications Large Deals Strategy and Execution, Sunil advises and executes the Go to Market Plans and Business Strategy for the Fusion Cloud Applications Business, driving revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and market share. He also leverages his industry expertise and business process re-engineering knowledge to help customers achieve excellence and embrace world-class solutions. He specialises in Finance Transformations, Supply Chain & Logistics Strategies. He has exposure and advisory work in entrepreneurial technology startup business plans, investment, and funding strategies.

Chris Chelliah, Senior Vice President, Technology and Customer Strategy, Oracle JAPAC

Chris Chelliah is responsible for driving digital transformation for Oracle’s customers in the Japan and Asia Pacific region. He’s accountable for the organisation’s hypergrowth in cloud infrastructure and autonomous database. Chris leads cloud specialist sales teams, industry architects, and the Oracle Insight team to bring together the expertise needed to provide a collaborative, consultative approach to help customers achieve their objectives.

Chris has nearly 30 years of experience across a variety of portfolios in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Previously at Oracle, he focused on customer success with consulting and implementation services in global projects in the telecommunications, financial services, and government sectors, implementing disruptive and innovative software solutions.

Chris holds a postgraduate degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Western Australia. He’s a frequent industry speaker and contributes regularly to trade and industry journals and opinion pieces on applications for emerging technologies.

Jae Evans, Global Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, Oracle

Jae Evans is Oracle’s global chief information officer and executive vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Platform Services. She’s responsible for accelerating Oracle IT’s cloud transformation across thousands of environments, and her team provides IT services to Oracle’s 170,000 employees and developers worldwide.

Jae also leads OCI’s platform services consisting of commercial systems including billing, subscription management, and cost management, as well as other core platforms such as console services and marketplace. In addition, her organisation is responsible for ensuring the highest level of security, compliance, operations and support for OCI.

She has more than 20 years of experience building and leading global teams and managing mission-critical production services across various industries, including ecommerce, enterprise cloud, online gaming, retail, and telecommunications. Jae is passionate about bringing diversity and inclusion (D&I) into the workplace. She’s the executive sponsor of D&I for OCI, a member of Oracle’s Executive D&I Council, and an active participant in and champion of various Oracle Professional Asian Leadership and Women in Tech events.

A highly driven technical professional with 20+ years of experience in the IT industry. Luke believes in the limitless potential of technology to sustainably transform the lives of people, and the world as a whole. He derives genuine joy to be doing what he is doing, and brings this enthusiasm everywhere he goes..

Christy is President and CEO of Absolute, the only provider of self-healing, intelligent security solutions and the only endpoint provider embedded in over 600 million devices globally.

A Silicon Valley veteran, Christy has deep experience and expertise spanning cybersecurity, enterprise mobility, embedded platforms, IoT, enterprise software, and data science. Prior to Absolute, she served as the CEO of Dtex Systems and Chairman, President, and CEO of Good Technology (acquired by Blackberry). Christy has also held a variety of technology leadership roles at Citigroup, Motorola, Apple, Palm, and Sun Microsystems. She currently serves on the board of directors of LM Ericsson and Silicon Labs, and has previously served on the boards of Quotient Technologies, Good Technology, Dtex, Centrify, and the Linux Foundation.

Christy was recently recognized as CEO of the Year by Globe and Mail. She has also been awarded one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in SaaS in 2019, and has been named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs of America, Information Security’s CEO of the Year, and a Fierce Wireless “Most Influential Women in Wireless.”

Naran McClung is an experienced IT professional and business leader, with an international career spanning over 20 years. He has defined and led significant technology transformation programmes within Finance and Media verticals, and has executed strategic engagements throughout the UK, Europe and the US.

Naran McClung runs the Azure business for Macquarie Cloud Services (MCS). The business was incepted in 2019 and publicly launched February of 2020 to coincide with the inking of a unique and strategic agreement with Microsoft.

MCS has consciously chosen to only work with the Azure Cloud Platform, believing in strength in depth and a truly committed Partnership with Microsoft. MCS is now the fastest growing Azure Managed Services business in Australia, and the only Azure Expert MSP to also be a Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) member.

Chris Hockings is the CTO for IBM Security Asia Pacific.  He represents the IBM global security strategy and vision across the region and in doing so engages with leaders across government, industry, and partnerships. Chris has been a leader across all facets of software, including global research and development, support, service, and market engagement.

Read the IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024.

Thomas Fikentscher is responsible for driving strong customer and partner engagement and expanding CyberArk’s emerging cloud business in the region.

Prior to joining CyberArk, Thomas was Chief Revenue Officer at JXT Global, and has more than 20 years’ experience in the IT industry, including significant stints at Oracle, Ingram Micro and Sun Microsystems. His extensive industry and leadership experience – particularly in the cloud domain – has been invaluable to CyberArk, helping grow demand for Identity Security solutions.

When it comes to cybersecurity, Thomas sees a significant opportunity to bridge the gap between technology jargon and business language. A big part of this is helping company leaders understand the importance of identity security to organisational risk management.

For her entire cyber security career Christina has been translating cyber security concepts and providing high quality awareness and training to all roles – from the company graduates right up to the board.

With a wide range of experiences across financial services and technology industries, working with startups, SMB’s and large multinational organisations, Christina has built a career on the intersection of cyber threats, risk and business objectives. In 2016 she co-founded cyber security SaaS startup BreachAware, leading its operations right through to acquisition in 2020. Recently she dived back into the world of entrepreneurship to reimagine security awareness offerings and provide her expertise through her new company, Inspire Cyber.

Dima is an identity industry leader 20+ years of experience who is influential in the advancement of digital identity ecosystems globally.

Dima has a passion for digital identity, open banking and trust ecosystem design, having spent the last 10+ years focused on architecture, design and implementation of the technology platforms that underpin online systems of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Westpac and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Dima has significant technical experience in developing customer identity solutions in the areas of identity proofing, authentication, authorisation, application and API security, Digital identity, Open Banking.

As an active member of standard and industry organisations globally, Dima has been heavily involved with OpenID Foundation, IDPro, Trust Over IP, FIDO, Kantara and Open Wallet Foundation and ISO.

With close to 18 years experience at Sophos, and over 20 years in the cybersecurity industry, Aaron Bugal has spent his time helping organisations throughout Asia Pacific and Japan effectively understand and deploy strong cybersecurity measures to keep their business safe.

As Field Chief Technology Officer for APJ, he is able to flawlessly articulate to business leaders, partners, and companies the ever evolving cybersecurity landscape and emerging cyber threats.

His humorous demeanour and witty analogies has shined in discussions with a range of media, conferences, and events, where he provides practical insights for both business and consumers audiences to take on board.

Read the report here.

Min Livanidis leads AWS public policy across some of Australia’s most pressing technology areas, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and critical infrastructure. Min lead AWS’s collaboration with the government during the development of the 2023-2030 Cybersecurity Strategy. She is currently leading AWS’s engagement around safe and responsible AI in Australia, working closely with Minister Ed Husic and industry to develop best practice regulation frameworks. In 2023 she appeared at the Senate Inquiry for the use of Generative AI in the Australia Education Sector. Min regularly engages with the most senior level of government on key policy areas including AI, cybersecurity, privacy, data and digitization strategy, electronic surveillance, critical and emerging technology, and critical infrastructure.

Outside AWS, she is Non-Executive Director of the Oceania Cyber Security Centre, a registered charity developed in partnership with the eight Victorian universities, the Victorian Government, and Oxford University to deliver cyber maturity assessments for Pacific Island nations; Non-Executive Director of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre, established by the South Australian Government with a focus on domestic cyber capacity building and home to key partnerships with the MITRE Corporation and NATO; and an Industry Professor with the School of Information Technology at Deakin University, affiliated with the Centre for Cyber Resilience and Trust (CREST).

Founded in 2002, Ping Identity has become a leading provider of enterprise identity security, serving more than half of the Fortune 100 and protecting more than 3 billion identities worldwide. In 2016, Ping Identity was acquired by Vista Equity Partners and in 2019, became the first Vista company to IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol PING. In 2022, Thoma Bravo acquired PING and took the company private for US$2.8B. Prior to Ping Identity, Durand founded Jabber to commercialise the Jabber open source instant messaging platform which was acquired by Cisco in 2008.

Durand serves on the board of Jamf (NASDAQ: JAMF) and in his spare time focuses on causes related to children in the foster care system, building great culture and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. Durand holds a BA in Biology and Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife Kim and two daughters.

Jason has almost 20 years’ experience as a senior executive in the IT and telecommunications industry. Prior to joining F5, he was Country Manager at Ruckus Networks and was responsible for leading the ANZ team strategy, as well as the smooth integration of ARRIS following its acquisition of Ruckus Networks. He has also previously held roles at Juniper Networks, AXS-One, Airwide Solutions, and Optus.

Robert Huber, Tenable’s chief security officer, head of research and president of Tenable Public Sector, LLC, oversees the company’s global security and research teams, working cross-functionally to reduce risk to the organization, its customers and the broader industry. He has more than 25 years of cyber security experience across the financial, defense, critical infrastructure and technology sectors. Prior to joining Tenable, Robert was a chief security and strategy officer at Eastwind Networks. He was previously co-founder and president of Critical Intelligence, an OT threat intelligence and solutions provider, which cyber threat intelligence leader iSIGHT Partners acquired in 2015. He also served as a member of the Lockheed Martin CIRT, an OT security researcher at Idaho National Laboratory and was a chief security architect for JP Morgan Chase. Robert is a board member and advisor to several security startups and served in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard for more than 22 years. Before retiring in 2021, he provided offensive and defensive cyber capabilities supporting the National Security Agency (NSA), United States Cyber Command and state missions.

Mike Hanley is the Chief Security Officer and SVP of Engineering at GitHub. Prior to GitHub, Mike was the Vice President of Security at Duo Security, where he built and led the security research, development, and operations functions. After Duo’s acquisition by Cisco for $2.35 billion in 2018, Mike led the transformation of Cisco’s cloud security framework and later served as CISO for the company. Mike also spent several years at CERT/CC as a Senior Member of the Technical Staff and security researcher focused on applied R&D programs for the US Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. When he’s not talking about security at GitHub, Mike can be found enjoying Ann Arbor, MI with his wife and eight kids.

She is a published author, with her book Surviving Security having two editions and used at multiple universities around the world as the textbook for foundation information security courses. Mandy also tested and reviewed information security products for multiple publications as well as serving as the author for the weekly InfoWorld security column. She has been a sought-after expert in the field, speaking at signature security conferences such as BlackHat and Networld+Interop. In addition, she has taught a graduate level Information Risk Management course for UMass Amherst in the College of Information and Computer Sciences.

Mandy has a JD from Western New England University, a Master’s in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University, and a B.B.A in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Mandy is a CISSP, CPA, and member of the Texas Bar.

From open source vulnerabilities to the significance of software bill of materials (SBOMs), this episode offers practical examples and advice on building robust cyber defenses. Join us as we navigate through the complexities of cybersecurity, uncovering how technology intersects with societal and business issues, and exploring the compelling data shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Mark has over 28 years’ experience in the IT industry with 18 of those at Microsoft in various roles across the globe. As the National Security Officer for Microsoft Australia & New Zealand, Mark is responsible for working with customers, partners, governments, and industry regulators to ensure that the Microsoft platforms are not only understood by policymakers but also adhere to their security, compliance and risk management requirements. In addition, Mark is accountable for the PROTECTED level assessment of Azure,
Office 365, and Dynamics. Mark holds a Master of Cyber Security degree with high distinction from Edith Cowan University and is a Visiting Associate Professor at Macquarie University

Take a look at the MDDR Report here.

Chris shares personal anecdotes, underlining the importance of diversity and inclusivity in this field, and advocates for a shift towards a more positive mindset.

Chris Cochran is Hacker Valley Media’s co-founder/ Chief Creative Officer and the Advisory Chief Information Security Officer/ Chief Evangelist for Huntress Labs. Chris also serves on the Board of Governors for the Podcast Academy. He is a cybersecurity leader turned award-winning content creator and speaker, earning two Anthem Awards and one Webby nomination. Chris started his career in technology during his active duty service in the US Marine Corps as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency.

Chris spent over a decade leading advanced cybersecurity and intelligence missions at organizations such as the US House of Representatives, US Cyber Command, Mandiant, Booz Allen Hamilton, United Technologies, and Netflix. His passion is finding and amplifying human stories in cybersecurity and technology to inspire and empower our community.

Corien Vermaak started her career as a technology law specialist within the telecommunication space and soon fell in love with data privacy and the legal structures governing cybercrime. In her career,  Corien specialised in cybercrime legislation and data privacy while representing large multinationals on these matters.

She holds a master’s degree in law specialising in cybercrime and data privacy. She has been involved in the writing of legislation in this regard as well as consulting to Africa Union and Interpol on issues relating to cybercrimes and privacy.

Corien is a Qualified Digital Forensic Auditor, Lead ISO 27001 auditor and C|CISO. Corien has been a CISO Advisor for the Cisco Security Centre of Excellence in the Asia Pacific, Japan and China region where she has led market.

KB has previously interviewed Corien, but asked for a more in-depth interview. This is likely to be followed with an in-depth interview with Jeetu Patel, Global Exec for Cybersecurity at Cisco.

Alex Trafton is a Managing Director in the National Security, Trade, & Technology practice at Ankura Consulting Group, based in Los Angeles, CA, USA. He has over 15 years of experience in finance, risk management, and cybersecurity. Alex leads the NSTT cybersecurity function and serves as a subject matter expert in cybersecurity program design, implementation, and assessment with a focus in foreign investment control and oversight (CFIUS), Defense Industrial Base (DIB) cybersecurity requirements, and international trade control compliance program support (ITAR/EAR). Alex is focused on working with multi-national defense contractors to help them meet cybersecurity and export control requirements before, during, and after mergers and acquisitions.

David leads the Privacy Advisory Practice at CyberCX and brings to the role over 25 years of government and industry experience.  Prior to entering the consulting sector, David was responsible for privacy risk management at State Street Corporation across APAC, built and led the CBA’s first dedicated privacy team, led the privacy function at NEHTA (now the ADHA) and was the online safety, security and privacy lead for https://MySpace.com in Australia/NZ. Prior to his privacy focused roles, David was a Federal Agent with the Australian Federal Police and held a number of investigative, legal policy and training roles during his 9 year tenure with the agency.​

In addition to these roles, David was the creator of the annual consumer and organisation privacy research, the Deloitte Australian Privacy Index and its principal author for four editions. David also launched the annual Australian Privacy by Design Research and Awards in 2022, for which he and the team were awarded by the Australian Information Security Association as ‘Cybersecurity Researcher of the Year’ in 2022.

Dali Kaafar is a Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering and serves as the Executive Director of [The Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub]. In addition to his role as the director of the Data Security and Privacy R&D Program, he oversees the Cyber Range Training Centre (CRTC) and Cyber Security Curriculum at the Institute of Applied Technology-Digital.

Leading a team of collaborators, Professor Kaafar is actively engaged in extensive Research and Development activities within the field of Cyber Security in Emerging Technologies, with a vision to enable Explicit Trust in the Digital Economy. His primary research interests revolve around Data Security and Privacy, specifically focusing on Privacy-Preserving (or Enhancing) technologies, Information Security for Web and Mobile applications, (Provably) private data sharing, and Trustworthy Secure and Private Machine learning techniques.

Before joining Macquarie University, Professor Kaafar served as the group leader and founder of the Information Security and Privacy group at CSIRO Data61. He was previously a principal researcher at National ICT Australia (NICTA) and held a permanent researcher position at the Privatics team at INRIA in France.

In his role as CEO and Founder of SailPoint, Mark brings almost 35 years of experience in technology, with over 20 years as a founder and leader of innovative identity management companies. Under Mark’s direction, the company has grown into a publicly recognized leader in its market. Mark directs and drives the overall vision and strategy for SailPoint, which is underpinned by his commitment and passion for building top-performing teams, creating a collaborative and innovative work environment, and focusing continuously on the needs of customers.

Teaming is a concept that Mark promotes throughout the company: teaming with forward-thinking customers to understand their needs, with partners to ensure customer success, and ultimately within SailPoint to develop innovative, market-leading solutions. Mark is passionate about maintaining the spirit of teamwork, even as SailPoint grows its employee base and its global presence to offices around the world.

Prior to SailPoint, he co-founded Waveset Technologies, which was ultimately acquired by Sun Microsystems. Mark’s career also includes diverse experience in international sales and marketing with Hewlett-Packard and IBM/Tivoli Systems.

Dean Houari is the Director of Security Technology and Strategy for Akamai’s Asia-Pacific and Japan region. He is a patent awarded technologist with over two decades of experiences in various engineering and architecture leadership roles.

 At Akamai, Dean is responsible for product and go-to-market strategy for Akamai’s security portfolio, which includes both established and emerging areas in security. His work focuses on encouraging customers to a strategic view of their security programs, and articulating key security design principles that position customers for long-term success in their security strategy.

Prior to Akamai, Dean led the architecture and development of DevSecOps, cloud and cyber security initiatives and innovations. He holds an inventor patent with Cisco Systems, as well as certifications from CCIE, Terraform, and AWS. He is also an avid powerlifter who has lifted a personal best of 650kg.

Dean attended Carnegie Mellon University and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. 

Mary Carmichael, CISA, CFE, CPA, is Director, Risk Advisory, at Momentum Technology (Vancouver Canada), and member of ISACA’s Emerging Trends Working Group and Risk Advisory Committee.

Read more about it:
Gain a Clearer Understanding of AI
Generative AI 2023: An ISACA Pulse Poll infographic

Cricket Liu is one of the world’s leading experts on the Domain Name System (DNS), and serves as the liaison between Infoblox and the DNS community. Before joining Infoblox, he founded an Internet consulting and training company, Acme Byte & Wire, after running the hp.com domain at Hewlett-Packard. Cricket is a prolific speaker and author, having written a number of books including “DNS and BIND,” one of the most widely used references in the field, now in its fifth edition.

With over 15 years experience helping global organisations tackle sophisticated cyber espionage and criminal campaigns, James has a deep passion for cyber incident response, forensics and cyber crisis. Prior to founding Cado Security, Campbell served as a Director at PwC building the Cyber Incident Response service. Campbell’s background also includes a career in intelligence previously leading Australia’s National Incident Response capability as the Assistant Director of Operations at the Australian Signals Directorate. James is an active thought leader having spoken at various conferences including Blackhat, Cloudsec, Crestcon, and the Forensics Europe Expo.

Alex shares valuable insights in handling crises, addressing ego-driven conflicts, and the crucial role of the board in cyber. Join us as we unravel the intricate layers of today’s security culture and learn from his experiences and expertise.

With over 20 years of experience in computer security and cybercrime, Alex Tilley is a highly awarded cybercrime researcher. Beginning his career in the online casino industry on Australia’s Gold Coast, Alex went on to implement and administer many varieties of network security technologies within Australia’s banking industry. Alex was on the forefront of research and countermeasures when phishing and malware first began to attack banking platforms and customers. When he later became the Australian Federal Police’s senior cybercrime technical analyst, he combined his technical background with an analytical approach to discover “who” the cybercriminals were, why they were attacking specific targets, and what they were looking for. This included identifying exposing online child predators as well as cybercriminals.  During this time Alex become a key member of the operations team responsible for many high profile cases.

Rachael highlights the need for a new approach to managing information, acknowledging the challenges of audits and their impact on users and systems. She emphasised the potential of AI technology in managing information and its effects on regulators and businesses, particularly as noncompliance in audits and increased pressure from regulators due to cybersecurity and privacy concerns become prevalent.

Rachael Greaves is CEO and Co-Founder at Castlepoint Systems, and has consulted on large-scale records, security and audit projects in government and regulated industries with complex integrated environments. Rachael’s credentials include: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), PRINCE2 (Practitioner), Certified Data Privacy Systems Engineer (CDPSE) ITIL v3 (Foundation), AIIM Certified Information Professional (CIP), and AIIM SharePoint Information Management Specialist. She is also an IIBA member.

Jenai Marinkovic is a multidisciplinary technologist and strategist with 20 years of experience in architecting, building and securing systems at scale. She has designed and operated in real-time over the top streaming ecosystems that power live sports, gaming, and entertainment. She’s also worked in biomedical manufacturing and laboratory diagnostics, healthcare tech and robotics in agriculture.

Jenai’s worked with artificial intelligence, its impact on diversity and inclusion as well as improving human empathy towards machines. She has expertise in designing the next generation security experiences necessary to support digital transformation She has built and run design, architecture, innovation, engineering, security and operations teams. Her security expertise spans security architecture, engineering, defense, and forensics and invented a cyber defense framework for large scale breaches based on American football. Jenai has worked for large enterprise brands including DIRECTV, Electronic Arts, Beckman Coulter and international investigations firms such as Kroll.

Now she serves as the Executive Director & Chairman of the Board at GRC for Intelligent ecosystems or GRCIE (Pronounced Gracie).

Dan Elliott is the Principal for Cyber Security Risk Consulting at Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) Canada and is responsible for supporting ZRS’s clients in making risk-based cybersecurity decisions to improve their overall organizational resilience. Dan has over 15 years of experience in national security and risk management and brings a unique perspective to cyber risk, having spent six years as an Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade in law enforcement and intelligence, investigating multinational criminal organisations both online and in person. He evaluates cyber risk with the knowledge of international threat actors and the potential impact they pose to businesses and critical infrastructure, helping organizations improve their overall risk posture.

Dan is also trained in multiple cyber risk management frameworks and holds specialized expertise in stakeholder management and strategic program design. He speaks internationally about the communication challenges that exist between traditional technical professionals and business leaders. He is a regional board member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), a Risk Fellow (RF) and is a Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP and CRM). Dan is a contributing member of the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN), a volunteer member with ISACA and is accredited as Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC).

Tulin Sevgin is a strategic thinker and cyber risk management specialist with experience in public and private sectors. Tulin has held senior positions with Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Optiver and Deloitte.

Amongst Tulin’s career she has successfully started up and led a cybersecurity practice at a boutique consultancy and is now leading the TPRM team at UpGuard growing the CyberRisk product and services.

Tulin specializes in cyber risk management including TPRM, cyber risk threat analysis, prevention,
control and assurance. Tulin’s past working experience spans enterprise risk management, business
continuity, risk culture analysis, project management, issues management, IT audit, data analytics,
internal audit and external audit.
Tulin has worked across multiple projects from:

• Developing and implementing successful Third-Party Risk Management Frameworks
• APRA Prudential Standard CPS234, GDPR, CCPA, NDB scheme readiness
• Information Security Officer positions
• Cyber Security Incident response exercises
• Creating and exercising data breach response plans
• Developing, managing and testing IT disaster recovery plans
• Enhancing cyber risk frameworks for various clients
• Facilitating cyber security awareness training
• Post cyber incident reviews
• Social engineering projects

At Yubico, Geoff is responsible for driving the Yubico business across Australia and New Zealand, working with partners and enterprise customers to implement secure modern authentication, helping make the internet safer for all.

Geoff brings a strong customer focus and a proven ability to implement complex technology solutions across a range of industries, including telecommunications, utility and transport sectors across Australia, Asia and Europe.  Critical to the success of these projects is the definition and realisation of tangible business value, where the combination of Geoff’s business consulting approach and project delivery experience consistently deliver business value.

Geoff is an experienced senior executive with a background in engineering and strategy consulting and over 30 years’ experience in the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry.  Geoff has a Bachelor of Engineering and MBA and is also a Non-Executive Director and business mentor to several Not For Profit (NFP) organisations. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), with B.E. (Hons) and M.B.A.

Pierre Liddle is a distinguished expert with over 20 years of dedicated experience in the dynamic field of security. As the Co-founder and CTO of Plerion, he serves as the guiding force behind the company’s strategic vision. Pierre’s extensive career includes an impressive seven-year tenure at AWS, where he played a crucial role in driving global internal security programs and collaborating with customers to design, build, and manage secure cloud workloads. This direct and hands-on engagement has equipped him with an unparalleled understanding of the precise challenges and pain points that organisations encounter in the realm of cloud security.

With a profound commitment to enhancing cloud security practices, and a vision to make the world a safer place by empowering customers to conquer the future, Pierre brings his wealth of knowledge to the forefront at Plerion. His leadership and domain expertise empower the company to provide cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses in an increasingly digital world. Pierre’s invaluable insights and dedication to innovation underscore his role as a driving force behind Plerion’s mission to revolutionise cloud security.

Ashwin Ram is a seasoned cyber security expert and thought leader with a unique blend of CISO consulting experience and technical know-how. He is widely regarded as a trusted advisor by industry titans, startups, and industry collectives due to his ability to translate technical threats into business contexts to evaluate overall risk to organisations.

With his deep security knowledge, Ashwin can switch effortlessly between “tech talk” and “business talk,” making him a go-to person for organisations looking to bolster their cyber resilience. In his current role at Check Point Software Technologies, Ashwin assists cyber executives understand, prioritise, communicate, and address cyber risks.

The conversation delves into the complexities of data classification, due diligence on third-party vendors, and the importance of transparency and accountability in handling breaches. Join us as we unravel the nuances of third-party risk management, cybersecurity marketing, and the potential risks and benefits of AI in the cybersecurity landscape.

Hailing from Eastern Europe, Alen arrives in Australia in 1996 and has been a daily contributor to Australia’s Cybersecurity scene for a over 15 years now. Having helped hundreds of organisations improve their threat landscape and avoid costly breaches, Alen is a leader in the spaces of cyber security, information security, risk management and governance/compliance. Being a regular guest speaker at webinars, summits and industry events – Alen is considered a valuable asset in helping non-technical people understand the value of technology risk management. Experienced across various industries including aerospace, renewable energies, legal, and our government; Alen is highly sought after as an industry subject-matter expert.

Rad, Head of Engineering at DevOps1, is a seasoned tech expert with 15+ years in the industry.

Specialising in Platforms and Security, Rad has led platform and devsecops transformations at organisations like Spark New Zealand, ANZ Government, and top financial institutions.

With a strong track record in project management and ethics, Rad has also contributed significantly at Ampion/Wipro’s cybersecurity division, Shelde where he was a Cloud Consulting partner.

One crucial theme that we also talk about is the misconception that a university degree is necessary for all cybersecurity jobs. Rob challenges this notion, emphasising that there are many skilled individuals without degrees who can effectively contribute to the field. However, the lack of standardised job roles and descriptions in cybersecurity makes recruiting difficult, leading to the use of a degree as a filtering criteria. To tackle this issue, Rob also emphasises the need for a structured framework for cybersecurity roles. By developing such a framework, the recruiting process can be made easier, and educational pathways can be established that may or may not require a degree. Throughout the episode, we touch upon the role of HR, the use of AI in creating inclusive job descriptions, and the importance of promoting cybersecurity careers to younger candidates.

Rob Rashotte is the Vice President of the Fortinet Training Institute and the Fortinet Technical Field Enablement Program. Rob has more than 20 years of experience developing training and education strategies for startups as well as complex global organisations. He also has more than 15 years of experience working with some of the most innovative, fast-paced companies in the cybersecurity field. Rob has an Executive MBA from the University of Ottawa and is a regular speaker at a number of business schools on the topic of cyber risk and corporate impact.

Jaya Baloo is the CSO of Rapid7 and has been working in the field of Info Security with a focus on secure network architecture for more than 20 years. She is the former CISO of Avast, and prior to that was CISO at KPN, the largest telco carrier in The Netherlands. Jaya serves on the boards of the NL’s National Cyber Security Centre, TIIN Capital, the NOS, and was former Vice Chair of the EU Quantum flagship. Shie is also on the faculty of the Singularity University. Jaya is recognised as a top 100 security influencer worldwide. In 2019, she was selected as one of the 50 most inspiring Fifty. In 2022 she received an honorary doctorate from the Uni of Twente for her contributions to the field of Cybersecurity.

Raj Sharma, a seasoned professional in the realm of cybersecurity and enterprise sales, boasts nearly two decades of invaluable experience in these domains. Throughout his illustrious career, Raj has consistently demonstrated his prowess by not only navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity but also by excelling in the dynamic field of enterprise sales.

At present, Raj holds a pivotal role as the leader of a high-performance sales team, where his strategic vision and leadership skills have contributed significantly to the team’s success. His commitment to fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment has positioned the team as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

Raj is driven by a deep-seated passion for helping clients, partners, and his own team achieve their respective goals. His client-centric approach and keen understanding of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape have earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor in the industry.

What sets Raj apart is not only his professional acumen but also his unwavering commitment to continuous self-development and a growth mindset. He believes in the power of ongoing learning and embraces challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth. Raj’s enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new technologies ensures that he remains at the forefront of industry trends.

Beyond his individual success, Raj finds fulfillment in witnessing the flourishing of others around him. His leadership style is characterized by mentorship and empowerment, reflecting his genuine desire to see his team members reach their full potential. In every endeavor, Raj Sharma exemplifies the qualities of a dynamic and visionary leader who not only excels in his own journey but also inspires others to thrive in their pursuits.

Ben is Senior Intelligence Analyst and Team Lead APAC/EMEA with risk intelligence firm Flashpoint. He’s former intelligence with Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force.

In his current role, Ben seeks to synchronise efforts across time zones and threat types to assist in protecting businesses and government elements from threats. This can include identification of risks, vulnerabilities, advanced persistent threats, and how these can manifest in the real world.

The nexus between the online threat and the physical world is where Flashpoint strives to provide assistance to its clients to help in protecting people, assets, information, and infrastructure.

Prior to joining Flashpoint, Ben was a Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Australian Federal Police. As part of his work with AFP, Ben established the Aviation Protection Assessment Team (APAT), which was responsible for undertaking physical vulnerability assessments at airports across Australia. An integral part of this role included understanding the online communication methodology of criminal and threat elements. During his time with the ADF, Ben worked as part of the intelligence capability, in operations both domestically and internationally.

Puneeta offers management consulting and cyber security experience with a pragmatic approach in implementing sustainable change. She is both a coach and advisor to clients across diverse industries advocating a 2-speed approach when navigating through their cyber, digital and innovation journey.

Connecting vision and reality – she helps organisations move with confidence to overcome the challenges of an ever changing threat landscape, and work with them all the way from business intent to value realisation & combat business risks.

Puneeta has been a cyber security Practitioner helping CISOs & CROs adopt pragmatic solutions that Reduce business & Compliance Risks; harnessing her exuberant skills & experience across consultative selling, building security business solutions, customer management, security advisory & roadmaps across large transformation programs.

She has provided leadership and managed large and distributed teams, managing a multi-vendor and rightshore delivery model, be seen as a cyber/technology enablement advisor in a diverse and geographically dispersed working environment partnering seamlessly across business and IT.

From international trade tension to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, David and KB delve into the complex interdependencies and challenges in safeguarding organizations worldwide.

