Australian Cyber Week 2020 kicks off

The fourth annual Australian Cyber Week has commenced, with a week-long series of events and activities nationally coordinated by AustCyber — the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network.

The official launch event on Monday featured the Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Innes Wilcox of the Australian Industry Group, Chris Painter of the Global Forum on Cybersecurity Expertise, industry leader David Thodey and AustCyber CEO Michelle Price.

Held from 26–30 October, Australia Cyber Week 2020 provides opportunities for Australian cybersecurity and related organisations to showcase their capabilities and network with peers, potential investors and customers. It also helps cyber curious individuals and organisations understand what cybersecurity can do and mean for them.

The event traditionally features in-person events and activities at various locations around Australia; in 2020, AustCyber has debuted a virtual conference platform which features daily live events, a networking hub and exhibition hall showcasing booths with feature sovereign products and services.

“Cyber Week 2020 is one of AustCyber’s key programs under our mission to grow a globally competitive cybersecurity sector. The events during Australia’s Cyber Week connect Australian cyber capabilities with key domestic and international stakeholders who are contributing to the growth and success of the sector and creates further opportunities to enhance future economic growth,” said Michelle Price, CEO of AustCyber.

The online events will be complemented by in-person events in South Australia and Western Australia, facilitated through AustCyber’s National Network of Cyber Security Innovation Nodes.

Each day will have a feature event to demonstrate Australia’s cybersecurity ecosystem, with a broad range of speakers, including CEOs of large corporates and venture capital investors, ethical hackers, school students with an interest in cyber and those with disabilities working within the sector.

On 27 October, AustCyber, in partnership with CISO Lens and cybersecurity accelerator CyRise, will host Sky’s the Limit, featuring 10 Australian cybersecurity companies delivering short pitches to executives from ASX-listed companies from key Australian sectors including advanced manufacturing, health, consumer services, mining and financial services.

During an event on 28 October, AustCyber will simulate a significant cyber attack on Australia through a hypothetical situation. Experts from the Australian Energy Market, Siemens Digital Industries Australia, TOLL Group and cohealth will come together to examine the impact on critical infrastructure and crucial parts of society.

The National Missing Persons Hackathon 2020 will be held on 29 October in partnership with the Australian Federal Police, National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and Trace Labs. In this event, ethical hackers and investigators will use online investigative techniques within the bounds of the law to find new leads on 12 real missing persons cases in Australia.

Contestants will use their cyber skills to gather open source intelligence (OSINT) on long-term and current missing persons, using information that is publicly available on the internet, to generate new leads on cases that can help the relevant Australian policing jurisdictions in their investigations.

“We are excited to be returning for 2020 and going virtual for the first time. Theoretical concepts are put aside so participants can operate in real time, with real data, for real human impact. Imagine the possibility of a missing person case being solved by the community using crowdsourced cyber skills! Helping close a case would be a great result and show the value and power of OSINT,” said Linda Cavanagh, National Network Lead at AustCyber and Founder of the National Missing Persons Hackathon.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/tashatuvango