Speakers
AUSCERT has an unparalleled track-record of hosting the best information security speakers in the world.
Keynote Speakers
Marek Kowalkiewicz
Marek Kowalkiewicz is a Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School. Listed among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders in AI by thinkers360, Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, was a Global Research Program Lead and Founding Research Manager of SAP’s Machine Learning lab in Singapore, and a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research Asia. His newest book, “The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions” is a winner of Australian Business Book Awards (Technology) 2024.
Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, CSC
LTGEN Michelle McGuinness is Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, appointed in February 2024. She has held senior appointments across intelligence, interagency and international engagement roles including multiple appointments within the U.S., most recently as Australia’s first Deputy Director for Commonwealth Integration at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Other senior appointments include Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force and Director General, Counter-proliferation and Terrorism at the Defence Intelligence Organisation. LTGEN McGuinness graduated from UNSW Canberra with a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Bahasa Indonesian) in 1996 and a Master of Arts (Strategy and Policy) in 2009. She has served at the ADFA campus as the operations officer in 2008 and had the privilege to return as the Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor between 2014–2015. In 2018, LTGEN McGuinness was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross.
Jess Modini
Jess is an experienced technology leader, academic and security researcher, global keynote speaker, inventor and advisory board member. Jess is currently the Head of Technology and Security at a startup that is in stealth (shhh) which will be launched in 2025. Prior, she has held senior positions at Amazon Web Services, the Australian Cyber Security Centre, and the Australian Department of Defence. Jess holds 5 Master’s qualifications and is currently a cyber security researcher at UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy, undertaking a Doctorate in Cyber Security, teaching, and collaborating globally on research into APT attack detection and cyber epidemiology.