Intersectional Leadership in Security Innovation
As geopolitical pressure intensifies, and threats grow more complex, one reality is clear - leadership and people matter more than ever.
This community-powered symposium brings together the leaders of Australia’s cyber and security ecosystem at a critical moment. Global instability, rapid technological change, widening skills gaps, compounded by the uncertainty of AI are reshaping national security.
Intersectional leadership recognises that people experience systems, risk, power, and opportunity differently based on the intersection of identities such as gender, culture, ability, neurodiversity, socioeconomic background, and lived experience - including professional, technical, and community experience.
Our collective responsibility as leaders, is to protect all people and businesses, while building a skilled workforce, strengthening collaboration, and accelerating innovation and trust across the system.
Not performative. Practical.
This symposium is not about symbolic inclusion or abstract commitments.
It is a working forum for people ready to move from intention to impact, aligning leadership, policy, community, and innovation to build a cyber and security ecosystem that is resilient, inclusive, and fit for Australia’s future.
Any profits made from the symposium will go towards AWSN initiatives to continue our mission.
Overview of the Day
8:15am - Doors open
9:00am - Symposium start
- Opening & Keynotes: Welcome from AWSN and keynote on geopolitical change, national security, and why intersectional leadership matters.
- Innovation Panel: Leaders will showcase and share how collaboration and diverse leadership drives stronger security and innovation outcomes.
- Outcomes-based streams: Interactive learning and outcomes-focused sessions covering areas such accessibility by default, securing AI and communities, allyship, building secure and diverse workforces, future skills, and national capability building.
- Presentations and panel: Key insights on the business and societal value of intersectional leadership and workforce case studies.
- Closing: Reflections on the day and what comes next.
5:35-7:00pm - Networking
- Connection & Community: Informal networking to continue collaboration beyond the day.
