ACS Think Tank (Virtual)

Technology advocate dedicated to advances and the progression of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), and cyber security, combined with research and academic engagement in six main areas, Business, Information Technology, International Relations, Security, Virtual Reality, Agricultural Data management

Ms Kavita Kewal
Assistant Secretary Identity and Biometrics Policy and Futures Branch 
Digital and Technology Policy Division
Department of Home Affairs

Kavita Kewal joined the Department of Defence in 2001 as part of the Defence Graduate Program. Kavita then worked in the areas of defence international, intelligence, industry, and personnel policy. In April 2021, Kavita joined the Department of Home Affairs as the Assistant Secretary, Identity and Biometrics Policy and Futures Branch. From August to December 2021, Kavita was the Acting First Assistant Secretary, Digital and Technology Policy Division (previously Identity and Biometrics Division). 

Over the past ten years, Kavita has held a number of roles in Defence and the Australian Signals Directorate. These include: Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defence; Assistant Director-General Executive Branch at the Australian Signals Directorate; Assistant Secretary Strategic Issues Management; Assistant Secretary Major Powers Branch; Assistant Secretary Work Health and Safety; Director Joint Facilities and Technical Programs; Director Strategic Planning, Performance and Risk; Director Defence Strategic Industry Policy Guidance. Kavita has also worked at the Department of Finance and Department of Human Services.

Kavita was selected to attend the Australian Defence College in 2010. Kavita is a graduate of Deakin University where she gained a Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Relations and Development Studies and a Bachelor of Letters in Anthropology; Ballarat University where she completed a Master of Business Administration; and the Australian Defence and Strategic Studies Course where she gained Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. Kavita is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Chris has over 40 years Information Management and Technology experience working collaboratively and innovatively across the Private, Public and Non-for-profit (Welfare) sectors. Current role since 2009 as the Associate Director of SA NT DataLink, a nationally leading collaborative partnership across the University Research and Government sectors, operating an authorised facility for South Australia and the Northern Territory to safely share de-identified data for approved use and unit record level analysis. Chris specialises in collaborative partnerships to unlock the public's value from data, supporting innovative research, planning, monitoring, evaluation and analysis, enabling greater value and accountability from organisations and government resources. Chris has professional qualifications in information security, and deep experience in data governance and privacy protection protocols.

Professor Kimberlee Weatherall is a Professor of Law at the University of Sydney Law School. Her research spans intellectual property law, the relationship between law and emerging technologies, and international trade law. Her research program has a strong interdisciplinary focus, having included projects with economists, cognitive psychologists, and, currently, social scientists and data science. She has been a member of assorted government advisory committees including the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property, and is a past winner of Linux Australia’s Rusty Wrench award for contributions to the open source community for her work on law reforms consequent on the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement

A highly effective communicator and experienced leader, Deanna is accustomed to working on high profile, complex programs and establishing new capabilities. A transformational change maker, she is also a cyber security, identity management, compliance/regulation, and data risk specialist.

Deanna has more than 3 decades of experience within the IT Industry.  She has traversed operations, critical incident management, IT Governance and managed major delivery programs and national security systems.

Working in and with Government Deanna is highly attuned to the needs, imperatives and complexities of the government operating environment.

She leads a team of cybersecurity experts solving complex problems for their clients.