16 & 17 October 2025 // Canberra

Protective Security and Government Conference 2025

Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability // #PSG2025

Watch: PSG 2023 Snippet Reel

Year
1 th

PSG Conference 2025

The Protective Security and  Government (PSG) Conference 2025 marks the 8th annual gathering of leaders in protective security, risk management, governance, and national resilience. Delivered by the Australian Security Research Centre (ASRC) in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs’ Protective Security Policy team, the conference continues to provide a national platform for capability building and cross-sector collaboration.

Under the theme “Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability,” the 2025 program will explore how Australia’s protective security sector must evolve to meet current and emerging threats with proactive, capability-led strategies. This year’s event will bring together a dynamic lineup of senior government officials, security professionals, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss practical innovations, policy developments, and leadership insights shaping the national security agenda.

Days
Hours
Minutes
#PSG2025

Theme: Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability
Dates: 16–17 October 2025 | Location: Canberra

Our Valued Partners and Sponsors

Supporters

Theme

Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability

Over two engaging days, the conference will feature a blend of keynote presentations, expert panels, fireside chats, and interactive workshops, addressing topics such as:

  • Strengthening capability through cyber and infrastructure security
  • Building organisational resilience in critical infrastructure
  • Navigating PSPF and SoCI reforms
  • Intelligence-led decision-making and operational integration
  • Global threats, foreign interference, and hybrid risks
  • Security-by-design and human-centric approaches
  • Fostering trust, integrity, and leadership in protective security

The PSG Conference provides a rare opportunity for cross-sector dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, ensuring delegates leave equipped with actionable strategies to uplift their organisation’s protective security posture. Whether you’re in government, industry, academia, or security operations, PSG 2025 offers critical insights into the future of protective security in Australia.

Program Highlights

Six Big Topics PSG 2025 Will Cover

From Compliance to Capability

Exploring the strategic shift in Australia’s protective security sector from compliance-based frameworks to capability-driven, proactive, and intelligence-led…

Cyber and Infrastructure Resilience

Strengthening national resilience through cyber and critical infrastructure security, highlighting the importance of integration, collaboration, and government-led…

Policy and Reform in Practice

Unpacking the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), SoCI reforms, and associated legislative and operational developments that support…

Intelligence and Risk-Based Security

Enhancing decision-making through intelligence-led approaches and embedding security into frontline operations, including law enforcement, critical services, and…

Global Threats and Sovereignty

Responding to foreign interference, hybrid threats, and the complexities of safeguarding Australia’s digital and national sovereignty in…

People, Leadership and Culture

Fostering a culture of trust, leadership, and integrity in protective security, while leveraging design thinking, digital innovation,…

Our Speakers

Hear From Leading Experts

The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO

Former Australian Ambassador to the United States (Virtual Welcome)

Deputy Secretary

Department of Home Affairs

Jake Blight

Independent National Security Legislation Monitor

Alastair MacGibbon

Chief Strategy Officer CyberCX

Wayne Hendricks

Head of Global Security Macquarie Group

Graham Coleman APM

Executive Director Queensland Police Service

Mel Flett

Assistant Secretary Vetting Australian Government Security Vetting Agency

Raelene Lockhorst

Deputy Director National Security Programs Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)

Natalie Pearse

Director, Protective Security Policy Department of Home Affairs

Owen Cooper

Senior Advisor, Futures Hub ANU National Security College

Nicola Hinder PSM

Deputy Secretary & Chief Operating Officer Department of Parliamentary Services

Simone Wheatley

Director, National Security Microsoft

Adam Byrne

Group Chief Security Officer The Adecco Group

Rachell DeLuca

Former Chief Security Officer Parliament of Victoria (PSG Conference Ambassador)

Chris Taylor

Head, Statecraft & Intelligence Policy Centre ASPI

Dr Gav Schneider

Director & CEO Australian Security Research Centre (PSG Conference Convenor)

Terry van Haren

Vice President, Strategy DroneShield

Simon Levy

CEO Risk Management Institute of Australasia (RMIA)

Dr Phil Kowalick

President Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers

Paul Vorbach

NSW/ACT Chair Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM)

