Chair - Damien Manuel

Damien Manuel is an Adjunct Professor at Deakin University’s Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CSRI) and the Chairperson of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), a not-for profit organisation which aims to improve Cyber Security in Australia at a Government, Industry and Community level. Manuel also provides advice to several boards both in Australia and internationally. He is a well-known leader in the Australian cyber security sector and works closely with both federal and state / territory governments.

In his former role as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Symantec Australia and New Zealand, Manuel worked with senior executives in the region to align security architecture and strategies to industry best practices. He also worked as a senior information security governance manager and later as an enterprise IT and security risk manager at National Australia Bank (NAB), where he was responsible for managing the bank’s information security standard globally. He also held senior roles at RSA, Telstra, Ericsson and Melbourne IT and was on the board of the Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC).Manuel is currently on CompTIA’s Executive Advisory Committee in the USA, the Victorian Ombudsman’s Audit and Risk Committee, the board of RSA Australia, the Advisory Board for OCSC, the chair of Standards Australia’s Standards development committee for cyber security and privacy and is on the audit and risk committee for the Australian Conservation Foundation. Manuel also helps mentor entrepreneurs through CyRise, Australia’s only cyber security start-up accelerator.

Manuel has supported CompTIA for over 20 years through the development of CompTIA Server+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification. Manuel’s passion for making a difference motivated him to establish Information Technology community resource centres to improve literacy and skills in impoverished and disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Laos, Uganda and Cambodia.

Underpinning his over 25 years of experience is a diverse educational grounding ranging from the highest security, audit and governance certifications complemented by an Executive MBA with an international business focus. Damien also has a background in genetic engineering and is passionate about science. He has spoken on several podcasts (including with Dr Karl), conference keynotes internationally and locally, radio and TV appearances.

Email: [email protected]

Deputy Chair - Alex Hoffmann

Alex Hoffmann has worked in the Cyber Security industry since 2007, holding positions in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia.
Alex holds a Master of Business Administration degree and several other industry qualifications, and is a MAICD.
Appointed as a Board Director with AISA in December 2017, Alex has been an active member for many years, having previously held the position of Branch Executive of the Adelaide branch. 
In his private sector role, Alex is an Executive Director with Australian Cyber Security firm; CyberCX.
Prior to this appointment, Alex was with national independent Cyber Security firm, CQR, for 11 years where he was most recently General Manager.
Alex has a passion for the cyber security industry, particularly around information security advocacy at the executive level, education sector engagement and graduate development.

Email: [email protected]

Director - Andrew Evans

Andrew works in the area of governance, risk and compliance and follows a holistic approach to security bringing together physical, people, processes and technology across organisations.  Andrew is currently a security risk partner at Telstra and has over 18 years' experience in cyber security and risk working in Europe, USA and Australia with various organisations in the public and private sectors in areas including, but not limited to: telecommunications, mining, energy, transportation and aerospace & defence.  Andrew holds an MSc in IT Security, a BSc (Hons) in Computer Systems and Networks and is CISSP certified. 

Email: [email protected]

Director - Branko Ninkovic

Branko is the founder and VP of Cyber Security at Dragonfly Technologies. Founded in 2005, Dragonfly is a thriving cyber security practice servicing Australia’s most security conscious ASX listed organisations. With over 20 years’ experience specialising in cyber security, Branko has worked with many well-known and trusted brands to build in their cyber defences. Prior to Dragonfly’s  inception, Branko held several Technology Leadership roles in Macquarie Bank and Brambles Australia.

Branko is known for his innovative and collaborative approach, coupled with a leadership style which has allowed those that work with him the freedom to explore new and innovative practices. A key to Branko’s success is his ability to develop strong, enduring partnerships which are outcomes driven, providing value to all involved. As a thought leader, Branko is also a knowledgeable and engaging speaker on cyber security and business who has spoken at numerous international events.

In addition, Branko is also the cofounder of healthcare start up, VAXXIN8, a digital platform, whose mission is to protect healthcare workers from vaccination preventable diseases. VAXXIN8 was selected as one of the first participants to take part in the Australian Federal Government’s Landing Pad program in San Francisco to launch in the North American Market.

Branko has been an AISA member since 2008, he has held prior roles on the ASIA National Board as an advisor between 2009 and 2011, volunteered his time in several capacities to help build and advance the industry through AISA. Prior to joining the board, Branko was the Sydney Branch Chair and was honoured to receive the AISA Branch Chair of the Year in 2019 in response and recognition to his leadership. Outside of his work in AISA and Dragonfly, Branko is also a volunteer and committee member for the inaugural Sydney FAIR Institute Chapter since 2018. The FAIRTM Institute is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the discipline of measuring and managing information risk.

