4th KAS Australia-Germany Cybersecurity Dialogue: Foreign Interference & Protection of Critical Infrastructure

The annual KAS Australia-Germany Cybersecurity Dialogue, this year already in its fourth iteration, aims to bring together senior government representatives, policy makers, academic experts, practitioners and members of the diplomatic corps to share their views, develop better understandings and explore how cooperation could be strengthened. 

In light of growing regional geopolitical tensions and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the threats and risks to Australia’s and Germany/Europe’s critical infrastructure are continuously evolving. We must therefore adapt our approach to the new threat environment if we want to ensure the ongoing security and resilience of these critical assets and the essential services they provide. This dialogue session raises interesting questions and implications regarding common threats and respective government measures.  For example, what steps would be necessary to make the security of critical infrastructures more robust? Which critical infrastructures should be prioritized and which role do they play in the context of national security? How is this relevant for European-Australian cooperation in this matter?

The three panelists addressing these questions will be Hamish Hansford, Inaugural Head of the Australian Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre; John Reyels, Head of the Cyber Policy Coordination Staff, German Federal Foreign Office; and Dr Alexandra Paulus, Project Director International Cyber Security Policy, Stiftung Neue Verantwortung.