Ambassador for Cyber Affairs

Today we announce the appointment of Dr Tobias Feakin as Australia's inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs.

The Government's decision to establish the position of Ambassador for Cyber Affairs was one of the principal initiatives of the $230 million Cyber Security Strategy, which encourages collaboration between Australian Government, business, academia and communities to improve cyber security.

Cyber threats are not bound by national borders so it is important we work with other countries to strengthen the global response to cybercrime. The Ambassador for Cyber Affairs will lead Australia's international cyber effort, working closely with the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cyber Security.

The Ambassador will support cyber capacity building in our region, advocate against state censorship of the Internet and promote Australia's view that opportunities provided by the Internet should be available to all people.

Dr Feakin was a member of the Independent Panel of Experts that supported the Australian Cyber Security Review to produce Australia's Cyber Security Strategy. He has been the Director of National Security Programs at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute since 2012 and established the Institute's International Cyber Policy Centre.

He has also held a number of research and advisory positions, including with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, the Oxford University Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre, the Global Commission on Internet Governance and the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace.

Dr Feakin holds an Honours Degree in Security Studies and a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Politics and Security Studies, both from the University of Bradford. He is expected to take up the appointment in January 2017.