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, FEAL has partnered with industry leaders Ashurst and Ashurst Advisory to 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.
Guest speakers
John Macpherson
Partner, Risk Advisory, Ashurst
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 the APAC-chair of Ashurst’s financial services industry division/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. He was a finalist for the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year in Financial Services in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
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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