Events Speakers 6D. Security Melbourne 26

Nigel Hedges, Chief Information Security Officer, Chemist Warehouse

Nigel is Executive General Manager Cyber & Risk at Chemist Warehouse, providing CISO-level leadership across the enterprise. He specialises in strategy, program development, operations, and building highly engaged, capable, and resilient teams. Known for his pragmatic and collaborative approach, Nigel works closely with stakeholders across the business to strengthen security and support organisational objectives. He is a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association (FAISA) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Varun Acharya, Chief Information Security Officer, Healthscope

Varun is the Chief Information Security Officer at Healthscope Ltd, where he leads the organisation’s cybersecurity strategy across its national network of hospitals and clinical services. With experience spanning higher education, banking, manufacturing, and healthcare, Varun brings a broad and adaptable perspective to modern security leadership. Prior to becoming CISO, he headed Threat Intelligence and Security Operations at Healthscope, strengthening the organisation’s defensive posture and operational readiness. Holding a Bachelor of Computer Science from Monash University, Varun is recognised for his ability to build mature, fit-for-purpose security capabilities that protect sensitive data and support safe, reliable clinical operations.

Vijay Narayan, Chief Information Security Officer, Mercy Health

Vijay is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformative security programs across Australia’s healthcare and public sectors. As Chief Information Security Officer at Mercy Health Australia, he leads enterprise-wide cyber defence initiatives, leveraging AI-driven threat intelligence, predictive analytics, and automated security operations to protect sensitive data and ensure regulatory compliance. A recognized thought leader and conference speaker, Vijay has held senior roles at EPA Victoria and AHPRA, and his expertise spans AI in cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance, and security architecture, earning him industry recognition including a finalist nomination in the 2025 iTnews Benchmark Security Awards.

Callum Nelson, Chief Information Security Officer, Ebos Group

Callum is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in cyber security, IT strategy, technology, and business analysis. He has held various leadership positions at prominent organizations such as The Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Decipha, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, Telstra, and Coles Myer. His career journey includes roles such as Director of Cyber Security, Director of IT Strategy, Chief Technology Officer, Head of Technology, and Portfolio Director. Callum’s expertise lies in managing complex technological and strategic initiatives, driving digital transformations, and leading technology teams to achieve operational excellence.

Crispin Blackall, Chief Information & Technology Officer (CTO), Vicroads

Crispin is a distinguished technology leader known for driving large-scale digital transformation across some of Australia’s most significant organisations. Beginning his career in publishing and advertising during the industries’ shift to digital, he developed an early passion for innovation that shaped his transition into technology leadership. Crispin went on to deliver BHP’s first online program, serve nearly 22 years at Telstra in roles including CTO of BigPond and executive in charge of domain engineering, and hold senior executive positions at NBN Co, where he stepped in as interim CIO and led digital, IT, and network systems teams. Now Chief Technology Officer at VicRoads, he leads major modernisation initiatives including digital driver licence delivery. Known for building high-performing teams and fostering strong culture, Crispin brings an international perspective and decades of experience in digital, cyber, mobility, IoT, and enterprise technology, making him one of Australia’s most respected voices in technology transformation.

Dan Maslin, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Monash University

Dan is an accomplished technology and cybersecurity executive with over 25 years of enterprise IT experience. As Group Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Infrastructure Strategy at Monash University, he leads the protection and modernisation of one of Australia’s largest academic institutions. A recognised industry leader, Dan is a Fellow of AISA and a recipient of the CSO30 Australia Award (2022) and the CSO30 Business Value Award (2023). He holds multiple certifications including CISSP, CRISC, and CISM, and contributes to the advancement of the sector through his service on AISA’s Executive Advisory Board and Nominations Committee.

Lachlan Bakewell, Chief Information Officer, Melbourne Water

Lachlan is an experienced technology executive with over 25 years of enterprise IT expertise across multiple industries. He currently serves as the Group Chief Information Security Officer (GCISO) and Head of Infrastructure Strategy at Monash University. Recognised as a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association (FAISA) in 2021, a CSO30 Australia Awards Winner in 2022, and a CSO30 Business Value Award recipient in 2023, Lachlan brings deep leadership and technical capability to the cybersecurity community. A dual Australian and United Kingdom citizen, he holds several leading security certifications, including CISSP, CRISC, and CISM, and contributes actively to the sector through his roles on the AISA Executive Advisory Board and Board Nominations Committee.

Suma Shivalingaiah, Chief Information Officer, Eastern Health

Suma is an accomplished IT executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning government, utilities, healthcare, education, and finance. Renowned for building trusted partnerships between technology and business, she brings deep expertise in technology strategy, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, governance, data management, and major transformation delivery. Suma has overseen IT portfolios and budgets of up to $40 million and has been instrumental in Eastern Health’s digital transformation, including its ICT Strategic Plan and Governance Framework. Recognised internationally as a “Fabulous Marketer” at the 2025 World Marketing Congress, she is celebrated for her leadership, communication excellence, and impact across the technology sector.

James Ng, Chief Information Security Officer, Insignia Financial

With over 15 years of experience in technology and information security roles across several prominent organizations, including Telstra, Belong, Tabcorp, and Deloitte, James brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Most recently, he served as the General Manager of Security Operations at AARNet (Australia Academic and Research Network), where he led teams in establishing cyber governance and managed a security operations centre dedicated to protecting the education and research sector, particularly Australian universities.