David Chow brings over 20 years of experience in the federal government to his role as Chief Technology Strategy officer. His focus includes analysing, managing, and implementing technologies to assist with building and maintaining a global cybersecurity strategy. Much of his expertise stems from working alongside the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to modernise the agency’s mortgage loan systems and mature its cybersecurity program. He served on a number of additional roles within the federal government, including executive and leadership positions at the Department of Transportation and the White House. Prior to joining Trend Micro, David demonstrated success in accelerated digital transformation through secured cloud adoption as the Global SVP on NextGen Solutions at CoreLogic, a FinTech data company. David Chow is on the Advisory Board of George Mason College of Engineering and Computing.

Mike Zachman is currently the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Zebra Technologies, where he has global responsibility for its enterprise-wide product security, information security, corporate security and business continuity programs. Zachman is an experienced global leader with over 30 years of information security, risk management and information technology expertise.

Previously, Zachman was Chief information Security Officer (CISO) at Caterpillar, Ecolab, and Forsythe Technologies. Zachman holds an undergraduate degree in management information systems from Millikin University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Bradley University. He is a Certified Information Security Manager, Certified Internal Auditor and is Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT. He is an active volunteer with Junior Achievement and Easter Seals.

Jamil Farshchi is EVP and Chief Information Security Officer of Equifax (NYSE: EFX). Farshchi joined Equifax in the aftermath of one of the most consequential data breaches in history. During his tenure, he led an unprecedented $1.5 billion transformation and has built what is regarded as one of the most advanced, effective, and transparent cybersecurity and privacy programs in business today.

Prior to Equifax, Farshchi was Chief Information Security Officer of The Home Depot, Chief Information Security Officer of Time Warner, Vice President of Global Information Security for Visa, Chief Information Security Officer of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Deputy Chief Information Assurance Officer of NASA.

Farshchi serves on the Board of Directors for UKG, is a Strategic Advisor for the FBI and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Technology Security Coalition. He was named a Top Voice in Technology and Innovation by LinkedIn.

Amy is the founder of Aussie Recruit and has supported thousands of Australians with their US job search. She specializes in connecting Australians with jobs in the US at companies hiring Aussies on E-3 visas. Amy has 7+ years of experience recruiting in the US market.

Amy is a dual Australian-American. She relocated from Sydney to San Francisco 10 years ago. She has first-hand experienced and overcome the challenges Australians face getting jobs in the US.

Prior to starting Aussie Recruit, she was Head of People at an early-stage tech company and hired many Australians on E-3 visas. She also started and runs the Australians In San Francisco Bay Area.

You can find Amy sharing tips & stories on Instagram almost every day.

Amy is also a full-time mum of 3 and started Aussie Recruit when her 1st child was just a few months old.

Annie is the founder and principal of Cyber GC – a legal and consulting practice dedicated to helping Australian businesses prepare for and fight cyberattacks. Annie is a multi-award-winning cybersecurity lawyer and was recently awarded General Counsel of the Year (Australian Law Awards – Lawyers Weekly – 2021).

She brings to Cyber GC the experience gained in 20 years as a technology lawyer, 12 years working for one of the largest technology companies in the world and 6 years as global legal counsel for Accenture Security, one of the largest security companies in the world. She specialises in advising on enterprise security risk, cyber regulation, procurement risk management, and the impact on the whole organisation of cybersecurity issues.

Based in Canberra, Australia, she lives with her two little girls (3 and 5), husband Tony and fur baby, Scout the Jack Russell-Foxy cross. Outside of work and volunteering, you will find her tending to her bees, cooking Ottolenghi, tending her veggie patch and sewing, quilting, knitting and crafting.

Professor EJ Wise (she/her) is Principal and Founder of Wise Law in Melbourne and: 

• Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, Deakin University 
• Lecturer, School of Law, Society and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW 
• Lecturer, Melbourne Business School (Public Policy) 

• Sessional Academic, Thomas More Law School, ACU 
• Member, Executive Advisory Board for Cyber, Deakin University 
• Member, Industry Advisory Board for Cyber, RMIT 
• Member, Advisory Committee of the UNSW Institute of Cyber Security, UNSW 
• Founding Chair, Australasian Cyber Security Institute 
• Founding Director & Treasurer, National Institute of Strategic Resilience 
• Member Law Council of Australia International Law Section 
• Member Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House Executive Committee 

EJ has 29 years legal experience in Australian Federal and State Governments as well as in private practice and academia, specialising in cyber law, policy, strategy, governance, international law & international humanitarian law and is an internationally recognized cyber law expert. 

EJ’s 21 years of service in uniform as a Legal Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force includes postings in the RAAF’s cyber and information operations squadron and on exchange with the United States Air Force’s JAG Corps in the Pentagon for three years.  EJ is a decorated veteran who served twice in the Middle East during Australia’s engagement in international armed conflict.  EJ’s volunteer roles have ranged from working in a Community Legal Centre to providing CPD to the Federation of Community Legal Centres in Victoria, being on the International Humanitarian Law Committee of the International Committee of the Red Cross to membership of Cyber Security Advisory Boards and Committees. 

EJ has assisted in drafting laws, relevant texts and manuals in Australian, International and US jurisdictions. She has assisted in law enforcement as well as cyber operations. EJ has strong community values and gives her time to community and not for profit organisations as her contribution to a fairer, more inclusive and equitable society for everyone. 

Using tech without cybersecurity is like driving a car without a seatbelt and with no idea of its service history 

– EJ Wise, founder of Wise Law

As a Special Forces team commander, Adam O’Donnell successfully led high-performing teams in some of the most hostile and volatile places on earth.

Looking back, he’d be the first to agree that his transition into the world of cybersecurity was something of an accident but he soon found that the decision-making, planning and leadership skills that served him so well leading combat operations and peacekeeping missions around the world also paved the way to a very successful corporate career leading cyber resilience uplift programs across government and large enterprise.

The challenge, he realised, was that his work was actually creating another problem – small and medium enterprises were being left behind in the cyber arms race and becoming increasingly vulnerable to attackers who only ever seem to grow in their sophistication and numbers.  As CEO of Convergence Systems, a Melbourne-based startup, he’s leading the creation of an eXtended Detection & Response system designed specifically for the cloud-based SME market and delivered at a price they can afford.

Stay tuned as we examine the potential risks of using open source software and the complexities of explaining security issues to individuals who may not fully grasp their implications. Edwin shares captivating stories and real-life examples, including incidents where businesses chose to accept high-severity risks rather than investing in their mitigation.

Edwin a cybersecurity specialist whose approach towards security is to raise awareness, provide light touch controls to the software development life cycle to increase visibility of security issues, and work closely with engineering teams to quickly develop secure applications.

He started out as a software engineer and transitioned into application and information security to lead a range of security initiatives when the company was working towards obtaining an unrestricted banking licence.

He has presented at several events, including RSA, AISA, All Day Dev Ops, AppSec Day, OWASP and DevSecOps Leadership Forums.

Edwin is also a contributing journalist to the It’s 5:05 Podcast, a daily podcast on open source and cybersecurity news.

Ubaid Jafri is a dynamic and talented motivational speaker renowned for his distinctive ability to seamlessly weave real-life experiences into captivating presentations. With over 12 years of invaluable experience in the commercial banking and risk management consultancy sectors, he has carved a niche as an expert in Information Security. His speaking engagements are not only entertaining but also deeply enriching, offering audiences practical insights into real-world work scenarios across diverse industries.

Ubaid Jafri’s professional journey encompasses leadership roles that define his expertise. Currently serving as the Head of Cyber Defense and Offensive Security at Habib Bank Limited, he previously held the position of Senior Manager Cyber Security & Forensic Technology at KPMG. His proficiency extends to Cyber Defense, Offensive Security, Red Teaming, Cyber Analytics, IoT, Digital Forensics, Incident Handling & Response, and various other crucial areas.

Ubaid Jafri’s impact on the cybersecurity landscape is marked by a series of achievements that demonstrate his tenacity and expertise. He has conducted numerous communication and cybersecurity intrusions, as well as penetration red-team attacks, for a diverse array of organizations, including utilities, power companies, Banking & Financial Institutions, and more. These proactive initiatives have consistently unearthed critical vulnerabilities, thwarting unauthorized access, system compromises, sensitive information disclosures, and control hijackings. His vigilant approach has significantly contributed to safeguarding organizations from the looming threat of massive cyber breaches.

Ubaid Jafri’s speaking engagements, fueled by engaging narratives, practical insights, and heroic anecdotes, position him as an exceptional motivational speaker. His mission is to empower audiences with the tools to navigate the digital era confidently, equipped with the knowledge to safeguard against evolving cybersecurity challenges.

Karissa Breen, more commonly known as KB, is a serial entrepreneur that founded KBI.Media, the independent & agnostic global cybersecurity media company. KB has been crowned LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology. KB is a Cybersecurity Investigative Journalist that hosts the flagship podcast, KBKast, interviewing cybersecurity practitioners from around the globe about security and the problems business executives face.

KB is known for asking hard-hitting questions and getting real answers from her guests, providing a unique yet neutral position on these topics. KB is also the Producer & Host of the streaming show, 2Fa.tv, where she asks questions to demystify the world of cybersecurity, providing insight into the world of security to business executives, and focuses on the downstream impacts these cybersecurity events have on our markets.

ESG initiatives were among the winners in this year’s Federal Budget, with $4 billion in new funding commitments aimed at accelerating Australia’s clean energy sector. However, it is important for businesses to not overlook cybersecurity as a crucial component of their ESG strategy moving forward. While companies often prioritise social and environmental initiatives, they tend to neglect cybersecurity in those areas, viewing it as only a part of the governance initiative. It’s often left to regulators or insurance providers to handle, despite the fact that cyberattacks can have a direct material impact on social and environmental matters whether through critical infrastructure compromise, data privacy violations, the loss of social trust and other impacts to partner organisations. The risk from cyberattacks can then result in potentially weakening every aspect of an ESG strategy, and not solely in technical matters or governance.

Fernando Serto – Field CTO for Asia Pacific, Japan and China at Cloudflare – is a highly qualified IT and Security expert with over 27 years of work experience. Fernando has held a variety of technical positions during his career, including Web Development, Unix, Networking, and Security. Fernando had the privilege of being involved with offensive security in the beginning of his career, and as a result, he has since gained a thorough understanding of both offensive and defensive security methods.

