AISA CyberCon 2026 Melbourne
Five high-GPA UTAS students, sponsored by the School of ICT, spent three days at AISA CyberCon 2026 in Melbourne learning about cyber security and networking with the industry.
About this event
AISA CyberCon Melbourne 2026, organised by the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), was held from 14 to 16 October 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
The three-day conference brought together cybersecurity professionals, industry leaders, researchers, and students to explore emerging cybersecurity threats, artificial intelligence, security technologies, and current industry challenges.
Five University of Tasmania (UTAS) students were selected to attend the conference with sponsorship from the School of ICT, providing valuable opportunities to gain industry exposure beyond Tasmania. Special thanks to Dr David Herbert and Professor Nicole Herbert for their support.
The conference featured keynote presentations, technical sessions, interactive activities, and professional networking opportunities. Highlights included a keynote by Jen Easterly, CEO of RSAC and former Director of CISA, along with sessions on cybersecurity education, building a cyber range on a student budget, and the CTRL+ALT+COMPETE cybersecurity game show.
For UTAS students, the conference offered opportunities to connect academic learning with real-world cybersecurity practices, gain practical insights, engage with industry professionals, and explore potential career pathways.
References
- UTAS Student Conference Experience – LinkedIn www.linkedin.com
- Jen Easterly Keynote Experience – LinkedIn www.linkedin.com
- AISA CyberCon Melbourne 2026 – Official Website melbourne2026.cyberconference.com.au
What students said on LinkedIn
Student reflections and posts from the event.
Gothami Jayasingha was one of five UTAS students selected to attend AISA CyberCon 2026 in Melbourne, sponsored by the School of ICT. The post describes an inspiring first day among security professionals and industry leaders, shared with fellow UTAS students and new connections.
Gothami Jayasingha's notes from the CyberCon 2026 opening keynote by Jen Easterly, CEO of RSAC and former Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The main takeaways: in an AI-driven world, human judgement and accountability still matter, and security should be built into software from the start rather than added later.
Photo Booth
"Beyond the valuable learning opportunities, it was wonderful to share this experience with fellow UTAS students, meet new people, and make meaningful connections."
— Gothami Jayasingha · Master of IT and Systems (Cyber Security) student