Indika Wimalasiri, Chief Information Security Officer, Praemium

An Information Security Leader with enthusiasm and passion for Information and Cyber Security Management and Delivery. Over 18 years of experience working in IT/IS and recent 10+ years specialising Information and Cyber Security. Experienced in the full spectrum of Information and Cyber Security domains. Strong relationship building ability to drive success both within technical and business aspects.

Maria Paz, Chief Technology Officer, Epworth Healthcare

Maria Paz is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience driving transformative business and technology initiatives across diverse sectors. Driven by values of integrity, excellence, and collaboration, Maria is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies and data to drive business transformation. She excels in aligning business and technology strategies to maximize value delivery and is particularly adept at managing change and innovation to enhance social and community outcomes.

Maria’s accomplishments have earned her recognition, including being ranked in the top 25 of Australia’s CIO50 in 2022 and 2023. Her achievements include the development and deployment of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, delivering substantial cost savings, and driving significant improvements in governance, security, and data analytics capabilities. Maria’s leadership has also facilitated research partnerships to evaluate emerging technologies’ effectiveness in diverse care settings, securing substantial government funding in the process.

Emily Mailes, Chief eHealth Strategy Officer, VIC Department of Health

Emily is the Chief eHealth Strategy Officer for the Victorian Department of Health, where she leads the digital strategy shaping the future of the state’s health system while overseeing the cybersecurity and operational integrity of its critical infrastructure. She drives system-wide digital innovation in partnership with policymakers and health leaders, ensuring technology uplift that improves outcomes for all Victorians. Alongside this, Emily oversees a 24/7 cyber operations function dedicated to protecting sensitive health data and maintaining the resilience of essential services. Her role uniquely bridges long-term strategic transformation with the real-time demands of cyber defence, positioning her as a key leader in building a secure and future-ready healthcare system.

Milad Kruze, Executive General Manager - IT, The Salvation Army

Milad has led a major digital transformation, repositioning IT as a strategic partner in service delivery. Key achievements include launching the organisation’s first national Digital Strategy Action Plan and delivering the National Contact Centre Project, which streamlined access to services across Australia and supported over 500,000 calls to date. Milad also champions diversity and inclusion within the IT function. He has introduced initiatives to support women in technology, created university partnerships for internships, and joined the Employing 100 program to provide opportunities for people with accessibility needs. His leadership reflects a strong alignment between technology, organisational values, and community impact.

Tracey Edwards, General Manager, GRC and Advisory Services, nbn

Tracey is the General Manager of Security GRC at nbn Australia, where she leads national governance, risk, and compliance strategies that underpin the security of one of the country’s most critical infrastructure assets. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at Australia Post, MLC Australia, NAB, and Fujitsu, Tracey is widely respected for her strategic clarity, operational excellence, and unwavering commitment to safety and security. Recognised as a trusted leader in the cybersecurity community, she is known for elevating security standards, driving organisational resilience, and shaping best-practice approaches across Australia’s digital and risk landscape.

Guy Lupo, Executive Vice President, AI & Data Innovation, AI Forum; AI/ML Researcher, Swinburne University

Guy Lupo, Executive Vice President – AI & Data Innovation, is responsible for driving the responsible adoption of AI and data technologies at scale. He leads the development of Open Digital Architecture (ODA) solutions to support AI- and data-native organisations, focusing on advancing real-world AI innovation, accelerating enterprise AI adoption, and enabling future-ready digital infrastructure.

With more than 30 years’ experience in senior roles across global telecoms and enterprise technology, Guy brings deep expertise in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud and networks. A TM Forum Distinguished Fellow, he was recognised for his pioneering work on Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) standards during his time at Telstra.

Lisa Dethridge, Technologist, Strategic Innovation, Systems Analyst, Industrial Design, Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University

Lisa is a multifaceted professional with a PhD in Media Ecology from New York University, specialising in Ethical Artificial Intelligence, AI training, and prompt engineering. She has produced media across web, film, television, theatre, radio, print, telecoms, and virtual environments, and has collaborated with leading organisations including the United Nations Development Program, NASA, and the Australian Internet Domain Authority. A peer of the Creative Australia Council for the Arts, she has authored numerous scholarly articles and screenplays, with her work spanning Australia, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Dethridge is also actively involved in research and consultancy for AI and technology companies, industry groups, and non-profits.

Daswin De Silva, Professor of AI and Analytics, La Trobe University, Australia

Daswin is Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics, and Director of AI Strategy at La Trobe University, Australia. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Lulea University of Technology, Sweden. His expertise is in AI; algorithms, systems, applications, ethics. Daswin is on the editorial board of four research journals (ranked in Scopus top 10%), an invited keynote speaker, and consulted by the ABC News, Channel 7 News, AAP, The Australian, Forbes, Cosmos, Times Higher Education and The Conversation for AI expertise.

Farina Riaz, Research Scientist, CSIRO

Farina is a scientist at CSIRO Data61 and recipient of multiple awards for her outstanding contributions in Quantum Artificial Intelligence (AI). She is leading research in Cybersecurity for Quantum Generative AI. She has developed advanced quantum generative models that outperform classical methods and has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers advancing Quantum Machine Learning. She initiated and is now leading Australia’s first real-world use case of Quantum AI. Her outstanding research has led to awards including “Australia’s Most Outstanding in IT Security” (2025) and “Best in Quantum in Cyber Champion” (2024).She also serves as Quantum Women Lead with Women in AI (Australia), championing diversity, inclusion, and mentoring the next generation of women in STEM.