4 august 2026 | nzicc, auckland
SUPPORTED BY
PRACTICE | DEFENCE | LEADERSHIP
Securing New Zealand’s digital economy in an era of systemic cyber risk
In 2026, the perimeter has vanished. Cyber security is no longer a technical control function hidden in the server room; it is a material, board-level, enterprise-wide risk.
The Cyber Security Risk Conference 2026 is New Zealand’s premier forum for leaders who understand that resilience is the only path forward. We bring together the architects of our digital safety to address the fastest-growing threat to our national economy.
wHY YOU NEED TO BE THERE
The goal of this conference is to answer one critical question: How do we measure, govern, and reduce cyber risk in a world where attacks are more damaging than ever?
Move beyond prevention – True resilience isn’t just about stopping the breach; it’s about risk ownership, recovery, and business survival. You will gain actionable insights on:
Quantifying Exposure:
Translating technical vulnerabilities into financial and operational terms the Board understands.
Digital Trust & AI:
Managing the dual-edged sword of AI integration while maintaining customer trust.
Regulatory Navigation:
Staying ahead of privacy, financial resilience, and critical infrastructure regimes.
Supply Chain Integrity:
Building resilience into digital ecosystems that you don’t directly control.
Speakers
Ryan Ko
Centre Director,
UQ Cyber Research Centre
A Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and Cloud Security Alliance, he has shaped international standards and national curricula. He founded New Zealand’s first cyber lab and advises INTERPOL and global governments. With 180+ publications advancing cyber resilience and cloud security, he holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University.
Melissa Crawford
Tech with Heart
She bridges technology and psychology to navigate the future of work. An award-winning advisor with multiple tech degrees and formal foresight training, she consults globally on transformation. Combining senior executive experience with psychological insights, she translates complex trends into actionable, future-ready strategies for leadership teams and organisations.
Esther Wafula
Senior Information Security Consultant
Esther Wafula is a Senior Security Consultant with over 13 years of cybersecurity experience across New Zealand and East Africa. A former ISACA Wellington VP and TechWomen NZ mentor, she specialises in cyber risk and financial services architecture. Esther will explore the evolving threat landscape, system vulnerabilities, and practical risk reduction for finance professionals.
Andy Prow
Board Member, Cybertech New Zealand
Sukhjit Gill
Head of Risk, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs
Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Southern Cross Health Society
Deepak Veerasamy
Director of Information Security, Restaurant Brands
Manvi Madan
Head of Data Governance, SkyCity Entertainment Group
Duncan HIlls
General Manager – Cyber Security, Fletcher Building
Zee Zakiya
Cyber Security Lead, Fertility Associates
NZ Emerging ICT Leader of the Year 2026 Finalist
Standards New Zealand Committee Member – AI, Cybersecurity and IT Governance
Emma Harrison
Technology Risk & Governance Analyst, Foodstuffs South Island
Kalpesh Jain
Solution Engineering Manager APAC, SOCRadar
Ethan King
SOC Lead, Bastion Security
Eion Hall
Chief Information Officer, The University of Waikato
AGENDA
8:30am
Registration & coffee
9:00am
oPENING REMARKS FROM THE MC
Esther Wafula
Senior Information Security Consultant
9:10am
Welcome from cybertech new zealand
Andy Prow
Board Member
CyberTech New Zealand
9:20am
Opening Keynote: The state of cyber risk in 2026 - From technical threat to business-critical exposure
- The rise of AI-enabled attacks and autonomous threat actors
- The convergence of cyber, financial and operational risk
- What boards and executives now expect from cyber leaders
- The interplay of cyber risk with geopolitical events across the globe
- Research trends countering these cyber risks.
Ryan Ko
Centre Director
UQ Cyber Research Centre
10:00am
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
This session explores how technology and innovation are reshaping economies, industries, and competitive advantage. Drawing on insights from high growth companies, global markets, and emerging innovation ecosystems, the session highlights what CIOs should be paying attention to now, from shifts in digital capability and AI adoption to the evolving role of technology leadership in driving organisational success. The session offers a forward-looking perspective on where technology is heading in 2027 and what it means for CIOs shaping strategy today.
