Headline speakers

FLUENT Media founder Belinda Heggen is one of Australia’s most experienced and well-respected media and presentation trainers and an in-demand corporate MC.

With more than 25 years’ experience as a journalist and news presenter across TV, radio and print, and as a media strategist and advisor to senior politicians, she specialises in developing confident and inspiring leaders who seek to build their profile and elevate their business brand through strategic communication.

Carter Smith, based in Darwin, is a seasoned security consultant with a rich background in both building and testing the security of software and networks. Proficient in a diverse array of tools and languages, and various web application frameworks, Carter brings a comprehensive IT and development background to his work, being able to think as a developer as well as an adversary.

His security testing expertise extends across a wide spectrum of penetration testing, encompassing web applications, external and internal networks, social engineering, thick client systems, mobile applications, and even physical security domains. Whilst his focus on penetration testing, Carter has broad skills in many aspects of cyber security.

Passionate about Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), Carter's commitment to this field is demonstrated through his appearances on the TV show HUNTED twice, and his active involvement in national Cyber Intelligence hackathons.

Andrew Philp is a cyber security leader with over 28 years of industry experience across technology, risk, and enterprise leadership. As Field CISO for Trend Micro in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, he helps organisations build cyber strategies that are practical, scalable, and aligned to business outcomes.

Andrew has spent more than a decade advising executives, boards, and government leaders on how to navigate cybersecurity risk, improve governance, and build organisational resilience. He is a frequent international speaker, known for translating complex security issues into clear, business-focused conversations that support smarter investment and strategic decision making.

Laki Kondylas is the Deputy Director of RMIT University’s Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CCSRI) in Australia, CCSRI also has a hub of its Centre in RMIT’s Vietnam campuses in Vietnam.  In this role Laki has overseen deployment of upskilling and reskilling programs into Critical Infrastructure providers in Vietnam, has led a team who has run three Aus4ASEAN short course programs on Digital Readiness and Resilience which has focussed on upskilling to date 75 leaders from TVET from ASEAN. 

 He was also responsible for a team that has won multiple awards for their research on the “Gender Dimensions of the Australian Cyber Security Workforce” which was a report launched by the Australian Minister for Cyber Security in 2023.  Prior to joining RMIT, Laki has held senior leadership positions in Education Institutions and in Government including the Trade & Investment Commissioner for North America for the State of NSW and the World Bank Liaison for the Australian Trade Commission.

Mark Barratt is an Assistant Director for the Western Australia Police Force, where he leads enterprise security, digital risk, and resilience across the state’s largest and most complex public safety organisations. With more than three decades of law enforcement experience, Marks career spans frontline policing, senior operational command and leadership in technology and cyber security. His unique blend of policing insight and technical expertise enables him to bridge the gap between traditional policing and the digital frontier, ensuring that law enforcement in WA can operate securely, confidently, and innovatively in an increasingly connected world.

Mark oversees a multidisciplinary security program responsible for safeguarding sensitive police information, critical ICT infrastructure, and emerging digital platforms that support modern investigations and public safety operations. He also drives the agency’s cyber innovation and resilience initiatives, integrating governance, risk management, and digital trust into every layer of police operations.

A respected speaker and thought leader, Mark is passionate about enhancing collaboration between government, law enforcement, and industry to strengthen Australia’s collective cyber defence. His work exemplifies the fusion of mission-critical policing values with contemporary cyber leadership.

A dedicated to strategic cyber security thinking and research, Prof Dan Haagman is a global leader in the cyber domain.  A CEO, client-facing CISO, Honorary Professor of Practice, and trusted advisor to some of the world’s most complex organisations.

Edmond Repsevicius has worked in IT for the past 28 years bringing technical, communications and leadership expertise to his practice. More recently Ed has intensified his focus on Cyber Security Architecture recognising the critical nature of IT/OT convergence.

Ed is an enabler with a calm, adventurous spirit, is methodical and can think on his feet with a can-do attitude. He has a passion for simplifying technical information to a non-technical audience. 

He has worked largely in the energy and resources industries and the most recent project was the implementation of an OT DMZ to securely and safely separate IT from OT to mitigate risk. Ed is a former Microsoft Trainer, qualified Certified Information Systems Security Professional, CISSP®, a three-time graduate of Curtin University and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Graduate Diploma in Business & Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. Ed’s personal mottos are Think Cyber Safety and Cyber Never Sleeps! 

 Ciana Martinus brings cyber security experience across all domains of securing SMBs, Australia’s Critical Infrastructure, and defence prime industries. She began her career in the Office of Digital Government’s Cyber Security Unit (WA), working in cooperation with the Australian Cyber Security Centre to strengthen government agencies and entities through the Essential Eight Framework.

At KPMG Australia, Ciana worked as a Senior Cyber Security Consultant specialising in disaster recovery, business continuity, and security architecture for critical infrastructure clients, while also advising smaller enterprises. 

Ciana currently works as Audit Partner Manager – APAC at Vanta, where she managed audit engagements across the Asia–Pacific region and supports businesses to achieve compliance through automation.Ciana is deeply passionate about advancing technology and resilience while driving profitability and trust for Australian businesses.

Kritika Bhardwaj brings over 15 years of professional experience, with the past 8 years dedicated to cybersecurity. She currently leads Cyber Security Operations at Fortescue, overseeing both Incident Response and Cyber Engineering functions. In this role, she manages high-stakes security incidents with a clear, methodical approach, ensuring swift action without losing strategic focus.

Her passion lies in threat intelligence, where she thrives on uncovering adversary behaviours, motivations, and the geopolitical drivers behind cyber threats. She believes that effective defence begins with understanding your opponent and leveraging that insight to anticipate and outpace evolving risks.

In the Incident Response space, Kritika is known for her ability to lead through complexity and pressure. She approaches each challenge with composure, discipline, and a focus on execution, helping her team stay grounded and effective in fast-moving situations.

Outside of her core responsibilities, Kritika is a committed mentor and champion of the next generation of cyber professionals. She actively contributes to the community, helping emerging talent build confidence, capability, and a strong sense of purpose in the field.