ACS Forum: Ministers and International Tech Experts

The ACS, the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector, was proud to bring together New South Wales and Victorian ministers together with international technology experts to tackle the most pressing global ICT challenges.

Held at the Hilton Hotel on Wednesday 30 November 2016, the ACS Ministerial Forum hosted three exclusive panel discussions comparing Australian and international approaches to current ICT issues such as cybersecurity and eGovernment. The panels discussed 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? The panel included Mr Mike Hinchey, President IFIP, Mr Ray Long, President British Computer Society, Ms Ulandi Exner, President, Institute of IT Professionals South Africa, Prof. Liz Bacon, Past President British Computer Society and Adrian Schofield, Vice Chairman Standards and Accreditation/Chief Assessor IP3.
• Panel Two – eGovernment and Digital Leadership: NSW Minister for Innovation, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, joined the panel discussing the evolving role of government as an influencer of innovation, technology adoption and economic growth. Minister Dominello was joined by Mr Ray Long, President British Computer Society, Ms Ulandi Exner, President, Institute of IT Professionals South Africa, Professor Yuko Murayama, IFIP Vice President & Information Processing Society of Japan.
• Panel Three – Cyber Resilience, Global Approaches: Victorian Minister for Innovation, the Hon Phillip Dalidakis MP, was joined by a panel of global experts which included Ms Sandra Ragg, Assistant Secretary Cyber Policy Office of the Cyber, Security Special Adviser, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Major General Stephen Day, former Head of Cyber at the Department of Defence and inaugural Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Ms Elly van den Heuval, Secretary to the Dutch Cyber Security Council, Mr Mike Hinchey, President International Federation for Information Processing and Miho Matsubara, CISO Palo Alto Asia Pacific to discuss how Australia can manage threats and take advantage of the $US639b[1] global cyber security market.
• Release of ACS’ cybersecurity guide for businesses: The ACS launched 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. Click here to download the report.

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.