Our board of directors

Chair - Akash Mittal

Akash Mittal works as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) within the industry with 18-years of experience in technology and cyber security. 
Akash holds a Bachelor of Technology and a Master of Science in Network Systems, and industry certifications including Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM), SABSA Chartered Security Architect, and Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA).

Email: [email protected]

Deputy Chair - 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 has been active in the AISA community since 2018 and previously held the positions of Deputy Branch Chair for the Melbourne Executive Committee and AISA Company Secretary.
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. 

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 undergraduate subject information security and privacy and co-runs a Masters-level subject in Emerging Technologies. She graduated from Columbia University before going on to complete her PhD at Monash University. 

Suelette leads research projects in the digital security and privacy space, with a particular focus on the end-user experience, specifically for consumers online. She has previously co-designed and run projects in e-health testing reporting of safety errors in hospitals, and exploring barriers to technology adoption in the health-setting.  She introduced the first digital security training for Masters level journalism students in Australia at her university. She has made numerous public policy contributions, including appearing before state and Commonwealth Government committees to give expert advice. In addition to her technology work, 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 appears regularly in international and Australian media speaking on her areas of expertise. She co-authored the first mainstream book about computer hacking in Australia.

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 - Craig Ford

Craig is an experienced cyber security professional with various qualifications including two master’s degrees. He is the Head Unicorn (co-founder and director) of Cyber Unicorns, in which he acts as a vCISO to clients such as Baidam Solutions, Wesley Mission, PCYC, Hungry Jacks and Ipswich City Council. He was CTO (Chief Technology Officer) for Baidam Solutions between January 2022 to June 2023, where he led the technical services team, helping to build out the internal services capability for Baidam. Craig was QLD chair for AISA for two years until he was appointed to the national board of directors in December 2022.

Craig is a published author with three different book series – 'A Hacker I Am' cyber education series, 'Foresight' is his Cyber punk/hacker fantasy novel series and then there is 'The Shadow World', a co-authored kids cyber education book. He is a freelance cyber security journalist who is best known for his work on CSO Australia (IDG Communications) which he contributed almost 100 cyber security articles between 2018-2020. He is now a regular columnist with the Women in Security Magazine, as well as a freelance contributor for Cyber Today, Top Cyber News, SecureGov, Careers with STEM and Cyber Australia magazines.

Email: [email protected]

Director - Mark Dorset

Mark Dorset has over 30 years of IT industry experience and is passionate about making the digital landscape better for Australians. Through his executive management experience, he has built a successful sales and consultancy business, and spent 10 years at Apple where he worked on and led privacy initiatives. He is the founder of Australia’s longest running community internet service for non-profit organisations, which has continuously provided services since the early 1990s.

Email: mark.dorset@aisa.org.au

Director - Michael Burchell

Email: [email protected]

Director - David Willett

David has been working in Technology and Cyber Security since 2008. He spent the early years of his career in Canberra providing managed services to various Federal Government departments. He moved to Melbourne in 2017 and has been the CISO for Property Exchange Australia (PEXA) since 2019. In this role, he has grown a grass roots cyber capability that now encompasses over twenty people in two different countries. He enjoys the people element of cyber, which is why he has joined AISA. David is passionate about engaging members to educate and uplift the resilience of the Australian public to the ever-growing threats of cyber criminals. In his spare time David is an online content creator who enjoys podcasting along with creative and professional writing. He is currently studying a degree in creative writing online at Curtin University.

Email: [email protected]

Company Secretary - Bogdana Ilieva

Bogdana is a seasoned Information Security and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) professional with over 20 years of combined experience in Information Technology and Information Security. She currently serves as the Head of Security and Risk at FrankieOne, an identity verification and fraud monitoring platform, following roles at companies in the financial sector like Computershare and MYOB. Her qualifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Cyber Leadership Program (Cyber Resilience Strategy), Lead Auditor in ISMS ISO 27001:2022, Diploma of Management with the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), ITIL Foundation certificate in IT Service Management and a Master of Computer Science.

Email: [email protected]