Madhuri Nandi

Head of Security Till Payments

Alicia Valderrama

Director of Global Operations Sekuro

Simon West

Lead, Protective Security Capability Security Consulting Group

Dr Jolene Morse

Ringleader Risky Women

Joe Saunders

Manager, Workforce Security Queensland Health

Dr Paul Johnston

National Practice Lead, Risk Management Capability and Culture Risk 2 Solution Group

Glynnis Barodien

Executive Manager, Data Governance Lead CSIRO

Dr Ian Oppermann

Data Standards Chair Australian Government

Bou Waterhouse

ACT Chapter Chairman ASIS International

George Dionisopoulos

Director & Co-Founder GRC4

Xiaoyan Lu

Chief Strategist for Digital Uplift Audit Office of New Souths Wales

Rob Currie

Owner & Founder RCAS

James Strickland

Senior Advisor RCAS

Dave Cohen

Deputy CEO Risk 2 Solution Group (PSG Conference MC)

Secure Your Spot Today

Ticket Options and Pricing

Full Conference Pass
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$1,260

/ Per Delegate
Regular Pricing: $1,400
Corporate Table
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$8,820

/ Table of Eight (8) Delegates
Regular Pricing: $9,800
Single Day Conference Pass (Day 1)
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$837

/ Per Delegate
Regular Pricing: $930
Single Day Conference Pass (Day 2)
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$670.50

/ Per Delegate
Regular Pricing: $745
Live Stream Pass (Single)
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$630

/ Per Access Account
Regular Pricing: $700
Live Stream Pass (Group)
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

$3,780

/ Ten (10) Access Accounts
Regular Pricing: $4,200

Program

What to Expect at PSG 2025

Day 1 - Strategic Direction and Policy Alignment

Thursday, 16 October 2025 | 8:30 AM - 7:15 PM

Arrival & Registration

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Conference Welcome & Strategic Overview

Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre (Conference Convenor)
Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria (Ambassador)
Dave Cohen, Deputy CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group (MC)

Welcome Address

The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, Former Australian Ambassador to the United States (Virtual)

Securing Australia’s Future Through Capability-Focused Cyber and Infrastructure Security

Deputy Secretary, Department of Home Affairs

What Good Looks Like: Building a Culture of Integrity and Security Leadership

Nicola Hinder PSM, Deputy Secretary & Chief Operating Officer, Department of Parliamentary Services
Simone Wheatley, Director, National Security, Microsoft
Adam Byrne, Group Chief Security Officer, The Adecco Group
Facilitated by Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre

Morning Tea Break

10:30 AM - 10:55 AM

Cybersecurity as a Core Capability, Not a Compliance Burden

Keynote Presentation

Intelligence-Led Security: Strengthening Risk-Based Decision Making

Simon West, Lead, Protective Security Capability, Security Consulting Group
In conversation with Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria

Networking Lunch

12:40 PM - 1:25 PM

The Insider Threat: Building Proactive Personnel Security Systems

Mel Flett, Assistant Secretary – Vetting, Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA)

Afternoon Tea Break

2:55 PM - 3:20 PM

Extreme Crisis Leadership (Workshop)

Rob Currie, Owner and Founder, RCAS
James Strickland, Senior Advisor, RCAS

Embedding Security into Operations: From Strategy to Frontline

Raelene Lockhorst, Deputy Director National Security Programs, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)

The Critical Role of Risk Intelligence in Shaping Effective Security Strategies

Wayne Hendricks, Head of Global Security, Macquarie Group

Insights, Highlights, and What’s Ahead

Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre (Conference Convenor)
Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria (Ambassador)
Dave Cohen, Deputy CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group (MC)

Day 2 - Operational Integration and Future Readiness

Friday, 17 October 2025 | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Arrival & Registration

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Conference Welcome & Strategic Overview

Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre (Conference Convenor)
Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria (Ambassador)
Dave Cohen, Deputy CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group (MC)

Cyber-Physical Convergence: Resilience Through Integrated Information Security

Alastair MacGibbon, Chief Strategy Officer, CyberCX (Former National Cyber Security Adviser)