Director - Joshua Craig MIT, CISM, CISSP, GIA(Cert)

Joshua Craig has worked in Information Security, Risk and Compliance for over 15 years in the Australian banking industry with expertise in both commercial and technical sectors.
Joshua holds a Master in IT as well as industry qualifications such as CISM and CISSP, and currently volunteers as the Company Secretary for the Australian Information Security Association. 
Having previously volunteered as a Branch Executive for Melbourne as well as working closely with the AISA board of Directors, Joshua has over 6 years operational experience in assisting the Cybersecurity community of Australia.
Joshua currently works in a senior risk and assurance role for one of the big 4 banks specialising in cyber security and technology risk management. 

Email: [email protected]

Director - Michael Trovato, GAICD, CISM, CPDSE, CISA

Mike is a cyber security, privacy and technology risk advisor to boards, board risk committees, and executive management including CxOs. He helps key stakeholders understand the obligations and outcomes with respect to regulatory, industry, and company policy compliance and to protect what matters most in terms of availability, loss of value, regulatory sanctions, or brand and reputation impacts balanced with investment.

Key Australian and US roles: Currently IIS Managing Director and Lead Security Advisor; ICG, Global Cyber Practice Leader; and Cyber Risk Advisors, Managing Partner. Prior roles: EY Cyber Security, Asia Pacific, Oceania and FSO Lead Partner; NAB Group, GM Technology Risk and Security; KPMG, Partner Information Risk Management; Salomon Brothers, Internal Audit; MasterCard International, Principal.

Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (GAICD); ISACA Melbourne Chapter Board Member; Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM); Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE); Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA); and has been a PCI DSS Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). SUNY MBA Accounting and Finance and BS Management Science, Computer Science, and Psychology.

Director - Dr Suelette Dreyfus

Dr Suelette Dreyfus is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. She leads the core subject in digital privacy and security, and co-runs Masters-level teaching Emerging Technologies. She graduated from Columbia University before going on to complete her PhD at Monash University. 

Suelette leads research projects in the digital privacy and security space, with a particular focus on the end-user experience particularly for consumers online. She has previously co-designed and run projects in e-health testing reporting of errors in hospitals, and exploring barriers to technology adoption in the health-setting. She has expertise in media and has previously trained at and worked on the staff of one of the largest selling daily newspapers in Australia as a journalist. She introduced the first digital security training for Masters level journalism students at her university. She appears regularly in international and Australian media speaking on her areas of expertise.

Director - Akash Mittal

Akash has over 15 years of IT background in cyber security, compliance, software enhancement, and process optimization. He has worked in various positions across Australian financial and services sector. With a passion towards information security and he is a strong advocate of the importance of cyber awareness.
Akash has over 10 years of experience working within the highly regulated wealth management sector. In his last role at Equity Trustees as General Manager Technology and Security, Akash established a robust cyber security capability and an effective governance. Akash has recently joined Trustee Executors as an Executive Technology Officer.
Akash likes solving complex and consequential business problems, and acts as a technology and cyber security advisor to executive management and boards.
Akash holds a MSc in Network Systems, BTech in Computer Systems and is SABSA certified.

Email: [email protected]

Director - Craig Ford

Craig is a cyber security professional with experience working in ethical hacking, incident response, security consulting and more. Craig has two master's level qualifications from Charles Sturt University with a Master of Management (Digital Forensics/Information technology) and a Master of Information Systems Security. Craig was the AISA cybersecurity professional of the year 2020. 
Craig is proudly employed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Baidam Solutions. He is a freelance cyber security journalist with previous works on CSO Online and has a regular column for the “Women in Security” Magazine. Craig also contributes to several other publications and is a published author with five books - 'A Hacker I Am' and 'A Hacker I Am Vol 2' in his cyber security series and 'Foresight', a Hacker/Cyberpunk novel series that includes Foresight and Shadow books. Vulcan (book 3) is scheduled for release in November 2023.
He is also the co-author of The Shadow World, a cyber security awareness book for primary school children. 
Craig was a member of the AISA Queensland executive team from 2020 until he was appointed a member of the National Board of Directors in January 2023.

Email: [email protected]

Director & Company Secretary - Chloe Hatzis

Chloe Hatzis is a Data Security Specialist internationally experienced at implementing information security. She has an LLB (Hons) and nearly a decade of experience in business operations, cyber security strategy, international privacy and data protection, information security management, corporate governance, and cyberlaw training for executive level management. 
Chloe currently volunteers as the Company Secretary for the Australian Information Security Association (AISA). She has been active in the AISA community since 2018 and previously held the position of Deputy Branch Chair for the Melbourne Executive Committee.
Her unique skill-set enables her to bridge the gap between implementing law, technology, business process and security to empower individuals and organisations to make informed decisions about their information. 
Chloe received the AISA 'Volunteer of the Year' award in 2018 and was nominated for ‘the One to Watch’ in the Australian Women in Security awards 2019.