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.

Nick Perkins
Partner, Disputes & Investigations, Ashurst

Nick Perkins is a partner in our intellectual property and media practice and acts for clients across a range of technology, cyber, media and intellectual property disputes. Nick has acted for clients on a number of major cyber incidents and advises on cyber readiness, incident response, regulatory investigations and other downstream liability issues, working as part of Ashurst's integrated legal and risk cyber team.

Nick's experience includes acting in complex technology and data disputes for customer and supplier clients covering a variety of technologies and legal issues. He has also acted for clients in regulatory investigations arising from technology issues across the telecommunications and financial services sectors and has deep experience in all forms of media disputes, law reform and regulatory issues, including for digital platforms and digital content providers.

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

Andrew Mantello, Chief Risk Officer, AustralianSuper

Andrew is the Chief Risk Officer of AustralianSuper with accountability for the Fund’s legal, risk and company secretariat functions. Andrew is responsible for the Fund’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework and takes the lead in providing advice to the board about how to balance risk and reward in members’ best financial interests.

Andrew was appointed Chief Risk Officer in October 2021. He joined AustralianSuper in October 2011 to build out the legal function within the Investments Domain. He then led the Investments Finance & Legal team that managed legal, tax, company secretariat, valuations, compliance and operational risk activities. Most recently, as the Head of Emergent Risks, Andrew provided strategic guidance on the Fund’s future risk landscape. Before his roles at the Fund, Andrew worked as a banking and financial services lawyer facilitating the provision of finance across a wide variety of industries.

Andrew holds both a Bachelor of Commerce/Law from the University of Melbourne as well as a MBA from the Melbourne Business School.

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.

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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