Fernando has spent the last ten years working with top technology vendors, where he has established a reputation for his skill in explaining difficult technical security issues to both technical and non-technical audiences. He has a demonstrated history of assisting Product and Engineering teams in creating cutting-edge security solutions based on client input.

Fernando is dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of new security technology and has a thorough understanding of how businesses can use security to achieve their goals. He is passionate about assisting businesses in creating and putting into practise security plans that allow them to safeguard their assets and accomplish their objectives in the rapidly changing security environment of today.

Mike is a passionate technologist.

He has over 20 years experience within IT and has worked in both corporate and start-up environments, often adapting technical engineering practices to varying clients, cultures and product requirements.

Mike has a keen understanding that successful teams are a culmination of culture, behaviours, technology, architecture and development techniques. One particular area of interest is the challenge for tech leaders – and pragmatic strategies available to them across people, platforms and processes – in pursuing a deeply secure, fast and productive core engineering capability, critical for enterprise cyber resilience today.

Mike is highly proficient in a range of software engineering practices and has held the role of CTO in a number of companies. He believes in removing waste through repeatable processes and automation.

Mike believes in contributing positively to those around him.

Rock has served in several senior Cybersecurity and technology roles for global, multi-billion-dollar companies such as MPLX (a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation), eBay, Honeywell, General Dynamics Information Technology, Wells Fargo, and Agilent Technologies. He built security programs from the ground up on multiple occasions. Rock was a pivotal contributor to M&A activities at numerous companies, including eBay’s acquisition of Shopping.com and Skype and Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s acquisition of MarkWest Energy Partners. Rock oversaw multi-million dollar budgets, led successful defenses against highly-publicized denial-of-service attacks, and built and managed large Security and Network Operations Centers.

Rock serves on the board of several stealth-mode startups as a corporate strategy and Cybersecurity advisor. He is also a member of the Secure Smart Cities Advisory Board at the National Cybersecurity Center and co-chaired the Rocky Mountain Information Security Conference from 2015 to 2017,

A sought-after speaker, Rock has spoken at the annual RSA Security conference, which is the Cybersecurity industry’s seminal yearly event. He has also spoken at the CIO Energy Summit, the Future of Data Security conference, the American Council for Technology, the ISSA CISO Mentorship series, and several industry association chapter meetings.

Rock is a member of ISSA, ISC2, the Cloud Security Alliance, and OWASP. He graduated with an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Arizona State University and received his BS in Management Information Systems from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Ben maintains his strong passion for the technical aspects of information security and recently has been focusing on creating new business opportunities by working across the breath of the global organisation’s capabilities while teaming and supporting small innovative start up technology companies.

Ben speaks regularly at international, interstate and local conferences, seminars and round tables

Mark has over 28 years’ experience in the IT industry with 18 of those at Microsoft in various roles across the globe. As the National Security Officer for Microsoft Australia & New Zealand, Mark is responsible for working with customers, partners, governments, and industry regulators to ensure that the Microsoft platforms are not only understood by policymakers but also adhere to their security, compliance and risk management requirements. In addition, Mark is accountable for the PROTECTED level assessment of Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics. Mark holds a Master of Cyber Security degree with high distinction from Edith Cowan University and is a Visiting Associate Professor at Macquarie University.

1. Phil Sim – CEO, Influencing
2. Anthony Woodward – CEO, Logicalis Australia
3. Zach Zeus – CEO, BizCubed
4. Matt Hurford – Managing Director – Australia & New Zealand, NetApp
5. Kurt Hansen – CEO, Tesserent
6. Stela Solar – Director, National Artificial Intelligence Centre

Gergana is an experienced and respected member of the cybersecurity community in Australia and Asia and an engaging keynote and public speaker on cyber security and privacy matters, risks and issues to the business community. In her spare time, she mentors young professionals and is an advocate for diversity.

Prior to KPMG, Gergana worked for a global IT solutions company as Industry Director Cyber Security for the Asia Pacific region. She was a member of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) national board and ISACA Sydney board.

The enigmaFIT program is based on over 50 years of research into the CHC Theory of Human Cognitive Abilities. It creates Brain Balance, where the conscious mind and subconscious brain work together to optimally increase an individual’s cognitive capability, a very important aspect in the cybersecurity space.

Phillip is a USA Today and Wall Street Journalist best-selling Author for his contribution to ‘Habits of Success’ and has just completed his new work, ‘Brain Habits: The Science of Subconscious Success’ which has reached Amazon #1 Best Seller in Developmental Biology

Purchasing book – Brain Habits: The Science of Subconscious Success. Click on this Amazon link: Brain Habits Book

To understand more about your Focused Thinking capability, try Phillip’s free assessment:  Complimentary Focused Thinking Assessment

To contact Phillip Campbell, email: info@enigmafit.com or visit website: www.enigmaFIT.com

Kurt is the CEO of Australi’a largest ASX listed cybersecurity company,  Tesserent Limited (ASX: TNT).

Kurt previously lead the Security Division at PS+C Group ASX:PSZ. Prior to that, Kurt was responsible at Tesserent ASX:TNT for defining the start up Sales Strategy GTM and building the initial team at Tesserent a newly listed ASX company.

Prior to Tesserent, Kurt was at Check Point Software responsible for $80MAUD Cyber Security Solution Sales and Services in Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to Check Point, Kurt was MD at F5 Networks for almost 5 years and grew the local subsidiary from $20m to $75m during 2009 to 2013, and the team from 17 to 70 people. In FY 2010/11 A/NZ was rated as the fastest growing subsidiary globally and has the highest attach rate of advanced application software and security solutions.

In 2011/12 he also led the Carrier and Service/Cloud provider virtual sales team across Asia Pacific and Japan.

Hansen’s career in the IT industry spans over 20 years. Before joining F5, Hansen was the CEO of AirData Pty Ltd, where he grew top line revenues by 250 percent in over 18 months.

Prior to AirData, he gained extensive sales and operational leadership experience while at Symbol Technologies, Telstra Wholesale, Cisco Systems, and Ericsson. In these positions he was responsible for increasing revenue and managing costs whilst building a senior high performing sales and delivery team.

Hansen commenced his career in IT as an Army Apprentice and later as an officer in the Royal Australian Signal Corps, finishing with the commissioned rank of Captain.

Chester Wisniewski is a field chief technology officer in applied research at next-generation security leader Sophos. With more than 20 years of professional experience,  Chester analyses the massive amounts of attack data gathered by SophosLabs to distill and share relevant information in an effort to improve the industry’s understanding of evolving threats, attacker behaviours and effective security defences. He’s helped organisations design enterprise-scale defence strategies, served as the primary technical lead on architecting Sophos’ first email security appliance, and consulted on security planning with some of the largest global brands. 

Chester regularly speaks at industry events, including RSA Conference, Virus Bulletin, Security BSides (Vancouver, London, Wales, Perth, Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, Boston, and Calgary) and others. He’s widely recognised as one of the industry’s top security researchers and is regularly consulted by press, appearing on BBC News, ABC, NBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CBC, NPR, and more. 

Kavitha Mariappan is Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Transformation at Zscaler. With more than 20 years of technology and go-to-market experience, she is responsible for driving transformation and innovation across all facets of the company’s business, customers, strategy, products, and operations

Read the entire 2023 Ransomware Report by Zscaler here.

Glenn Maiden is the director of threat intelligence operations at Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs Australia and New Zealand. Glenn has more than 20 years’ experience in different roles across the technology sector with a solid background in defence, federal cybersecurity, and Australian intelligence. Glenn’s role with FortiGuard Labs focuses on sharing threat intelligence to help organisations protect against current and emerging threats with advanced security technologies such as artificial intelligence, intrusion prevention, antivirus, and email security.

Phil works with AWS customers across Asia-Pacific to improve their security, risk, and compliance in the cloud. He is an information security professional with over 20 years of experience working in top tier research, military, finance and corporate environments in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Before AWS, Phil worked as an Information Operations Specialist in the US Army, as a Penetration Tester on Wall Street and as the regional Vice-President for a global managed security provider.

Wayne Williamson joined Equifax in August 2020. Wayne has over 20 years’ experience across Information Security and Cyber Resilience spanning large financial organisations within Australia, UK and Europe.

An experienced executive, Wayne is passionate about delivering the right level of oversight, being pragmatic in addressing threats – without compromising cost and user experience, as well as embedding a culture of information security protection ‘by design’ that delivers measured business value and buys-down risk in a cost-effective manner.

Prior to joining Equifax, Wayne held senior roles at Allianz Australia as the Chief Information Security Officer, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia as an Executive Security Officer and abroad at KPMG (UK) and Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Netherlands) as a Security Executive advisor focusing on information protection, business resilience and cyber strategy delivery.

Pancho Mehrotra, sales and negotiator trainer, has been helping business leaders and sales teams take their businesses to new levels of sales success since 1991. Pancho is a sales and communications expert who brings a unique set of skills, training, and experience to the table. He is the most experienced and results oriented trainer and has developed his own proprietary sales method that uses psychology and negotiation with amazing results.

Pancho has:

• Over 30 years of hands-on sales and training experience
• Trained over 5,000 salespeople
• Set records for selling in past sales positions (in the insurance industry, he sold over 100 policies in one week!)
• Personally, made over 220,000 cold calls in his career
• Developed his own Emotional Intelligence profiling tool
• His clients have sold over $146 billion in goods and services

Additionally, he has a background in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and went to Harvard Business School to undertake a specialised course in Negotiation.

Vaile Mexted is the New Zealand Country Manager for FICO and Senior Account Director for the Australian market. He has over 25 years’ experience across the technology and financial services sectors delivering enterprise data and analytic solutions, with a particular focus on credit risk management. He is an evangelist for the power of enterprise-wide analytics and decision management, and works to deliver true business value to leading organisations across New Zealand and Australia and their customers. Vaile joined FICO from the Bank of New Zealand, where he was Manager Decision Strategy and then Retail Models programme manager. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Vaile holds both commerce and science degrees, with a focus on decision management, statistics and operations research.

Founded in 1956, FICO is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics, AI and data science to improve operational decisions. As a unified platform for fraud and compliance, Fraud Prevention on the FICO Platform helps financial institutions detect and prevent criminal activity before real-time transfer occurs.

You can read the full 2023 Microsoft Vulnerabilities report here.

James Maude is Lead Cyber Security Researcher at BeyondTrust, the worldwide leader in intelligent identity and access security.

