CDU academic recognised for excellence in the Australian Cyber Security industry
A Charles Darwin University (CDU) cybersecurity expert has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) at the recent 2023 Cyber Security Industry Awards.
A Senior Lecturer in Information Technology, Energy and Resources Institute academic Dr Bharanidharan Shanmugam received the award for Outstanding Contribution for his dedication to growing the ASIA Northern Territory branch.
“Receiving this award gives me immense pleasure to see that contributions from the Top End are valued nationally,” Dr Shanmugam said.
“I was instrumental in the growth of the NT member base, advocating for cybersecurity students and ensure the broader community is cyber aware by organising many workshops and seminars.
“I am proud to see Darwin being placed on the national map of cybersecurity especially through AISA, and always willing to volunteer to ensure Territorians are digitally safe.”
Currently working with applied research in the Internet of Things and cyber risk issues in microgrids, Dr Shanmugam was a member of the inaugural AISA NT branch committee when it launched in 2016.
Since then, the AISA NT branch has strongly supported and advocated of the growth of cybersecurity with offering complimentary memberships for CDU students, creating a Capture the Flag event at the 2020 IT Code Fair and organising the DarwinSec cybersecurity conference consecutively for three years.
Dr Shanmugam also received the AISA Volunteer of the Year award in 2021, for his contributions to effective and efficient management of the NT branch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When much of Australia faced COVID lockdowns and restrictions, I took advantage of the remote and largely COVID-free conditions in the Territory to bring together government, industry, and academia for AISA's first half-day cybersecurity conference in Darwin,” he said.
“The now annual DarwinSEC conference is launched by the Northern Territory Minister for Corporate and Digital Development and connects many stakeholders in cyber security.”
AISA is the only not-for-profit peak body in the country for cyber security with over 12,000 members across Australia, and initiated these awards to honour and showcase excellence, innovation, and professionalism in the field.
Over 700 members of the cyber industry attended the event as part of AISA's 2023 Australian Cyber Conference, to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues and peers.