Gerard Florian
Former Group Executive - Technology and Business Services
ANZ BANK
10:30am
MORNING BREAK
11:00am
PANEL - Quantifying cyber risk - translating technical exposure into business impact
- How leading NZ organisations are quantifying cyber risk
- Communicating risk to boards, executives and regulators
- Aligning cyber risk with enterprise risk management frameworks
Deepak Veerasamy
Director of Information Security
Restaurant Brands
Duncan hills
GENERAL MANAGER - CYBER SECURITY
Fletcher Building
Zee Zakiya
Cyber Security Lead
Fertility Associates
Eion Hall
Chief Information Officer
The University of Waikato
11:40am
Panel: Securing the digital enterprise – keeping ahead of the new risk frontline
- Managing risk across cloud, SaaS and hybrid environments
- Governing AI use without slowing innovation
- Building secure-by-design digital ecosystems
Simon Burson
Chief Information Security Officer
Auckland Council
Emma Harrison
Technology Risk & Governance Analyst
Foodstuffs South Island
Manvi Madan
Head of Data Governance
SkyCity Entertainment Group
SUKHJIT GILL
Head of Risk, Compliance & Regualtory Affairs Barrister & solicitor of the high court of new zealand
Southern Cross Health Society
12:20pm
Platinum sponsor address
- Managing risk across cloud, SaaS and hybrid environments
- Governing AI use without slowing innovation
- Building secure-by-design digital ecosystems
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
12:40PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:30Pm
Interactive round tables
Peer-to-peer discussions with practical, real-world insights.
Round 1: 1:30 – 2:10
Round 2: 2:15 – 2:55
Example topics:
- Managing third-party and supply chain cyber risk in NZ
- AI governance: balancing innovation with control
- Cyber risk in critical infrastructure and essential services
- Ransomware resilience: preparation, response and recovery
- Embedding cyber risk into enterprise risk and audit functions
- Building a cyber-aware executive and board culture
- Data protection, privacy and regulatory readiness
3:00Pm
AFTERNOON BREAK
3:30Pm
Platinum sponsor address
How do leaders build tech teams that not only keep up with rapid innovation? This session looks at the structures, skills, and ways of working that enable teams to deliver results in a fast-moving, high-pressure environment.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
3:50Pm
When it happens: Responding to and recovering from a major cyber incident
- What actually happens in the first 24–72 hours
- Decision making at executive and board level
- Managing legal, regulatory and reputational fallout
Anthony Cooke
Partner
Atmos
4:20Pm
Treating disruption as a certainty
In our ever evolving tech world AI is changing how we do business, how we develop technology and even how we interact as humans. It is also unfortunately changing how bad-actors are attacking both the technology and human layers. The one certainty we have is that our existing risk models are being challenged, with new attack vectors coming in at a higher volume, faster speed and greater effectiveness than ever before. This presentation not only covers examples of how threat-actors are innovating and disrupting, but will also explore how we need to adapt and mature our thinking from not only preventing breaches, but to ensure we understand how our systems and technology must fail-safe and safely-fail when they occur.
Andy Prow
Board Member
CyberTech New Zealand
4:50Pm
Closing Keynote: Leadership in the age of Cyber Risk: Owning the risk, enabling the business
- Leading executive conversations when agendas collide
- Balancing innovation, resilience, psychological safety, and accountability
- Human behaviour and cyber resilience
- Leading through uncertainty and constant threats
Melissa Crawford
Tech with Heart
5:10PM
Closing remarks & networking function
4 AUGUST 2026 | NZICC, AUCKLAND
SECURE YOUR PLACE.
Don’t miss New Zealand’s premier cyber security risk event — book your ticket now to stay ahead of the latest risks and protect your organisation.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Connect with New Zealand’s top IT Leaders
The New Zealand Cyber Security Risk Conference and New Zealand CIO Innovation Summit & Awards is your chance to engage with the country’s most influential CIOs and decision-makers, seeking insights on navigating digital transformation, AI adoption, and cyber security.
SPONSORS
Platinum Sponsors (CYBER RISK CONFERENCE)
GOLD Sponsors (CYBER RISK CONFERENCE)
