Cyber Security: What does "secure and resilient" mean in a chaotic cyber environment?
If we measured return on investment in fewer high-impact attacks we might think cyber security is a dismal failure. In a threat environment where cyber offence is outstripping cyber defence, but where members and regulators expect more from super funds to limit exposure and manage risk and liability, how much "security" is enough? And how resilient do we need to be?
In this luncheon series, industry leaders Ashurst will explore what threat actors are focused on now, how they're using AI to their advantage, how the liability profile is shifting squarely onto trustees and their directors, evolving regulator expectations and, most importantly, how you take reasonable steps to ensure your cyber program is protecting members’ money, their privacy and the stability of Australia's financial system.
The speakers will be joined by a panel of fund executives in Sydney and Melbourne, with details below.
Guest speakers
John Macpherson
Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory
John is the leader of Ashurst's cyber response team working with clients to prepare for and respond to high impact cyber incidents. As a strategic advisor to Boards and leadership teams in Australia and internationally, he supports them in their recovery from acute crisis. Alongside the Ashurst risk and legal teams, he has advised on many of the high profile cyber-attacks across Australia and the United Kingdom.
John regularly helps clients build sustainable resilience frameworks and risk-led approaches to cyber and digital security, bridging expertise in crisis management and business continuity, stakeholder management and communication, customer remediation and complaints, data governance and privacy, third party risk management, and regulatory notifications and investigations.
Emma Butler
Partner, Digital Economy, Ashurst
Emma is the global co-head of Ashurst's digital economy practice. She is recognised as a leading digital economy lawyer focusing on cyber security, data protection, complex digital transformation projects and related technology transactions. Clients rely on Emma to navigate high-stakes legal challenges, including advising on critical cyber incident readiness and response, "bet the business" technology projects and cutting-edge AI investments.
Emma also acts on M&A transactions, leading business separation and transition project streams. She is highly regarded for her ability to provide pragmatic, forward-thinking solutions in an increasingly complex digital world.
As a key member of Ashurst's integrated legal and risk cyber team, Emma works with clients every day to prepare for, and respond to, critical cyber incidents. Alongside Ashurst's cyber risk management experts, Emma helps her clients navigate the evolving regulatory and legal risks posed by an ever-changing cyber threat landscape. She has led responses to significant cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and large-scale data breaches, and regularly advises executive teams on proactive cyber resilience strategies. Emma is an active contributor to thought leadership on cyber and privacy law reform and regularly presents and leads panel discussions on cyber and data risk.
Nicholas Mavrakis
Partner, Dispute Resolution, Ashurst
Nicholas is a partner in Ashurst's dispute resolution practice and APAC Chair of Ashurst’s financial services industry group. He is a pre-eminent litigation practitioner in the Australian market who has practised for over 25 years. He has extensive experience in managing complex litigation in commercial disputes, class actions, securities law, cartel claims, fraud, and tax disputes.
Nicholas represents domestic and foreign corporate and banking clients in regulatory investigations, Commissions of Inquiry, and follow-on regulatory enforcement action/prosecutions and civil/class action litigation. He is regularly called upon by financial services clients, in particular, to assist in complex regulatory investigations and disputes, covering a broad spectrum of areas across wealth/financial planning, responsible and consumer lending, markets, culture and governance. He has extensive experience in complex investigations undertaken by Australian regulatory bodies including ASIC, the ATO and the ACCC and he also undertakes Royal Commission work.
Nicholas has worked on matters such as major cybersecurity incidents including investigations by multiple agencies, the defence of a leading Australian bank against an ASIC prosecution alleging market manipulation in the BBSW financial market and an international ratings agency in a series of class actions.
Scott Charaneka
Partner, Superannuation, Ashurst
Scott is the head of Ashurst's superannuation practice and one of the most prominent superannuation lawyers in Australia. He has comprehensive experience in regulatory, governance, administration, amalgamation and investment matters. Scott presently acts for many of Australia's largest private and public sector financial institutions.
