Ethical cyber security leadership

Picture an easy Sunday morning. It’s sunny and quiet with only birds chirping outside. You make yourself a cup of coffee and sit on the sofa to catch-up on what’s happening in the world. You open your favourite news site and here it is – first story of the day in large font.

Breaking news: massive data breach! It’s your company in the headline.

This is the modern reality, cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common and it’s no longer a matter of if but when.

How do you manage this PR nightmare? What do you tell the media? Can you regain the trust of your customers and partners?

These are not the questions you want to be thinking about in the middle of a crisis. The real story begins way before that. It starts with responsible data management practices and securing people’s information.

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Generative AI acceptable use policy

Encouraging the use of Generative AI technology at work can enhance productivity and streamline tasks. Generative AI can provide valuable support in various areas, from customer service and problem-solving to research and data analysis.

By leveraging the power of Generative AI, we can improve our workflows, reduce time spent on manual tasks, and ultimately achieve better results. However, we should also recognise the importance of using Generative AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies and guidelines. By doing so, we can maximise the benefits of Generative AI while protecting sensitive information and intellectual property. 

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Working together to nurture the next generation of cybersecurity ventures

I’m thrilled to join an exclusive cybersecurity investment community – Cyber Club London . CCL is a group of cybersecurity experts and leaders who have access to new and innovative early-stage startups, the opportunity to invest in them privately, and use their expertise and connections to help these startups succeed.

The community was established to provide a platform where cybersecurity leaders, executives, startups, and venture capitalists can share knowledge and work together to invest in promising early-stage companies. This closely aligns to my goals of contributing to the community and helping ventures thrive in the cyber space, serving as a Board Advisor and Non-Executive Director.

I’ve been named as one of top 10 Cybersecurity Leaders in Australia

I am excited to be recognised as one of the Top 10 Cybersecurity Leaders in Australia driving innovation and demonstrating business value. Although relatively new to Australia, I had the opportunity to use my global experience to address key cybersecurity challenges within the Financial Services sector.

A massive thank you to my team – it’s a privilege to lead such high performing and dedicated individuals and be able to build a cutting-edge cyber capability. Congratulations to all the award winners!

Financial benefits of cyber security

How can security support the business? To answer this question in financial terms, I outline two sides of the story. On one hand, CISOs can demonstrate positive impact on the EBITDA through elevating security capabilities. On the other hand, we can list potential downsides of poor security practices from both revenue and cost perspectives.

It’s not about carrots and sticks, it’s about seeing the full picture of opportunity and risk.

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Starting an Executive MBA

It’s widely understood that cybersecurity should support the business – it’s a common theme of this blog. However, it’s often difficult to achieve true alignment without understanding the business context, priorities and challenges and being able to communicate in the language of business stakeholders.

I decided to enrol to the Master of Business Administration (Executive) degree to broaden my knowledge and enhance my strategic thinking to better serve organisations. Developing my skills in finance, leadership, strategy and innovation will help equip me to better understand current challenges and make a positive, lasting impact. The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) program at the University of New South Wales will help me learn about the latest business practices and how to effectively apply them to add value to the business.

I have a strong technical background and analytical skills and I look to build on this foundation to enhance my contribution to the C-Suite. Throughout my career I’ve worked in consulting, corporate and startup organisations; my understanding of challenges and opportunities of both large corporations and nimble startups globally will bring a unique perspective to the AGSM community. I can also leverage my extensive professional network around the world to support fellow Executive MBA candidates and alumni.

I’ll be writing about my experience and learning in this blog, so stay tuned for more updates on how cybersecurity practices can be aligned to wider business strategy and objectives.

Working with Indigenous communities in Australia

I recently completed a six week secondment, working in an Aboriginal community organisation on the Far West Coast of South Australia. I had the privilege to listen, learn and understand some of the challenges faced by Indigenous communities across Australia and apply my skills to contribute to their long-term success. 

Transferring my knowledge and skills to these communities was a very enriching experience both personally and professionally and something I would like to continue being involved with in the future.

In this blog I would like to summarise my experience participating in this Jawun secondment.

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Building a security community

The CISO role can be stressful at times, so it’s important to have the right support network around you. The cyber security industry is still relatively small and some great communities have emerged around professional certification bodies and special interest groups.

Wherever you are in the world, it’s likely there will be a security meetup around you. And if there isn’t you should definitely start one! These social gatherings don’t have to be face-to-face – online and fully remote options also exist.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to be a member of some outstanding security leadership communities. It’s very rewarding to be able to share your experience and also learn from your peers. Feel free to reach out if you’d like an introduction.

Applying Lean practices to security

Photo by siddhu2020 https://flic.kr/p/61m23G

I had an opportunity to follow the Lean Silver Belt pathway of Cardiff University’s Lean Competency System and work with a coach to deliver measurable business process improvement in the workplace. This resulted in significant cost savings for the business and was supported by the official accreditation.

A lot of it is to do with the mindset: spotting inefficiencies, eliminating waste and continuous improvement are at the core of the approach. It’s also about applying these concepts and techniques to real world challenges.

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