James has broad experience in security research, conducting in-depth analysis of malware and cyber threats to identify attack vectors and trends in the evolving security landscape. His background in forensic computing and active involvement in the security research community makes him an expert voice on cybersecurity. He regularly presents at international events and hosts webinars to discuss threats and defense strategies.

Chris Pogue is the Director of Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) for CyberCX in the Americas and is a member of the global DFIR leadership team.

Over his 25-year career, Chris has led multiple professional security and services organizations to investigate data breaches, secure corporate computing assets and critical value data, implement wide-scale compliance regimes, and help executives and boards of directors both qualify and quantify security risks.

His extensive experience is drawn from careers as a cybercrimes investigator, ethical hacker, military officer, law enforcement and military instructor, university professor, business executive, and board advisor.

Chris served in the United States Army as a Signal Corps Warrant Officer, participating in multiple joint task force missions is support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terror.  He distinguished himself as an Honor Graduate from a variety of Army Academies and Schools and received multiple awards and commendations for excellence.

Chris was also an active member of the United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force in multiple field offices as well as the Headquarters Division.  He has also been the recipient of multiple Secret Service Certificates of Appreciation.

Jo has over 25 years’ experience in the security industry. She consults in risk and technology issues with a particular emphasis on governance and IT security in businesses as a Director with BRM Advisory. She regularly provides strategic advice and consulting to the banking and finance, utilities, healthcare, manufacturing, tertiary education, retail, and government sectors.

Dr Jordan Plotnek received a PhD in space systems security and resilience from the University of South Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications and Electronics from Swinburne University in Melbourne. Jordan is an Australian Air Force veteran and has held senior Operational Technology security positions for private and public sector organisations internationally. Jordan is currently a space security researcher at the University of South Australia and the Lead Partner for Critical Infrastructure at Anchoram Consulting. Jordan’s research and professional interests are centred around space systems security, critical infrastructure resilience, and cyber-physical conflict.

Pieter Danhieux is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Secure Code Warrior. He started SCW in 2015 and built this company out to a global cyber security company from Australia with 220+ staff, helping more than 500 Enterprises with building secure coders and software.

In 2020, Pieter was recognised as a finalist in the Diversity Champion category for the SC Awards Europe 2020. In 2016, he was No. 80 on the list of Coolest Tech people in Australia (Business Insider), awarded Cyber Security Professional of the Year (AISA – Australian Information Security Association) and is member of the Forbes Technology Council.

‍Pieter has been a Principal instructor for the SANS Institute since 20o7 teaching military, government and private organisations offensive techniques on how to target and assess organisations, systems and individuals for security weaknesses. Before starting his own company, Pieter co-founder NVISO in Belgium, worked at Ernst & Young and BAE Systems. He is also one of the Co-Founders of BruCON, one of the most awesome hacking conferences on this planet.

‍He started his information security career early in life and obtained the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification in 2004 as one of the youngest persons ever in Belgium. On his way, he collected a whole range of cyber security certificates (CISA, GCFA, GCIH, GPEN, GWAP) and is currently one of the select few people worldwide to hold the top certification GIAC Security Expert (GSE).

Fabian Partigliani is an experienced Global CEO and Chair/Director, with multi-sector experience in tech, agritech, manufacturing, and fast-moving consumer goods. Fabian has worked across all types of organizations, from blue-chip listed companies to public sector not-for-profits and start-ups. Fabian has always been passionate about helping people and businesses scale to fulfill their potential. Currently, Fabian is the CEO of RedShield Security, an enterprise web application security solution operating in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and Chairman of plant-based food company Smartfoods.

An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Pete Murray is responsible for leading Veritas’ overall strategy, sales operations and new business growth in the ANZ region. Pete is passionate about making a difference by giving back to the IT community. In 2017, he co-founded the Jack Edge Connected Classroom Foundation, which provides secure video connectivity from homes to classrooms for terminally ill children.

Jason Murrell is Group Executive at AustCyber and has been a long-time supporter of Australian start-ups for over 20 years, particularly in the cyber security space for the past 6 years. His accomplishments include helping to launch Cyber Aware in 2017, and most recently with Cyber Hive, after previously contributing to the growth of GRC platform 6clicks.

With a passion for championing, mentoring, and connecting Australia’s cyber networks, Jason is well-placed unite the Australian cyber community and get us as a nation to where we need to be – connected with cyber safety as a priority.

Darren is currently the Senior Director of the Security Business Unit for Asia-Pacific & Japan at VMWare. He has over 25 years’ experience in leading organisations in the Information Technology industry. With both domestic and international experience, Darren has helped build and grow a number of organisations in a wide variety of countries.

Brian Grant is the Thales Regional Director with responsibility for the Data Protection business in Australia and New Zealand. He started his career in technology when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, working on critical air traffic control systems. He has had extensive hands on and leadership experience in delivering innovative and unique solutions for organisations, with a particular emphasis on networking and cybersecurity. He has held regional leadership roles for a number of technology start-ups and is passionately committed to helping clients embed data security to better deliver confidentiality, integrity and availability in our data dependent world.

Raj Samani is a computer security expert responsible for extending the scope and reach of Rapid7’s research initiatives. He joins Rapid7 from McAfee where he served as McAfee Fellow and Chief Scientist after serving as VP and Chief Technical Officer in EMEA.

Raj has assisted multiple law enforcement agencies in cybercrime cases, and is special advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) in The Hague.

Raj has been recognized for his contributions to the computer security industry through numerous awards, including the Infosecurity Europe hall of Fame, Peter Szor award, Intel Achievement Award, among others. He also co-authored the book ‘Applied Cyber Security and the Smart Grid’ as well as the CSA Guide to Cloud computing, and he has served as technical editor for numerous other publications. In addition to speaking at myriad cybersecurity industry events, Raj is sought after for his commentary on breaking news such as major security breaches and emerging threats. His commentary has appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, The Daily Beast, and more. He can be found on twitter @Raj_Samani.

Marty Edwards is a globally recognised Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control System (ICS) cybersecurity expert who collaborates with industry, government and academia to raise awareness of the growing security risks impacting critical infrastructure and the need to take steps to mitigate them. As Vice President of Operational Technology Security at Tenable, Edwards works with government and industry leaders throughout the world to broaden understanding and implementation of people, process and technology solutions to reduce their overall cyber risk. Prior to joining Tenable in 2019, Edwards—a 30‐year industry veteran—served as the Global Director of Education at the International Society of Automation (ISA). While at ISA, he was recognized by his industry peers with the SANS ICS 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. Prior to ISA, Edwards was the longest‐serving Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS‐CERT). Edwards also served as a program manager focused on control systems security at the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and has held a variety of roles in the instrumentation and automation fields. Edwards holds a diploma of technology in Process Control and Industrial Automation (Magna cum Laude) from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and in 2015 received the institute’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2016, Edwards was recognized by FCW in its “Federal 100 Awards” as being one of the top IT professionals in the U.S. federal government.

As a founder and CEO of WWPass, Gene is focused on freeing individuals and enterprises from ineffective, insecure password systems that can’t protect their data from increasingly sophisticated security threats.

Rik is a researcher, storyteller, and futurist. He helps governments, law enforcement, businesses and individuals to understand the complexities of technology, and its intersection with cybercrime, contributing to global initiatives to combat cybercrime and reduce risk through participation at the United Nations, European and national Parliaments. 

Over his twenty-five plus years of professional practice, he has taken deep dives into the cybercriminal underground and helped the wider world understand the threats of today and how those threats might evolve over time.  

A recognised futurist and world-renowned speaker, Rik has spoken at global events including RSA Conference, Mobile World Congress, Milken Institute, RUSI, GITEX, Infosecurity, Virus Bulletin, e-Crime Congress, IPExpo, CloudExpo, Webit, GovSec, and many more, and is often quoted by media around the world. 

Rik joined Forescout in 2022. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as Vice President Security Research at Trend Micro for 15 years 

Rik Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wales and has qualified as a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and an Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP). 

Prior to joining CyberArk, Thomas was Chief Revenue Officer at JXT Global, and has more than 20 years’ experience in the IT industry, including significant stints at Oracle, Ingram Micro and Sun Microsystems. His extensive industry and leadership experience – particularly in the cloud domain – has been invaluable to CyberArk, helping grow demand for Identity Security solutions.

When it comes to cybersecurity, Thomas sees a significant opportunity to bridge the gap between technology jargon and business language. A big part of this is helping company leaders understand the importance of identity security to organisational risk management.

See also: 2023 Arctic Wolf Labs Threat Report

Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, he spent 15 years in a variety of roles at Intel Security (McAfee), with his last position as the Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific. Before this, Sean was involved in software development, technical support and consulting services for a range of Internet security solutions. Sean actively discusses security issues in mainstream media, including television, radio, print and security related broadcasts. He regularly participates in forums, conferences and panels, and provides intelligence on cybersecurity matters to the public and private sector.

Read the report here.

David has extensive experience in the global financial services sector. David is currently the APAC CIO & CSO for Netskope helping customers manage their digital and cyber risk programs in addition to working across industry with the aim of making the digital economy a safer place to do business. Furthermore, David is a Partner and CISO-in-residence at SixThirty Ventures, driving innovation and helping build great technology companies.  Previously, David was the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at NAB owning all aspects of Physical Security, Fraud, Investigations and Cyber Security. Prior to NAB, he was the Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Royal Bank of Canada. David has been a senior leader at JP Morgan Chase & Co and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) having held several regional CISO and Global Head roles.

David has lived and worked in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands and the USA.

David was raised and educated in Australia where he received his Bachelor of Information Technology in Software Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Project Management. David began his career in Information Security while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force’s Electronic Warfare and Communications group, where he gained valuable experience in the technology, policy and process aspects of security and risk management.  Subsequently, David worked in a variety of roles in technology and cyber, including in the utilities sector (gas and electricity).

David holds a number of positions on boards of directors and was a founding member of the Security Advisor Alliance (www.securityadvisoralliance.org), and the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange. During his tenure at NAB, David was the Chair for the Board of Directors for the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange and spear headed the formation of a taskforce involving the big 4 banks, AFP, ASD and ACSC to detect and disrupt cyber-crime impacting Australia. David also advises a number of VC funds and Cyber Security companies.

Recently, David was recognised in the Top 50 Australian Professionals, as profiled by the Top 100 Magazine. David has also been named as one of the Top 10 CISOs to know, and is recognised as a thought leader in the cyber security industry as profiled by K-Logix here.