He was the lead editor of Wickens The Law of Life Insurance in Australia from 1998 to 2008, a co-editor of CCH Australian Superannuation Law & Practice from 2001 to 2010, a co-editor of the Lexis Nexis Financial Services Newsletter from 2001 to 2008 and is a current co-editor of the Lexis Nexis Australian Superannuation Law Bulletin. Scott is a fellow of ASFA, an emeritus member of the Law Council of Australia Superannuation Lawyers Committee and was appointed to APRA's Superannuation Lawyers Liaison Forum.
Scott has been listed annually in Australia's Best Lawyers in the categories of Regulatory Practice and Superannuation Law since 2012 and was awarded Superannuation Lawyer of the Year 2022 by Best Lawyers. Scott has also been listed annually in Who's Who Legal: Pensions & Benefits since 2015 and rated in Chambers Asia-Pacific since 2018 in the Superannuation category.
Sydney panelists
Jane Couchman, Chief Risk Officer and Group Executive, Sustainability, Aware Super
Jane Couchman is a senior executive in the banking and financial services sector, with over 30 years of leadership experience across Legal, Risk, and Governance disciplines. She currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer and Group Executive, Sustainability at Aware Super. Her career spans pivotal executive roles, including Executive General Manager, Compliance at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA); Global Chief Operating Officer, Compliance and Head of Enterprise Compliance at Macquarie Bank; Chief Risk Officer at BT Financial Group; and General Counsel at Perpetual.
Jane has led major governance, culture, and accountability transformation programs at Macquarie Bank, CBA, and Aware Super. She has also spearheaded strategic initiatives such as the risk integration of Asgard and BT Financial Group during the St George–Westpac merger, and the digital transformation of Aware Super’s internal administration platform.
Jasmine Logaraj, Head of Information Security, NGS Super
Jasmine is a strategic leader who thinks beyond conventional boundaries, drawing on 18 years of experience across cybersecurity, law, privacy, risk, technology innovation, and business development. Her career has been marked by leading globally diverse specialist teams and serving as a trusted advisor to clients across banking, insurance, energy, retail, and government sectors. She is a strong advocate for aligning cybersecurity requirements with business needs, ensuring security enables rather than restricts organisational outcomes.
Her expertise is underpinned by a strong academic foundation, including an Advanced Science degree from the University of Sydney, first-class honours in law, and a Master of Cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she graduated with distinction. Jasmine has excelled as a senior cyber risk and privacy advisor across Big 4 firms, boutique practices, and the Australian Government, and has also practised as a commercial and insurance lawyer. Passionate about developing future talent, she mentors young professionals, teaches postgraduate courses globally, and is a sought-after speaker, most recently presenting at the 2024 ASIAL Security Conference.
Melbourne panelists
Jo Dutton, Chief Technology Officer, Hostplus
Jo Dutton is Chief Technology Officer at Hostplus, where she leads the Fund’s use of technology and data. Since joining in 2024, she has focused on strengthening the security, resilience and performance of the organisation’s systems while harnessing emerging technologies to deliver better outcomes for members.
With more than two decades of experience leading large-scale technology transformations, Jo has held senior executive roles at NBN, including Executive General Manager positions across Technology Transformation, Architecture & Delivery, and Systems Engineering. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with Virgin Media in the UK, specialising in network expansion and customer engineering.
Jo holds a PhD in Semiconductor Physics and brings a unique combination of deep technical expertise and strategic leadership. She is passionate about using technology and innovation to drive organisational performance and enhance customer and member experiences.
2nd panelist to be confirmed
Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 17 June
Venue: Ashurst
Address: South Tower, Level 16/80 Collins Street
Sydney
Date: Monday 22 June
Venue: Ashurst
Address: Level 8/39 Martin Place
Time: 12.15PM - 2.00PM (AEST)
Cost: FEAL members - $0 & non members $145 (inc GST)
*If you are a non member & would like to attend please contact FEAL.
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