Channel partners use Budget night for speed dating

Industry and NSW Government representatives met with students from eight of the state's universities on Budget night for some cyber speed dating.

While many in the tech industry were watching the 2017 Budget with mixed responses, a group of partners was tackling the exact issue that is the biggest concern in the channel right now: skills.

Channel players, including Dimension Data, BAE Systems and DXC Technology joined representatives from the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, Atlassian, Google and Telstra at a NSW Government event, held on Budget night, 9 May, to promote a speed networking event on cyber crime.

“This will be a fun and interactive speed networking event but with a serious purpose - to help some of our brightest students consider future careers in the fast growing field of cyber security,” NSW Minister for Industry, Niall Blair, said prior to the event.

“Strong cyber security will be fundamental to our growth and prosperity in the global economy as well as our national security.”

Representatives from 25 companies joined students from eight NSW Universities - half of which were PhD or Masters level - at an event organised by the NSW Department of Industry in conjunction with Data61’s job matching service, RibiT.

NSW has 80 per cent of Australian businesses in cyber security and leading strengths in information technology including startups, financial services and defence.

The NSW Government said it was building on these strengths by developing a Cyber Security Industry Development Strategy to grow our industry and its capabilities and encourage investment and export potential.

Such events were encouraged by the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, when he launched the Government’s cyber security agenda in 2016.

The agenda included a national cyber partnership where governments, businesses, and the research community works together to advance Australia’s cyber security landscape.

“This new structure will ensure cybersecurity is given the attention it demands in an age where cyber opportunities and threats must be considered together and must be addressed proactively, not simply as a reaction to the inevitability of future cyber events,” Turnbull said at the time.

“This strategy will develop partnerships between the Australian public and private sectors, support home-grown cyber security capabilities and promote international cyber co-operation. We will change and adapt when needed to stay competitive and influential in the constantly changing technology landscape,” he said.