David co-authored “Cyber Risk” (2016) and co-edited “Fintech: Growth and Deregulation” (2018) published by Risk Books and was the Technical Editor for “Zero Trust Journey Across The Digital Estate” (2022) published CRC Press.

David is passionate about education. He has held Adjunct Professorships at both the University of New York and the University of Toronto and is currently working with Deakin University in Australia.

David currently resides in both Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia.

Kunal joined Imperva when Prevoty, a company he co-founded in 2013 and where he served as CTO, was acquired by Imperva in August 2018. Before joining Prevoty, he was the Director of Technology at BBC Worldwide. Kunal has a deep history of innovation and technical expertise, and has held roles leading security, data, technology, and engineering teams at Gravity, MySpace, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab.

He holds a BS from Babson College.

William’s experience has been developed over two decades that included: serving as a British Army officer, paratrooper, and engineer, across Europe and the Middle East leading large multinational teams in both the special forces and human intelligence communities; and working in the Australian private and public sectors developing leaders and team’s capabilities on the skills required to lead self and others, whilst adapting to the challenges of evolving workforces and a hybrid pandemic environment.

William is an Adjunct Lecturer on resilience at the University of Tasmania’s school of medicine and is a frequent speaker with multiple National and State groups. In his spare time, he has enjoyed coaching his son’s rugby and basketball teams, is a member of societal relevance projects that educate refugee schoolchildren and disadvantaged individuals on how to take ownership of their circumstances and runs a mental health and wellbeing group for local Dads.

He is the visionary behind Mimecast’s SaaS strategy, which empowers businesses across the globe with comprehensive cyber resilience for email. Mimecast’s security, archiving, business continuity and risk mitigation products and services are all delivered from a single cloud platform. This home-grown, pure-cloud delivery mechanism enables an intuitive user experience, suited to the way people interact with email today.

The combination of next-generation technology and seamless integration with existing email systems, is the driving force behind Mimecast’s success in its mission to transform the way people remain productive, collaborative and efficient in today’s ever-changing threat landscape.

Peter was born and raised in South Africa, trained as a Microsoft systems engineer, and began working with corporate messaging systems in the mid-1990s. He moved to the UK where Mimecast was founded and then moved once more, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts in 2011, to lead Mimecast’s aggressive push into North America. Since that time, Mimecast has been one of the strongest performers in its market segment in terms of customer acquisition and top-line growth, making Peter one of only a handful of CEOs to have lead a pure-Saas company for over 15 years while acquiring tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

Kevin began his career as an academia researcher in the late 90s, an educator, and a security engineer, slowly climbing his way through organisations, developing and implementing security controls, when many organisations do not regard information security as a risk.

Today, Kevin is the CISO of a fintech organisation, which is aiming to make a difference to individuals through well thought out banking solutions and products.

During his spare time, Kevin devotes his time by volunteering and giving his time back to the Security industry through his involvement with the ISACA Sydney Chapter. He served on the ISACA Sydney Chapter Board for 8 years and was also a former President, dedicated to serving its over 1600 Chapter members.

Resource:
Exposure Management: Our Vision for Securing the Modern Attack Surface

Adam has participated in national and international projects and programs and also spoken at major conferences in Australia and internationally. Adam has established strong collaborative networks while in search of impactful partnerships in providing innovative solutions to our biggest technological challenges.

Adam has extensive experience in digital and cyber leadership including transformation, developing, leading and executing technology business solutions and strategies. He is a new thought leader in this field, pushing the boundaries with his research while implementing practical solutions to these global issues.

The book clarifies why companies struggle with digital transformation, and what it takes to transform IT to become a data-driven, AI-supported digital business.

The book outlines an architecture framework for transitioning IT to operate as a digital business, support innovation and address today’s biggest IT challenges. Each chapter focuses on a specific domain and analyses the trends and technologies driving change, as well as provides recommendations to help organisations adapt.

Lori is a technologist and principal technical evangelist in F5’s Office of the CTO with an emphasis on emerging architectures and technologies including cloud and edge computing, digital transformation, automation and orchestration, microservices, and application delivery.

She has more than 25 years of industry experience spanning application development, IT architecture, and network and systems operation. She co-authored the CADD profile for ANSI NCITS 320-1998 and holds a US patent for application delivery provisioning. MacVittie is a contributing author of books on cloud security and object-oriented development and has authored books on application security and XAML.

After pivoting in 2020, Ryan quickly grew into the role of Head of Cyber Security (APAC) for Waterstons Australia and now leads a small team of security engineers. He is known for being an innovative, empathic leader who is focused on continuing to build the Australian team and services through the adoption of bleeding edge training, technologies and techniques.

Passionate about everything tech, Ryan has deep experience in cyber security. His strengths include Open Source Investigation, Security Operations, Incident Management and Penetration Testing.

Eager to share his knowledge and insight wherever possible, Ryan frequently provides mentoring and training within the industry to colleagues and students alike, having previously led workshops, presentations and competitive hacking teams through Cyber Security competitions.

Having joined Waterstons Australia in it’s infancy, Ryan has leveraged his knowledge and team to build and deliver new services to clients globally, including intelligence led scanning, penetration testing and BAU Security Operations.

Deeply curious and fascinated with the Internet and Cyber Security, Ryan spends large amounts of his spare time contributing to bug bounties, participating in competitive hacking with his team, attending talks and presentations and eagerly exploring the Internet.

Satnam Narang is Sr. Staff Research Engineer at Tenable with over 14 years of experience in the industry (M86 Security and Symantec). He contributed to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, helped develop a Social Networking Guide for the National Cyber Security Alliance, uncovered a huge spam botnet on Twitter and was the first to report on spam bots on Tinder.

He’s appeared on NBC Nightly News, Entertainment Tonight, Bloomberg West, and the Why Oh Why podcast.

Operational experience though out Australia, South East Asia, North, East, South and West Africa, the Americas,  Middle East and most recently Ukraine.

Liam has recently returned after multiple deployments in Ukraine where GM Risk Group have been providing Security Advisory, Logistics, Close Protection and Emergency Management for media clients covering the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Liam and GM Risk Group first deployed to Ukraine in early January 2022, and in the following months had over 15 teams across the country. They maintained a presence since and have also been providing civilian evacuations, safe access for NGO’s and supply chains of aid.

Since becoming Partner in 2004, Helen has held multiple leadership roles including Office Managing Partner for Papua New Guinea, Chief Operating Officer of Deloitte Private and Assurance and Advisory Leader in Deloitte’s Western Sydney and Canberra offices.

In her current role as Office Managing Partner for Western Sydney, Helen is a passionate advocate for the region and all that it has to offer. She is focused on providing exceptional service to our clients across the area and creating a great place to work for partners and employees based in our Western Sydney office.

Outside of work, Helen is currently a non-executive director serving on the boards of SDN Children’s Services and Good360 Australia

His passion and ability to recruit, motivate and lead extraordinary teams is the key to consistently exceeding business goals. His leadership style is a transparent and consultative approach that focuses on driving value for the customer first and working from the front lines with his team. In every engagement from clients, to partners and colleagues, he demands high ethics and integrity each step of the way.

Within Zscaler, Steve helps organisations secure their business, clients, and staff with world-leading technology.

Access the report here: 2022 VPN Risk Report Industry report by Cybersecurity Insiders

Rosie prides herself on being open and transparent, which sometimes means asking tough questions – either about a person’s career or about a company hiring process and culture. Having worked in recruitment for two decades now, Rosie has built many successful relationships with companies and candidates and looks to share her advice on how to get recruitment right and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Businesses need great talent management to grow, and Rosie looks to partner with her customers to be that integral function of their business, often representing clients and candidates exclusively. She strives to not only resolve recruitment and career challenges but to safeguard both parties interests and deliver real solutions while doing so.

As a working parent, working working in a start-up Rosie knows how to juggle like the best of them. She also heads up the Industry Mentoring Programme for Capslock, a cyber training provider that retrains adult learners into future cyber security talent in as little as 16 weeks.

Alton Johnson is the Founder and Principal Security Consultant for Vonahi Security. Prior to Vonahi Security, Alton worked at several large and small cybersecurity consulting firms as a Principal Security Consultant. Throughout his professional career, he has performed hundreds of security assessments for organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 10. He is proficient in performing both traditional security assessments, such as network, physical, and application penetration testing, as well as advanced security assessments, such as red team engagements.

With over a decade of experience as a security consultant and over 10 industry-related certifications, Alton has helped hundreds of organizations requiring unique, modern-day approaches to solve today’s most complex security challenges. 

As the Founder of Vonahi Security, Alton regularly conducts research to identify ways to help organizations combat ever-changing cyber threats through efficient, automated, cost-effective, and non-traditional security assessments.

Notable Accomplishments

Alton has developed several penetration testing tools and scripts that are used widely within the information security industry. Alton also developed and published several open-source tools to platforms such as GitHub, Metasploit Framework, as well as Kali Linux (formerly known as Backtrack Linux), all of which are the most recognized and used tools and operating systems within the information security consulting industry.

The penetration testing tools that were developed by Alton were written in multiple scripting languages, which provides him the ability to quickly and efficiently develop exploits and scripts that can be used for network traffic analysis, protocol/service fuzzing, exploitation, and quick completion of extremely time-consuming network-related tasks.

Certifications & Training

Alton successfully obtained some of the industry’s most challenging and respected security certifications, including Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), as well as eLearnSecurity’s Certified Professional Penetration Tester (eCPPT). He also regularly attends information security conferences and has spoken at DerbyCon, Podcasts, and local community events.

Areas of Expertise

Cybersecurity, automated penetration testing, vulnerability research, exploit development, coding, cryptography, malware, phishing, social engineering, and technology innovation.

Non-Hacking Hobbies

Aside from cybersecurity, Alton is also a car enthusiast. He enjoys modifying and racing his car on the tracks. He’s also into photography, especially automotive photography, and shooting pool as often as possible.

Connect with Alton

Email: alton@vonahi.io

Website: www.altonj.io 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/altonjx/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/altonjx

Prior to joining Haventec, Dave spent ~20 years at Accenture where he occupied a number of geographic leadership, account leadership and delivery leadership roles including Managing Director for Accenture Digital (AU and NZ), Inclusion and Diversity Lead (AU), Capital Markets Lead (AU) as well as Client Leadership roles for a number of Accenture’s Financial Services clients.

Prior to joining Accenture, Dave spent five years at the Australian Stock exchange in a number of roles including the Internet and Information Security Lead.

Daniel Hood is the Chief Optimist (CTO) at Phronesis Security, Australia’s first B Corp certified cyber security consultancy. But more importantly, when Daniel isn’t helping organisations build secure architectures or sitting on the boards of charities, he is playing hockey in his tuxedo for nachos. A former Director for a global MSSP, Daniel has seen it all – from misconfigured security technology to out-of-control cyber incidents to misspent budgets. As the Chief Optimist, Daniel runs the Penetration Testing and Security Architecture teams and believes deeply in helping his clients reduce wastage and headaches. He has been in the industry for over a decade in a variety of roles, ranging from network security engineer for Australia’s largest network to a security architect performing an uplift to the cyber security of a few small nation’s governments.

Before BlackBerry, Shishir served as Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Enterprise Business Group at McAfee. In this role, he was responsible for product strategy, execution, and delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity offerings that protect Enterprise customers from threats to their applications, networks, data, devices, and other critical assets. During his tenure, he transformed the company into a true cloud company and pioneered the teams that delivered McAfee’s XDR, CNAPP, and SASE (Unified Cloud Edge) solutions in the industry. These products are offered in both on-premises and cloud form factors. They have a footprint across the entire gamut of industry segments, ranging from fledgling start-ups to established banks, Fortune 500 Enterprises, and federal institutions across the globe.

Shishir has also held various engineering, development, and product leadership positions at Cyphort (acquired by Juniper), Cisco, IronPort Systems (acquired by Cisco), Bluecoat Systems (acquired by SYMC/Broadcom), and Silicon Graphics. At the onset of his career, Shishir worked for the Defense Research and Development Organization, (DRDO), a public service undertaking that develops advanced avionics systems for India’s vast defense sector. He was nominated for the Young Scientist of the Year award for his contribution to the indigenous AWACS project for India.

Shishir holds master’s degrees in Computer Science from Allahabad University and Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. Additionally, he has published and presented multiple academic papers for IEEE and holds several patents in the fields of Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, and behavior-based modeling for malware analysis. Apart from his boundless passion for his work, in his free time, Shishir enjoys keeping himself active. He loves hot yoga, playing squash, and hiking.

Chrystal is a SolarWinds deployment veteran who’s built a successful IT career by translating client needs into optimised and performant systems. She loves customising current deployments to ensure systems grow in tandem with user needs. She’s achieved several SolarWinds certifications. A THWACK^® MVP since 2011, she understands the power of community and the SolarWinds commitment to its users.

Remy has been awarded a commendation for his cyber training programs, commanded the first Army Cyber Protection Team, and MC’s the ADF Cyber Skills Challenge conference every year. He studied Acting at Victorian College of the Arts and has performed in theatres nationally. Every training program, workshop, or presentation that involves him is always more engaging and entertaining than anything involving cyber security has the right to be.

Find Remy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/remy-coll-809946203/

Simon is a red team cyber security expert with experience in National Intelligence, the Military, and Law Enforcement. He holds a Master of Cyber Security (Advanced Tradecraft) with Excellence from UNSW ADFA. He is an OSCP, eCPPT, a GIAC certified security leader, GIAC certified systems auditor, and IRAP assessor #1308.

A former NSW Police officer, Simon has worked in counter-terrorism & special tactics, investigations, and digital forensics. More recently, Simon has been working directly for the Australian Government within the National Intelligence Community. He has spoken at a number of cyber security conferences, on both technical subjects and case studies on technical investigations, and is a mentor on the ADF Cyber Gap Program.

Find Simon on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-smalley-b673a2233/

Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, he spent 15 years in a variety of roles at Intel Security (McAfee), with his last position as the Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific. Before this, Sean was involved in software development, technical support and consulting services for a range of Internet security solutions.
Sean actively discusses security issues in mainstream media, including television, radio, print and security related broadcasts. He regularly participates in forums, conferences and panels, and provides intelligence on cybersecurity matters to the public and private sector.

See also:

• I’m a former CIA cyber-operations officer who studies bot traffic. Here’s why it’s plausible that more than 80% of Twitter’s accounts are actually fake—and Twitter is not alone.
• Former FBI Agent Confirms Elon Musk’s Claim of Undercounting Bot Accounts on Twitter by Conducting His Own Research

As the Chief Security Strategist for Tenable, Nathan brings his expertise in vulnerability management and Cyber Exposure to executives and security professionals around the globe in order to help them mature their security strategy, understand their cyber risk and measurably improve their overall security posture.

See also: 2022 Ponemon Cost of Insider Threats Global Report

Dane played a key role in MessageLabs becoming the market leader in Australia, earning regular accolades along the way, including “global top performer”.  In this role, he worked with senior IT executives from many of Australia’s largest businesses to secure their network from cybercrime.

In 2014, Dane identified a gap in the market in the way organisations were addressing security management and co-founded InfoTrust. InfoTrust are a specialised cybersecurity practice, that supports their clients to become secure and more productive.

InfoTrust has evolved to over 40 staff to develop deep expertise that combines internally developed products, professional services, managed services and third party technologies, across a range of cybersecurity domains.

In 2021, InfoTrust split off a SaaS platform project to incorporate MyCISO. MyCISO simplifies the journey for organisations and their IT providers to assess, improve and manage their cybersecurity improvement journey.

As at July 2022, the MyCISO team consists of 12 staff made up of Product and Software Engineers (9) Operational (2), Sales and Pre-Sales (2).

Dane is married, a father to 3 children and lives between Sydney and a farm in the hunter valley.

His research focuses on improving individual, organizational, and national resilience to cyber attacks by focusing on the weakest links in cyber security—Internet users.

His particular interest is in understanding why people fall prey to social engineering attacks that come in through email and social media, and on ways we can harness this understanding to secure cyberspace.

Dr. Vishwanath is an alumnus of the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University.  He was a tenured associate professor at the University at Buffalo and was faculty at Indiana University, Bloomington.  He serves as the CTO of Avant Research Group (ARG)—a Buffalo, New York based cyber security research and advisory firm, where he consults for major corporations and government agencies on issues ranging from cybersecurity to consumer protection. He also serves as a distinguished expert for the NSA’s Science of Security & Privacy directorate.

Dr. Vishwanath’s research on improving cyber resilience against online social engineering has been funded by the National Science Foundation. He has published close to 50 articles on technology users and cybersecurity issues and his research has been presented to principals at national security and law enforcement agencies around the world. He has also presented his work at leading global security conferences, multiple times by invitation at the US Senate/SSA and House, as well as four consecutive times at BlackHat.

Here’s the link to the book and the discount code. Anyone ordering the book with a US address can get 15% off The Weakest Link when you enter the discount code “READMIT15” here:

The Weakest Link by Arun Vishwanath: 9780262047494 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

From working within start-ups to established vendors Alastair has the knowledge to launch and grow markets for technology that cuts through the noise to recommend a methodology that really moves his clients forward, maturing the approach they take.

Having 4 children means he knows what it takes to keep teams focused on the right challenges to delight their customers every day. Building trust at all levels is crucial to this success.

Helping to de-mystify the Cyber market is Alastair’s a key objective, as he believes it can only help the cause if we work together and share intelligence to keep the bad guys out and businesses operating smoothly.

Prior to her role with Palo Alto Networks, Sarah worked at Accenture Security on a number of government projects and quickly developed a formidable reputation for delivery and stakeholder management in challenging and nationally significant programs..

Sarah has spent 10+ years working in the Federal Government, predominantly in cyber crime and cyber security. She has a proven track record of delivering results at the operational and strategic levels of government and is passionate about improving Australia and New Zealand’s cyber security posture.

Sarah is a graduate of the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) and Bachelor of Asia and the Pacific Studies. She also holds a Graduate Diploma of Asia and the Pacific Studies (Japanese), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and a Master of International Laws, where she wrote her thesis on international norms and cyber security.

Sarah is Chair of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) Cyber Security Policy Advisory Network and is an elected member of the AIIA ACT/Federal Council. She is also a member of the AmCham Digital Economy and Innovation Committee.

Nick has experience and expertise in advising clients on issues arising in connection with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and State and Territory privacy legislation, including in relation to the collection, use, processing and cross-border transfers of data, cyber security risks and mitigations. This includes assisting clients in navigating these issues in both pre- and post-incident scenarios and information and security related regulatory issues, including as part of digital transformation and BPO projects and in response to cyber incidents.

SoftIron is about to change the game when it comes to Australian business and government cyber control of sensitive data (and better storage of massive amounts of data).

Soon this year, SoftIron will be launching the first-ever base-level computer manufacturing facility on Australian soil. The facility is set to supply ‘clean’ computer servers for firms and government agencies needing assurance there is no malicious or unknown code in their data centres. SoftIron builds and manufactures hardware designed with totally-auditable provenance. SoftIron is the only company in the world that provides fully auditable processes.

Jason brings both technical and operational experience to SoftIron having previously held roles in R&D engineering, sales and marketing roles with Heliox Technologies, James Fisher Defence and a number of early-stage Silicon Valley companies.

With extensive manufacturing experience both domestically and abroad in both consumer and B2B high volume products, Jason leads SoftIron’s efforts in vertically integrated manufacturing and domestic assembly.

Jason recently published his first book, Asymmetric Advantage, available for purchase physically and digitally.

In addition to his extensive business and technological engineering qualifications and experience, Ashkan is a deep thinker, voracious reader and philosopher with a profound interest in and knowledge of Western and Eastern philosophy.

For more than a decade, he was driven by a quest to discover why there is so much dysfunction and suffering in the world and to find the answer to a burning question, ‘Why are we human beings the way we are and what drives our decisions, behaviours and actions?’ His quest led him to a crossroads between the realms of technology, business, leadership and philosophy.

Observing a distinct lack of logical, ontological and systematic thinking in the areas of human consciousness, transformation and leadership, particularly in terms of how they empower people to generate opportunity and wealth for themselves and others, Ashkan set his mind to using his newly discovered knowledge to devise a series of practical frameworks, tools and methodologies, one of which is the Being Framework™. The framework is laid out in his best-selling books BEING and Human Being.

This framework, which incorporates the Being Profile® assessment tool and the Transformation Methodology™, is now supporting people from all over the world to create significant economic and social benefits in their organisations and personally derive fulfilment from their contribution in life. He has since also designed and built the Genesis Framework™, a revolutionary business venture building paradigm.