Under siege: Are we ready for a cyber attack on Australia’s hospital system? (hypothetical)

Matthew Nevin

CEO, Cybermerc

As the CEO of Cybermerc, Matthew brings over-20 years of experience as a cyber security professional, drawn from law enforcement and industry roles. Matthew co-founded Cybermerc in 2016 with his brother, in order to develop capabilities that could forge defensive collaborations between industry, government and academia.

Matthew is a qualified solicitor and holds CISSP and a range of cyber security and forensic qualifications.

Chris Painter

Global Forum on Cyber Expertise

Chris Painter is a globally recognized leader and expert on cybersecurity and cyber policy, Cyber Diplomacy and combatting cybercrime. In his most recent government role at the State Department, Mr. Painter led the United States’ diplomatic efforts to advance an open and reliable Internet and information infrastructure. Prior to this, Mr. Painter served in the White House as Senior Director for Cyber Policy in the National Security Council.

Mr. Painter is currently the President of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Foundation, serves on the Boards of the Center for Internet Security and Palo Alto Networks, is a Senior Advisor at the CSIS, and an Associate Fellow at Chatham House.

Mr. Painter has received Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) and Order of Terra Mariana (Estonia), RSA Award for Excellence in the Field of Public Policy, the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, and the Intelligence Community Legal Award.

Michelle Price

Chief Executive Officer, AustCyber

Michelle was AustCyber’s inaugural Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary, joining the company in January 2017 and was appointed CEO in April 2018. Prior to joining AustCyber, Michelle was the first Senior Adviser for Cyber Security at the National Security College within The Australian National University and developed the blueprint for the ANU Cyber Institute.

Before joining the ANU, she held various strategy and risk management roles across the Australian Government, including at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where she was instrumental to the delivery of the Government’s 2015 Cyber Security Review and Australia’s first Cyber Security Strategy, released in 2016. While at PM&C, she was also the architect of the world’s first national security strategy risk framework and managed the Government’s Coordinated National Security Budget across three federal Budgets.

Michelle is a director on the board of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (A3C) and co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Cybersecurity.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics, Business Law) from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communications) from the University of Technology, Sydney and is an alumna of the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government.

John Ellis

CISO, BUPA

As the CISO for Bupa Asia Pacific, John Ellis is a leader in securing the data and systems of Bupa, its customers, and employees to become the most trusted and digitally integrated Health Services organisation in the Asia Pacific. For over 26 years, John has helped organisations achieve their security objectives by designing, implementing, and operating various information security and technology risk management projects.

John has a Masters of Cybersecurity, Strategy and Diplomacy from UNSW at the ADF Academy (UNSW Canberra). John believes diversity and inclusion are powerful tools in solving our complex security challenges and, as a father of three daughters, wants to play a leading role in shaping the world where we are defined by our acts and not the colour of our skin, gender, or nationality.

The Hon Karen Andrews MP

MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS

After a career as an engineer and running her own industrial relations business, Karen Andrews was elected to parliament in 2010 as the Federal Member for McPherson on the Gold Coast.

Following a period as Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Assistant Minister for Science, Minister Andrews was sworn in as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology in the Morrison Government Cabinet in August 2018. In doing so, she became the first ever female cabinet minister from Queensland.

On 30 March 2021, Minister Andrews became the first ever female Minister for Home Affairs. Minister Andrews’ portfolio responsibilities include Australia’s domestic security and law enforcement agencies, cyber security policy, counter terrorism, counter espionage and foreign interference, counter child sexual exploitation, and preparation for the gradual re-opening of Australia’s international borders.

Jessica Hunter

First Assistant Director-General Cyber Security Services, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Signals Directorate

Jessica is currently the head of the Cyber Security Services Division in the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). Jessica has worked in the Australian Intelligence and security community for the last 17 years, including postings abroad in counterpart agencies in the US and UK.

Jessica has held a range of SES leadership positions in cyber security in both offensive and defensive roles. She has led the Australian Government’s National Cyber Incident Response Capability and held senior roles in the ACSC’s Technical Protect and Assure Division and most recently served as Head of the ACSC’s Threat, Intelligence and Disruption capability.

Jessica is passionate about staff development and leadership initiatives and is a mentor to members of the National Intelligence Community. She has also served as ASD’s SES gender champion, Chair of ASD’s Women’s Leadership Council and ASD’s Head of Analysis.

Jessica began her career in the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. She holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Arabic Language), a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations), a Masters in Strategic Studies and has completed the UNSW Executive Leadership program. She is married and has two young daughters.