Seizing the AUKUS opportunity: alignment, interoperability and cybersecurity in the digital age

Retired U.S. Army Major General John Davis is the Vice President and Federal Chief Security Officer for Palo Alto Networks, where he is responsible for expanding cybersecurity initiatives and global policy for the international public sector and assisting governments around the world to successfully prevent cyber breaches.

Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, John served as the Senior Military Advisor for Cyber to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. Prior to this assignment, he served in multiple leadership positions in special operations, cyber, and information operations. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal.

John earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Master of Military Art and Science from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and Bachelor of Science from U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Katherine Mansted is a Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at the ANU National Security College. She is also the Director of Cyber Intelligence at CyberCX, Australia and New Zealand’s largest cyber security services company. Katherine regularly briefs government officials, business leaders and public audiences on national security policy issues, especially cyber security, disinformation and foreign interference. Her work has been featured in Foreign Affairs, The Australian, Nine/Fairfax, Sky and on the ABC, and she has testified before parliamentary committees including the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Katherine is a former fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a non-resident fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Previously, she led the NSC’s Public Policy team. Before that, Katherine practiced as a commercial solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons, served as a judge’s associate in the High Court of Australia, and worked as a ministerial adviser in the Australian Government.

Katherine holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she studied as a General Sir John Monash Scholar. She also holds Bachelors of Laws / International Relations (Business) from Bond University, where she studied as a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar and graduated with the University Medal in Law.

Sarah Sloan is the Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy for Australia and New Zealand at Palo Alto Networks. In her position, she advises the company’s leadership on a range of cyber and technology policy issues, builds strategic relationships across all tiers of Government and acts as a trusted private sector adviser to Government.

Prior to her roles in the private sector, Sarah spent 10+ years working in Government, predominantly in cybercrime and cybersecurity. She has a proven track record of delivering results at the operational and strategic levels of government and is passionate about improving Australia and New Zealand’s cyber security posture.

Sarah is a graduate of the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) and Bachelor of Asia and the Pacific Studies. She also holds a Graduate Diploma of Asia and the Pacific Studies (Japanese), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and a Master of International Laws, where she wrote her thesis on international norms and Cyber Security.