Help build a smarter, more secure Australia

Chris Crozier
Chief Information Officer, Defence Digital Group

Mr Chris Crozier was recently appointed Chief Information Officer, leading the Defence Digital Group at Defence.

Prior to joining Defence, Mr Crozier was the Group Chief Information Officer for Orica International, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of explosives for mining and civil construction.

As the Group Chief Information Officer, Mr Crozier was accountable for global digital technology strategies and operations across a footprint of the organisation spanning 120 countries, covering Business (IT), Customer (IoT) and Manufacturing (OT) systems, including the governance of Orica’s digital ecosystems, architecture, data, and cyber posture.

Prior to this, Mr Crozier held executive roles within Orica as Vice President of AusPac (60% of Orica’s global EBIT), Chief Digital Officer and Global Vice President Supply Chain; and BHP as Global Chief Information Officer and Global Chief Procurement Officer.

As a 35-year veteran of the Mining and Resources Sector, having commenced his professional life with Rio Tinto as a Research Engineer, Mr Crozier has experienced the highs and lows of the commodity cycle.

He has worked in Asia for more than 25 years, residing in Singapore for 18 years.

Mr Crozier has a Chemical Engineering Degree (Honours First Class) and Master of Business Administration.

In his spare time, Mr Crozier enjoys endurance sports, including cycling, running and swimming.

Brendan Dowling
Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brendan was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology in May 2023. As Ambassador, he leads Australia’s international engagement on cyber affairs and critical technology issues, while delivering cyber capacity building, crisis response and building resilience across our region.

Brendan has had a distinguished career in cyber affairs, most recently leading the Cyber and Critical Technology Coordination Centre at the Department of Home Affairs. He also served as the First Assistant Secretary for Digital and Technology Security Policy in Home Affairs. In those roles he provided national leadership and international engagement on cyber security strategy and coordination, the security of critical and emerging technologies and safety and security online.

Brendan held a senior role at Australia’s Embassy in the United States, leading engagement in the United States and across the Americas region on national security, cyber security, critical technology, criminal justice, emergency management, and immigration and border functions.

Prior to the US, Brendan was the Assistant Secretary for the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa in Home Affairs’ International Division. In that role, he led the department’s engagement with governments across those regions, as well as with the United Nations and other multilateral institutions. Brendan was also posted to Amman, Jordan, leading the Department’s largest refugee mission and relations with governments across the region.

Brendan holds a Master of Public Policy (Economic Policy) from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in political science and literature from the University of Melbourne.

Kersti Eesmaa
Managing Director, Vertical Scope Group, WorkPath Australia Program

Kersti is a Managing Director, of the Vertical Scope Group (VSG), proudly representing VSG’s award-winning WorkPath Australia (WPA) Training and Employment Program. She is dedicated to advancing the WPA program, which aims to create more opportunities for veterans, women, neurodiverse individuals, and Indigenous Australians to enter careers in ICT and cyber security. She is also a Non-Executive Board Director of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre and a Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies.

Kersti brings 30 years of experience as a diplomat representing Estonia and completed her five-year term as Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in Canberra in August 2024. During her tenure, her work focused extensively on digital innovation and cyber security. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master’s degree with honours in Business Consultations. Her diplomatic career began as a trade diplomat representing Estonia’s interests in Geneva and Brussels. She later advanced to serve as the Director General of Human Resources and led the Estonian consular service for five years, also acting as the Ministry’s spokesperson on consular matters.

Trish Gorman MAICD
Department of Health

TBA

Tim Hogarth
Chief Technology Officer, ANZ

Tim Hogarth is the Chief Technology Officer at ANZ and is accountable for the architecture of the bank, the engineering standards and plays a key role in the technology planning and prioritisation. Tim works closely with business teams, helping shape roadmaps and aligning technology investment. He also works closely with the architecture and engineering teams at ANZ, driving up the bank’s technology prowess through a focus on pragmatic standards, common platforms and engineering excellence. He’s worked in other banks in North America, the UK and in Australia, and has a technology delivery track record spanning more than twenty years. A practical and considered leader, Tim spends a great deal of time thinking about how to harness emerging technology industry shifts for greater enterprise value in large organisations.

Tracey Malmborg
Assistant Director-General, Data & Analytic Services, Mission Data Division, Capability & Technology Group, Australian Signals Directorate

Tracey leads the Data and Analytic Services Branch of the Mission Data Division at the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), helping drive the Directorate’s data science, AI and machine learning capabilities. She collaborates across government to advance AI interoperability and is a strong advocate for women in STEM, currently serving as ASD’s Gender Equality Network Champion. Before joining ASD, Tracey held senior roles at the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation and spent two decades in meteorology, supporting emergency services, aviation and defence.

Tim Neal
Assistant Secretary, Department of Home Affairs

Tim’s substantive role is the Assistant Secretary - Government Cyber and Protective Security (GCAPS). Tim leads a team responsible for the coordination and administration of whole-of-government cyber and protective security policy.

The team implements the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs), and enables the governance and assurance of protective security policy arrangements for Government.

The GCAPS Branch is the policy lead for Cyber Security hardening of Australian Government IT as a cyber-policy and program management function through the coordination of the Commonwealth Cyber Security Uplift plan – part of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.

Prior to his role as Assistant Secretary and before joining the Department of Home Affairs in March 2024.Tim held the roles at Microsoft, as the digital transforming & cyber Security advisor to the Turnbull Government at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Defence.

Tim started his career with the Department of Defence.

Tim has a Masters in International Security, Bachelors in Politics and is Graduate of the Defence Intelligence Training Centre.

Murray Thompson AM, CSC
Major General (retd)

Murray is a seasoned senior executive with a broad career spanning defence, public service and international agencies. He brings deep expertise in leading complex programs, with a strong track record in strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and operations. Known for delivering large-scale ICT and government initiatives, Murray has led diverse teams including military, contractor and civilian personnel in some of the world’s most complex environments. His experience covers everything from innovation and logistics to policy, finance, and training. Murray is widely respected for his ability to drive change, solve big challenges and deliver results in dynamic, high-stakes settings.

Josh Griggs
CEO, ACS

With over thirty-years in IT and Telecommunications, Josh has broad experience across the Australian technology sector. He has held senior C-level and Director roles at leading national organisations including Metronode Data Centres and Optus Business. During his career roles he’s been committed to talent development, strategic execution, and visionary leadership with a focus on building the nation’s IT capabilities, particularly in bringing together business, government, and representative associations.

Helen McHugh, MACS (Snr) CP
President, ACS

Helen is the President of the ACS and an Ambassador to ICT industry championing causes, cohorts, groups as they address the challenges and initiative of our Profession, primarily focused on Women in ICT, Hack-a-thons, Start-ups and Agile and Disruptive Service delivery, Not-For-Profits. My career has contributed to the success of policy strategies in Federal Government Service Delivery Objectives in senior roles advising corporate leaders. I was previously ACS NSW Chair 2021-2023. I have held a number of other positions in ACS as a volunteer including NSW Vice Chair for 3 years and Chair and member of ACS Women NSW for 5 years. Groups I support are: TechGirls, RareBirds, NSydInnovation, Scrum Alliance to name a few.