Hub hosts cyber defence roundtable with City of Cockburn
Michael Faulkner (City of Cockburn), US Consul General Ms Colleen Altstock, Cecily Rawlinson (CWH) & Charisse Santiago (City of Cockburn).
Profound change is reshaping Australia’s defence landscape. As cyber threats intensify and artificial intelligence accelerates both risk and capability, national resilience is increasingly defined by the strength of digital systems and the integrity of the supply chains that support them.
Against this backdrop, CyberWest Hub, in partnership with the City of Cockburn, convened the Defence Industry Roundtable: Strengthening Sovereign Capability through Cyber and AI Uplift on 22 June. The session opened with remarks from U.S. Consul General Ms Colleen Altstock, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in addressing shared cyber and security challenges.
The roundtable brought together senior leaders from across the defence ecosystem, including universities, the Henderson Alliance, technology and cyber security providers, State and Federal agencies and sector stakeholders.
A central focus of the discussion was the growing pressure on defence supply chains. Small and medium enterprises play a vital role in innovation and delivery, but they are also increasingly targeted as entry points for adversaries. In this context, cyber uplift is no longer simply a matter of compliance, it is a core capability that underpins trust, assurance, and sustained participation in defence programs.
Participants emphasised the need to move beyond transactional models of uplift. Strengthening resilience will require deeper collaboration between primes and SMEs, clearer expectations, and practical pathways to build cyber maturity across all tiers of the supply chain. This shift also reflects a broader mindset change: recognising cyber security as a strategic investment in both national security and economic growth.
The accelerating role of artificial intelligence added further urgency. As AI reshapes cyber operations and defence capability, its adoption brings new considerations around governance, assurance, and skills. Cyber uplift and AI capability are increasingly intertwined, reinforcing the need for coordinated, forward-looking approaches.
Workforce capability remained a key theme throughout. Demand for cyber and AI expertise continues to grow, requiring stronger alignment between universities, industry, and government to develop talent that is adaptable, applied, and responsive to defence needs. Building this pipeline will be critical to sustaining capability in the long term.
What emerged clearly was the importance of collaboration. Cyber resilience, supply chain integrity, AI capability, and workforce readiness are deeply connected challenges that cannot be addressed in isolation. Progress will depend on translating shared understanding into coordinated action.
Through this roundtable, CyberWest Hub reinforced its role in connecting stakeholders across the ecosystem to drive that action. The opportunity ahead lies in strengthening partnerships, advancing practical initiatives, and continuing to uplift capability across the system.
In a rapidly evolving security environment, cyber and AI uplift are no longer optional, they are fundamental to building a secure, resilient, and sovereign defence capability for Australia’s future.