Alumni and Supporters

After leading a government IT project based around data analytics and the collection and management of data for the Department of Industry in Perth, Theo Anton became increasingly interested in the protection of data.

Following the completion of a Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security from ECU, Theo decided to follow that interest and look for opportunities in cyber security. He ultimately landed in the private sector in the Commonwealth Bank's cyber security outreach team.

“I'm really passionate about getting in front of mostly small to medium sized businesses to talk about the basics of cyber security and how to mitigate risks for businesses across various sectors.” 

Most small businesses don’t have access to the same cyber security resources that large businesses have. It is for this reason that CommBank is developing outreach capabilities to provide a foundational awareness of cyber-attacks, either proactively or––in some circumstances––reactively after an attack. 

“We are providing free and unbiased information and awareness about cyber security to business owners whose livelihoods are often on the line if they are impacted by a ransomware attack or similar threat. We aim to increase their confidence to perhaps speak to a consultant if they have specific needs or navigate the various government resources that are available––like the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s cyber.gov.au. It's a really rewarding and meaningful space to be in.”

Drawing on his engaged learning experience at ECU where the teaching staff were approachable, accessible and clearly interested in talking through the technical theory and applying these concepts practically, Theo emulates his lecturers and tutors in his position in the outreach team.

While people often think of cyber security as a highly technical field––focusing on technical security controls and applications––Theo advises that the human aspect of cyber security is just as important.

“Everything we do is online these days, so you can invest all you want in really expensive, and really useful technical controls but if people aren't exhibiting cyber safe behaviours––if they're just clicking on dangerous emails and links for instance––it’s all for nothing. That's a huge trend that I've been working closely on and have a keen interest in.”

Expanding on the human aspect of cyber security, Theo suggests people with highly technical backgrounds who struggle to explain technical concepts in simple terms won’t be able to reach the portion of the workforce that happens to be non-technical.   

“Don't discount your ability to have a fantastic cyber career just because you don’t consider yourself technical right now. There are numerous certifications available to complement traditional higher education courses that can help build technical capabilities, but prospective cyber security professionals should also focus on developing soft skills to be able to convey complex concepts to all audiences.”

To create a competitive advantage in a growing industry that is still highly-competitive despite a current skills shortage, Theo recommends investing in yourself and your career by combining potentially unique skill sets and increasing your cross-industry knowledge and experience––both of which are beneficial in dealing with the rapidly evolving cyber security industry and business environment in general.

“The Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security was my way of investing in my career, and it has allowed me to work every day in a field I was previously only learning about in my own time––a field that’s really exciting and becoming increasingly important.”

Theo is looking forward to continuing to build out the outreach program with the Commonwealth Bank––including working with government and tertiary institutions to increase the general cyber security awareness and resilience of Australians––as well as determining how the risk associated with individuals and their online behaviours can be measured and mitigated.