AusQRC 2025
Event description
In August 2024, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued the first Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for post-quantum cryptography – a landmark step toward quantum-resistant security that is already driving global change, such as:
The European Union has committed to securing critical infrastructure with PQC by 2030.
Canada has published a federal migration roadmap.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is urging organisations to begin planning now.
Singapore is rolling out a national quantum-safe network.
To respond to this shift, Monash University’s Faculty of IT launched the inaugural Quantum-Resistant Cybersecurity in Australia (AusQRC) conference in 2024, sponsored by Penten, Senetas and Quantum Australia.
The conference returns this year to assess Australia’s readiness, compare international responses, and explore the next steps needed to safeguard national security, critical infrastructure and industry in a post-quantum world.
The conference will coincide with the international Asiacrypt 2025 conference in Melbourne from 9 to 12 December.
Hosts
Monash University
Dr Esgin is a cryptography expert and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Australia. His research delves into all theoretical and practical dimensions of developing practically efficient cryptographic algorithms, focusing particularly on quantum-safe and privacy-enhancing technologies. He has a strong focus on applications of these algorithms to solve real-life problems.
His research has been recognised/funded by prestigious awards and grants including an Amazon Research Award, a Google Research Scholar Award, an ARC Discovery Project grant and the Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for Thesis Excellence Award for his PhD dissertation at Monash University.
Monash University
Ron Steinfeld is a Professor at the Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity, Monash University, Australia, where he is currently the Cybersecurity Group Lead. His main research interests are in the design and analysis of cryptographic algorithms and protocols, and in particular in the area of quantum-resistant cryptography and its applications. He has over 25 years experience in cryptography research, and his research spans theoretical foundation to design of protocols and their engineering aspects.
His research has been funded by research grants from multiple organisations, including Australian Research Council, US Govt Dept of State, and the software industry. He received the the ASIACRYPT 2015 Best Paper Award, and the 2024 Test of Time award from the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) for his foundational work from 2009 on structured lattice problems that are the basis for three US NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography standards published in 2024.
Keynote speakers
PQShield
Thomas Prest is the Head of Research at PQShield, an European company specialised in post-quantum cryptography (PQC). He earned his PhD from École Normale Supérieure, focusing on lattice‑based cryptography, which is the main mathematical tool used PQC. Dr Prest is a co-designer of the signature scheme Falcon, which has been selected by NIST as a PQC standard (FIPS 206: FN-DSA).
Jonathan Katz is currently a Senior Staff Research Scientist on the Private Computing team at Google. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland, where he worked for over 20 years and also served for more than 5 years as director of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. He is a co-author of the widely used textbook “Introduction to Modern Cryptography” (now in its third edition) and offers a free online course on cryptography through Coursera.
Katz has received several awards including an Alexander von Humboldt Research Award, a UMD Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award, and an ACM SIGSAC Outstanding Contribution Award. He is a fellow of the IACR and the ACM.
Panel session chair
Senetas Corporation Limited
Julian Fay is the Chief Technology Officer of Senetas Corporation (ASX: SEN), an Australian public company and a global leader in encryption technology that protects sensitive data for governments, defence organisations, and enterprises across 60 countries. The company’s solutions are internationally distributed and supported by Thales, the world's largest security provider.
With over 30 years of experience in IT and telecommunications, Julian was a founding member of the Senetas engineering team and has been instrumental in designing high-performance encryption hardware and virtualised solutions that set industry benchmarks for security and performance.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kent.
Guest speakers
Technical Director, Australian Signals Directorate
Following a PhD focussed on the application of basic algebraic geometry to understand discrete dynamical systems – which happily introduced the speaker to elliptic curves over finite fields, partially leading to his future career - Dr Jogia joined the then Defence Signals Directorate where he now has over a decade experience working across various cryptographic operations and policy positions.
One of his current responsibilities is to manage the technical aspects of the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s advice of post-quantum cryptography as their Technical Director Cryptography.
Director, Critical & Emerging Technology Security Policy - Department of Home Affairs
Joshua is the Acting Assistant Secretary for Technology Security Policy Branch at the Department of Home Affairs. The branch explores policy options to address national security challenges related to critical and emerging technologies, including advanced communications, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, technology supply chains, unwanted technology transfer and vendor risk management.
With over a decade in government, Joshua has held executive roles in Defence, the Attorney‑General’s Department, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Nisient
Sandra’s journey has been shaped more by her character, integrity, and sense of responsibility than by titles and awards. With multiple decades of global leadership experience across the technology sector, Sandra has always aimed to foster connections that respect people, cultures, and communities, bridging borders while focusing on respect and inclusion.
Their journey combines technical expertise with a strong cultural sensitivity. Beyond roles in telecommunications, IT, and governance, Sandra has always had a passion for creating space for voices that are often overlooked, making sure decisions are informed by diversity and guided by fairness. She has collaborated with both large corporations and start-ups to support growth and promote ethical practices that benefit people over profit.
As the Founder of Nisient, Sandra continues to challenge conventions in the digital world, but she values her most meaningful experience as the time spent walking alongside young people with complex behaviours in the trauma-informed juvenile justice care system. This work has shaped her commitment to equity and her vision for a future where opportunity flows across borders, where cultural exchange is celebrated, and where marginalised groups can thrive.
Nisient
A world recognised technologist who has led both service providers and multinational vendors to $B businesses and global market leadership. A strong visionary and motivator who has a deep understanding of every level in engineering, operations and development organisations with a proven track record of success around the globe. Equally at home in the board room and down in the trenches, Rob looks to continually improve capabilities and process to maximise shareholder value and customer satisfaction.
Whilst continually driven to push the limits of technology development, Rob also strives to see the application of such to the advancement of service delivery and widespread adoption. Rob was a founding member and initial network architect of Optus Communications, and oversaw the technology, network and planning divisions till his departure in the late 90’s. Still today, the rollout of Optus across Australia stands out as a model of rapid leading edge technology deployment, efficient operations and economic success.
Rob is the co founder of Nisient who provides secure communications and asset management solutions to some of the largest name brands in the world.
Principal Security Engineer - Telstra
Dan is a Principal Security Engineer at Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications company, serving customers, enterprises, and government entities. Over the past decade, Dan has dedicated their career to enhancing Enterprise Cyber capabilities across various facets of the telecommunications industry, including mobile networks, core networks, and cloud services.
Their extensive knowledge of the telecommunications cyber landscape has driven his involvement in researching future technologies and identifying industry-specific risks in a post-Quantum world.
Currently, Dan is working as part of a core group delivering comprehensive Cyber risk analyses for Quantum technologies and explore opportunities for leveraging these technologies to protect the telco and create new business ventures that require highly secure networks.
Group Owner – Sensors, Telstra
Cris is a Group Owner (Technology General Manager) for the Sensors portfolio at Telstra - Australia's largest telecommunications company, serving consumers, enterprises, and government entities. Prior to this, Cris held engineering management and technology leadership roles in Telstra covering IoT Connectivity, IoT Applications and Data.
Before joining Telstra, Cris’ was involved with technology delivery and consulting covering a range of technology disciplines including Cloud, Data Centre, Data, Security and Software Development. This covered multiple industries including banking, finance, logistics, government, etc. Cris holds a Master of Business Information Systems degree from Monash University with majors in data and technology adoption.
Cris has been working with quantum technologies for several years and leads the internal community on the topic. Cris has led internal trials for its application which included early testing of PQC algorithms. He is a member of the core group investigating the application of quantum technologies in the Cyber domain and, more broadly other parts of the business.
Agenda
2025 PROGRAM TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
