CyberCon Program Committee

The 2025 program committee was met with an incredible amount of speaker applications - nearly 750 submissions!

With such a remarkable lineup of proposals, narrowing down the final selection was a challenging feat.

AISA is delighted to offer conference goers another mix of dynamic presentations, talks and workshops covering the latest in cyber security, AI, and emerging tech trends.

The program will have regular updates rolling on the conference program page, which is shaping up to be one of the most diverse and electrifying lineups yet.

Whether you're a business leader, tech enthusiast, cyber security expert, or just eager to explore the future, this year’s conference promises another unforgettable experience.

Simona Dimovski

Simona Dimovski is a seasoned executive leader with over 25 years of experience transforming cybersecurity and technology operations across Financial Services, Insurance, Local Government, Energy, and Aviation. She has held strategic leadership roles at major organizations including Helia, Sutherland Shire Council, Ausgrid, Macquarie Group, Qantas, BT Financial Group, and AMP. Simona is widely recognized for delivering enterprise-wide cybersecurity transformation, regulatory compliance, and high-impact digital strategy.

As Founder and CEO of Skygrid, Simona provides strategic cybersecurity and technology advisory services to local government, SMEs, and startups. Through flagship programs she has empowered organizations to improve resilience, align security to business objectives, and mature their cyber capabilities. Her leadership at Skygrid is underpinned by a consultative, forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of complex regulated environments.

Simona also serves on the NSW Committee for the Australian Information Security Association and is a Board member with the Corruption Prevention Network for NSW, and an advocate for Women in Tech and Cyber. Her board committee and governance experience allow her to provide trusted, strategic insight to boards navigating the intersection of digital risk, resilience, and innovation. Simona brings a rare combination of enterprise-grade governance and agile innovation. Her security-first lens, combined with deep business acumen, enables her to help organizations—from scale-ups to listed entities—prepare for and thrive in a digital, threat-prone world.

Alex Hoffmann

Alex Hoffmann has over 17 years of experience in the cyber security industry, holding positions in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Australia. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director for Industry Engagement at CyberCX, Australia’s largest independent cyber security firm.

In the past, Alex served as a Board Director with the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) from December 2017 to 2023. Prior to this, he was an active member of AISA for many years, having previously held the position of Branch Executive for the Adelaide branch.

Alex holds a Master of Business Administration degree and several other industry qualifications, including a MAICD.

Alex is passionate about the cyber security industry, particularly in the areas of information security advocacy at the executive level, education sector engagement, and graduate development.

David Manfield

Dr Manfield’s extensive career has been as a software systems engineer and cyber engineer for systems development and assurance.

He has a BE and PhD in electrical engineering. He worked in North America for six years and for a year in Germany as a post-doctoral fellow. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Chartered Professional Engineer in the areas of systems engineering, ITEE, and in the newly defined area of practice for cyber engineering. He is a certified systems auditor and an IRAP assessor.

David volunteers to NATA where he is a technical assessor and chair of the Accreditation Advisory Committee for Electrotechnology Testing. He also volunteers to AISA and ISACA and spent some years on the Queensland Council of ICT Associations (CICTA) and the Queensland Government Minister’s ICT Advisory Committee (MICTAC). He has been on the AISA national CyberCon program committee for a number of years.

Meagan McClendon

Meagan (they/them/she/her) is a cyber security professional with a focus on GRC and security uplift programs. After living 5 years in Japan teaching English on the JET Programme, they switched careers by working in local government and finding fulfillment in the Security Team. They now use their experience to support their clients meet their cybersecurity needs and push for collaboration between technical, security, and senior leadership teams. They are currently a Canberra-based Managing Security Consultant for Trustwave and working largely with the Federal Government. Meagan is an active advocate for reducing the skills shortage by providing safe and inclusive environments. She gave a talk at Melbourne CyberCon 2023 highlighting the need for industry to play an active-allyship roll for their LGBTQIA+ colleagues. They are a founding member of the Pride in Security working group at AISA and works to build professional network connections. In their spare time Meagan unwinds in the garden or hammers out the daily stress at the jeweler's bench.

James Pemberton

James has over 9 years of experience building and managing Security Operations Centres (SOC) and is currently more technical focused on Threat Hunting, Digital Forensics and Security Automation.

Richard Stocks

Richard is a highly skilled and experienced IT security professional with over 20 years’ industry experience. He has a strong track record of working at the executive level in large enterprises, with resellers and integrators, and multinational security vendors.

Richard is comfortable discussing strategy with the C-suite, diving deep into the technology stack with engineers, or delivering a conference session to several hundred attendees. He has presented at conferences such as AusCERT and CyberCon.

When not educating people on why good password hygiene is so important, Richard can usually be found either on top of a motorcycle or behind a camera.

Kyle Waters

Kyle is a self-described “polymath” who, in addition to various retail, hospitality and volunteer roles, has worked in various Technical & Support roles over the last 2 decades, moving from technology into cybersecurity over the last decade, in that time his also developed his passion & skills for Training, Education, Career Development, Youth mentoring (mostly through the Raise Foundation), as well as Child & Youth development / education.

Kyle currently splits his time between his roles as a Cyber Security Analyst, Cyber Security Consultant, Local & International public speaking (centred around general cyber security, cyber awareness & education, and cyber technology), as well as writing multiple articles for cyber industry-based publications.

