Matt Salier, CEO of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre, and Doug Goodridge, CIO at Williams Racing joined forces to host a VIP dinner on the sidelines of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park last night. The group of senior business leaders was joined by Sam Grunhard who is leading the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Centre within the Department of Home Affairs.

The group enjoyed a tour of the Williams garage and a behind-the-scenes look at the IT and security infrastructure supporting an intensely data-driven business. In a wide-ranging discussion, Sam shared the government’s vision under the SOCI Act reforms and the group touched on issues such as the role major events play in testing new approaches, and how recent breeches have provided a platform to shine a light on key security issues across the economy.

Jim Millar, Chair of Infrastructure Victoria, highlighted the challenges that the now 11 sectors in the SOCI definition present given Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure plan define only three. The risk of gaps emerging if this remains under-addressed underlies the need for continued engagement between government and industry.

Jamie Roassato, CISO of Lion contributed to a lively discussion on the role of exercises and simulations as key educational interventions, and their necessity across the breadth of individuals from Boards and C-Suite executives to front-line operational staff.

Craig Hancock, Global CISO for Telstra, alongside Munro Farmer, CIO at Australia Post expressed the challenges of not only their own rapidly digitising businesses but those of the ones they service in various stages of their own journey. As critical infrastructure supply chains undergo acute and increasing stress from cyber attacks, sharing insights and best practices in trusted communities of practice was something all agreed was essential.

Doug Goodridge provided additional unique insights from his background within critical infrastructure in the UK, all the more important given the opportunities and greater need to align approaches under AUKUS.

The Centre thanks their Platinum Member DTEX, the security providers for Williams globally, who generously provided the opportunity for this stellar group to come together on the eve of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

The Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre’s recently launched Insider Risk Centre of Excellence (AIR CoE) will continue to build events such as this to shine a light on similar topical key issues and we encourage you to join the growing community by visiting https://www.cybercollaboration.org.au/aircoe/overview.