CSRC appoints Rachael Falk as CEO

The Australian Cyber Security Research Centre (CSRC) has appointed Rachael Falk as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Falk has a commercial and cybersecurity background. She practised as a lawyer for 15 years, including in-house at Telstra where she was general manager of Cyber Influence.

More recently she has acted as a cybersecurity consultant, and authored the Five Knows of Cyber Security.

“Strong cybersecurity is a critical issue for our economy and for Australia’s prosperity. We are delighted to have Rachael as our Chief Executive,” said CSRC Chair David Irvine.

“Not only does she bring a wealth of industry knowledge, she will ensure that CSRC collaborates with academia, industry and government to deliver industry-driven cybersecurity outcomes.

“We want our research and work to have an impact benefitting Australia both now and well into the future.”

Irvine also recognised the efforts of Dr Darrell Williamson, who was interim CEO during the establishment stages of the CSRC.

“Dr Williamson played a key role in bringing together the CSRC’s 25 industry, academic and government partners,” he said.

The recently established CSRC is a not-for-profit with the goal of promoting industry investment in cybersecurity R&D to produce a national response to cyber threats and cybercrime.

To be headquartered in Western Australia, it will work with the federal government’s Cyber Security Growth Network.

Federal government partners in the initiative are: the Australian Signals Directorate, CERT Australia, Critical Infrastructure Centre, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Taxation Office and AUSTRAC.

The academic partners are: Edith Cowan University, Adelaide University, Deakin University, Charles Sturt University, the University of NSW, Queensland University of Technology and Data61.

The industry partners are: CISCO Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, Jemena Ltd, ActewAGL Distribution, TATA Consultancy Services, Datacom Technical Security Services, PEN10 Services Pty Ltd, Quintessencelabs Pty Ltd and AARNet Pty Ltd.

State government partners are: the Office of the Government Chief Information Office (WA), Canberra Data Centres (NSW Data Centres) Pty Ltd, the NSW Department of Finance, Services & Innovation, and DefenceSA.

Pictured. Rachael Falk, via @rachael_falk

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