MEDIA RELEASE
Ministers and International Tech Experts Tackle Global ICT Challenges
MEDIA RELEASE- ACS Forum: Ministers and International Tech Experts Tackle Global ICT Challenges
MEDIA RELEASE
ACS Forum: Ministers and International Tech Experts
Tackle Global ICT Challenges
Sydney, embargoed until 0001 30 November 2016: The ACS, the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector, will bring key New South Wales and Victorian ministers together with international technology experts to tackle the most pressing global ICT challenges.
Held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney’s CBD on Wednesday 30 November 2016, the ACS Ministerial Forum will host three exclusive panel discussions comparing Australian and international approaches to current ICT issues such as cybersecurity and eGovernment. The panels will canvass the regulatory, economic and business impacts of ICT developments, as well as the opportunities these offer Australia.
- Panel One – Achieving Digital Utopia: How does the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), algorithms and artificial intelligence create new opportunities and challenges never before seen?
- Panel Two – eGovernment and Digital Leadership: NSW Minister for Innovation, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, will join a panel discussing the evolving role of government as an influencer of innovation, technology adoption and economic growth.
- Panel Three – Cyber Resilience, Global Approaches: Victorian Minister for Innovation, the Hon Phillip Dalidakis MP, will join global experts to discuss how Australia can manage threats and take advantage of the $US639b global cyber security market.
- Release of ACS’ cybersecurity guide for businesses: The ACS will launch Cybersecurity: Threats, Challenges, Opportunities, an accessible guide for Australian businesses on a topic that is fast becoming mainstream. It identifies major cyber threats and outlines four pillars of cybersecurity readiness.
In addition to panel discussions, the forum will feature a special presentation by the winners of the 2016 Australia 3.0 ‘Wicked’ Policy Challenge on ICT Procurement and Open Data.
ACS President Anthony Wong said: “Australia is at a crossroads, as we move from a society already entwined with the internet to the coming age of automation, Big Data and the Internet of Things. As such, the ACS is very pleased to host international ICT experts and bring them together with Ministers Dalidakis and Dominello and our members, to address some of the most challenging ICT issues.
“The ACS has long played a leadership role in raising awareness of cyber threats. As technology continues to disrupt our world in new and different ways, cybersecurity issues will only grow in importance. Today’s launch of Cybersecurity: Threats, Challenges, Opportunities, is a timely guide for Australian businesses and consumers,” Mr Wong said.
The ACS presents today’s forum in collaboration with IFIP (The International Federation of Information Processing) and the Pearcey Foundation.
Media are invited to register and attend the event. For more information about the forum or to RSVP please contact sarahjane@launchgroup.com.au.
Event details:
What: ACS Ministerial Forum
When: Wednesday, 30 November
Time: 8.15am until 4.30pm (registration opens at 8am)
For the timing of each panel session, see attached agendas.
Venue: The Hilton Hotel, 488 George Street, Sydney
Panellists:
- For details of participants for each panel, please see attached agenda.
- Panellists will be available to speak with media at the conclusion of each session.
ACS Guide ‘Cybersecurity: Threats, Challenges, Opportunities’: Key Insights
- The cybersecurity industry is projected to be worth $US639b by 2023. However, Australia has only a small cybersecurity sector, with less vendors than France, Germany, Canada or India.
- Less than six per cent of C-Suite executives in Australia think cybersecurity is a critical issue, indicating there is a disconnect between the reality of threats and the awareness of them at the executive level.
- Unsecured devices, which can include webcams and IoT gadgets, are a major source for DDoS attacks (the type of attack which took down the Australian Bureau of Statistics eCensus website in August this year).
- The average cost to an Australian business from cyber attack is $276,000. Globally, cyber attacks costs businesses as much as $US500b annually.
- Demand for cybersecurity specialists has grown 57 per cent in the last year. At the same time, Australia faces a critical shortage of skilled ICT professionals to meet this demand.
- Education and awareness are key factors for improving Australia’s cyber resilience across government, business, industry and the nation as a whole.
Further information
Sarah Jane Williams, Launch Group, 0409 362 675, sarahjane@launchgroup.com.au
Louise Proctor, Launch Group, 0452 574 244 louise@launchgroup.com.au
About the ACS
The ACS is the professional association for Australia's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Over 20,000 ACS members work in business, education, government and the community. The ACS exists to create the environment and provide the opportunities for members and partners to succeed. The ACS strives for ICT professionals to be recognised as drivers of innovation in our society, relevant across all sectors, and to promote the formulation of effective policies on ICT and related matters. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.
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