A practical approach
I recently took the stage to talk about one of the most consequential inflection points facing FinTech: the rapid arrival of agentic AI – systems that plan, decide and act autonomously – and what it means for risk, reputation, regulation and customer trust. Below is a distillation of the talk: what agentic AI actually is, why FinTechs are racing to adopt it, the real cyber threats it brings, and a pragmatic playbook leaders can use today.
I recently presented on how supplier relationships shape cybersecurity risk and why that risk ultimately becomes a reputational and trust challenge for organisations of every size and sector. Below is a summary of the most important lessons I shared, plus practical next steps security leaders can apply today.
I had the privilege of sharing my views on AI Risk at the AI Security Summit, where senior leaders and practitioners came together to translate high-level fear into practical guardrails. In this blog I share a short playbook of the key themes and real-world strategies.
It was great to chat with Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, the National Cyber Security Coordinator, about the Australian Cyber Security Strategy as well as key initiatives, strategic imperatives and challenges that CISOs must navigate.
I appreciate an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conversation on cyber threat landscape, risk and AI governance.
It was so good to attend the RSAC CISO Bootcamp at CyberCon Melbourne – a practical session for CISOs.
Highlights that stuck with me:
💡 A conversation with Brian Krebs on AI security and organised cybercrime: attackers are tooling up fast; our defences must keep pace.
💡 A candid, closed-door session with Tim Brown, CISO of SolarWinds, about crisis response: execution matters, but so does the personal toll on teams and leaders.
💡 A chat with F1’s Guenther Steiner on teamwork and resilience in high-pressure environments.
Events like this remind me how much strength there is in our community. I’m proud to contribute and be part of it. You don’t need a challenge coin to get help – if you want to compare notes or need a sounding board, reach out.
It was good to attend the Essential Director Update – a timely reminder that good governance now requires foresight as well as oversight.
Staying on the forefront of contemporary governance demands AI and cybersecurity competency.
My key takeaways for boards and executives:
☑️ Data is the fuel: protect data integrity (accurate, consistent, timely) and focus governance where it creates the most value.
☑️ AI is everywhere, no longer just an IT challenge: adopt a human-centred approach, define guardrails around intent, and factor legal and ethical considerations into every deployment.
☑️ Balance innovation with risk: prioritise highest-value use cases, automate safety controls where possible, but don’t outsource accountability.
☑️ Cybersecurity must be risk-based: know your crown jewels, expect incidents, build crisis response plans and regularly test your defences.
☑️ People first: changing work practices will affect roles and culture; steer the transition and invest in policy and education.
I had a pleasure of sharing some practical lessons on building resilience at the Cybersecurity Summit.
I touched on sustainable performance strategies and the importance of body, emotions, mind and purpose in preventing burnout.
Protecting systems starts with protecting the people who run them.
Super proud to be recognised as one of Australia’s top cybersecurity leaders 🏆
The award recognises 30 CISOs for demonstrating outstanding leadership and business value.
Congratulations to all CIO and CISO honourees.
It was great to join last night’s panel, where I shared practical lessons from managing AI in vendor ecosystems – including ethical implications, regulatory uncertainties and resilience at scale.
If you run a restaurant, your supplier gives you a batch of ingredients and you use them in meals for customers. You’re responsible if the food makes people sick. AI vendors are ingredient suppliers – you are the chef.
Guardrails don’t have to block progress – they can make AI reliable and trustworthy.
I’ve been awarded the Responsible Management Prize 🏆
This award recognises the values that guide me every day: honesty, integrity and leading with purpose.
In today’s evolving business landscape, where AI, risk management and cybersecurity intersect, ethical practice is essential. Because what we stand for today shapes the world we build tomorrow.
As algorithms power more of our decisions, we must ensure they’re transparent, fair and aligned with human values. Balancing innovation with resilience means anticipating unintended consequences, protecting stakeholders and driving sustainable outcomes.
Safeguarding data and privacy isn’t merely a technical challenge – it’s a trust imperative that underpins every relationship.
Thank you to the selection committee for recognising the work we’ve done together to build an inclusive, principled and forward-looking learning community.
Cyber Security Leadership 