Navigating PSPF and SoCI Reforms: Enablers, Challenges and the Path Forward

Natalie Pearse, Director, Protective Security Policy, Department of Home Affairs

Morning Tea Break

10:30 AM - 10:55 AM

Exploring Governance in Action: Monitoring, Reporting and Continuous Improvement

George Dionisopoulos, Director & Co-Founder, GRC4
Xiaoyan Lu, Chief Strategist for Digital Uplift, Audit Office of New South Wales
Facilitated by Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria

Cross-Sector Collaboration in Practice: Building Shared Security Capability

Simon Levy, Chief Executive Officer, Risk Management Institute of Australasia (RMIA)
Bou Waterhouse, ACT Chapter Chairman, ASIS International
Dr Phil Kowalick, President, Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO)
Faciliated by Paul Vorbach, NSW/ACT Chair, Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM)

Introducing the New Global Risk Culture Standard: Early Release Insights

Dr Paul Johnston, National Practice Lead – Risk Management Capability and Culture, Risk 2 Solution Group
Dr Jolene Morse, Ringleader, Risky Women
In conversation with Dave Cohen, Deputy CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group

Networking Lunch

12:20 PM - 1:05 PM

Future-Proofing Security Operations: Leveraging Data and Digital Innovation for Operational Excellence

Glynnis Barodien, Executive Manager, Data Governance Lead, CSIRO
Dr Ian Oppermann, Data Standards Chair, Australian Government
Facilitated by Dr Gav Schneider, CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group

Foresight in Action: Using Insight and Hindsight to Shape the Future of Protective Security (Workshop)

Owen Cooper, Senior Advisor, Futures Hub, ANU National Security College

Afternoon Tea Break

2:40 PM - 3:05 PM

Securing Global Events: Lessons from the G20 to Brisbane 2032

Graham Coleman APM, Executive Director, Olympic and Paralympic Games Group, Queensland Police Service

Security by Design: Integrating Risk, Tech and Human Factors

Joe Saunders, Manager, Workforce Security, Queensland Health
Chris Taylor, Head, Statecraft & Intelligence Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)
Facilitated by Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre

Insights, Highlights, and What’s Ahead

Dr Gav Schneider, Director & CEO, Australian Security Research Centre (Conference Convenor)
Rachell DeLuca, Former Chief Security Officer, Parliament of Victoria (Ambassador)
Dave Cohen, Deputy CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group (MC)

PSG Conference 2025: Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability

Why Attend PSG 2025

Now in its eighth year, the Protective Security and Government (PSG) Conference continues to be the premier national forum for public and private sector professionals involved in the design, implementation, and oversight of protective security.

In 2025, under the theme Beyond Compliance, Towards Capability, the conference will challenge attendees to look past minimum standards and explore how protective security can become a true enabler of organisational capability. As threats become more complex and interconnected, the focus is shifting from box-ticking to strategic resilience, operational readiness, and integrated security practice.

Why you should attend:

Why Attend the PSG Conference?

Experience the Leading Event in Protective Security

Comprehensive Agenda

Engage with a dynamic lineup of expert speakers, panel discussions, and workshops designed to provide actionable insights and strategies.

Networking Opportunities

Connect with industry leaders, security professionals, and policy makers to exchange ideas and build valuable relationships.

What Our Past Attendees Say

Hear from Our Participants

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

The conference will be held at the QT Canberra, located at 1 London Cct, Canberra ACT 2601.
Yes, you can transfer your ticket to a colleague if you are unable to attend. Please contact our registration team at [email protected] with the details of the person who will be taking your place.
During the registration process, there will be a section to input any dietary requirements. If you need to update your dietary requirements after registering, please email us at [email protected] with your specific needs.
We suggest business attire as appropriate for the event. We recommend you dress as you feel comfortable and remember a jacket or sweater for the air-conditioned ballroom.
Please email us to inquire about sponsorships at [email protected].
The PSG Conference does not sell, share, or provide specific contact information of our attendees to any third parties without their prior consent. We do not currently have any plans to facilitate a process of obtaining a list of all conference participants.

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Send us a Message

The PSG Conference aims to highlight the importance of working together across sectors and specialisations to address emerging challenges and enhance our nation’s security posture.

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