Taumata Rau Conversations: New Zealand's national and cyber security

In August 2023, the Ministry of Defence issued its first National Security Strategy. This Strategy articulated an integrated approach across a number of critical security themes we presently face in Aotearoa—noting in particular: “Malicious cyber actors, including state and non-state actors, present a persistent threat to all New Zealanders as well as New Zealand organisations, businesses, and government.” With hundreds of incidents affecting nationally significant organisations each year, including recent attacks on Parliament, Auckland Transport, and several NZ universities, it is clear that cyber threats represent a clear and present danger. Framed in this national context, the University of Auckland’s second Taumata Rau Conversation will explore the risks and potential impacts modern cyber threats pose to our critical infrastructures. Moderated by Tim McCready, our expert panel will also discuss solutions for a robust cybersecurity posture across sectors.

• Keynote: Tony Lynch, Deputy Chief Executive of NZ’s National Security Group

• Panellist 1: Lisa Fong, Deputy Director-General, National Cyber Security Centre, GCSB and University of Auckland alumni

• Panellist 2: Prof Giovanni Russello, Professor and Head of the School of Computer Science

• Panellist 3: Amber McEwen, CEO of REANNZ

• Moderator: Tim McCready, Professional MC and facilitator and University of Auckland alumni

Please provide your ticket for entry.

Light refreshments will be provided from 5:30pm - 6:00pm

Tony Lynch

Deputy Chief Executive

National Security Group

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Tony Lynch leads the National Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. His direct responsibilities include the architecture of the national security system, National Intelligence Assessments, Intelligence Coordination, National Security Policy including Cyber Security, Emergency Management, and Security and Intelligence Policy. Tony took up his role in August 2019.

Prior to his current role, Tony was Deputy Secretary of Defence at the New Zealand Ministry of Defence from June 2014. His immediate previous assignment was as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand with cross-accreditation to Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar. Other diplomatic assignments have been to New Zealand’s Mission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta and the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra.

Prior to his assignment in Thailand, Mr Lynch served as Foreign Policy Advisor on secondment to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Tony has a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Otago, Dunedin. His interests include cricket, rugby, swimming and cycling, as well as food and wine.

Lisa Fong

Deputy Director-General, National Cyber Security Centre, GCSB

Lisa is the Deputy Director-General responsible for the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of the Government Communications Security Bureau. The NCSC protects Aotearoa New Zealand’s wellbeing and prosperity through trusted cyber security services, with a current focus on the cyber resilience of nationally significant organisations and protecting against national level harms. The NCSC is developing a future integrated operating model with CERT NZ to create the nation’s lead operational cyber security agency. The NCSC also hosts the Director-General GCSB’s Government Chief Information Security Officer system leadership function and as Deputy GCISO Lisa provides stewardship of public service information security.

Lisa’s professional background is in litigation and risk management. She has a BA/LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland and a Master of Laws from New York University. In her spare time, Lisa reports to her two young daughters.

Professor Giovanni Russello

Professor and Head of the School of Computer Science

Prof Giovanni Russello is a Cyber Security specialist and the Head of the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Giovanni is the Director of the Cyber Security Research Programme, a multi-million project funded by MBIE to improve the cyber security stance of NZ and increase the collaboration between NZ and AU researchers. He is the founding Co-Director of the Cyber Security Foundry, the first New Zealand multi-disciplinary centre in Cyber Security aiming at improving the collaboration between industry and academia. Between 2013 and 2014, he was the founding CEO of a start-up targeting the smartphone security market.

His research interests include human-centred cyber security, policy-based security systems, privacy and confidentiality in cloud computing, smartphone security, and applied cryptography.

Amber McEwen

Chief Executive Officer

Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand – REANNZ

Amber McEwen is a leader with over 20 years' experience in B2B service industries. She has a proven track record in generating revenues and creating brand differentiation through the development, implementation and management of services over networks ranging from telecoms to energy.

Driving collaboration at many levels (globally, cross-sector and with customers) is a strength of Amber's and is key to the success she has delivered. Throughout her career this has been evidenced at a global level while at Vodafone, and at a cross-sector level while at ESR. She says it is building these relationships and delivering outcomes that make a material difference that she finds most personally and professionally rewarding.

Tim McCready

UoA alum and professional MC and facilitator

Tim McCready is a popular MC and facilitator, with a focus on business and trade, international affairs, technology and innovation. His work includes business consulting, focused on strategy and international trade, and business/political writing. Tim’s professional career has included activity in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Currently, Tim works in strategy with New Zealand Story, a government agency focused on enhancing New Zealand’s global reputation and value. He is a venture partner at BioPacific Partners, a leading life science consultancy where he collaborates with global corporates on investment activity in Australia and New Zealand. Tim also writes for the New Zealand Herald’s business reports, covering trade, finance, innovation, sustainability and politics. Tim is also a lead judge for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards.