National Cyber Security Coordinator

Data is one of an organisation's most valuable assets. Protecting it starts with understanding its value, sensitivity and the risks associated with its use. The Australian Government has now released the Industry Data Classification Framework (IDCF), an initiative under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. The IDCF is a voluntary framework that provides organisations with a common approach to classifying, protecting and sharing data. As data becomes increasingly central to business operations, critical infrastructure and service delivery, consistent classification helps strengthen cyber resilience while supporting trusted information sharing across Australia’s economy. Learn more: idcf.gov.au

Today, on International Women in Cyber Day, I want to celebrate the incredible women helping to shape and strengthen Australia’s cyber security ecosystem. As our world becomes increasingly connected, Australia must grow its cyber capability. From responding to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats to advancing our ambition of becoming one of the most cyber secure nations in the world, strengthening our cyber resilience will depend on our ability to harness the full talent, skills and perspectives of our nation. This means we need to encourage more women to join our cyber security workforce. Meeting the cyber challenges of today and tomorrow requires a workforce with diverse capabilities, experiences and perspectives. Cyber security is a field built on collaboration, critical thinking, analysis, risk management and innovation. We need more women across every part of the cyber workforce. We need their expertise, insights and leadership to strengthen Australia’s cyber resilience. Across our nation, outstanding women are already making a significant contribution to protecting our communities, strengthening our economy and shaping the future of cyber security in Australia. Looking ahead, we must continue to create pathways and foster environments that enable more women to join, thrive and lead in cyber security. By doing so, we will strengthen not only our workforce, but our national resilience. #WomenInCyber #WomenInTech

Behind every scam statistic is a person, a family, a story. Last year, more than 274,000 Australians reported being scammed, highlighting the very real impact scams continue to have across our communities. As scammers become increasingly sophisticated, sharing experiences and talking openly about scams can help build awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen our collective resilience. I encourage you to take the time to have conversations with family, friends and colleagues about the warning signs of scams and how to stay safe. Don’t become a statistic. Learn more at scamwatch.gov.au National Anti-Scam Centre #ScamsAwarenessWeek #StopCheckProtect

This Scams Awareness Week we need your help to build up resilience to scams within our communities. Staying informed, remaining vigilant, and having conversations with family, friends and colleagues can help protect us all from becoming victims. Scammers are quick to exploit uncertainty and often adapt their tactics following major events and cyber incidents. That’s why it’s important to always stop and check something is genuine, before you act. If you think you’ve been scammed, lost money or shared your financial details, act quickly and contact your bank immediately. Learn more at scamwatch.gov.au National Anti-Scam Centre #ScamsAwarenessWeek #StopCheckProtect

As Australians increasingly rely on connected devices in their homes and businesses, improving the cyber security of everyday technology is becoming more important than ever. Cyber security is a shared responsibility. Government, industry and consumers all have a role to play in strengthening Australia's cyber resilience. The voluntary Cyber Security Labelling Scheme for smart devices, being co-designed by government and industry, is a key action under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. It will provide consumers with trusted information about the cyber security of smart devices before purchase, helping them make more informed decisions. Earlier this year, the introduction of mandatory security standards for smart devices marked an important milestone in improving the security of the connected technologies Australians use every day. The Cyber Security Labelling Scheme for smart devices is the next step in that journey, encouraging stronger security practices across the ecosystem while making it easier for consumers to identify products that meet higher cyber security standards. Read more about the upcoming pilot and opportunities for industry involvement below: https://lnkd.in/gfPi-GX2

Cyber security is a shared challenge across Australia and not-for-profit organisations are no exception. A cyber incident can disrupt services and community support, with impacts that extend far beyond the organisation itself. The Australian Government is launching the Not-for-Profit Cyber Uplift Community of Practice to help not-for-profit organisations access practical cyber security guidance, expert support and trusted resources tailored to the sector. Building cyber resilience is not something organisations should have to do alone. The Community of Practice will provide an opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences and learn from experts, helping strengthen cyber security capability across the sector. I encourage not-for-profit organisations to join the Community of Practice and attend the launch event. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eZwbik7h

Building cyber security capability shouldn't depend on the size of your organisation. Under Horizon 2 of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, the Department of Home Affairs is developing the CyberSmart Program: a simple, practical cyber security framework and certification pathway designed to help small and medium businesses and not-for-profit organisations strengthen their cyber security. CyberSmart is being co-designed with stakeholders. Join the upcoming town hall to discuss the program’s development and how it aims to make it easier for smaller organisations to improve and demonstrate their cyber security practices. 🗓️ 25 August 2026, 1pm AEST 🔒 Register: https://lnkd.in/etnqzWPS

What cyber security issues are front of mind for you right now? The cyber threat environment continues to evolve rapidly, with advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence occurring alongside increasingly sophisticated threats. I’m interested to hear what is standing out for you? What challenges are you seeing? What opportunities are you exploring? Let me know in the comments. 👇

Last week I delivered an opening keynote at the 2026 AWSN - Australian Women in Security Network Symposium, joining leaders from across government, industry, not-for-profits, and academia to explore the theme of Intersectional Leadership in Security Innovation. My keynote focused on a simple but increasingly important reality: security is ultimately a leadership challenge. As our environment becomes more complex and interconnected, resilience depends not only on technology and capability, but on how we understand risk, respond to uncertainty and make decisions under pressure. Some of the most effective teams I have worked with have been those willing to challenge assumptions, test ideas and approach problems from different perspectives. Those perspectives often reveal risks, opportunities and solutions that might otherwise be missed. That is why intersectional leadership matters. The organisations best positioned to navigate complexity are those that bring different experiences into decision-making, create space for diverse views, and encourage collaborative planning. As we continue building Australia's resilience, we must keep investing in our people, seeking out perspectives different from our own, and be ready to promote those perspectives and influence the decisions that shape our future. Because building a more secure Australia is a responsibility we all share. #AWSNSymposium2026 #AWSN #WomenInSecurity

Coordinated cyber defence is a shared responsibility. This week, I delivered the opening keynote at the Technology in Government Conference in Canberra, joining technology leaders from across government and industry to discuss some of the key challenges shaping Australia's digital future. What struck me throughout the event was how interconnected those challenges have become. Whether discussing cyber security, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, workforce capability or critical infrastructure, the same reality underpins them all: technology is becoming increasingly embedded in every aspect of government, business and community life. The opportunities are significant. Equally, when disruption occurs, the impacts can extend far beyond technology. Cyber incidents can quickly become service delivery issues, economic issues, public confidence issues and, in some cases, national security issues. That's why coordinated cyber defence is about more than preventing incidents. It's about building resilience - strengthening our collective ability to respond, adapt and recover in an increasingly complex environment. I was encouraged by the strong focus on collaboration throughout the conference. By continuing to strengthen partnerships between government and industry, we can better understand emerging risks, align our efforts and direct resources where they will have the greatest impact. Securing Australia’s digital future will require leadership, collaboration and trusted partnerships across government, industry and the community. #TechinGov Tech in Gov