Australia is using its collaborative approach to cybersecurity across the Asia-Pacific, with key leadership from Stephanie Crowe, Head of the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC), and Jessica Hunter, the nation’s newly appointed Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology.
Together, they are spearheading initiatives to enhance cyber resilience, share threat intelligence, and build technical capacity among regional partners through frameworks such as the Pacific Cyber Security Operations Network (PaCSON) and the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT).
A Collaborative Vision for Regional Cybersecurity
Speaking on their shared mission, Crowe and Hunter outlined how their respective portfolios intersect to reinforce cybersecurity within the Asia-Pacific.
“Hi, I’m Stephanie Crowe, Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre at the Australian Signals Directorate,” Crowe began, introducing her role.
“And I’m Jessica Hunter, Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” added Hunter. “We work together to strengthen cybersecurity within the Asia-Pacific region.”
Hunter explained that her role as Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology involves leading Australia’s international engagement in cyberspace and advancing national interests in emerging technologies. “I do this through building cyber capacity, uplifting crisis response practices, and increasing resilience across our region,” she said.
Crowe described how the ACSC provides technical expertise and operational support. “Through the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the ASD shares cyber threat intelligence and supports capacity-building activities in Australia and with our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific,” she noted.
Aligning with the Australian Cyber Security Strategy
Both leaders denoted that their work underpins the Australian Cyber Security Strategy, which prioritizes international cooperation as a mechanism for strengthening collective resilience.
“International collaboration gives us the best opportunity to leverage capability, expertise, partnerships, and threat visibility,” Crowe said. “By doing so, we can help our region uplift its cybersecurity and boost its capability.”
Hunter added that cyberspace “is truly borderless,” requiring nations to work closely across the Pacific and beyond to ensure shared protection. “Cyber and critical technology affect all aspects of international relations,” she explained. “They underpin national security, the realization of human rights and freedoms, global economic prosperity, sustainable development, and international stability.”
The $83.5 Million Cyber Program Commitment
Australia’s efforts are supported through the Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation Program, a federal initiative valued at $83.5 million. The program provides rapid assistance for digital incident response and long-term resilience building, particularly in Pacific and Southeast Asian nations.
“This program reflects our commitment to supporting the resilience of our closest partners,” Hunter said. “It delivers on SHIELD Six of the Australian Government’s Cyber Security Strategy by strengthening international cooperation and preparedness.”
Strengthening Regional Networks: PaCSON and APCERT
A major component of Australia’s regional engagement is its leadership role within PaCSON and APCERT, two cornerstone networks facilitating operational collaboration across the Asia-Pacific.
The Pacific Cyber Security Operations Network (PaCSON) unites cybersecurity and incident response experts from government agencies across the Pacific. It provides a structured way for countries to share information, coordinate incident responses, and develop consistent practices for managing cyber threats.
Similarly, the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) connects cybersecurity teams throughout the wider region, promoting best practices and mutual support in the face of emerging digital risks.
“By uplifting our cyber defences together, we are better positioned to respond collectively to cyber incidents,” Crowe said. “This work strengthens Australia and places the region in a better position to face evolving cyber challenges.”
Information Sharing and Regional Resilience
The ACSC uses intelligence gathered from incidents within Australia to inform its engagement with Pacific partners. This includes issuing alerts, publishing technical advisories, and sharing best-practice resources through the national platform cyber.gov.au, which provides materials in more than 25 languages.
According to Crowe, this approach ensures that lessons learned domestically can directly benefit regional counterparts. “The ASD and ACSC’s advice helps to inform discussions and negotiations with our partners around cybersecurity awareness and uplift,” she said.
Hunter underscored that such collaboration is essential in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. “A complex and evolving threat environment means that we need each other,” she stated. “No country can face these challenges alone.”
Both leaders reiterated that cooperation among like-minded nations is critical to maintaining global trust and accountability. “We continue to join with international partners to uphold international law and impose costs on malicious actors that make cyberspace less safe,” Hunter said. “Collectively, we can strengthen our nations and our region’s cyber resilience by working together to share knowledge, resources, and best practices.”
