Melbourne Industry Conference Features  Future Cyber Security Leaders

Melbourne Industry Conference Features Future Cyber Security Leaders

SINET 61, a global series of cyber security conferences for industry leaders, featured its first student perspectives panel discussion during its Melbourne conference on 31 July at the Langham Hotel. The panel was comprised of students currently on a cyber security pathway from a range of institutions in Victoria and curated by LifeJourney.

Amy Roberts, Assistant Director – Learning & Development at the Australian Cyber Security Centre moderated the discussion where students discussed their personal story and how they developed an interest in the field. The panel closed out with recommendations from the students to industry leaders about how they can improve student engagement to increase the number of cyber security professionals.

Key Student Recommendations for Industry:

  • Communicate the diversity of roles available in the field
  • Engage students by providing mentoring opportunities
  • Provide networking opportunities

Student Panelists

  • Emily Pendlebury, Bachelor of Cyber Security Student, La Trobe University
  • Jessica Cruz, Bachelor of Software Engineering, RMIT University
  • Kasinda Henderson, Year 11 Student, Peninsula Grammar
  • Gary Zhang, Year 11 Student, Mount Waverley Secondary College
  • Trent Mitchell, Year 10 Student, Berwick Grammar School
  • Tate Clinton, Advanced Diploma in Cyber Security Student, Box Hill Institute
  • Moderated by Amy Roberts, Assistant Director, Learning & Development, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Signals Directorate

SINET organisers and the audience were quite pleased with the panel outcomes and will look to involve students in future conferences in New York, London, Toronto, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC.