Alastair MacGibbon ranks among Australia’s foremost cybersecurity authorities, having built a career that spans both government and the private sector with a consistent focus on digital risk, policy development and emerging technology. His expertise extends across cyber resilience, online safety and the protection of critical digital infrastructure, giving him a rare vantage point on how cyber threats affect nations, businesses and individuals alike, and on what it actually takes to defend against them at scale.
Alastair’s most prominent public role was as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cybersecurity, a position from which he helped shape national cybersecurity strategy and worked to protect critical infrastructure against an increasingly complex threat landscape. The policies developed under his leadership were instrumental in strengthening Australia’s cyber capabilities, establishing safeguards that continue to protect government agencies, businesses and everyday individuals from cyber attacks, and setting a benchmark that other nations have since studied closely.
As a speaker and consultant, Alastair is regularly invited to international forums, where he helps organisations understand why cybersecurity needs to sit at the centre of any digital transformation strategy rather than as an afterthought bolted on once systems are already live. He partners with businesses and governments to build cybersecurity frameworks designed to be proactive, sustainable and adaptable, capable of evolving alongside a digital landscape that rarely stands still. Beyond his advisory work, Alastair has also supported numerous private sector organisations with strategic guidance on risk management, cyber governance and emerging technology, and his thought leadership continues to influence how both businesses and governments respond to new and evolving cyber threats across every industry.
Based in Canberra, Alastair MacGibbon is available to speak at conferences and events focused on cybersecurity, technology and digital risk, bringing a rare blend of policy depth, operational experience and plain-spoken clarity to audiences who need to understand what is actually at stake.
Keynote Topics
Cybersecurity: Geopolitical threats and criminal cartels
The evolution of cybersecurity threat and response – in Australia, internationally and from a business perspective.
Could we do more internationally and domestically to combat ransomware?
Will the mandatory reporting of ransomware payments under the Government’s Ransomware Action Plan have any impact or should we ban the making of those payments altogether?
What are the key considerations for company directors and can we more effectively take action to protect ourselves?