Outside of his professional passions, he spends a lot of time with family, the forge (as a semi-professional blacksmith), or simply enjoying the HALO & Star Wars universes, both of which he claims to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of.

Megan Spielvogel

Megan joined AISA in August 2018, and is now in the role of the General Manager, bringing over 20 years of experience in event management, membership, communications and sales with membership associations and enterprises. Her deep understanding of what a strong, engaged membership can achieve has been instrumental in AISA's growth and member satisfaction.

Over the past 7 years, Megan has become deeply embedded in the cyber security industry, leading diversity initiatives and helping curate comprehensive professional development programs for members. Her cyber security industry expertise enables her to understand the unique challenges facing security professionals and translate these insights into meaningful member experiences and strategic initiatives.

Megan utilises her combined skills in strategic planning, marketing, and project management while working closely with members, AISA branches, the AISA board and stakeholders. Her dual expertise in association management and cyber security industry knowledge positions her uniquely to advance AISA's mission and support the professional growth of its members.

Michael Burchell

Michael is a seasoned technology and cyber security expert with two decades of experience. His comprehensive skill set encompasses vital cyber security practices, including risk management, cyber security operations, assurance, and technology architecture. Michael is recognised for his ability to approach technology, business, and cyber security challenges strategically and pragmatically. He holds a Bachelor of Business degree, a CISSP certification, and various other technology certifications, underscoring his technical expertise and commitment to the field.

Andrew Evans

Andrew was born and raised in the North-West of England. Following school, he successfully joined the Royal Marines and travelled the world for 9 years on active service and training exercises. It was here that Andrew got his first taste of radio, and secure communications in a physical security environment providing effective communications in different (temperate, desert, jungle, arctic) climatic conditions. A visit to Sydney to see friends was enough to set my ambitions on warmer climates and emigration. Andrew self-funded and successfully completed a BSc Computer Systems & Networks (Hons) Degree at Plymouth University. This led to work at AT&TTelecommunications for two years. He then pivoted to a UK Government role to focus on information security, information assurance and cyber security. Over the next 9 years he gained valuable experience in different roles, was promoted twice, completed CISSP, and an MSc IT Security Masters’ Degree (part-time). Andrew joined AISA Melbourne branch as a volunteer when he arrived in Australia and have held all branch roles through to becoming a branch executive and was successfully voted onto the board by AISA members in 2020 and again in 2023.Andrew is fortunate in his career to benefit from others volunteering time, wisdom and experience and firmly believe in giving back and paying forward for the betterment of society. Outside of work, he recently moved to rural Victoria and have a small farm where he plans to transition to retirement, living off-grid and sustainably. Andrew enjoys the arts, sketching and painting, has a heathy interest in food, drinks and living a heathy lifestyle (walk, swim, cycle). A fan of architecture including Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Foster and love to travel nationally and internationally.

Craig Ford

Craig is an experienced cyber security professional with various qualifications including two master’s degrees. He is the Head Unicorn (co-founder and director) of Cyber Unicorns, in which he acts as a vCISO to clients such as Baidam Solutions, Wesley Mission, PCYC, Hungry Jacks and Ipswich City Council. He was CTO (Chief Technology Officer) for Baidam Solutions between January 2022 to June 2023, where he led the technical services team, helping to build out the internal services capability for Baidam. Craig was QLD chair for AISA for two years until he was appointed to the national board of directors in December 2022.Craig is a published author with three different book series – 'A Hacker I Am' cyber education series, 'Foresight' is his Cyber punk/hacker fantasy novel series and then there is 'The Shadow World', a co-authored kids cyber education book. He is a freelance cyber security journalist who is best known for his work on CSO Australia (IDG Communications) which he contributed almost 100 cyber security articles between 2018-2020. He is now a regular columnist with the Women in Security Magazine, as well as a freelance contributor for Cyber Today, Top Cyber News, SecureGov, Careers with STEM and Cyber Australia magazines.

Scarlett McDermott

Scarlett McDermott is the founder of Longitude Advisory, an independent tech advisory firm serving organisations across Australia. With over a decade of experience, she specialises in helping boards and executives leverage technology to enhance operations and drive growth. Scarlett has experience as a Chief Technology Officer, software developer, and at industry level, having worked at the Tech Council of Australia and contributed to major industry initiatives. An ongoing focus on the diversity and capability of Australia's technology workforce drives her volunteer work on various committees and groups, including as a board director at the Australian Information Security Association.

Emily Wingard

Emily Wingard is a passionate leader with 19 years' experience across information technology and cyber security in the Government of South Australia. Currently serving as the Senior Manager, Cyber Capability and Engagement in the government’s lead agency for cyber security, Emily plays a crucial role in enhancing cyber awareness, capability and collaboration across the state to safeguard the community against continually evolving cyber-attacks.

In addition, Emily has volunteered for the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) for over 6 years as the South Australian Branch Deputy Chair, Branch Chair and now currently serving on the national Board as a Board Director. She is dedicated to strengthening skills and creating knowledge sharing opportunities, which has driven collaboration within South Australia and beyond.

Emily’s contribution to making a positive impact on the cyber industry has been acknowledged with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s ‘Making a Difference’ award, AISA ‘Branch Executive of the Year’ award in 2021 and ‘Outstanding Contribution to AISA’ in 2024.