Building a workforce we actually need

Australia's cyber security skills shortage isn't just a recruitment problem; it's a curriculum problem. Too many training programs are built in isolation from the industry they're meant to serve, producing graduates who are qualified on paper but underprepared for the realities of the workplace.

As National Cyber Security Training Advisor at a national RTO delivering the Certificate IV in Cyber Security, I've seen firsthand what happens when training is designed without genuine industry input, and more importantly, what becomes possible when it is.

In this session, I'll share what it actually looks like to build industry alignment into a cyber security curriculum from the ground up, including the formation of an Industry Advisory Panel that brings together practitioners, employers and sector leaders to ensure training reflects real workforce needs, not just training package frameworks.T

/his session directly reflects CyberCon 2026's theme of Empowered Together, because the gap between education and industry isn't going to close unless both sides deliberately build the bridge.

Attendees will leave with:

• A practical understanding of what genuine industry-education alignment looks like and why it mattersInsight into how Industry Advisory Panels work and how organisations can engage with them to shape the next generation of cyber talent
• A fresh perspective on how employers, practitioners and training providers can work together to build collective workforce resilience
• Actionable ideas for how cyber security professionals can contribute to solving the skills shortage — not just talk about it