Panel Session Title: The Intersection of AI and Cyber
An evening of insight and networking bringing together Microsoft SMEs and AISA leaders to explore how AI is reshaping the cyber landscape, as a target to protect, an opponent wielded by adversaries, and a powerful ally for defenders. The program opens with a keynote from Mark Anderson, followed by a panel discussion across three conversations shaping the future of security: How AI is changing the defender's life, how to protect AI systems and govern them at scale, and how to defend when AI powers the threat. The evening closes with networking and refreshments — designed for security leaders ready to translate these intersections into real-world defence strategies.
Keynote Speaker:
Mark Anderson, National Security Officer, Microsoft ANZ
Mark is a highly accomplished National Security Officer, known for his rare blend of deep technical expertise, strategic business insight, and exceptional communication skills. Over his career, he has become a trusted authority in database architecture, performance tuning, and application platform design, consistently delivering solutions that drive measurable business impact.
Mark’s ability to translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable strategies has helped organisations save millions of dollars while improving reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability. Colleagues and stakeholders value his calm, collaborative approach and his talent for guiding teams toward high-quality outcomes without unnecessary complexity.
Panellists:
Moderator: Dmitry Butko, Director, Security Specialist, Microsoft Asia
Dmitry is a Senior Cyber Security Sales Executive with 15+ years driving revenue growth and leading high-performing teams across enterprise security markets with strong connection to security vendor and partner ecosystem in APJC. Expert in building cyber security practices, strategic partnerships, establishing and executing go to market strategies for enterprise security solutions including zero trust, cloud security, and threat protection platforms.
Panellist: Leron Zinatullin, CISO, Constantinople
Leron is a forward-thinking technology executive specialising in cyber strategy, AI governance, management and delivery. He currently serves as the CISO for a FinTech where he leverages AI to improve security posture and increase productivity. Leron was awarded a prize for responsible leadership for driving innovation and demonstrating business value and ethics. He is also the author of The Psychology of Information Security.
Panellist: Praneil Kumar, Practice Lead, Coalition Incident Response
Praneil is a cyber security leader with over two decades of experience protecting digital environments and advising business leaders on digital risk. Currently directing Coalition Insurance’s Incident Response (CIR) business in Australia, he acts as a trusted partner to SME leadership teams during digital crises. His prior tenure as a Cyber Capabilities and R&D Manager in professional services focused on scaling cyber maturity and threat readiness across diverse and complex sectors. With deep expertise spanning offensive and defensive operations, Praneil helps business leaders translate technical threats into actionable executive decisions. He joins the panel to discuss the practical insights into how AI technologies are shifting the landscape of cyber response and resilience, helping SME leaders understand how to safely adopt AI to strengthen organisational defence and business continuity.
Panellist: Mayank Joshi, Senior Security Specialist, Microsoft ANZ
With a solid foundation in cloud technologies and cyber security, Mayank has honed his skills over the years at Microsoft, where he currently serves as a Technical Specialist focused on Security, Compliance, and Identity. His mission is to advance cloud adoption and security frameworks, ensuring that solutions align with Microsoft's commitment to innovation, integrity, and excellence. Mayank brings a diverse perspective to the team, with a relentless drive to empower clients through transformative technology and robust security practices.
Panellist: Kevin Tham, CISO, RDC.AI
Kevin is a seasoned cyber security leader with over two decades of experience, primarily within the financial services and fintech industries. His approach to cyber security is rooted in practicality, aiming to strike the perfect balance between user-centric design and robust, effective security controls. Kevin's career began in the late 1990s as a security researcher, educator, and engineer. Since then, he has progressed through a variety of roles across leading organisations, gaining extensive experience in designing and implementing security controls during a time when information security was still considered a low priority by many.
Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm (AEST)
Agenda:
5:15pm - 5:30pm Registration
5:30pm - 6:30pm Presentation
6:30pm - 7:30pm Networking and light refreshments
Venue: Microsoft Offices, Level 27, 1 Denison St, North Sydney. Please meet a Microsoft employee in the foyer to give you access to Level 27, as access will be denied after 5:35pm on the day.
Registrations close: Tuesday 9 June or earlier if event is sold out prior. Registration is required to attend this event, in line with the Microsoft Offices' entry guidelines. Unfortunately anyone who has not registered will not be able to attend this event. Registrations will close on 9 June 2026. When you sign in on the day, a name badge will be printed for you. Please wear your badge for the duration of the event.
Cost to attend:
Registration is free for AISA members
Non Members: $115.50 (incl GST)
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Disclaimer:
AISA presentations are intended for educational purposes only. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the participants individually and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion or position of AISA, its sponsors, or its partners. AISA does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented. Attendees should note that sessions may be recorded and published in various media, including print, audio and video formats without further notice.